With a population of 64,403, Palo Alto is a must-see destination in California, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Palo Alto has to offer.
If you’re looking for affordable options, Nola - Palo Alto (535 Ramona Street) and Tai Pan (560 Waverley St) are great picks.
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Palo Alto in July, when the average temperature is 66.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 78.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 39.2 °F, with an average temperature of 48.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 3.2″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in Palo Alto, with an average rainfall of 0″.
When flying to Palo Alto, you’ll arrive at Mineta San Jose Airport (SJC), which is located 13 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Palo Alto include Air France, Aeromexico and Alaska Airlines. The shortest domestic flight to Palo Alto departs from Ontario and takes around 1h 20m.
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Palo Alto. The train journey from Palo Alto to Santa Clara takes 1h 02m and costs around $18 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from San Jose, expect to pay about $19 for a 1h 15m trip.
Another option to get to Palo Alto is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 28 miles from Palo Alto. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in San Francisco.
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Palo Alto, including Greyhound, FlixBus and CoachRun. From Coral Hills, the bus ride to Palo Alto takes 45 miles and will cost you around $18. From Reno, the ticket costs about $52 for a journey of 395 miles.
Average rates range from around $272 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $566 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Stanford Motor Inn Palo Alto and Cardinal Hotel.
Renting a car in Palo Alto costs $57 per day, on average, or $172 if you want to rent if for 3 days.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 20% cheaper than airport locations in Palo Alto.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in Palo Alto (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in Palo Alto is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Hyundai Accent or similar) are, on average, 70% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$30/day
Intermediate SUV
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$39/day