How to get fromSan Francisco Airport (SFO) to Palo Altoby train, bus, rideshare, car, or taxi

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There are 6 ways to get from San Francisco Airport (SFO) to Palo Alto by train, bus, rideshare, car, or taxi

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

Caltrain
best
1. Take the train from Millbrae Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain Southboundtrain Local Weekday / ...
52 min
$13–17
Line 397 bus
cheapest
1. Take the bus from SFO Airport Terminal G-Lower Level to University Ave & Woodland Avebus 397
1h 25m
$3
Airport Transfer
1. Take the rideshare from San Francisco (SFO) to Palo Altorideshare 20.4 mi
24 min
Drive 20.4 mi
1. Drive from San Francisco Airport (SFO) to Palo Altocar 20.4 mi
24 min
$4–6
Taxi
1. Take the taxi from San Francisco Airport (SFO) to Palo Altotaxi 20.4 mi
24 min
$80–100
Bus
1. Take the bus from Millbrae Transit Center-Bay C1 to Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 1bus Ecr / ...
1h 33m
$11–13

San Francisco Airport (SFO) to Palo Alto by subway and train

291Weekly Services

52 minAverage Duration

$13Cheapest Price

Comparing Your Travel Options

Map of how to get from San Francisco Airport (SFO) to Palo Alto.

Launch map view

Distance: 20 mi
Duration: 52 min

What companies run services between San Francisco Airport (SFO), USA and Palo Alto, CA, USA?

Caltrain operates a train from Millbrae Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain Southbound every 30 minutes. Tickets cost $5–7 and the journey takes 31 min. Alternatively, SamTrans operates a bus from SFO Airport Terminal G-Lower Level to University Ave & Woodland Ave every 4 hours. Tickets cost $2–3 and the journey takes 1h 25m.

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Booking & Getting There

Palo Alto(opens in a new window), United States(opens in a new window)

Palo Alto is a charter city in the northwestern corner of Santa Clara County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area, named after a coastal redwood tree known as El Palo Alto. - Wikipedia (opens in a new window)

Things to do in Palo Alto

California's Great America(Opens in a new window)

California's Great America is an 112 acre amusement park located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Owned and operated by Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, it originally opened in 1976 as one of two parks built by the Marriott Corporation. Great America features over 40 rides and attractions, with Gold Striker among its most notable, which has ranked as a top wooden roller coaster in the world in the annual Golden Ticket Awards publication from Amusement Today. Other notable rides include RailBlazer, a single-rail coaster from Rocky Mountain Construction, and Flight Deck, an inverted coaster from Bolliger & Mabillard. The park made appearances in the 1994 films Beverly Hills Cop III and Getting Even with Dad.

Demon (roller coaster)(Opens in a new window)

Demon is a multi-looping roller coaster at both Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois and California's Great America in Santa Clara, California. Both coasters opened in 1976 as Turn of the Century, when both Great America parks were owned by Marriott Corporation. Following the 1979 season, they were modified and rebranded as Demon, featuring a new theme.

Flight Deck (California's Great America)(Opens in a new window)

Flight Deck (formerly Top Gun and briefly as Soaring Chiefs) is an inverted roller coaster located at California's Great America in Santa Clara, California. Built by Bolliger & Mabillard and designed by Werner Stengel, the roller coaster made its debut on March 20, 1993, as Top Gun. The roller coaster was built as Paramount, who had purchased the Great America theme park in 1992 along with several other parks, sought to expand its entertainment opportunities and promote its films. After Paramount sold off its Great America park to Cedar Fair (now Six Flags), the roller coaster was rebranded as Flight Deck.

Gold Striker(Opens in a new window)

Gold Striker is a wooden roller coaster located at California's Great America amusement park. Built by Great Coasters International and designed by Jeff Pike, Gold Striker was the park's eighth roller coaster which opened to the public on May 31, 2013. Its 174 ft tunnel is the longest in the world to be featured on the first drop, and it was marketed as the "tallest and fastest wooden coaster in Northern California". The roller coaster takes on the theme of the Old West and references the California Gold Rush of the 19th century.

Places to stay in Palo Alto

Coronet Motel(Opens in a new window)

8.6Fabulous

Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.5Very Good

Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto(Opens in a new window)

8.9Fabulous

The Westin Palo Alto(Opens in a new window)

8.4Very Good