If you are a non-local participant, you will probably be flying into either the San Jose Airport or the San Francisco Airport. There are a number of options for getting from the airports to Stanford University.
In general, shuttles are available at both San Francisco and San Jose Airports without reservations, with signs leading you to the shuttle pickup areas from baggage claim. Shuttles are invariably less expensive than taxis, ranging around $22-$27 to Stanford from either airport, but you may have to wait while 2-3 other passengers are collected and taken to their destinations.South Bay Airport Shuttle (800) 548-4664/(408) 559-9477
One way service to and from San Francisco for $22 ($5 each additional person); one way service to and from San Jose Airports for $27 ($5 each additional person); reservation required if going from Stanford to the airport. Pick up at San Francsico is upstairs on departure level at the blue/yellow sign; reservations are not required; just call the company from the airport; they also pick up customers downstairs. Pick up at San Jose Airport is outside baggage claim.
Super Shuttle (415) 558-8500/(650) 558-8500
One-way service for $26 ($8 each additional person) to and from San Francisco Airport; one-way service to and from San Jose Airport for $23 ($8 each additional person).
Yellow Cab Taxi (650) 321-1234
About $55 from San Francsico Airport to Stanford University and about $45 from San Jose Airport. Pick up in the airport arrival areas outside of baggage claim. From Stanford, you must call and give your name, airline, flight number, and departure time.
CalTrain is the Bay Area commuter train, running regularly all day on weekdays between every 20 minutes and every hour, depending on time of day. CalTrain does not run on the weekends, though there is a VTA bus service instead.From the San Francisco Airport: Take BART ($1.50) to Millbrae station, then take CalTrain to the California Avenue Station in Palo Alto ($3.00).
From the San Jose Airport: Take the Airport Flyer to the Santa Clara CalTrain station. The fare from the Santa Clara station to the California Avenue station is $3.00.
Other Local Travel Options
Renting a Car
Car rental services are available at the San Francisco and San Jose Airports and at several locations in Palo Alto.
From either airport call In Palo Alto call Avis (800) 831-2847 (650) 493-8888 Budget (800) 527-0700 (650) 493-6000 Hertz (800) 654-3131 (650) 493-2009
Driving on US 101
To reach the SLAC Guest House, take 101 south from San Francisco Airport or north from San Jose Airport. Exit at Oregon Expressway/ Embarcadero Road (follow the Oregon Expressway sign; don't get on Embarcadero Road). Stay on Oregon Expressway for about two miles and turn right onto El Camino Real. Continue on El Camino for about two miles and turn left onto Sand Hill Road, just past the Stanford Shopping Center. Continue on Sand Hill for about two miles until reaching Saga Lane, where you will see a sign on the left for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Turn left into SLAC, where the guard will direct you to the Guest House.
Driving on Interstate 280
To reach the SLAC Guest House, take 280 south from San Francisco Airport or north from San Jose. Take the Page Mill Road exit (not the Sand Hill Road exit). Turn left onto El Camino Real and continue for about two miles, then turn left onto Sand Hill Road, just past the Stanford Shopping Center. Continue on Sand Hill for about two miles until reaching Saga Lane, where you will see a sign on the left for the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Turn left into SLAC, where the guard will direct you to the Guest House. Note: We do not recommend taking I-80 from San Jose Airport, simply because it is a longer route than US 101.