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 American Airlines, Air France and Aeromexico. 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 Sacramento takes 1h 41m and costs around $21 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Fresno, expect to pay about $17 for a 3h 58m 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.
You can travel by bus to Palo Alto using FlixBus or Greyhound. From Burbank, the bus ride to Palo Alto takes 420 miles and will cost you around $47. From Los Angeles, the ticket costs about $92 for a journey of 425 miles.
Average rates range from around $275 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $584 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hotel Keen and Stanford Motor Inn Palo Alto.
Renting a car in Palo Alto costs $51 per day, on average, or $154 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 26% cheaper than airport locations in Palo Alto.
Expect to pay $3.94 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 $47.24 and $62.99. 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, 68% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$31/day
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$32/day