Stanford University is accessible by several transit agencies, making it possible to get to campus from just about anywhere. Transit passes can be purchased online or at our main office, and most employees can use payroll deduction to pay for passes or commuter checks and receive pre-tax savings (SLAC employees, please consult your payroll or benefits office). The Parking & Transportation Services office also has many local route maps and schedules for these transit agencies.
Caltrain
Caltrain is a commuter rail service that runs between Gilroy and San Francisco. The two closest stops to Stanford are the California Avenue and Downtown Palo Alto stations. Marguerite meets trains at both the Palo Alto and California Avenue Caltrain stations between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays. Marguerite also provides late-night and weekend service to the Palo Alto station during the academic year. For Caltrain information, visit http://www.caltrain.org.
- Caltrain carries up to 24 bikes aboard every train, free and without permit. Just board the northernmost car and look for the on-board bike racks
- Bike lockers are available at many stations. For more information, call Caltrain at 1-800-660-4287
- Stanford is Caltrain's single largest user, with over 650 Stanford commuters taking Caltrain to campus every day
- Express trains make train time the same as driving time for many commuters and could even cut up to 40 minutes a day off your commute!
- If you are eligible for the GO Pass, you can use your GO Pass to ride Caltrain for free.
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency (VTA)
VTA Buses connect the Palo Alto train station (and the free Marguerite shuttle service) to Santa Clara County (south of campus). VTA also provides light rail service in the South Bay. All VTA buses have 2-bike front-mounted racks. For VTA information, visit http://www.vta.org.
Four VTA bus routes serve Stanford at the Palo Alto Transit Center
- The 22 operates along El Camino, running north to the Menlo Park train station and south to San Jose. It runs 24 hours a day with service approximately every 12 minutes during daytime hours.
- The Rapid 522 is a limited stop service between the Palo Alto train station and San Jose. It runs along El Camino like the 22, but with fewer stops and service every 15 minutes.
- The 35 runs between Mountain View and the Stanford Shopping Center, serving Palo Alto and Mountain View neighborhoods.
- The 88 runs between the Palo Alto and California Avenue train stations, serving Palo Alto neighborhoods and Stanford Research Park.
If you are eligible for the Eco Pass, you can use your Eco Pass to ride VTA buses, express buses, and light rail for free.
SamTrans
SamTrans connects the Palo Alto train station (and the free Marguerite shuttle service) to all of San Mateo County (north of campus), including service to the San Francisco International Airport. For SamTrans information, visit http://www.samtrans.org.
Six SamTrans bus routes serve Stanford at the Palo Alto Transit Center:
- Route KX provides local service on El Camino between Palo Alto and San Mateo, then express service on Highway 101 to the San Francisco International Airport and downtown San Francisco.
- Route 280 and Route 281 provide service between the Stanford Shopping Center and East Palo Alto.
- Route 390 operates along El Camino between Palo Alto and Daly City, serving the Millbrae, South San Francisco, and Daly City BART stations.
- Route 297 and Route 397 provide local overnight service to Redwood City and San Francisco, respectively.
For more information about transit to San Francisco International Airport, please call the Bay Area Transit Information Hotline by dialing 511 from within the San Francisco Bay Area or (510) 817-1717 from outside the San Francisco Bay Area. Click here for information about San Jose or Oakland airports.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
BART provides transit service on the San Francisco Peninsula and throughout the East Bay. Stanford riders can connect to BART at the following stations:
For BART information, visit http://www.bart.gov.
Altamont Commuter Express (ACE)
The ACE train runs weekdays between Stockton and San Jose, serving the following stations:
- Stockton
- Lathrop-Manteca
- Tracy
- Vasco
- Livermore
- Pleasanton
- Fremont
- Great America
- San Jose Diridon station
Stanford commuters can connect to the ACE train using the Line U Stanford Express, which runs between the Fremont station and the Stanford campus. Stanford riders can also use Caltrain to connect to ACE in San Jose. For ACE train information, visit http://www.acerail.com.
Additionally, Amtrak operates a bus service as an option for commuters who may work late and cannot make the last ACE train. For information on this bus service, visit http://www.acerail.com/schedules/bus-schedule.htm.
Dumbarton Express
The Dumbarton Express runs weekdays from the Union City BART station across the Dumbarton Bridge to the Palo Alto Caltrain station, where you can connect with the Marguerite Shuttle. All Dumbarton Express buses are equipped with bike racks. If you are eligible for the Eco Pass program, you can use your Eco Pass to take Dumbarton Express for free.
Our East Bay/Stanford Transit Guide (PDF, 95 KB) combines the
schedules of the Dumbarton Express and the Line U Stanford Express, and shows connections with BART and Marguerite. You can also view the Dumbarton Express schedule on the AC Transit website.
AC Transit runs a weekday express shuttle bus service between the East Bay and the Stanford campus. This service is FREE for Stanford faculty, staff, students, and hospital employees who have a valid university ID or hospital employee ID. For all other riders, a fare of $3.50 each direction applies. The shuttle includes:
- New luxury highway coaches, equipped with high back seats, individual reading lights and a tray table for your laptop or paperwork.
- East Bay stops at the Fremont BART, Fremont ACE/AMTRAK station (Centerville) connecting with the ACE Train and at the Ardenwood Park and Ride lot in Newark
Additional parking facilities are available for Line U riders at the Wells Fargo parking lot at 3440 Walnut Avenue in Fremont. Stanford Line U riders may park in any of the 39 spaces marked "Stanford." View a map of the Stanford Park & Ride Lot at Wells Fargo, and information on where to catch the Line U from this location.
Our East Bay/Stanford Transit Guide (PDF, 95 KB) combines the
schedules of the Line U and the Dumbarton Express, and shows connections with BART and Marguerite. You can also view the Line U schedule at the AC Transit website.
Capitol Corridor / Amtrak
The Capitol Corridor train runs between San Jose and Sacramento, with limited service north to Auburn. Stanford riders can connect to the Capitol Corridor in Fremont (via the Line U Stanford Express) or in San Jose (via Caltrain). For Capitol Corridor information, visit http://www.capitolcorridor.org.
Stanford riders also have access to Amtrak's national rail network, via connections in San Jose and San Francisco. For Amtrak information, visit http://www.amtrak.com.
511 TakeTransit Trip Planner
Not familiar with public transit, but need to know how to get around? Use 511.org's TakeTransit Trip Planner, a free and interactive tool that gives you the best public transportation routes, just by entering your start and destination addresses.
Need Help Getting Started?
If you need assistance planning your trip, let us talk you through the best route - from your front door to campus. Either contact the P&TS office at 723-9362 (or email us at transportation@stanford.edu, or call 511 and follow the voice prompts. You can also go to http://www.511.org.
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