closest airport to Palo Alto
 

I'm thinking of visiting friends at Stanford and wondering which airport of San Francisco, San Jose or Oakland would be most convenient and fastest on public transport to get to Stanford.

Thanks.

I think that SFO would be the most convenient. You can take Bart to the nearest train connection going down the peninsula, but I can't tell you which station as I know about it but have never done it.

Stanford is roughly halfway between SFO and SJC. For details, see the "County Bus Service" section on this page:

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/rde/scs...portation.html

I vote for San Jose! Very important is to remember that it is a very small airport--very quick and convenient to get from the gate to luggage to the street. Then you can just take a cab. I would never fly to SFO if Palo Alto were my final destination unless the tickets to SFO or Oakland were lots cheaper.

I live in Palo Alto and SJC is closer. We prefer to use that airport given the choice.

Accessing Caltrain from SFO might be easier.

I also think the San Jose airport has a better on-time record than SFO.

Stu Dudley

I'd probably take the one (SFO or SJC) that had the best airfare. if close in price - I'd use SJC.

oops - meant to say I'd take the one that had the best fare and/or schedule. A non-stop into either would be better IMHO than a flight w/ connections.

Thanks, all. I'd be coming from LA, so it's non-stop. All three were same in price on Southwest. For cost reasons, I'd prefer public transport, not a taxi, but that's a good idea.

So are you back from Oxford for good?

Joe, Oakland is not an option. Between SJC and SFO, either way, you'll have to take a bus or Cal-Train to Palo Alto, and both will drop you off on El Camino near the Stanford Campus. The train station will be a little bit more of a walk to your friend's dorm (I assume they live on campus, but where?) because of course the train has fewer stops than the bus. The train stops are at California Street (south of campus) and Palo Alto (Near University Avenue, on the north end of campus). Ignore the fact that there is also a "Stanford" stop on the Caltrain map unless you are going on the day of a football home game - that's the only time trains stop at that stop.

Once on campus, presumably you could take the free shuttle (called "The Marguerite") to your friend's dorm if they live on the other side of campus. Stanford is huge and it could take a very long time to walk from El Camino (near the train/bus stop) to the other side of campus.

Thanks very much. It seems that San Jose may be a bit smaller and closer but actually it seems to take less time and fewer connections from San Fran, so that seems like the best bet.

Janisj, yes I'm back from Oxford for good (tear!). I've been in LA for the last two weeks and am slowly getting my feet wet here.

Joe, where on campus are you going?

Well, at least no one can ever say you didn't make the most of your time in the UK :)