Getting to Palo Alto from Los Angeles

The trip between Southern California and the Peninsula is one of the busiest in the country, so you have plenty of choice. Planes shuttle between the two regions all day. Two long highways run north. A daily Amtrak train follows the coast and coaches leave Los Angeles for San Jose around the clock. The right pick depends on how much time you have, what you are carrying and whether you need a car once you arrive.

This page covers the whole trip from greater Los Angeles, including Burbank, Long Beach and the San Fernando Valley. For the airport transfers at the Palo Alto end, our guides to San Jose airport and SFO go into more detail.

The options at a glance

All times are estimates. Traffic in Los Angeles and on the Peninsula can swing any of them by an hour or more.

Flying from Los Angeles

Flying is the usual answer. The flights themselves are short, typically about an hour and a half on the schedule. Most of the real time goes to getting to the airport, security and the ride into Palo Alto.

Into San Jose (SJC)

San Jose Mineta is the closest airport to Palo Alto, about 15 miles away. Its nonstop destinations page listed Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario and Orange County in October 2026, plus Palm Springs and San Diego. That makes SJC the most flexible choice if you live near Burbank or Long Beach. From the terminals, the free VTA Route 60 bus links to Caltrain at Santa Clara, or a rideshare takes about 20 to 40 minutes. Our SJC guide walks through each option.

Into San Francisco (SFO)

SFO's list of United States nonstops showed LAX flights on Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United in October 2026. Burbank was listed on Southwest and United. Long Beach was not on the SFO list, so from Long Beach look at SJC instead. SFO also takes flights from Ontario, Orange County and San Diego. From the airport, take BART one stop to Millbrae and change to Caltrain, or ride straight down US 101. Our SFO guide covers the transfer.

Which airport to pick

• Pick SJC for the shorter ride, smaller terminals and the most Southern California airports to choose from.
• Pick SFO when the fare or timing is better, or when you are connecting to an international flight.
• Skip Oakland unless the fare gap is large. It sits across the bay and adds a bridge or a long train ride.

Routes, airlines and schedules change often, so search all the Bay Area airports at once before you book. If you will want a car on arrival, you can compare rental cars at SJC and SFO while you are looking at flights.

Driving from Los Angeles

Two highways connect the regions. Both are long and both have their own hazards.

Interstate 5

Interstate 5 is the fast, flat and monotonous route. From Los Angeles it climbs the Grapevine over Tejon Pass, then runs straight up the west side of the Central Valley. Most drivers heading to Palo Alto leave I-5 at State Route 152, cross Pacheco Pass to Gilroy and pick up US 101 north through San Jose. Allow about six hours in light traffic, without long stops.

• The Grapevine can close in winter storms when snow or ice hits Tejon Pass. Check before you go, especially from December to March.
• Tule fog can cut visibility to almost nothing in the Central Valley on winter mornings.
• Services are spread out. Fill up and charge at the larger stops rather than gambling on the next exit.
• Pacheco Pass on State Route 152 is busy and partly two lanes, with heavy truck traffic.

US 101

US 101 takes the coastal valleys through Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and the Salinas Valley, then runs into San Jose and up the Peninsula to Palo Alto. It is a little shorter on the map but slower, with more towns and lower speeds. Allow roughly seven hours. In return you get ocean views near Santa Barbara and better places to stop for lunch. If you have a spare day, Highway 1 through Big Sur is the famous alternative, though it adds hours and winding mountain driving.

Arriving in Palo Alto

From the south on US 101, exit at San Antonio Road, Oregon Expressway, Embarcadero Road or University Avenue depending on where you are staying. Our driving guide matches each exit to each part of town. If you are driving electric, the city runs public charging ports in its garages. See our EV charging guide before you arrive.

Amtrak: the Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner

No Amtrak train stops in Palo Alto, but two routes get you close. Our full guide to Amtrak connections explains every line that reaches the area.

Coast Starlight

The Coast Starlight runs once a day in each direction between Los Angeles and Seattle. Northbound train 14 leaves Los Angeles Union Station in the morning and stops at Van Nuys, Simi Valley, Oxnard, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles and Salinas before reaching San Jose Diridon in the evening. On a timetable valid in late summer 2026, that leg took about ten hours. The train is known for coastal views north of Santa Barbara. It is also known for running late, so do not plan a tight dinner reservation on arrival.

Pacific Surfliner connections

The Pacific Surfliner runs more often, between San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. It does not reach the Bay Area. Amtrak sells connections that continue north by Thruway bus, including Route 21 between Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and San Jose Diridon. It is a long day with a transfer, but it gives more departure times than the single daily Starlight.

The last leg

From Diridon, take a northbound Caltrain. Express trains reached Palo Alto in about 21 minutes on the late October 2026 weekday timetable. It is a two zone ride, $6.25 for an adult in October 2026 and $6.50 from January 1, 2027. Diridon has construction through December 2026, so follow the track signs and allow a few extra minutes. Our Caltrain guide covers tickets.

Intercity buses

Coaches are the cheapest way north. Greyhound and FlixBus both list San Jose Diridon Station at 65 Cahill Street, boarding at the Amtrak bus stalls. No coach stop is listed in Palo Alto. From Diridon, the Caltrain connection works exactly as it does for Amtrak riders. Read our intercity bus guide for the stop details and late night backups.

Many coaches from Los Angeles run overnight or arrive late in the evening. Compare the arrival time with the last Caltrain of the night before you book. You can compare bus and train tickets from Los Angeles across operators in one search.

Which option to choose

1. Short trip or business trip: fly to SJC and use a rideshare, or Caltrain if you pack light.
2. Family with bags and plans for the coast: drive, or fly and rent a car at the airport.
3. Lowest cost: a coach to San Jose plus Caltrain, booked a few days ahead.
4. The journey itself: the Coast Starlight, with a window seat on the ocean side.

When you arrive

Trains and most airport routes end at Palo Alto station, at the foot of University Avenue. Downtown hotels and restaurants are a short walk away. If you have not booked a room, start with our guide to where to stay or compare hotels in Palo Alto.

Frequently asked questions