Campbell

Campbell is a small city of about 44,000 people wedged between San Jose, Los Gatos and Saratoga. It began as a fruit-shipping town on the railroad and still has the downtown to show for it: one walkable street of restaurants, bars and shops, an old water tower and a historic house museum. Just to the east, the Pruneyard is one of the South Bay's best-known shopping centers.

From Palo Alto, Campbell is about 18 miles southeast. It is one of the few South Bay suburbs you can reach without a car, thanks to VTA light rail. This guide covers distances and transit, what Campbell is known for, its main areas, attractions, events and why a Palo Alto visitor might go.

Where Campbell is and how far

Campbell is in Santa Clara County, surrounded on most sides by San Jose. Los Gatos lies to the south and Saratoga to the west. Highway 17 and Highway 85 cross the city and Los Gatos Creek runs along its eastern side.

Downtown Campbell is about 18 miles from University Avenue. Outside rush hour the drive takes about 25 to 30 minutes.

Getting there from Palo Alto

Car

Take Interstate 280 south, then Highway 85 or Highway 17 depending on where you are going. Downtown is just west of Highway 17. The Pruneyard sits at Campbell and Bascom avenues, just east of it. Downtown has public parking near Campbell Avenue.

Caltrain and VTA light rail

Campbell has three VTA light rail stations: Hamilton, Downtown Campbell and Winchester, the end of the line. They opened as part of the Vasona light rail extension, which had its grand opening on October 1, 2005. From Palo Alto, take Caltrain south to San Jose Diridon, then light rail toward Winchester. The Downtown Campbell stop puts you a short walk from Campbell Avenue. Use VTA's trip planner for times and see our VTA guide and Caltrain guide for fares.

Bike

The Los Gatos Creek Trail runs along Campbell's east side, linking it with Los Gatos to the south and San Jose to the north.

What Campbell is known for

Benjamin Campbell and the railroad

Benjamin Campbell came to California with his father in 1846 and bought 160 acres here in 1851. In 1878 he sold land to a railroad company and the town that grew up around the line was founded on his land and named for him.

Fruit and canneries

Campbell became a center for drying and shipping the valley's fruit, with drying grounds, canneries and the Campbell Fruit Growers' Union. The canning pioneer John Colpitts Ainsley built an English Tudor style house in 1925. That house is now a museum. The city incorporated on March 28, 1952, as the orchards gave way to suburbs.

The water tower

Downtown's water tower was built in 1928 and could hold up to 75,000 gallons. Since 2016 the city has lit it in colors for holidays and special occasions and it has become the town's symbol.

The Pruneyard case

Campbell's best-known contribution to American law came from the Pruneyard. In 1980 the U.S. Supreme Court decided Pruneyard Shopping Center v. Robins, a dispute that began when local high school students were stopped from gathering signatures at the center. The ruling let California protect free speech at large private shopping centers under its own constitution.

The main areas

Downtown Campbell

Downtown centers on Campbell Avenue near the old railroad crossing, now the light rail line. The street has restaurants, bars, cafes, dessert shops and boutiques in low older buildings. On Sundays the street closes for the farmers market. The Heritage Theatre, reopened in 2004, hosts performances and events. The Downtown Campbell website keeps a directory and calendar.

The Pruneyard

The Pruneyard at 1875 South Bascom Avenue is an open-air center built on the former Brynteson Ranch. Developer Fred Sahadi bought the site in 1968, the first business, a three-screen movie theater, opened in 1969 and the complex was completed in 1970. It has shops, restaurants, a movie theater, a hotel and three office towers from 1970. One of them is the tallest building in the area outside downtown San Jose. Regency Centers has owned the center since 2019. Our movie theaters guide covers screens closer to Palo Alto.

The creek side

Along Los Gatos Creek, the trail passes a string of percolation ponds that locals call the Perc Ponds. It is a popular place to walk, run and watch birds.

Museums, parks and food

• Campbell Historical Museum: 51 North Central Avenue, with exhibits in the old firehouse. Open Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., per campbellmuseums.com.
• Ainsley House: 300 Grant Street, the 1925 Tudor house moved to the downtown civic area in the early 1990s. Open Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed every year from January through March.
• Los Gatos Creek Trail: Paths on both banks of the creek, continuing south to Los Gatos and Vasona Lake.
• City parks: Campbell has neighborhood parks across the city. The city's parks directory lists them and picnic sites can be reserved.

For food, downtown Campbell is the place for a relaxed dinner or drinks, with American, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Thai and Mediterranean menus close together. The Pruneyard adds more restaurants and cafes. If you want to stay the night, compare hotels in Campbell and nearby San Jose. Because tenants change, check the downtown and Pruneyard directories before you go. Our San Jose day trip covers the bigger city next door.

Events

• Downtown Campbell Weekly Farmers' Market: Every Sunday on Campbell Avenue, with the street closed to cars. The Downtown Campbell calendar listed 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for its November 1, 2026 market. Our farmers market guide covers Palo Alto's markets.
• Campbell Oktoberfest: The 31st edition ran October 17 and 18, 2026, free, with more than 100 arts and crafts booths, food, beer, wine and local bands.
• Halloween downtown: In 2026 the downtown calendar listed a Thrill the World zombie crawl on October 24 and a downtown trick-or-treat on October 25.
• Museum programs: The museums listed a history talk at the Ainsley House carriage house on November 6, 2026 and photos with Santa at the Ainsley House on November 21, 2026.
• Water tower lighting: The tower is lit in special colors for holidays.

Check the City of Campbell website and the downtown calendar for current dates.

Why a Palo Alto visitor might go

1. A car-free South Bay outing. Caltrain and light rail get you to Campbell Avenue without driving.
2. A Sunday morning market. The market fills Campbell Avenue every Sunday morning.
3. Orchard history. The Ainsley House and the museum tell the story of the valley's canning era.
4. Trail days. Combine the Perc Ponds and the creek trail with a ride or walk to Los Gatos.
5. Fall festivals. Oktoberfest and the Halloween events fill downtown every October.

Frequently asked questions