A job interview trip to Palo Alto

An onsite interview in Palo Alto usually means a long day. Many tech companies schedule several back-to-back conversations, sometimes with lunch on campus. The office may sit in a business park where every building looks alike. The travel should not add stress. Most of the risks are predictable: traffic that triples a short drive, a lobby that only opens with a badge and a hotel in the wrong part of town.

This guide covers the practical side of an interview trip, from the night before to the flight home. It does not give career advice. For meetings, client dinners and longer work trips, see our guide to business travel to Palo Alto.

First, find the building

"Palo Alto" on an offer letter can mean several different places. Put the exact address on a map before you book anything.

Stanford Research Park covers about 700 acres and more than 150 companies. HP Inc. is at 1501 Page Mill Road, Broadcom at 3421 Hillview Avenue and Rubrik at 3495 Deer Creek Road. Parking and entrances are controlled by each tenant, so ask your recruiter where to park and which door to use. If you are meeting investors, our Sand Hill Road guide explains the layout of the office parks there.

Pick the hotel by location

Sleep as close to the interview as you can. A 2 mile hotel choice can save 30 minutes at 8:30 a.m.

• For Stanford Research Park: the south end of El Camino Real and San Antonio Road. Our El Camino Real hotels guide walks the strip from north to south, including the Creekside Inn, Crowne Plaza and Hotel Citrine.
• For downtown or Stanford: stay downtown or by Palm Drive. Our downtown hotels guide covers the options near the station.
• For Mountain View, Sunnyvale or Menlo Park campuses: look in those cities. Hotels near the big campuses often cost less than Palo Alto.

Many companies book the hotel for you. If you book yourself, keep receipts and check the company's travel policy first. Midweek is the busiest and most expensive time for Peninsula hotels, so book once the date is firm. You can compare hotels near your interview by neighborhood.

Getting in from the airport

San Jose airport is about 15 miles from Palo Alto and SFO about 20. San Jose is often easier for south Palo Alto, Mountain View and Sunnyvale. SFO has more nonstop flights. By train from SFO, take BART to Millbrae and change to Caltrain. From San Jose, the free VTA route 60 links the airport to the Santa Clara Caltrain station.

Fly in the day before if you possibly can. An evening arrival lets you sleep, eat a proper breakfast and avoid the morning rush from the airport. After a long flight, a prebooked car is the calmest option. You can book a fixed-price airport transfer to your hotel. If you will need to move between several offices, you can compare rental cars at either airport.

Timing the trip to the office

Traffic is the biggest risk on interview day. Weekday peaks run roughly 7 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. El Camino Real, Page Mill Road, Oregon Expressway and Highway 101 slow sharply. Our traffic and rush hour guide explains the worst spots.

1. Do a dry run. The evening before, drive, ride or walk to the building at a quiet hour so you know the entrance and the parking.
2. Check the morning trip at the same hour. Look at live traffic on your phone around the time you will leave.
3. Leave a double buffer. Aim to be outside the building 30 minutes early, then go in 10 to 15 minutes before your time.
4. Allow for security. Many lobbies are badge-only. Bring a government photo ID and the name of your contact.
5. Plan the trip home. Long interview days often run late. Book a flight with room to spare, especially if you leave from SFO in the evening rush.

Using Caltrain

For Research Park offices, California Avenue station is the closest stop. Local and limited trains stop there, but express trains pass through, so check the timetable. Stanford's free Marguerite CAX line and VTA route 89 connect the station with the park on weekdays. A rideshare or Waymo from the station takes a few minutes. Palo Alto's on-demand Link service ended on October 30, 2026, so do not plan around it.

What to wear, in general terms

Silicon Valley dresses down. Engineers and product teams often wear jeans, T-shirts and sneakers. A full suit can look out of place. That does not mean anything goes for a candidate. A few general guidelines:

• Ask the recruiter. It is a normal question and the most reliable answer you will get.
• Default to neat business casual. Clean trousers or a skirt, a collared shirt, blouse or good sweater and clean shoes suit most tech interviews.
• Dress up for law, finance and some investors. Law firms on Page Mill Road and some finance roles still expect more formal clothes.
• Bring a layer. Mornings are cool much of the year and conference rooms can be cold.
• Wear shoes you can walk in. Campus tours and lunches often involve walking between buildings.

If a shirt needs pressing or a hem needs fixing, our dry cleaning and tailoring guide lists local shops, including department store alteration counters at Stanford Shopping Center.

Quiet places to prepare

Your hotel room is the obvious place to rehearse, but a change of scene helps some people focus. The Palo Alto City Library lets you book free meeting rooms online for up to two hours a day, up to a week ahead. That is a good spot for a practice call or a video round if your hotel Wi-Fi is weak. Library Wi-Fi on the PA_OverAir_Library network needs no password. Mitchell Park Library on Middlefield Road stays open to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday. Only Mitchell Park and Rinconada open on Sundays and Mondays.

For a last review over coffee, our guide to cafes for working lists places with seating and Wi-Fi. If you need a private office by the hour, our coworking guide covers the flexible office centers in town.

After the interview

Give yourself an hour before you head to the airport. Walk it off at the Baylands at the end of Embarcadero Road, or stroll University Avenue for a meal. If you are weighing an offer, our guide to finding a tech job in Palo Alto covers employers, pay data and commuting, which helps you think about life here beyond the interview room.

Frequently asked questions