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Most of the year, finding a room in Palo Alto takes a few minutes. A handful of weekends are different. When Stanford holds commencement, Family Weekend, Reunion Homecoming or a big home football game, thousands of families and alumni arrive at once. Hotels from Redwood City to Mountain View fill, restaurants book out and traffic on El Camino Real and Campus Drive slows to a crawl.
None of this is a reason to stay away. It is a reason to plan. This guide lists the dates Stanford has published, explains how far ahead to book and covers parking, Caltrain and shuttles for each kind of weekend. For details of the ceremonies themselves, see our commencement guide and our guide to Stanford sports and game days.
The big weekends and their dates
Stanford's Office of Special Events and Protocol calls these its Big 5 events. These are the dates it lists for the 2026 to 2027 year.
| Event | Dates | Who comes |
|---|---|---|
| Reunion Homecoming | October 15 to 18, 2026 (2027 dates not yet listed) | Alumni and their families |
| Family Weekend | February 26 and 27, 2027 | Parents and families of students |
| Admit Weekend | April 28 to 30, 2027 | Admitted students and parents |
| Commencement Weekend | June 10 to 13, 2027 | Graduates' families, often from overseas |
| New Student Orientation | September 14 to 19, 2027 | New students and parents moving them in |
Add home football Saturdays from September to November. The last home game of the 2026 regular season is against SMU on November 28. The 129th Big Game against Cal is on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, so it will not fill Palo Alto hotels this year. The game alternates campuses, which puts the next home Big Game at Stanford Stadium in 2027. Check the Big 5 events page for updates.
When to book
The rule is simple: book a refundable room the day you know your dates, then keep watching for something better.
- Commencement: the hardest weekend of the year. With the 2027 dates published, families are booking now. Lock in all nights from Thursday to Sunday, even if you only need two. You can drop the extras later.
- New Student Orientation: nearly as tight, since every new student arrives the same week. Book as soon as admission is confirmed.
- Family Weekend and Admit Weekend: busy but more manageable. Book a month or two ahead.
- Football Saturdays: busiest for big opponents and late-season games. Book a few weeks ahead.
- Reunion Homecoming: book when your class reunion is announced, especially for milestone years.
Start with our guide to hotels near Stanford. The El Camino Real cluster by Palm Drive, with the Sheraton, the Westin and The Clement, is walkable to campus and Palo Alto station. When those sell out, widen the search to Menlo Park and Mountain View, both on Caltrain. You can compare hotels for Stanford weekends across the Peninsula in one search.
Big family groups often do better with a house. A rental with a kitchen spreads the cost and gives everyone somewhere to gather after the ceremony. You can search rental homes near Stanford. Our long stays guide covers what to check. The Stanford Guest House is not an option for most families, since it requires a Stanford affiliation and an educational purpose.
Commencement weekend logistics
The main ceremony is in Stanford Stadium on Sunday, June 13, 2027, with diplomas handed out at school and department ceremonies afterward. Stanford's site gives both 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. as the start time, so check the commencement website before you set an alarm. Baccalaureate is at Frost Amphitheater on Saturday, June 12 at 10 a.m.
Plan around tickets too. For 2027 Stanford says graduates must register for tickets for themselves and their guests, with details in spring quarter. Settle the size of your group with your graduate early. Our graduation weekend planner covers dinners and photo stops too.
Stanford publishes parking, shuttle and accessibility details on its commencement website in the weeks before the event. Lots and shuttle routes can differ from a normal day. A few habits help:
- Aim to be parked well over an hour before the ceremony starts.
- Consider Caltrain. Palo Alto station is about a mile from the stadium on foot. Weekend trains run less often, so check the timetable.
- Plan a drop-off near the stadium for anyone with limited mobility and read the accessibility section of the commencement site.
- After the ceremony, walk a few blocks away from the stadium before calling a rideshare.
- Book a celebration lunch or dinner weeks ahead. Our private dining rooms guide lists rooms for 10 to 120. Close to campus, Vina Enoteca in the old Stanford Barn hosts private events and Fleming's at Stanford Shopping Center has private dining rooms. Downtown, Taverna and Tamarine handle big family groups.
Family Weekend
Family Weekend, the event many families still call parents' weekend, runs on Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27 in 2027. Stanford requires registration in advance for anyone who wants to visit campus, attend events or enter buildings, with no day-of registration. It asks students to bring no more than four family members and notes that activities are not geared toward young children. Registration details are due at the end of autumn quarter on the Family Weekend site.
Late February is the rainy season, so pack a rain jacket. Friday is a weekday, so the free Marguerite shuttle runs and campus visitor parking is paid. Many central lots are free on Saturday, but event parking rules can differ.
Reunion Homecoming
Reunion Homecoming brings alumni back each fall for class parties, Classes Without Quizzes and usually a home football game. The 2026 weekend ran October 15 to 18. The Arrillaga Alumni Center on Galvez Street, home of the Stanford Alumni Association, is a natural first stop. When a game falls on the reunion Saturday, visitors deal with game day parking and traffic too. Book hotels as soon as the Stanford Alumni Association posts the next dates.
Football Saturdays and the Big Game
Tens of thousands of fans arrive in a few hours on a home Saturday. Stanford's Gameday Central sets the rules:
- Parking: lots open five hours before kickoff. Buy a lot pass ahead or pay on site, which is only available at General Lots 7 and 8 and IM South Lot 4. Cash is not accepted.
- Bags: a clear bag policy applies. Clear bags up to 12 by 12 by 6 inches and small clutches are allowed.
- Payments: concessions are cashless.
- Accessibility: carts carry guests with limited mobility from near the stadium to Gate 4, starting 30 minutes before gates open.
Kickoff times are sometimes set only a week or two ahead, so wait before booking a fixed dinner time. After the game, downtown fills fast. Places with online ordering, such as Marugame Udon on University Avenue, let you skip the wait. A classic diner like Palo Alto Creamery on Emerson Street suits a family crowd. Night games get cold in late fall. Our Stanford Stadium guide covers the venue itself. The 2026 Big Game is an away game in Berkeley. Our Big Game week guide covers the rivalry and its traditions.
Getting there without a car
On any big weekend the train is the most reliable way in. Ride Caltrain to Palo Alto station at University Avenue and walk about a mile up Palm Drive and through campus. Caltrain's special Stanford station by the stadium will not open for 2026 football games and is not accessible, so plan on Palo Alto station. The free Marguerite shuttle's main lines run Monday to Friday only. Watch for any special event shuttles Stanford announces. Our Stanford parking and transit guide explains ParkMobile zones and when campus parking is free.
If you are flying in for commencement with family and luggage, a prebooked car from SFO or San Jose takes the stress out of arrival. You can book an airport pickup with a fixed price.
Good to know
- Book refundable rooms early and cancel the extras later.
- Reserve restaurants for the evening of the event when you book your hotel.
- Leave earlier than you think. El Camino Real, Embarcadero Road, Sand Hill Road and Campus Drive all back up on event mornings.
- Check for clashes with other big Bay Area events, which can fill hotels across the region on the same weekend.
Frequently asked questions
When is Stanford Family Weekend 2027?
Stanford lists Family Weekend 2027 for Friday, February 26 and Saturday, February 27. Registration is required to attend events or enter buildings and there is no day-of registration. Stanford says registration details will be posted at the end of autumn quarter.
How early should I book a hotel for Stanford graduation?
As soon as you know you are going. Commencement weekend 2027 runs June 10 to 13, with the main ceremony in Stanford Stadium on Sunday, June 13. Graduates must register for tickets for themselves and their guests. Hotels near campus and across the Peninsula fill months ahead, so book a refundable rate now and keep looking.
Where do I park for a Stanford football game?
Lots open five hours before kickoff. Buy a lot pass ahead or pay on site, which Stanford allows only at General Lots 7 and 8 and IM South Lot 4. Cash is not accepted. Many fans skip parking and walk about a mile from Palo Alto Caltrain station.
Is the Stanford Caltrain station open for games?
No. Caltrain's special Stanford station beside the stadium will not open for 2026 football games. Use Palo Alto station at University Avenue and walk, which takes about 20 to 25 minutes.
Where is the 2026 Big Game?
The 129th Big Game against Cal is on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, according to Stanford's 2026 schedule. The game alternates between the two campuses, so the next home Big Game is expected at Stanford Stadium in 2027.