Outlet malls near Palo Alto

Palo Alto shoppers pay full price at Stanford Shopping Center or go hunting for deals out of town. The city has no outlet center of its own, but three large ones sit within about an hour's drive. All three are run by Simon, the company that also operates Stanford Shopping Center. Each suits a different kind of trip. The Great Mall in Milpitas is close enough for an afternoon. Gilroy Premium Outlets is the classic stop on a drive south toward Monterey. San Francisco Premium Outlets in Livermore, despite its name, is in the East Bay and has the region's strongest lineup of luxury brands.

This guide compares the three, lists the hours each center published for late 2026 and gives tips on timing, traffic and getting the most from a visit. Store lineups change often. We took brand names from each center's own directory in late October 2026, so check before you drive for one particular store.

The three outlets compared

Hours as published

These are the regular center hours listed on Simon's pages at the end of October 2026. Individual stores, restaurants and anchors can open earlier or close later. Holiday hours differ, as the next section shows.

Holiday hours for 2026

All three centers list Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2026, as closed and Black Friday, November 27, as 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. All three also list Christmas Day as closed. The Great Mall then lists 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, November 28, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, November 29 and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, November 30. Gilroy lists Christmas Eve hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Simon adds more special hours through New Year's Day, so check each center's hours page in December.

Black Friday mornings bring the biggest crowds and the worst parking. If you want the sales without the scrum, go on a weekday evening in the week after Thanksgiving. Our holiday shopping guide covers the season closer to home.

Great Mall, Milpitas

The Great Mall is the easy choice. It sits about 15 miles east of Palo Alto in a former Ford assembly plant and opened in 1994. Because it was built inside a factory, it is a single story laid out as a long loop, which makes it practical with a stroller or on a rainy day. Simon's page for the mall names brands including Uniqlo, Coach, H&M, Victoria's Secret, Karl Lagerfeld Paris, Michael Kors Outlet and the adidas Outlet Store. LEGOLAND Discovery Center is inside, which helps if you are shopping with children. DICK'S Sporting Goods has a store at 1200 Great Mall Drive.

The mall has large free surface lots. Without a car, take Caltrain to Mountain View and ride the VTA Orange Line light rail to the Great Mall or Milpitas station. Allow about an hour each way. Our Milpitas guide covers the transit details, the mall's history and where to eat nearby. The full store directory is on Simon's Great Mall page.

Gilroy Premium Outlets

Gilroy Premium Outlets at 681 Leavesley Road spreads over several blocks on the west side of US 101 at the Leavesley Road exit. Its directory lists roughly 100 store entries, which makes it the biggest collection of factory stores within easy reach of Palo Alto. The mix leans toward athletic, outdoor, family and mid-range fashion brands:

• Athletic and outdoor: NIKE Factory Store, adidas, Under Armour, New Balance, PUMA, Vans, Columbia, The North Face and lululemon.
• Fashion: Polo Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, J.Crew Factory, Banana Republic Factory, Levi's, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, BOSS, Lacoste, Coach and Kate Spade New York.
• Kids: Carter's, OshKosh B'Gosh, Gap Factory, Janie and Jack and The Children's Place.
• Home: Le Creuset, the closest place to buy its cast iron at outlet prices.

The drive is about 45 miles. Traffic on US 101 through south San Jose and Morgan Hill can be heavy on weekday afternoons, so go midmorning or on a weekend. Gilroy pairs naturally with a day out. Our Gilroy and San Juan Bautista guide covers the mission town nearby. Gilroy is also on the way to Monterey and Carmel.

San Francisco Premium Outlets, Livermore

This is the outlet for designer labels. San Francisco Premium Outlets is at 2774 Livermore Outlets Drive, off Interstate 580 in Livermore. Its luxury lineup includes Gucci, Prada, Burberry, Moncler, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli, Max Mara, Ferragamo, Tod's, Jimmy Choo, Roger Vivier, Longchamp and ZEGNA. Bloomingdale's runs an outlet store here too.

It also covers everyday shopping. Athletic brands include NIKE, adidas, ASICS, New Balance, Under Armour, The North Face, Vuori and lululemon. Kids' stores include Carter's, OshKosh B'Gosh, Janie and Jack and Abercrombie Kids. For the kitchen, there are Le Creuset and Zwilling J.A. Henckels outlets. See our kitchenware guide for kitchen stores closer to home.

The fastest route from Palo Alto usually crosses the Dumbarton Bridge, then heads east on Interstate 680 and 580. The state's bridge toll is $8.50 in 2026 and is collected on the westbound trip home. Livermore is also wine country. Our Livermore Valley guide lists wineries a few minutes from the outlets.

Tips for outlet shopping

1. Look for coupons first. Centers and individual brands post deals on their websites. Check before you leave home.
2. Know the difference. Some outlet stores sell merchandise made for outlets rather than past-season stock from full-price stores. Compare quality and labels.
3. Check return rules. Outlet purchases often cannot be returned to full-price stores.
4. Go early on weekends. Parking fills by early afternoon on Saturdays.
5. Plan a meal. Downtown Livermore and downtown Gilroy are a short drive from their outlets if you want a sit-down lunch.

Which outlet should you choose?

Pick the Great Mall for a short trip, a rainy afternoon or a visit with kids. Pick Gilroy for athletic gear, kids' clothing and the widest mix of mid-range factory stores, especially if you are heading south anyway. Pick Livermore for designer labels and a wine tasting stop after. For full-price luxury without the drive, our Stanford Shopping Center guide covers the stores in town.

Frequently asked questions