Palo Alto is flat, compact and newer than most Bay Area towns, which helps. Downtown sidewalks are wide, the main Stanford sights sit on level ground and several local venues have put real thought into access. The city is also home to one of the best-known inclusive playgrounds in the country. Hills, old gardens and historic buildings are another story, so it pays to know which places work before you go.
This guide lists outings that publish clear accessibility information, with what each one offers. Details come from each venue's own accessibility page, checked in late October and early November 2026. Needs vary widely, so call ahead about anything specific. For transit, paratransit and parking, see our accessible travel guide.
Play and parks
1. Magical Bridge Playground, Mitchell Park
Magical Bridge opened in Mitchell Park at 600 East Meadow Drive in April 2015. It was built so children and adults of every ability can play side by side, including wheelchair users and people with sensory or cognitive disabilities. Features include a wheelchair-accessible two-story playhouse, a laser harp and quiet retreat spaces. It is free and open from sunrise to sunset. Our Mitchell Park guide covers parking and restrooms.
2. The Baylands boardwalk and Duck Pond
The boardwalk at the Baylands Nature Preserve was rebuilt in 2019 to accessibility standards and reaches out over the marsh. Nearby, the Duck Pond loop is flat and about 0.7 mile. The preserve opens from 8 a.m. to sunset and parking is free.
3. Gamble Garden
The 2.5-acre garden at 1431 Waverley Street is free and open daily during daylight hours. Most paths are level. Restrooms are open when staff are on site, which the garden guarantees on weekdays.
Museums
4. Cantor Arts Center and Anderson Collection
Both Stanford museums are free. The Cantor says its galleries, gardens, restrooms and cafe are wheelchair accessible and that wheelchairs are available for visitors. The Anderson Collection sits on the same flat stretch of Lomita Drive. Campus disability parking and accessible routes appear on Stanford's Campus Access Guide. Questions go to Stanford's Diversity and Access Office at (650) 723-0755.
5. Computer History Museum
The museum's visitor FAQ says all exhibits are wheelchair accessible and that a limited number of wheelchairs can be picked up at the front desk, first come, first served. It is a single large building at 1401 North Shoreline Boulevard in Mountain View, open Wednesday to Sunday. EBT cardholders get in free through Museums for All.
6. The Tech Interactive
The San Jose science center lends two adult manual wheelchairs free, first come, first served. There are no stairs at the entrance and an elevator serves all three levels. The IMAX dome has four wheelchair spaces with companion seats. Its accessibility page also suggests quieter times for visitors sensitive to noise: mornings and the September to May off season.
Performances
7. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley
The region's main professional theater company plays at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto and the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Its access services include open captioned performances, one ASL interpreted performance of each production, live audio description and pre-show haptic tours. Assistive listening devices are available in the lobby before every show, no reservation needed. See our theater guide for the season.
8. Bing Concert Hall
Stanford Live lists accessible seating, parking and assistive listening devices at Bing Concert Hall on its accessibility page. Ask about accessible seats when you buy tickets, since they sell out for popular shows.
Accessible nature
9. Ravenswood Bay Trail
Midpen includes Ravenswood Preserve in East Palo Alto on its easy-access list. The trail is mostly paved and runs about two miles along a levee beside the salt marsh. Midpen describes its easy-access trails as at least 4 feet wide with grades generally under 5 percent. Parking at the end of Bay Road includes one accessible space. There are no restrooms.
10. Mount Umunhum summit
Midpen describes a 0.3-mile accessible pathway on the 3,486-foot summit of Mount Umunhum, leading to a ceremonial circle, an east summit viewpoint and a shelter, with views across the South Bay. Three accessible parking spaces sit at the summit turnaround and three more at the main lot, which has the restrooms. The area opens at 7 a.m. and closes a half hour after sunset. Dogs are not allowed.
11. Purisima Creek Redwood Trail
Off Skyline Boulevard, Midpen's Redwood Trail at Purisima Creek is a flat quarter mile under the redwoods with three accessible picnic tables. It is about 40 minutes from Palo Alto.
12. Half Moon Bay beach wheelchair
An all-terrain beach wheelchair is free to borrow at the Francis Beach entrance station at Half Moon Bay State Beach. The paved Coastside Trail runs about three miles along the bluffs behind the beaches. State parks charge a $10 day use fee. Our accessible trails guide has more routes.
Places to check first
Some popular stops are harder going. Before you visit any of these, read the venue's own page or call. Useful questions include where the accessible entrance and restrooms are, whether an elevator is out of service, how far the accessible parking sits from the door and whether a companion gets a free or discounted ticket. Ask about surfaces too, since gravel and old brick cause more trouble than slopes at many gardens.
- Filoli. The Woodside estate has ADA parking, a loading zone and a ramp, but Filoli notes that its historic paths include bricks, gravel and grass. It does not rent or lend wheelchairs or walkers.
- The Stanford Dish. Stanford says the paved path can be used by manual or electric wheelchairs, but some sections are steep and there is almost no shade.
- Hoover Tower. The observation deck is closed until January 25, 2027.
- Stanford Stadium station. This Caltrain stop is not accessible. Use Palo Alto or California Avenue station.
Getting there
Palo Alto and California Avenue are the accessible Caltrain stations in town. Seniors and riders with disabilities pay roughly half fare with a Regional Transit Connection card, a Medicare card or a DMV disabled person placard ID. From Palo Alto station, the free Stanford Marguerite shuttle reaches the museums on weekdays. For door to door rides, VTA ACCESS paratransit charged $4 for a standard trip in October 2026. Drivers with a placard can use blue spaces on campus and in city lots. Our Stanford parking and transit guide explains campus zones.
Good to know
- Every Caltrain can be boarded by ramp or lift. Wait in the blue boarding area at the north end of the platform.
- The Stanford Marguerite shuttle is free and its buses are wheelchair accessible.
- VTA ACCESS paratransit can serve visitors certified elsewhere for up to 21 days a year. Call (408) 321-2380 before your trip.
- Arriving by air? Compare airport transfers and check accessibility options before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Is Magical Bridge Playground wheelchair accessible?
Yes. It was designed so children and adults of all abilities can play together, including wheelchair users and people with sensory or cognitive disabilities. It opened in Mitchell Park in April 2015, includes a wheelchair-accessible two-story playhouse and is free.
Which museums near Palo Alto lend wheelchairs?
The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford, the Computer History Museum in Mountain View and The Tech Interactive in San Jose all say wheelchairs are available to borrow, first come, first served. The Computer History Museum says all its exhibits are wheelchair accessible. Filoli does not lend wheelchairs.
Does TheatreWorks offer captioned performances?
Yes. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley schedules open captioned, ASL interpreted and audio described performances for each production. Assistive listening devices are available in the lobby before every show with no reservation needed. It performs at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto and the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.
Is the Palo Alto Baylands boardwalk accessible?
Yes. The boardwalk at the Baylands Nature Preserve was rebuilt in 2019 to accessibility standards. The preserve is open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Other flat routes nearby include the Duck Pond loop of about 0.7 mile.
Is Caltrain accessible in Palo Alto?
Yes, at two stations. Palo Alto and California Avenue are both accessible and every train can be boarded by ramp or mobile lift. Wait in the blue boarding assistance area at the north end of the platform. Stanford Stadium station is not accessible.