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About one in four Palo Alto households owned an electric car as of 2025, according to the city. The town has the public chargers to match. Hotels have been slower. Some list a few chargers in their garages, some have a dozen and some say plainly that they have none. If you are arriving in an EV or renting one at the airport, check before you book so you are not hunting for a plug at 11 p.m.
This guide lists what each hotel publishes about EV charging, based on our hotel profiles and several official pages rechecked in late October 2026. It then covers the public chargers within reach of each hotel area. For live rates, search hotels with EV charging and confirm the charger details with the hotel.
EV charging by hotel
| Hotel | EV charging as listed | Parking |
|---|---|---|
| The Ameswell Hotel, Mountain View | 12 EV charging stations | Garage, daily fee; EV spaces same price |
| Park James, Menlo Park | Tesla and other EV charging | Valet |
| Creekside Inn | "Several charging stations" | Described as complimentary; check |
| Hilton Garden Inn Palo Alto | On site | Covered self-parking, fee |
| Homewood Suites Palo Alto | On site | Covered, secured self-parking, fee |
| Courtyard Palo Alto Los Altos | Subject to availability | Underground garage, fee |
| Sheraton Palo Alto | Subject to availability | Self-parking, daily fee |
| The Westin Palo Alto | Subject to availability | Self-parking, hourly or daily fee |
| Hotel Citrine | Subject to availability | Self-parking or valet, fee |
| Hotel Nia, Menlo Park | Subject to availability | Valet only, fee |
| Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto | Not available | Valet only, fee |
"Subject to availability" is Marriott's standard wording. It means a charger exists but is not reserved for you. On a busy night it may be taken.
Hotels with the most charging
The Ameswell Hotel in Mountain View lists 12 EV charging spaces in its on-site garage, the most we found at any hotel in the area. The hotel charges a daily garage fee and says EV spaces cost the same as regular ones. It sits beside NASA Ames Research Center, a short drive south of Palo Alto on Highway 101.
In Menlo Park, the Park James lists Tesla and other EV charging with its valet parking. It is a few blocks from the Menlo Park Caltrain station, which suits a trip where the car stays parked most days.
Inside Palo Alto, the Creekside Inn says it "provides several charging stations for electric cars." Its FAQ also describes complimentary parking, though another page only calls parking ample, so confirm the terms when you book.
Near Stanford and downtown
The Sheraton and the Westin, side by side on El Camino Real across from Stanford, both list EV charging stations subject to availability, with paid self-parking. Marriott confirmed both in October 2026. They are the best bet if you want to charge overnight and walk to Caltrain or campus in the morning.
Downtown is thinner. Hilton lists EV charging as not available at the Graduate on University Avenue, which is valet only. The other small downtown hotels do not mention chargers on their sites. Luckily, downtown has the city's densest cluster of public chargers, covered below.
South El Camino Real and beyond
The business hotels at the south end of El Camino Real are the most reliable for charging. Hilton lists on-site EV charging at both the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites, each with covered self-parking for a fee. Across the Los Altos line, the Courtyard Palo Alto Los Altos has chargers in its underground garage, subject to availability.
Not every hotel there has them. Marriott lists no EV charging at either nearby Residence Inn and Hilton lists none at the Hampton Inn in Mountain View. If you are staying at a hotel without a charger, plan a stop at a public site.
Near Highway 101, Hotel Citrine lists charging subject to availability. In Menlo Park, Hotel Nia does too, with valet-only parking.
Public chargers near the hotels
The City of Palo Alto runs 121 Level 2 ports at 10 sites. In October 2026 the rate was $0.35 per kWh. The city promotes them for overnight use from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., with no overstay fees in that window. During the day, normal garage limits apply, including the free three-hour limit unless you hold a permit.
- Downtown: the Webster Street garage at 520 Webster (20 ports), Bryant Street garage at 445 Bryant (14), City Hall garage at 250 Hamilton (13) and High Street garage at 528 High (8). These are a few blocks from the downtown hotels.
- California Avenue: the Sherman garage at 350 Sherman (33 ports), Cambridge garage at 475 Cambridge (10) and Ted Thompson garage at 275 Cambridge (8). Handy for the hotels near California Avenue.
- Libraries and museum: Mitchell Park Library (6), the Junior Museum and Zoo (6) and Rinconada Library (3).
Our downtown parking garages guide explains where the garages are and how daily permits work.
Fast charging
Level 2 chargers are slow. For a quick top-up, Tesla lists a 19-stall Supercharger at 445 Bryant Street downtown, open 24 hours with charging up to 250 kW. Tesla's listing says non-Tesla cars need a NACS adapter. A lower-power 20-stall site sits at Stanford Shopping Center, close to the El Camino Real hotels. Two more sites are just across Highway 101 in East Palo Alto, including one at IKEA with daytime hours. Networks such as ChargePoint, EVgo and Electrify America also operate in the region. Use a live map app for current locations. Our full EV charging guide lists every city site and Supercharger with addresses.
Tips for EV drivers
- Ask for the charger in writing. If it matters, ask the hotel to note an EV space on your reservation, even where it cannot be guaranteed.
- Pack any adapter your car needs. Ask the hotel which connector its chargers use, since plug types vary.
- Count the parking fee. Charging usually sits inside paid parking. Our free parking guide shows which hotels include parking.
- Use the city's overnight window. If your hotel has no charger, a city garage from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. is the backup.
- Move when you are done. Charging spaces are for charging. Hotel guests share a handful of plugs.
Good to know
- The Ameswell lists 12 EV spaces, the most we found.
- The Graduate has no EV charging.
- Marriott's "subject to availability" means no guarantee.
- City garages charge $0.35 per kWh, with no overstay fees from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. (October 2026).
Renting an EV is a good fit for a Palo Alto trip, since distances are short and chargers are common. Once you have a car lined up, compare Peninsula hotels on Expedia and pick one with a charger from the table above.
Frequently asked questions
Which Palo Alto hotels have EV charging?
Hotels that list EV charging include the Sheraton and Westin on El Camino Real, the Creekside Inn, the Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites and Hotel Citrine. Nearby, the Courtyard Palo Alto Los Altos, the Park James in Menlo Park, Hotel Nia and The Ameswell in Mountain View list chargers too. Several say charging is subject to availability.
Is hotel EV charging free in Palo Alto?
Usually not. Most hotels with chargers put them in paid parking areas. At The Ameswell the EV spaces cost the same as regular garage parking. Ask whether the electricity itself costs extra when you book.
Does the Graduate Palo Alto have EV charging?
No. Hilton lists EV charging as not available at Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto, which is valet only. The city's Bryant Street and Webster Street garages nearby have public chargers and Tesla runs a Supercharger at 445 Bryant Street.
Can I charge overnight in a Palo Alto city garage?
Yes. The city promotes its 121 public Level 2 ports for overnight use from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., with no overstay fees in that window. In October 2026 the rate was $0.35 per kWh. Daytime garage time limits still apply.
Where is the nearest fast charger to downtown Palo Alto?
Tesla lists a 19-stall Supercharger at 445 Bryant Street in the Bryant and Lytton garage, open 24 hours. Tesla's listing says non-Tesla cars need a NACS adapter. Another 20-stall site is at Stanford Shopping Center.