Plan Your Visit
Family Weekend Check-In and Information
Your first stop on campus should be the Family Weekend Check-In and Information Center, located at the Arrillaga Center for Sports & Recreation, just across Galvez Street from the Alumni Center. This is where you will pick up your Family Weekend registration materials and enjoy complimentary continental breakfast to start your day.
Family Weekend Check-in and Information Center
Arrillaga Center for Sports & Recreation
341 Galvez St, Stanford, CA 94305
Complimentary parking for guests is in the Galvez Parking Lot and surrounding Groves parking lots
Parents' Club Social Hub and Chat Corner
Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center
326 Galvez Street Stanford, CA 94305
Hours
Friday, February 23 - 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 24 - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Family Weekend helpline:
(650) 736-9018
Need disability-related accommodations?
See the Disability Access & Accommodations page for more info.
Construction Notice on El Camino Real (State Route 82)
Expect daytime shoulder lane closures on El Camino Real (State Route 82) from Palm Drive to California Avenue in Palo Alto, between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Construction activities will include removing and replacing concrete at driveways, sidewalks, and ADA ramps to improve the existing SR-82.
Getting here
Airports
San Francisco International (SFO) is approximately 25 miles north and San Jose International (SJC) approximately 20 miles south of Stanford. Both airports offer public transport, shuttle, and hire car options that will get you here. Oakland International (OAK) is also an option but is further from campus and can be more difficult to travel to/from using public transport and shuttles. See info about airport shuttles.
Public transportation
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) provides limited transit service on the San Francisco Peninsula and throughout the East Bay. BART services do not extend past the Millbrae station. Stanford riders can connect to BART via Caltrain and bus connections at the following stations:
Millbrae – served by Caltrain
Fremont – served by the Line U East Bay Express
Union City – served by the Dumbarton Express
Caltrain connects San Francisco and San Jose (including both airports) with a stop in Palo Alto. Visitors using Caltrain should get off at the Palo Alto station and take the Marguerite shuttle to campus.
See the Stanford Transportation website for more information about getting to campus using public transit.
Directions
From Highway 101 North & South - Exit onto Embarcadero Road and travel west, following the signs directing you to Stanford University. About three miles after exiting the freeway, Embarcadero Road becomes Galvez Street as you cross El Camino Real. Stay in the left lane and continue past the stadium. Follow the Galvez Lot parking signs.
From Highway 280 North & South - Exit onto Sand Hill Road and follow the signs for Stanford University. Heading east, drive approximately three miles to the Stanford Shopping Center. Turn right onto Arboretum Road (Nordstrom is on your right). Stay on Arboretum until it ends, then turn right onto Galvez Street. Follow the Galvez Lot parking signs.
Getting around
General parking
Family Weekend complimentary parking is provided in the Galvez Parking Lot, located across Campus Drive from the Alumni Center. Additional overflow parking will be available in the Groves surrounding the Galvez lot.
Please remember to lock your vehicle and do not leave valuables inside. Attendants will not be monitoring parking areas closely.
Marguerite Shuttle
Marguerite is Stanford's free shuttle service and is open to the public – no ID required. All buses are wheelchair-accessible and have bike racks. A special Family Weekend Marguerite will be making a continuous loop of campus from 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. with a break from noon to 1:00 p.m. See the Family Weekend brochure map or interactive Google map for shuttle stop locations. See the live shuttle map.
Bike rentals
Another favorite way of getting around campus is by bicycle. Bicycles are available for rent at the campus bike shop at Tresidder Union.
Golf cart shuttles
A limited golf cart service will also be available for Family Weekend guests with limited mobility. See more information on the Disability Access & Accommodations page. For safety reasons, personal golf carts are not allowed to be brought onto the campus during Family Weekend.
Navigating campus
Family Weekend interactive Google map
Lodging and dining
The Stanford campus and surrounding areas offer a wide range of dining and lodging options. Stanford does not reserve hotel blocks for Family Weekend, however some operators may offer special rates. We recommend contacting the hotels directly to inquire about special rates as all pricing and reservations are handled separately through the hotels and not by the university. Please note that the lodging options linked below are not operated by Stanford University and are included as a courtesy.
Lodging
Lodging in the Silicon Valley area
Dining
Friday lunch in the dining halls with your student
Cafe and retail food locations on campus
Dining options at the Stanford Shopping Center
Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce restaurants and cafes list
*Check with establishments to confirm operating status and hours.
Visitor and area information
Helpful information for your visit including history, facts, news, and weather for Stanford and the surrounding areas.
Stanford information
KZSU Stanford 90.1 FM
Bay Area information
Visit California: Spotlight on Silicon Valley
The Mercury News (Silicon Valley)
Service and Support Animals
Please note that the university restricts pets and emotional support animals from public spaces on campus, with the exception of service animals that are specifically trained to perform a service and/or task for an individual with a disability.
Restricted areas include dining areas, athletic venues, performances spaces, etc.
If you have questions related to the above, please contact the Diversity & Access Office at (650) 725-0326 or disability.access@stanford.edu.
Emergency info and lost and found
In the event of an emergency, call 911.
Emergencies – call 9-1-1
9-9-1-1 from a main campus phone
Non-emergency response - (650) 329-2413
Lost and found
Found items can be turned in at the Family Weekend information center inside the Arriallaga Center for Sports & Recreation. If you lost an item that was not turned in at the information center, please email: lostandfoundsu@stanford.edu
Stanford University's Land Acknowledgment Statement
Stanford sits on the ancestral land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. This land was and continues to be of great importance to the Ohlone people. Consistent with our values of community and inclusion, we have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor, and make visible the University’s relationship to Native peoples.
Please note that some of these websites are not maintained by Stanford University and may change without notice. The information on this page is provided for your convenience and does not constitute an endorsement.