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Filoli is the closest day trip on our list and one of the most rewarding. The estate sits at the head of the Crystal Springs valley in Woodside, about 15 miles from downtown Palo Alto. Its brick Georgian Revival house was finished in 1917 and its 16 acres of formal gardens are among the finest in California. The National Trust for Historic Preservation runs it today and it is open to visitors year round.
A visit takes half a day, which leaves time for the rest of Woodside: a horsey country town with a historic general store, a famous breakfast spot for Silicon Valley dealmakers and redwood trails at Huddart Park. This guide covers the estate's history, what blooms when, how tickets work and how to build a full day around it.
Getting there
From Palo Alto, take Interstate 280 north and exit at Edgewood Road. Head west to Cañada Road, then turn north and follow it a short distance to the Filoli entrance at 86 Cañada Road. The drive is about 15 miles and takes 20 to 25 minutes outside rush hour. Interstate 280 through this stretch is one of the prettiest freeways in the country, running along the reservoirs at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Parking is free with your ticket and staff direct you to a lot. There is no practical public transit to Filoli, so you need a car, a rideshare or a taxi. If you are staying in Palo Alto without a car, you can compare one-day rental cars and combine Filoli with the coast on the same day.
A short history
William Bowers Bourn II was one of the richest men in California. He owned the Empire Mine, a gold mine in Grass Valley. He also controlled the Spring Valley Water Company, which supplied San Francisco and owned the Crystal Springs lakes below the estate. He and his wife Agnes built Filoli between 1915 and 1917 as a country retreat.
The architect was Willis Polk, a leading San Francisco designer of the day, who drew the house in a free Georgian style with California tile roofs. The gardens were laid out between 1917 and 1922 with input from artist Bruce Porter. Horticulturist Isabella Worn chose the plantings and looked after them for decades. The name is an acronym of Bourn's motto: Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life.
After the Bourns died, William P. Roth and Lurline Matson Roth bought the estate in 1937. The Roths added the collections of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas, along with the swimming pool and the teahouse. In 1975 Lurline Roth gave the estate to the National Trust. The same year it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It became California Historical Landmark No. 907 in 1977.
Film fans may recognize the house. It is the mansion in the opening credits of the 1980s series Dynasty and it appears in films such as Heaven Can Wait, The Game and George of the Jungle.
The house and gardens
Inside, the house keeps its grand rooms, including a ballroom, a library and a dining room, furnished to show how the Bourns and Roths lived. Exhibits change through the year.
The gardens are the real draw. They are laid out as a series of outdoor rooms with hedges and brick walls dividing them, each with its own character. Highlights include the sunken garden near the house, the walled garden, the knot garden and the rose garden. Beyond the formal gardens, trails lead into the wider 654-acre estate, with oak woodland, grassland and views over the watershed. Tripods are fine in the gardens, but drones are not allowed and flash or lighting equipment needs a separate pass.
When to go
Filoli is open in all weather and every season has something to see.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Late winter and early spring | Camellias, magnolias and the first spring bulbs |
| Spring | Peak bloom, with tulips, rhododendrons and azaleas. The busiest season |
| Summer | Roses, perennials and long, warm afternoons. Trails are dry and dusty |
| Fall | Autumn color in the gardens plus evening events around Halloween |
| Holidays | Holidays at Filoli, with the house decorated and hundreds of thousands of lights outdoors |
Filoli posts a What's Blooming page on its website that helps you time a spring visit. Weekday mornings are calmest at any time of year.
Tickets and visiting tips
Filoli uses timed tickets. Reserve in advance on filoli.org and arrive within your one-hour entry window. Weekends, holidays and peak bloom can sell out. General admission can be rescheduled for a fee, but special event tickets cannot. We do not list prices here because they vary by date and event, so check the website. Daytime admission generally starts at 10 a.m. Check the opening times calendar for closing times on the day you go.
A few other things are worth knowing:
- Pets, including emotional support animals, are not allowed. Service animals are welcome.
- You can buy food and drinks on site, but picnics inside the gardens and outside alcohol are not permitted.
- Members get free daytime admission and some library systems lend free passes through the Discover and Go program.
- Filoli takes part in Museums for All, which offers free tickets to holders of a SNAP EBT card.
If you plan to see several paid attractions around the Bay Area, Filoli is one of the sights included on Go City's San Francisco Explorer and All-Inclusive passes. You can compare Go City San Francisco passes to see whether that works out cheaper for your trip.
Woodside village
Woodside is a small, wealthy town of horse properties, winding lanes and redwood canyons. Its compact center sits around the junction of Woodside Road and Cañada Road, a few minutes south of Filoli.
Buck's of Woodside, at 3062 Woodside Road, is a quirky diner that has served breakfast, lunch and dinner for years. It is famous in Silicon Valley lore as a place where founders met investors. The restaurant itself claims that Hotmail was founded there and that PayPal was funded over pancakes. Whatever the details, it is a fun stop after a morning at Filoli.
The Woodside Store, at Kings Mountain Road and Tripp Road, dates from 1854. Dr. Robert Tripp ran it until his death in 1909 and it was for a time the only general store and stagecoach stop between San Francisco and Santa Clara. It is now a county museum and a California Historical Landmark. In October 2026 the San Mateo County Historical Association listed it as open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4 p.m., so check its site before making a special trip.
Cyclists love the roads around Woodside. On weekends you will share Cañada Road and Kings Mountain Road with groups of riders, so drive patiently.
Huddart Park
Huddart Park is a San Mateo County park on Kings Mountain Road, about 3.5 miles west of Highway 84. Its steep, cool canyons are filled with redwoods, most of them second growth that came back after the heavy logging of the 1800s. The park has picnic areas with barbecue pits, a playground, meadows and miles of hiking and riding trails. The Bay Area Ridge Trail passes through. A vehicle entry fee applies. Check the county park page for hours and any trail closures.
Huddart is a good choice for a picnic and a short redwood walk after Filoli. For bigger trees and longer hikes, see our guide to redwood forests near Palo Alto or our list of the best hikes near Palo Alto.
Putting the day together
- Arrive at Filoli for an early time slot and see the gardens before it gets busy.
- Tour the house, then walk one of the estate trails if you have energy.
- Have lunch in Woodside.
- Spend the afternoon at Huddart Park or cross Highway 92 to Half Moon Bay for a walk by the ocean.
Garden lovers can round out the trip back in Palo Alto at the Elizabeth F. Gamble Garden, a smaller historic garden that is free to visit. For a longer stay in the area, you can compare hotels near Woodside along the Peninsula. Our day trips hub has more ideas.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to see Filoli?
Plan on two to three hours for the house and the formal gardens at a relaxed pace. Add an hour or more if you want to walk the trails on the wider estate. Many visitors combine Filoli with lunch in Woodside or an afternoon on the coast.
Do you need tickets in advance for Filoli?
Filoli asks visitors to reserve timed tickets in advance and to arrive within a one-hour window. Weekends, holidays and peak bloom periods can sell out. Check filoli.org for the current calendar and prices before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Filoli?
No. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted at Filoli. Trained service animals are welcome.
What does the name Filoli mean?
The name combines the first two letters of each part of William Bourn's motto: Fight for a just cause; Love your fellow man; Live a good life. Bourn built the estate between 1915 and 1917.
What movies were filmed at Filoli?
The house appears in the opening credits of the TV series Dynasty. It was also used in films including Heaven Can Wait, The Game, George of the Jungle and Rent, while the gardens appear in The Wedding Planner and The Joy Luck Club.