Redwood City Caltrain station

Redwood City station is the first big stop north of Palo Alto. Express trains call here, nine bus and shuttle routes meet the trains and downtown Redwood City starts a few minutes away on foot. The station sits at 1 James Avenue, on the western edge of downtown. For Palo Alto residents it is the gateway to a livelier evening scene, a historic theater and the San Mateo County seat.

This page covers the trains, fares from Palo Alto, the three parking lots, bike parking, buses and shuttles, accessibility and what is nearby. Station details come from Caltrain's Redwood City station page as of late October 2026.

Which trains stop here

Every type of Caltrain stops at Redwood City. It is one of 11 express stations on the line. In the timetable published in October 2026, every weekday express, limited and local called here. On weekends all trains are locals and all of them stop.

That makes the trip from Palo Alto quick and flexible. An express runs from Palo Alto to Redwood City without stopping. A limited or local adds a stop at Menlo Park. Weekday trains repeat at the same minutes each hour, so once you know your train it is easy to plan around. North of Redwood City, express trains next stop at Hillsdale and San Mateo on the way to San Francisco.

We do not print departure times because they change with each timetable revision. Use the official Caltrain schedules or the live departure board on the station page. If you are going up for a show or dinner, look up the last southbound train back to Palo Alto before you leave home.

Fares from Palo Alto

Redwood City is in Zone 2. Palo Alto, California Avenue and Menlo Park are in Zone 3. A ride from any Palo Alto station to Redwood City therefore crosses two zones. In October 2026 Caltrain listed these fares:

Pay with Clipper, a contactless card or phone wallet or a ticket from a station machine. Redwood City has four ticket machines. Tap on before you board and tap off when you arrive. More on payment is in our main Caltrain guide.

Parking in three lots

Caltrain lists 557 parking spaces at Redwood City, spread over three lots:

1. Station Lot, between Winklebleck Street and James Avenue.
2. Underground garage, beneath a retail building next to the station. It is reached from James Avenue only.
3. Perry Street Lot, between Brewster Avenue and Broadway.

A Caltrain parking permit is required at all hours. Unlike most stations near Palo Alto, the Redwood City station page lists payment through the ticket machines and does not list a ParkMobile zone. Use a machine to be safe, or check the signs in the lot for a zone number. A daily permit cost $5.50 in October 2026 and lasted 24 hours. Monthly permits, $82.50, are sold only to holders of a Caltrain monthly pass or GoPass. Cars showing a California disabled person plate or placard park free. See Caltrain's parking page for the full rules.

On evenings with a big event downtown, city garages fill early. Taking the train up from Palo Alto avoids the hunt.

Bike parking

Redwood City has some of the best bike parking on the line. Caltrain lists three options:

• BikeHub secure parking room, a controlled-access room open 24 hours. Register online with BikeHub and use your Clipper card to get in. Bring your own lock. Caltrain lists standard pricing for its bike parking stations at $60 a year, with weekly and monthly options.
• BikeLink eLockers, rented by the hour through the BikeLink app.
• Racks, 18 in all, for short stops.

Bikes ride free on Caltrain in the two bike cars on each electric train. Riding the whole way from Palo Alto is possible but takes you through Menlo Park and Atherton on busy roads. Most riders take the bike on the train. For Palo Alto's own low-stress routes to the station, see our bike boulevards guide.

Buses and shuttles

The bus area beside the station is the Redwood City Transit Center, the main bus hub for this part of San Mateo County. Caltrain lists these connections:

SamTrans ECR runs down El Camino Real through Atherton and Menlo Park to the Palo Alto Transit Center. It is much slower than the train but stops along the whole corridor. Check SamTrans for its fares and hours.

Getting to Stanford Redwood City

Stanford has a second campus in Redwood City, mostly offices for university staff. Two shuttles link it with the transit center:

• The Commute.org MPT Midpoint shuttle runs in the morning and evening peaks, with stops at 505 Broadway and at Barron Avenue and Broadway.
• Stanford's free Marguerite RWC line fills the gap in the middle of the day on weekdays, with departures averaging every 14 minutes.

The Marguerite RWC line runs on weekdays and skips Stanford holidays and the winter closure. Our Marguerite guide covers the full system.

Accessibility and amenities

Caltrain lists Redwood City as wheelchair accessible. Every electric train can be boarded by ramp or lift. Wait at the blue boarding assistance area at the north end of the platform. Caltrain does not list an elevator here.

Redwood City is one of three stations in Caltrain's smart restroom pilot, along with Palo Alto and Sunnyvale. The solar powered unit is ADA accessible, has a baby changing station and opens with a QR code scan or a text message during station service hours. The southbound platform also has a public telephone between the wooden shelter and the clock tower. Our accessible travel guide covers discount fares and paratransit.

What is nearby

Downtown Redwood City starts at the station's eastern edge. Within a 10 minute walk:

• Courthouse Square at 2200 Broadway, the city's main plaza, with the 1910 domed courthouse that houses the San Mateo County History Museum. Start with our downtown Redwood City guide.
• The Fox Theatre on Broadway, a 1929 movie palace that now books live shows. See our Fox Theatre guide.
• Restaurants on Broadway, Main Street and Middlefield Road. See where to eat in Redwood City.

For the bigger picture of the city, from its port history to its parks, read our Redwood City guide. If a show runs late and you would rather not rush for the last train, compare hotels in downtown Redwood City.

Frequently asked questions