Running stores in and near Palo Alto

Palo Alto is a running town. Before work you will see people on the Stanford Dish, along the Baylands levees and through the flat, tree-lined grid of Old Palo Alto. Yet the city has no independent running specialty store of its own. What it has instead is a cluster of brand stores at Stanford Shopping Center, plus one of the Peninsula's best-known running shops two miles away in downtown Menlo Park. For racing flats, trail shoes and big-box selection, runners head south to Sunnyvale or north to Redwood City.

This guide explains where to go for a proper fitting, where to browse apparel and how to plan a shoe-buying trip. We confirmed each store on its own website or on the shopping center's 2026 directory. Hours change with the seasons, so check before you drive.

Running stores at a glance

Stanford Shopping Center: On and New Balance

Palo Alto's running shoe shopping centers on Stanford Shopping Center, the open-air mall at El Camino Real and Sand Hill Road. Its 2026 directory lists two dedicated running shoe brands. Each store sells only its own label, so they suit runners who already know which brand fits their feet.

On

The Swiss brand's store sits on the Garden Walk near Reformation, across from Vuori. The closest entrance is off El Camino Real at Stanford Shopping Center Way. On is known for its cushioned road shoes with a distinctive cutout sole. The store also sells the brand's running apparel, socks and bags. Since it carries one brand, it is a place to compare On models side by side rather than to compare brands.

New Balance

New Balance is on the Sand Hill Walk next to Arhaus, near the Sand Hill Road entrance and RH. The store lists a 3D foot scanner, which measures length, width and arch before you try shoes on. It also lists a trade-in program for used shoes. New Balance makes many of its models in several widths, which helps runners whose feet are wider or narrower than average.

Both stores keep the center's regular hours, which in fall 2026 were 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Holiday hours run longer from late November. Our Stanford Shopping Center guide covers parking, transit and where to eat.

Running clothes and accessories in Palo Alto

Several apparel brands at the same center sell running clothes, from shorts and tights to lightweight jackets. Most have sizable women's and men's ranges.

• lululemon: running, yoga and training clothes plus a line of running shoes, on the Garden Walk near Aritzia.
• Vuori: the California activewear brand, across from On, with community classes and in-store events.
• Alo Yoga: training and studio wear on the Garden Walk near Bloomingdale's.
• Athleta: women's and girls' activewear at Town & Country Village on El Camino Real, with in-store pickup and free in-store returns.

For socks, hats and reflective gear, the department stores at Stanford are another option. Nordstrom and Macy's both sell athletic shoes. Selection varies by season, so call ahead if you want a particular model.

Fleet Feet, Menlo Park

Outside Palo Alto, the closest dedicated running store is Fleet Feet at 859 Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park. It is part of a national franchise chain and the only Fleet Feet on the Peninsula. Unlike the brand stores, it stocks many shoe makers under one roof. The company describes its approach as personalized shoe outfitting: staff look at how you stand and move, then bring out several options to compare. This is the store to choose if you are new to running, coming back from an injury or unsure which brand suits you.

The store's page lists hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. In past years it has stayed open later from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The store is closed on some holidays, so check its news page in late December.

Fleet Feet also runs a community side. A free, drop-in fun run leaves the store every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The store page says all paces are welcome. It also posts training groups for upcoming races on its training page. Parking downtown is in the public plazas behind Santa Cruz Avenue. Our Santa Cruz Avenue guide covers the rest of the street, including coffee for after the run.

Bigger stores in Sunnyvale and Redwood City

For the widest selection of trail shoes and outdoor running gear, runners drive to the larger stores outside Palo Alto. All three are about 15 to 20 minutes away by car.

• REI at 130 East El Camino Real in Sunnyvale stocks trail running shoes, running packs, headlamps and hydration gear. The store moved from Mountain View to Sunnyvale in 2021. Check the REI Sunnyvale page for hours.
• Sports Basement has stores in Redwood City to the north and Sunnyvale to the south. Both carry running shoes alongside camping, bike and ski gear.
• DICK'S Sporting Goods at 125 East El Camino Real in Sunnyvale sells mainstream running shoes and apparel.

Our sporting goods guide has more on these stores and on tennis, pickleball and team sports.

How to get a good shoe fitting

A running shoe fitting is quick, but a little preparation makes it more useful. Here is what to do before and during the visit.

1. Shop later in the day. Feet swell after hours on them and during a run, so an afternoon fitting is closer to how your feet feel at mile three.
2. Bring your old shoes. The wear pattern on the soles tells staff a lot about how you land.
3. Wear your running socks. Thick and thin socks change the fit by half a size.
4. Describe your running. Say how many miles a week you run, on what surfaces and whether you are training for a race.
5. Run in the shoes. Ask to jog on the sidewalk or a treadmill. Standing still tells you little.
6. Leave a thumb's width. You want about that much room between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.
7. Ask about returns. Policies on worn shoes differ by store and brand, so ask before you buy.

Where to run once you have the shoes

New shoes deserve a good route. The Stanford Dish loop is about 3.5 miles of paved, hilly trail with views over the bay. The Baylands offer flat levee miles on packed gravel, which suit trail shoes. Palo Alto also has a free weekly parkrun at the Baylands Nature Preserve on Saturday mornings. Our running routes guide maps the best loops in town. If you are training for a goal, see our calendar of running races near Palo Alto.

Planning a running shoe trip

If you know your brand, start at Stanford Shopping Center, where On and New Balance sit a few minutes' walk apart and lululemon and Vuori are nearby for clothes. If you want to compare brands or need advice, drive or bike to Fleet Feet in Menlo Park, ideally on a Wednesday so you can join the evening fun run. For trail gear, combine REI and Sports Basement in Sunnyvale in one trip down El Camino Real. Whatever you buy, ease into new shoes with a few short runs before a long one.

Frequently asked questions