Stanford Parking and Transit

Stanford's campus is open to everyone and the roads in are simple. Parking is another matter. Lots are marked by zone, permit spaces look a lot like visitor spaces and payment happens on your phone. Visitors who guess risk a ticket. The good news is that the rules are clear once you know them and Stanford runs a free shuttle that makes a car optional on weekdays.

This guide explains visitor parking, the Marguerite shuttle, Caltrain, biking and the special rules for football games and events. Rates and rules come from Stanford Transportation, which you should check before your visit since they change.

Visitor parking basics

Visitor parking is in designated spaces and areas across campus. Every visitor area has a green sign with a zone number. You pay for that zone through ParkMobile, a contactless payment service. There are no meters or pay stations to look for.

Stanford Transportation listed these rates in October 2026:

Payment is due in full when you buy and is non-refundable, so estimate your time with care. Stanford says to buy visitor parking only as needed. The current rates are on the visitor parking page.

Three ways to pay

1. Zone parking in a browser. Use ParkMobile's zone parking page and check out as a guest. No app or account is needed.
2. By phone. Call ParkMobile's automated line at 877.727.5718.
3. In the app. Download ParkMobile and set up an account before you arrive, which saves time in the lot.

Visitors from outside North America can pay by zone parking or phone. When paying online, choose Other for country and enter 00000 as the billing ZIP code. The free Stanford Visitor Wi-Fi network needs no password and works for this.

Finding a spot

The best tool is the Visitor Parking layer on Stanford's campus map. Each marker shows the zone number, the location, the paid hours and any time limits. Check it before you drive in so you head straight for a visitor area.

When parking is free

Paid hours depend on the lot, so always read the sign. As a rule of thumb, much of central campus charges only on weekdays during the day. Stanford Live says metered and lettered zones are free on weekdays after 4 p.m. and all day on weekends. The Anderson Collection notes that ParkMobile enforcement near the museum runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors with disabilities should read Stanford's page on parking with a state-issued placard. Different rules apply at the medical center, which has its own garages. See our hospital visitor guide for those rates.

The Marguerite shuttle

The Marguerite is Stanford's free shuttle. It is open to the public and you do not need a Stanford ID. The buses run Monday through Friday all year, except university holidays. They do not run on weekends. Buses are wheelchair accessible and carry bike racks.

The key hub is the Palo Alto Transit Center beside the Palo Alto Caltrain station. Lines visitors use most:

Other lines serve Redwood City, East Bay commuters and campus housing. Full timetables and the live bus map are on the shuttle lines page. Service is reduced on some holidays, so check the holiday schedule in late December.

Caltrain and buses

Caltrain is the easiest way to reach Stanford from San Francisco, San Jose and the Peninsula. Electric trains began running in 2024. Get off at Palo Alto, at the foot of University Avenue. From there you can take Marguerite line P on weekdays or walk about a mile up Palm Drive to the Oval. For Stanford Research Park, California Avenue station and the CAX line work better. Our getting to Palo Alto page covers trains from the airports and the city.

VTA and SamTrans buses also stop at the Palo Alto Transit Center. Our getting around Palo Alto guide explains local buses and fares.

Biking and walking

Stanford is built for bikes. The university has been named a platinum-level Bicycle Friendly University four times. Stanford says more than 10,400 bicycles cross campus each day. Stanford's bike page cites more than 13,000 bike parking spaces and 12 free repair stands, while its repair stand map lists 11 sites, so expect 11 or 12. A few rules matter:

• Lock your bike to a rack. Bikes left on railings, ramps or walkways can be impounded by Stanford Public Safety.
• Take roundabouts slowly and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Use lights at night. Campus roads get dark between buildings.

Palo Alto has no bike share program, so bring a bike or rent one in town. Our guides to biking in Palo Alto and bike shops can help. For walkers, Stanford's campus map has a Suggested Travel Routes layer showing paths that are accessible, paved and lit.

Game day parking

Home football games change everything around the stadium. According to Stanford Athletics:

• Football lots open five hours before kickoff. One lot near El Camino Real opens earlier for pass holders.
• You need a lot pass bought ahead or you pay on site. On-site payment is only at General Lots 7 and 8 and IM South Lot 4.
• Cash is not accepted for day-of-game parking.
• Stanford publishes a pregame traffic flow plan with road closures and routes.

Caltrain's special Stanford station by the stadium will not open for 2026 football games. Use the Palo Alto station and walk. If you are not going to the game, avoid driving onto campus that day. Our Stanford sports guide covers tickets, tailgating and bag rules.

Concerts and big events

For shows at Bing Concert Hall, park on Lasuen Street, Museum Way, Roth Way or in the Galvez Lot. Evening and weekend parking there is free in metered and lettered zones. Allow 30 minutes to park and walk in. Big outdoor shows at Frost Amphitheater fill nearby lots fast, so Caltrain is often the better choice. Stanford Live says the Palo Alto station is about a 20 minute walk from Frost.

Commencement weekend in June brings its own parking and shuttle plan, published by Stanford in the weeks before. Our commencement guide covers what families need to know.

Frequently asked questions