Best Western Inn, Redwood City

The Best Western Inn is a no-frills hotel on El Camino Real at the north edge of downtown Redwood City. It covers the basics that matter on a budget trip: a free hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and, per Best Western's listings, free parking. Courthouse Square and the restaurants of Broadway are about half a mile away. The Caltrain station is a little farther. Palo Alto is about 5 miles south. There is no restaurant, gym or spa. The official page does not publish a room count.

This profile is based on Best Western's official pages for the hotel, checked November 1, 2026. We do not publish prices, star ratings or reviews. For live rates, check the Best Western Inn on Booking.com or book through Best Western, where Best Western Rewards members earn points.

Location

The address is 316 El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA 94062. El Camino Real is the main north to south road through the Peninsula. This stretch runs past motels, car dealers, shops and restaurants on the way into downtown. Best Western describes the hotel as central to downtown. In practice it is a short walk north of the center.

Distances in a straight line, from our own measurement unless noted:

Best Western's page also lists Stanford Shopping Center and Stanford University as nearby, along with Coyote Point in San Mateo. For an overview of the city, see our Redwood City guide.

Getting there

Redwood City station is an express Caltrain stop and a bus hub, about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Best Western lists the Redwood City transit center at about half a mile and SamTrans buses on El Camino Real right outside. Palo Alto is two stops south on most local trains, a two-zone fare.

• From SFO: SFO is the closer airport, about 15 to 20 minutes by car on Highway 101 outside rush hour. By transit, take BART to Millbrae and Caltrain south. Our SFO guide has details.
• From SJC: about 30 minutes by car, or Caltrain north from Santa Clara. See our SJC guide.

Best Western's page does not mention an airport shuttle.

Rooms

Best Western's US page does not list the number of rooms or floors. It lists free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and in all rooms. Check the booking page for the room types, bed configurations and accessible rooms on sale for your dates. Call the hotel to confirm the features of any accessible room.

What is included

• Breakfast. Free daily, described by Best Western as a complimentary hot breakfast.
• Pool. An outdoor pool. Hours are not posted, so ask at check-in, especially on a winter visit.
• Wi-Fi. Free in all rooms and public areas, per Best Western's FAQ.
• Parking. Listed as free on Best Western's French site. The US page does not mention parking, so confirm at booking.

Best Western's FAQ says there is no fitness center. No restaurant is listed and EV charging is not mentioned. For hotels with chargers, see our EV charging guide.

Policies

• Check-in and checkout. 3 p.m. and 11 a.m.
• Pets. Best Western's FAQ says pets are not accepted. The same page shows a pet-friendly tag, so call before you bring an animal.
• Ownership. Best Western says each of its hotels is independently owned and operated. The owner is not named.
• Contact. Best Western lists (650) 366-3808.

Food and things to do nearby

Breakfast is covered. For lunch and dinner, downtown Redwood City is the draw. Broadway and the streets around Courthouse Square hold a long list of restaurants. The 2000 block of Broadway is permanently car-free. Our Redwood City food guide sorts them by cuisine.

Within a short walk or drive:

• San Mateo County History Museum, in the domed 1910 courthouse on the square. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., per its operator.
• The Fox Theatre, 2221 Broadway, a historic theater with live shows. See our Fox Theatre page.
• Courthouse Square, which hosts free movies and concerts on summer evenings.
• Edgewood Park, a county park in the hills to the southwest known for spring wildflowers, about 10 minutes by car.

Our downtown Redwood City guide puts it all together into an afternoon or an evening.

Getting to Palo Alto and Stanford

The hotel is about 5 miles from downtown Palo Alto and 6 from Stanford's Main Quad. El Camino Real runs straight south through Atherton and Menlo Park, about 15 to 25 minutes depending on lights and traffic. Caltrain is faster at rush hour: walk to Redwood City station, ride two stops to Palo Alto and walk up University Avenue or catch the free Marguerite shuttle to campus on weekdays.

Why stay in Redwood City instead of Palo Alto

Downtown Redwood City stays busy into the evening, with two theaters, a car-free dining block and summer events on the square. Rates at simple hotels like this one can run below those in Palo Alto, especially on busy Stanford weekends such as commencement, which runs June 10 to 13 in 2027. The trade-off is distance. You add a 10 to 15 minute train ride or a 15 to 25 minute drive each way.

The math works best if your days are flexible and you plan to spend evenings in Redwood City rather than on University Avenue. It also helps if you are flying from SFO, which is closer to Redwood City than to Palo Alto. Our where to stay hub compares areas around Palo Alto if you are still deciding.

Who it suits

• Budget travelers who want breakfast and parking without extra charges.
• Families who want a pool on a summer trip.
• Best Western Rewards members.
• Visitors to downtown Redwood City who want to walk to dinner and the Fox Theatre.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a gym, a hotel restaurant or a pet-friendly room. For more value stays across the area, see our budget stays guide.

Booking tips

1. Confirm parking. It is listed as free on one Best Western site but not mentioned on the other.
2. Settle the pet question by phone. The official page contradicts itself.
3. Walk to Caltrain. It is about 15 minutes and saves parking hassle in Palo Alto.
4. Compare nearby. Check budget hotel deals on Agoda to compare Redwood City options for your dates.

Frequently asked questions