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The Coronet Motel is a small, family-run motel on Palo Alto's stretch of El Camino Real. It has 20 units and a seasonal pool. It bills itself as a vintage Americana, mid-century modern roadside motel. The motel describes itself as affordable and small, with staff who try to anticipate guests' needs. Its biggest selling point is location: it sits a block from California Avenue, the city's second main street. A Caltrain station is about three blocks away.
This profile is based on the motel's official website. We do not publish prices, star ratings or reviews. For live rates, check the Coronet Motel on Booking.com or book through the motel's own booking engine.
Location and neighborhood
The address is 2455 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306, on the east side of the road at the corner of Sherman Avenue. That puts it at the western edge of the Evergreen Park neighborhood and a block south of where California Avenue meets El Camino Real. Across El Camino Real lie Stanford lands and the College Terrace neighborhood.
The motel highlights these distances:
- California Avenue: steps away, with more than 20 restaurants, shops and grocery stores.
- California Avenue Caltrain station: three blocks.
- Stanford University: the motel says the south side of campus is a few blocks away. Its site gives both two and four blocks.
- Stanford Hospital: about 1.5 miles.
The motel describes the area as a walker's paradise. It is easy to see why. You can eat, shop for groceries and catch a train without moving the car. Our California Avenue guide covers the district in detail.
Getting there from Caltrain and the airports
The California Avenue Caltrain station is about three blocks east, around a third of a mile in a straight line. Local and limited trains stop there; express trains pass through. The motel's walking route is simple: leave the station, head west on California Avenue past the shops for three blocks to El Camino Real and turn left. The motel is just south of the corner bank.
Buses are close too. The motel says VTA buses on El Camino Real stop across the street, along with Stanford's free Marguerite shuttle, which serves the campus, the hospital and Stanford Shopping Center. Marguerite's main lines run on weekdays only. Our Marguerite guide explains the routes.
- From SFO: take BART to Millbrae, switch to a southbound Caltrain that stops at California Avenue and walk three blocks. Our SFO guide has current details.
- From SJC: take the free VTA Route 60 to Santa Clara Transit Center and Caltrain north to California Avenue. See our SJC guide.
By car from Highway 101, the motel suggests the Oregon Expressway exit, west on Oregon Expressway for about 2.5 miles, then right on El Camino Real for three blocks. From Interstate 280, take Page Mill Road east for about 2 miles and turn left on El Camino Real. The motel recommends setting up a rideshare app before you land, since taxis in Palo Alto can be slow to arrive.
Rooms
The Coronet has 20 units in four layouts:
| Layout | Beds | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Two-room junior suite | Queen bed in the bedroom, sofa bed in the sitting room | En suite bathroom |
| Open single room | Two queen beds | En suite bathroom |
| Open single room | One king bed and a sofa bed | En suite bathroom |
| Accessible single room | One queen and one twin | Roll-in shower with grab bars, accessible sink |
Bedding for the sofa beds costs extra. Every room has:
- Cable TV with more than 70 channels.
- Free high-speed internet and Wi-Fi.
- A K-Cup coffee maker and an electric kettle.
- A toaster, a mini fridge and a microwave.
That kitchen kit is useful for short stays. You can make breakfast in the room with groceries from California Avenue instead of eating out three times a day.
The accessible room has a roll-in shower with grab bars, an adjustable shower head and a raised toilet seat on request. The motel publishes more detail on its accessibility page.
Amenities
- Pool. A seasonal outdoor pool with an ADA-compliant pool lift.
- Parking. Free and unassigned, first come, first served. Van-accessible parking with a 60-inch loading aisle sits next to the accessible rooms.
- Internet. Free broadband and Wi-Fi throughout.
- Smoking. The motel is 100% non-smoking.
The site does not list a gym, restaurant or meeting space. Plan on California Avenue for meals and on the city's parks for exercise.
Eating nearby
The motel has no restaurant and does not list breakfast. The upside is that California Avenue starts a block away. The street runs from casual lunch counters and bakeries to Protégé, which holds Palo Alto's only Michelin star. A farmers market sets up on California Avenue every Sunday, year-round. The motel also points guests to the Mollie Stone's grocery on California Avenue for supplies. Our California Avenue shopping guide covers the stores.
What is nearby
Stanford is the obvious draw. The Cantor Arts Center and the Rodin Sculpture Garden are free to visit, though Cantor is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. On weekdays the Marguerite shuttle from across the street gets you onto campus without parking. Stanford Research Park, with its offices along Page Mill Road and Hillview Avenue, is a few minutes away by car or bike. Closer in, the quiet residential streets of Evergreen Park and College Terrace are pleasant for an evening walk. The Sunday market on California Avenue is an easy stroll for breakfast supplies.
Booking and policies
- Check-in and checkout. 3 p.m. and 11 a.m. The motel does not guarantee early check-in. It suggests booking the night before if you need the room in the morning.
- Changes and cancellations. Allowed up to 48 hours before check-in, by 3 p.m. two days before arrival. Later cancellations are charged the first night.
- Third-party bookings. If you booked through Booking.com or Expedia, make changes through that site.
- Front desk. The motel takes phone reservations from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific time.
- Pets. The site does not state a pet policy. Ask before you book.
Policies change, so check the motel's website before you go.
Who the Coronet suits
- Budget-minded travelers who want a Palo Alto address with free parking.
- Train riders who want to walk to Caltrain.
- Hospital visitors who need to be close to Stanford Hospital without downtown prices. Our hospital visitor guide has practical tips.
- Fans of retro motels who like a small, family-run place.
- Families who want a junior suite with a separate sitting room.
It is less suited to travelers who want a gym, a restaurant, room service or a year-round pool. For other lower-cost options, see our budget stays guide.
Booking tips
- Book direct for flexibility. Changes through third-party sites have to go back through those sites.
- Ask about the pool season. It is a seasonal pool, so do not count on it in winter.
- Request sofa bed linens ahead. They cost extra and the staff can set them up in advance.
- Book early for Stanford weekends. With only 20 units, the motel fills fast around commencement and football Saturdays. If it is full, compare hotels near California Avenue on Expedia.
Good to know
- 2455 El Camino Real, at Sherman Avenue.
- 20 units, family owned, free parking.
- Three blocks to California Avenue Caltrain.
- No restaurant. Rooms have a microwave, fridge and toaster.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Coronet Motel in Palo Alto?
It is at 2455 El Camino Real, at the corner of Sherman Avenue, a block from California Avenue. The California Avenue Caltrain station is about three blocks east. Stanford's lands begin across El Camino Real.
Is parking free at the Coronet Motel?
Yes. The motel offers complimentary guest parking. Spaces are unassigned and first come, first served. Van-accessible parking sits next to the accessible rooms.
Does the Coronet Motel have a pool?
Yes, a seasonal outdoor pool with an ADA pool lift. Ask the front desk whether it is open during your dates, since it does not run year-round.
Can I take the Marguerite shuttle from the Coronet Motel?
Yes. The motel says Stanford's free Marguerite shuttle stops across the street. The main Marguerite lines run Monday to Friday only, so plan on walking, biking or a rideshare on weekends.
Does the Coronet Motel serve breakfast?
The motel does not list breakfast. Rooms have a K-Cup coffee maker, an electric kettle, a toaster, a mini fridge and a microwave. Cafes and a grocery store are a short walk away on California Avenue.