Palo Alto hotels with free parking

Palo Alto hotel rates get most of the attention, but parking can quietly add a lot to the total. Downtown hotels mostly use valet. The business hotels on El Camino Real usually charge a daily fee for their own lots or garages. Only a handful of places include parking in the rate. Most are small, independent or a short distance outside town. If you plan to drive every day, the parking line on your bill deserves as much attention as the room.

This guide sorts hotels by how they handle parking, based on the hotels' own pages as summarized on our hotel profiles and rechecked for several hotels in late October 2026. We describe fees in general terms rather than quoting amounts, since they change. To compare overall costs, search hotels with free parking and add the parking fee to each nightly rate.

Parking by hotel

"Not listed" means the hotel's pages do not mention it, not that it is absent. Ask when you book.

Hotels where parking is free

Dinah's Garden Hotel on south El Camino Real is the clearest case. Its amenities page says parking is "complimentary to all guests," which is rare in Palo Alto. The family-run hotel also has an outdoor pool, two restaurants and garden grounds, so it suits drivers who want a full-service stay without a parking bill.

The Coronet Motel near California Avenue offers free guest parking. Spaces are unassigned and first come, first served. Van-accessible spaces sit next to the accessible rooms. With only 20 units, the lot rarely feels crowded, but late arrivals on busy weekends may find fewer spots.

A short drive south, the Hampton Inn and Suites Mountain View lists free self-parking in underground and above-ground spaces, plus a free hot breakfast. Hilton lists EV charging and valet as not available. It is a short walk from Mountain View's Caltrain station, so you can leave the car parked and take the train into Palo Alto.

Three more small hotels nearby include parking. On El Camino Real in Mountain View, Hotel Strata includes parking for all guests along with a breakfast buffet. A short way east at 200 E. El Camino Real, Hotel Zico includes parking and a hot breakfast. In downtown Los Altos, the boutique Enchanté on Main Street includes parking and continental breakfast.

Parking included in the rate

At The Clement, the all-inclusive hotel across from Stanford on El Camino Real, valet parking is one of the inclusions along with meals, drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities. Cars go to an underground garage. Hand over the keys at the door and you are done.

The Stanford Guest House on Sand Hill Road includes parking in its rate, alongside breakfast and Wi-Fi. It is only open to guests with a Stanford, SLAC or Stanford Medicine affiliation and an educational purpose, such as patients and their families. Spaces in front are limited, but the Guest House allows parking in unmarked spaces around SLAC.

Free some of the time, or unclear

Hotel Keen on High Street advertises "free parking every weekend" on its homepage. Weekday terms are not posted and have changed over time, so ask when you book a Monday to Thursday stay.

The Creekside Inn FAQ says the hotel offers complimentary parking and its accessibility notes mention valet parking. Its amenities page only says parking is ample. Since the pages do not match exactly, check with the hotel before you arrive.

The Stanford Park Hotel in Menlo Park does not state its parking terms on its homepage and earlier sources disagree on whether parking is free or charged. Check with the hotel.

Paid self-parking and valet

Most full-service and business hotels in the area charge for parking. On El Camino Real across from Stanford, the Sheraton and the Westin both list on-site self-parking for a fee, with EV charging subject to availability. The convenience is real: you park once and walk to Caltrain, the shopping center and campus.

Downtown, the Graduate by Hilton Palo Alto is valet only, with in and out privileges and no EV charging. The other downtown hotels with listed parking also use valet for a fee. Farther south, the business hotels near the Los Altos line mostly charge a daily fee for self-parking in their own lots or garages. Some extended-stay hotels offer monthly parking rates for stays of 30 nights or more, so ask if you are staying a while.

Hotel guests who drive an electric car should also read our guide to hotels with EV charging. A charger in the garage can matter more than a free space.

Using city garages and street parking

If your hotel has no parking, or you only need a car for part of the trip, the city's garages are the fallback. The city allows up to three hours free in its downtown garages and two hours on the street and in surface lots, except in areas marked for permit holders. Downtown is split into color zones and you cannot re-park in the same zone on the same day after your time runs out. For longer stays the city sells daily permits, valid only on the date you buy them. Our downtown parking garages guide lists the garages and where to buy permits.

Residential streets near downtown and California Avenue have their own permit programs and time limits for visitors. Overnight street parking near a downtown hotel is a poor plan. Our main parking in Palo Alto guide explains the rules across town.

How to keep parking costs down

1. Add parking to the nightly rate. A cheaper room with paid valet can cost more than a pricier room with free parking.
2. Ask about weekly or monthly rates. Long-stay guests can often get a lower parking rate.
3. Skip the car on downtown days. Caltrain, walking and the free Marguerite shuttle on weekdays cover most of what visitors do.
4. Check vehicle height. Some hotel garages have low clearance, which rules out tall vans and roof boxes.
5. Ask about restaurant validation. Some hotels validate a few free hours for restaurant guests, useful for meeting someone for dinner.

Rates and parking policies change, so confirm with the hotel before you book. To compare total costs across several hotels, compare Peninsula hotels on Expedia and then check each hotel's parking terms on its own page.

Frequently asked questions