Hotels near Stanford Hospital

Stanford's medical campus sits at the north edge of the university, between Sand Hill Road, Welch Road and the Stanford Shopping Center. Stanford Hospital occupies 300 and 500 Pasteur Drive. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford is a short walk away at 725 Welch Road. Families arrive here from across California and beyond, often with little notice. Many need a room for days or weeks.

This guide lists the hotels closest to the hospitals, the patient rates Stanford Health Care publishes and the shuttles that save a daily parking bill. Distances are straight-line estimates from our own mapping, so real routes run a little longer. For the hospitals themselves, including parking rates and visiting rules, read our guide to visiting Stanford Hospital. To check availability fast, search hotels near Stanford Hospital and then call the hotel about patient rates.

The closest hotels

The three hotels on El Camino Real across from Stanford land are the obvious first call. The Westin's own estimate puts the walk to Stanford Hospital at about 15 to 20 minutes, though most families drive or take a rideshare. All three are a few minutes' walk from the Palo Alto Caltrain station and its transit center, where the free Marguerite shuttle to the medical center starts on weekdays.

The El Camino Real trio

The Westin, The Clement and the Sheraton stand side by side and share a local management company. Each suits a different kind of hospital stay.

• The Westin Palo Alto is calm, with low buildings around courtyards and quieter rooms away from the road. Marriott lists dogs up to 80 pounds, paid self-parking and EV charging.
• The Clement is all-inclusive, with 23 suites. Meals, snacks, drinks and valet parking are part of the rate. After a long day at the bedside, not having to plan dinner matters. The October 2026 patient list shows a discount on one-bedroom suites through December 31, 2026.
• The Sheraton Palo Alto is the largest, with room blocks for extended families and an outdoor heated pool. Stanford Health Care's list notes a Marguerite stop behind the hotel. Check current routes before you rely on it.

Just north, across San Francisquito Creek in Menlo Park, the Stanford Park Hotel calls Stanford a short walk or bike ride away and lends free bikes. It is a quieter, traditional option for families who want a courtyard pool and a restaurant on site. Check its pet and parking policies with the hotel, since sources differ.

Published patient rates

Stanford Health Care keeps a PDF list of hotels that offer discounted rates to its patients. The version we read is dated October 13, 2026. It lists booking instructions for each hotel, such as a promo code or a request to identify yourself as a Stanford patient. Hotels on that list with profiles on our site:

• Stanford Guest House. Identify as a Stanford patient when booking. The list says the room rate is not taxed and describes a complimentary shuttle from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• The Clement. A percentage off one-bedroom suites through the end of 2026, with the all-inclusive option.
• Creekside Inn. Online booking only with a corporate code. Bring a photo ID and a copy of your appointment.
• Sheraton and Westin. Corporate rates online, with separate December 2026 pricing.
• Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos. A corporate rate for stays of 30 nights or more. The list says parking is free for one vehicle on stays of 21 nights or longer.

The list also includes hotels farther away in Redwood City, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino and the East Bay. Stanford Health Care states that discounts are not guaranteed and depend on availability. Download the current list from Stanford Health Care's where to stay page before you call, since rates and dates change. Lucile Packard's Housing Office says several hotels also offer special rates to its families.

The Stanford Guest House

The Stanford Guest House at 2575 Sand Hill Road is the only hotel Stanford owns and runs. It is not open to the public, but patients and patient families of Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health are among the groups it accepts. Its 112 rooms each have a queen bed and private bath. Rates include breakfast, parking, Wi-Fi and housekeeping. Rooms can be booked up to six months ahead and cancelled free up to 24 hours before arrival.

Because the building sits inside SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, you pass a security gate. Bring a valid driver's license. Pets are not allowed, even in cars on SLAC grounds.

Long treatment and family support

For treatment that lasts weeks, a kitchen and a washer become essential. The Residence Inn Palo Alto Los Altos has all suites with full kitchens, a free hot breakfast and a monthly parking rate. A furnished rental can also work for larger families. Our long stays guide compares the options. You can search furnished homes for long treatment stays on Vrbo.

Several programs help families directly:

• Lucile Packard Housing Office. Helps out-of-town families find places to stay. Call (650) 498-7971, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. Overnight rooms, meals and support for families of seriously ill children treated at the hospital. Apply through Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area.
• JW House. Stanford Health Care lists free day use and a few overnight rooms, by social worker referral.
• American Cancer Society Hotel Partners Program. Free or reduced-cost rooms when available for cancer patients traveling for treatment, with five business days' notice.

Shuttles and getting to the door

Stanford's free Marguerite shuttle runs on weekdays from the Palo Alto Transit Center beside the Caltrain station. The Medical Center line reaches the hospitals via Welch Road. It does not run on weekends or university holidays. If you drive, Stanford Hospital's Pasteur Visitor Garage at 200 Pasteur Drive is open around the clock. A free cart shuttle links it with the hospital entrances daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. The Guest House runs its own complimentary shuttle to select locations.

Since February 1, 2026, Lucile Packard's West lobby entrance has been closed for construction. Everyone uses the Main building entrance, so plan drop-offs there. For campus parking more broadly, see our Stanford parking and transit guide.

Practical tips

1. Ask for the patient rate by name. Mention Stanford Health Care or Lucile Packard when you book and ask what documents to bring.
2. Book flexible dates. Discharge dates move. A cancellable rate protects you.
3. Count parking. Hospital garages charge after the free period, so a hotel near the shuttle can save money.
4. Keep Guest Services handy. Stanford Health Care Guest Services answers at 650-498-3333 around the clock.

Meals matter on long hospital days. Our guide to where to eat near Stanford Hospital lists cafes and restaurants within a short walk or drive. If the closest hotels are full, our staying near Stanford guide covers the wider area and you can compare hotels near Stanford on Expedia for your dates.

Frequently asked questions