The Stanford Park Hotel

The Stanford Park Hotel is the closest full-service hotel to Stanford on the Menlo Park side of the city line. It stands at 100 El Camino Real, just north of San Francisquito Creek, which divides Menlo Park from Palo Alto. Despite the name, it is not part of the university and it is not in Palo Alto. It is a family-owned hotel with a classic, East Coast-inspired style: red brick, fireplaces, a courtyard pool and a tavern restaurant. Many visitors treat it as part of the Stanford hotel cluster. For practical purposes that is fair.

This profile is based on the hotel's official website and the Michelin Guide listing. We do not publish prices, star ratings or reviews. For live rates, check the Stanford Park Hotel on Booking.com or book with the hotel directly.

Location and the city line

The hotel's address is 100 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Menlo Park is in San Mateo County. Palo Alto, across the creek, is in Santa Clara County. That rarely matters to a visitor, though local taxes and city services differ.

What matters more is how close everything is. Approximate distances from the hotel:

The hotel describes Stanford as a short walk or bike ride away. That is true for the edge of campus and the medical center area. The Main Quad is farther, so plan on a bike, the Marguerite shuttle from the Palo Alto transit center or a short drive. Highway 101 and Interstate 280 are both within easy reach for trips up and down the Peninsula.

El Camino Real is a busy road. Ask for a courtyard-facing room if you are a light sleeper, since some rooms face the main road or the Caltrain tracks.

The hotel and its style

The Stanford Park Hotel is part of the Woodside Hotels collection, a small group of independent hotels and restaurants. Its website calls it the only family-owned, locally operated hotel in the area. The Michelin Guide lists it among its selected hotels and describes a red-brick exterior and a feel closer to the Ivy League than to the tech world.

Signature touches include fireplaces in the lobby and restaurant, rocking chairs on the porch, nightly cookies and morning coffee service. It is a traditional hotel rather than a design showpiece. That is part of the appeal for families and returning Stanford parents, many of whom come back for every campus weekend from move-in to commencement.

Rooms and suites

The Michelin Guide lists 162 rooms. The hotel's own site groups them into these types:

• Deluxe rooms, the standard category.
• Courtyard rooms, facing the inner courtyard and pool.
• Junior Suites, with more sitting space.
• One-Bedroom Suites, with a separate living area.
• The Stanford Suite, the largest, with living and dining areas.

The hotel is laid out around its inner courtyard, so many rooms look onto the pool and garden rather than the street. Some rooms have fireplaces. If that matters, request one when you book rather than assuming. Rooms facing the courtyard are usually the quietest. Accessible rooms exist, but call the hotel to confirm the features you need.

The Michelin listing gives check-in at 3 p.m. and checkout at noon. It also says pets are not allowed and that the hotel is smoke-free. Check both points with the hotel, since policies can change.

Menlo Tavern

The hotel's restaurant is Menlo Tavern. The website describes seasonal California cuisine, a cozy bar, a dining room and courtyard fire pits. In warmer months the patio hosts live music. It works for a business breakfast, a quiet dinner or a drink by the fire after a long campus day.

For more choice, Stanford Shopping Center is across the creek, downtown Palo Alto is about a mile south and Menlo Park's own downtown on Santa Cruz Avenue is a short drive north. Our food and drink guide covers Palo Alto's options and fine dining lists the city's Michelin picks.

Pool, fitness and bikes

• Pool. A 50-foot heated pool with a whirlpool spa in a private courtyard.
• Fitness. A fitness center open 24 hours.
• Bikes. The hotel lends bicycles free of charge. They are a good way to reach campus, since Palo Alto is flat and has many bike routes. See biking in Palo Alto for routes.
• Meetings. The hotel has meeting and event space. Ask the hotel about sizes and capacities.
• Parking. Sources disagree on whether parking is free or charged. Confirm the current terms when you book.

Check the hotel's official site for current amenities and policies.

Getting around without a car

The hotel sits between two Caltrain stations. Palo Alto station, about half a mile south, has the most trains and the transit center for Stanford's free Marguerite shuttle and VTA buses. Menlo Park station, a little under a mile north, is handy for downtown Menlo Park and trains north to Redwood City and San Francisco. Both stations are in the same fare zone.

SamTrans buses run along El Camino Real on the Menlo Park side, while VTA buses take over in Palo Alto. With loaner bikes from the hotel, most short trips are easy. For a full rundown, see getting around Palo Alto.

Who should stay here

The Stanford Park Hotel suits:

• Stanford families. Parents visiting students, attending commencement or touring campus.
• Medical visitors. The medical center is a short drive away across the creek.
• Travelers who like a classic hotel. Fireplaces, a tavern and a courtyard pool rather than a glass tower.
• Shoppers. The shopping center is a short walk away.

It is a weaker fit if you want to walk straight out onto a lively main street or if you need a pet-friendly room. For a pet-friendly option a short walk south, see the Westin Palo Alto. For restaurants at your door, compare the downtown hotels.

Booking tips

1. Book early for commencement. Stanford's 2027 commencement weekend runs June 10 to 13. Rooms this close to campus sell out early.
2. Ask for the courtyard side. It is quieter than rooms facing El Camino Real or the tracks.
3. Request a fireplace in winter. Not every room has one.
4. Compare the whole cluster. The Palo Alto hotels just south often have different availability. You can compare hotels near Stanford on Expedia in one search.

Frequently asked questions