There are 4 ways to get from Palo Alto to San Francisco by train, bus, taxi, or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner.
Recommended option
Caltrain1h 2m
- Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain NorthboundL1 / ...
$7–9
Cheapest option
Bus1h 49m
- Take the bus from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St to Mission St & 8th StEpx
$1–5
2 alternative options
Palo Alto to San Francisco by train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Palo Alto to San Francisco is to bus which costs $1 - $5 and takes 1h 49m.
The fastest way to get from Palo Alto to San Francisco is to taxi which takes 37 min and costs $180 - $220.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St and arriving at Mission St & 8th St. Services depart three times a day, and operate Monday to Friday. The journey takes approximately 1h 49m.
Yes, there is a direct train departing from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound and arriving at San Francisco Caltrain Northbound. Services depart every 30 minutes, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 1h 2m.
The distance between Palo Alto and San Francisco is 30 miles. The road distance is 32.9 miles.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to San Francisco without a car is to Caltrain which takes 1h 2m and costs $7 - $9.
The Caltrain from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northbound takes 1h 2m including transfers and departs every 30 minutes.
Palo Alto to San Francisco bus services, operated by SamTrans, depart from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St station.
Palo Alto to San Francisco train services, operated by Caltrain, depart from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound station.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to San Francisco is to Caltrain which takes 1h 2m and costs $7 - $9. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $1 - $5 and takes 1h 49m.
- Distance: 30 mi
- Duration: 1h 2m
What companies run services between Palo Alto, CA, USA and San Francisco, CA, USA?
Caltrain operates a train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northbound every 30 minutes. Tickets cost $7–9 and the journey takes 1h 2m. Alternatively, SamTrans operates a bus from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St to Mission St & 8th St 3 times a day. Tickets cost $1–5 and the journey takes 1h 49m.
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–9
- Website
- http://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/schedules.html
- One-way Senior / Disabled / Youth / Medicare Cardholder
- $3–4
- One-way Adult
- $7–9
- Website
- samtrans.com
Bus from E Bayshore Rd & Donohoe St to Mission St & 8th St
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 49m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- $1–5
- Website
- samtrans.com
- Adults 19-64
- $2–5
- Youth 5-18, Seniors 65+, Disabled
- $1–3
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More Questions & Answers
Palo Alto to San Francisco bus services, operated by SamTrans, arrive at Mission St & 8th St station.
Palo Alto to San Francisco train services, operated by Caltrain, arrive at San Francisco Caltrain Northbound station.
Yes, the driving distance between Palo Alto to San Francisco is 33 miles. It takes approximately 37 min to drive from Palo Alto to San Francisco.
There are 831+ hotels available in San Francisco. Prices start at $74 USD per night.