There are 5 ways to get from Palo Alto to San Rafael by train, bus, ferry, subway, 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.
Caltrain, line 101 bus
best- Take the train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain Local Weekday / ...
- Take the bus from Mission St & 2nd St to San Rafael Transit Center-Platform Bbus 101 / ...
2h 17m$16–20Drive 50.5 mi
cheapest- Drive from Palo Alto to San Rafaelcar 50.5 mi
1h 3m$10–14Caltrain, ferry
- Take the train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northboundtrain Local Weekday / ...
- Take the ferry from Oracle Park Ferry Terminal to Larkspur Ferry Terminalferry Larkspur
2h 31m$13–25Caltrain, BART, line 580 bus
- Take the train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northboundtrain
- Take the subway from Millbrae to El Cerrito Del Nortesubway
- Take the bus from El Cerrito del Norte BART Station to Andersen Dr & Francisco Blvd Wbus 580
3h 4m$22–30Bus
- Take the bus from Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9 to El Camino Real & Linden Avebus Ecr / ...
- Take the bus from San Francisco Airport to Larkspur - dropoffbus From SFO
3h 18m$23–36
Palo Alto to San Rafael by train and bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Palo Alto to San Rafael is to drive which costs $9 - $14 and takes 1h 3m.
The fastest way to get from Palo Alto to San Rafael is to drive which takes 1h 3m and costs $9 - $14.
No, there is no direct bus from Palo Alto to San Rafael. However, there are services departing from Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9 and arriving at Larkspur - dropoff via Millbrae BART-Bay 12 West Busway and San Francisco Airport. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3h 18m.
The distance between Palo Alto and San Rafael is 52 miles. The road distance is 50.8 miles.
The best way to get from Palo Alto to San Rafael without a car is to Caltrain and line 101 bus which takes 2h 17m and costs $15 - $21.
It takes approximately 2h 17m to get from Palo Alto to San Rafael, including transfers.
Palo Alto to San Rafael bus services, operated by SamTrans, depart from Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9 station.
Palo Alto to San Rafael bus services, operated by SamTrans, arrive at El Camino Real & Linden Ave station.
Yes, the driving distance between Palo Alto to San Rafael is 51 miles. It takes approximately 1h 3m to drive from Palo Alto to San Rafael.
There are 434+ hotels available in San Rafael.
What companies run services between Palo Alto, CA, USA and San Rafael, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9 to Larkspur - dropoff via El Camino Real & Linden Ave, Millbrae BART-Bay 12 West Busway, SFO Airport Terminal G-Lower Level, and San Francisco Airport in around 3h 18m.
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 54 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–10
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–10
Train from Palo Alto Caltrain Northbound to San Francisco Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 51 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $7–9
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $7–9
Train from California Avenue Caltrain Northbound to Millbrae Caltrain Northbound
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $5–7
- Website
- https://www.caltrain.com
- Schedules at
- https://www.caltrain.com/?active_tab=route_explorer_tab
- One-way Adult
- $5–7
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Millbrae to El Cerrito Del Norte
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 8m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $11–15
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
- Phone
- +1 415-921-5858
- bridgecomments@goldengate.org
- Website
- goldengate.org
Bus from Mission St & 2nd St to San Rafael Transit Center-Platform B
- Ave. Duration
- 53 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–9
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $6–9
Bus from El Cerrito del Norte BART Station to Andersen Dr & Francisco Blvd W
- Ave. Duration
- 32 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $5–8
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $5–8
- Website
- samtrans.com
Bus from Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 9 to El Camino Real & Linden Ave
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 14m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–4
- Website
- http://www.samtrans.com
- Schedules at
- http://www.samtrans.com
- Phone
- +1 415-461-4222
- Website
- marinairporter.com
Bus from San Francisco Airport to Larkspur - dropoff
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 6m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $20–30
- Website
- https://marinairporter.com/
- Phone
- +1 415-455-2000
- contact@goldengate.org
- Website
- goldengate.org
Ferry from Oracle Park Ferry Terminal to Larkspur Ferry Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $6–16
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org
- Schedules at
- https://www.goldengate.org/ferry/schedules-maps/
- Adult
- $14
- Youth 5-18, Seniors 65+, disabled
- $6–7
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