There are 5 ways to get from San Rafael to Palo Alto by bus, train, ferry, 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.
Line 101 bus, Caltrain
best- Take the bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Mission St & 4th St101 / ...
- Take the train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain SouthboundLocal Weekday / ...
2h 7m$15–20Drive 50.4 mi
cheapest- Drive from San Rafael to Palo Alto50.4 mi
1h 2m$10–14Ferry, Caltrain
- Take the ferry from Larkspur Ferry Terminal to Oracle Park Ferry TerminalLarkspur
- Take the train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain SouthboundLocal Weekday / ...
2h 19m$14–26Line 101 bus, bus
- Take the bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Mission St & 2nd St101 / ...
- Take the bus from San Bruno BART-Bay 8 Outer Busway to Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 1Ecr
3h 11m$11–18Bus
- Take the bus from Mill Valley P&R - pickup to San Francisco AirportTo SFO
- Take the bus from San Bruno BART-Bay 8 Outer Busway to Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 1Ecr
3h 35m$32–45
San Rafael to Palo Alto by bus and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from San Rafael to Palo Alto is to drive which costs $9 - $14 and takes 1h 2m.
The fastest way to get from San Rafael to Palo Alto is to drive which takes 1h 2m and costs $9 - $14.
The distance between San Rafael and Palo Alto is 52 miles. The road distance is 50.7 miles.
The best way to get from San Rafael to Palo Alto without a car is to line 101 bus and Caltrain which takes 2h 7m and costs $15 - $21.
It takes approximately 2h 7m to get from San Rafael to Palo Alto, including transfers.
Yes, the driving distance between San Rafael to Palo Alto is 51 miles. It takes approximately 1h 2m to drive from San Rafael to Palo Alto.
There are 602+ hotels available in Palo Alto.
What companies run services between San Rafael, CA, USA and Palo Alto, CA, USA?
You can take a bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 1 via Mission St & 2nd St, Montgomery Street, San Bruno, and San Bruno BART-Bay 8 Outer Busway in around 3h 11m.
- Phone
- +1 800-660-4287
- Website
- caltrain.com
Train from San Francisco Caltrain Southbound to California Avenue Caltrain Southbound
- Ave. Duration
- 52 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
- Phone
- +1 415-921-5858
- bridgecomments@goldengate.org
- Website
- goldengate.org
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Mission St & 4th St
- Ave. Duration
- 46 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–9
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $6–9
Bus from San Rafael Transit Center-Platform A to Mission St & 2nd St
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $6–9
- Website
- https://www.goldengate.org/
- Adult
- $6–9
- Website
- samtrans.com
Bus from San Bruno BART-Bay 8 Outer Busway to Palo Alto Transit Ctr-Bay 1
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- $1–4
- Website
- http://www.samtrans.com
- Schedules at
- http://www.samtrans.com
- Phone
- +1 415-461-4222
- Website
- marinairporter.com
Bus from Mill Valley P&R - pickup to San Francisco Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 56 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $20–24
- Website
- https://marinairporter.com/
- Phone
- +1 415-455-2000
- contact@goldengate.org
- Website
- goldengate.org
Ferry from Larkspur Ferry Terminal to Oracle Park 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
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including How to get from Heathrow Airport into central London, How to get from London City Airport into central London, and How to get from Southend Airport into central London - to help you get the most out of your next trip.










