Today I want to share my top picks for day trips from Palo Alto, California with you. This city in Silicon Valley is a great starting point for seeing other places in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Whether you’re looking for a beach destination, a hike with a view, redwood trees, or a big city, there’s a quick trip you’ll love doing. Read on for my list. I’ve included a map, too.
Day Trips from Palo Alto
There’s no shortage of day trips from Palo Alto you can take. From coastal towns with famous surf spots to wine country with its world-class vintages, there’s something for everyone in this part of Northern California.
Whether you want to have a full day away from the city or just take a quick trip to get out of town for a while, there are plenty of options to choose from.
I grew up in Silicon Valley and I’ve done all these day trips many times. I can personally recommend them from decades of experience. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I have when you go.
1. San Francisco
One of the most popular day trips from Palo Alto is San Francisco. The City by the Bay is the obvious choice for those wanting to visit a major metropolitan center, and there’s a lot to do when you arrive. My itinerary for 1 day in San Francisco can give you an idea of how to spend your time.
From the Embarcadero waterfront to Union Square, the cable cars, and Alcatraz, San Francisco has attractions and landmarks galore. Whether you want to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge, shop downtown, see the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square, or take a cruise on the bay, there’s no shortage of San Francisco highlights to enjoy.
San Francisco is an easy drive or train ride from Palo Alto. It takes around 30 to 45 minutes to drive, depending on traffic (make sure to avoid rush hour if you’re going on a weekday). The rail journey on Caltrain is around an hour, depending which service you take.
2. Santa Cruz
One of my all-time favorite day trips from Palo Alto is Santa Cruz. From the amusement park rides at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to the sandy beaches and great shopping and dining, this surf city has a lot to offer visitors.
Whether you love surfing, sailing, or spotting sea lions, there’s something that will tempt you to get out on the water in Monterey Bay while you’re here.
Add to that the wineries in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the beaches in neighboring towns like Capitola and Aptos, and you’re spoiled for choice. You can use my itinerary for one day in Santa Cruz for more inspiration.
Santa Cruz is an easy drive from Palo Alto. It takes around 45 minutes to an hour make the trip, depending on traffic (try to avoid rush hour if you’re going on a weekday).
3. Napa Valley
Next on my list of day trips from Palo Alto is Napa Valley. This area is one of the best-known places to go wine tasting in the Golden State. A day trip to Napa is for you if you want to taste some of California’s best wines and take in bucolic landscapes while you do.
The majority of visitors who spend one day in Napa Valley go wine tasting the whole time, but there are other things to do in the area as well. From fine dining in Yountville (it’s home to restaurants like The French Laundry) to shopping in downtown Napa, exploring St Helena and Calistoga, and hiking in the hills, the region has a lot to offer.
Napa is a bit farther than some of the other day trips on my list, but it’s worth the effort to go. The valley is around a 1-hour-and-40-minute drive from Palo Alto, depending on traffic and where your final destination is.
4. Sonoma County
I can’t mention Napa without mentioning Sonoma. West of Napa Valley, Sonoma County is another of my favorite day trips from Palo Alto. This place is a bit more down-to-earth than Napa, and it’s preferred by many Bay Area locals. Sonoma wines taste every bit as good as their Napa counterparts, and the scenery along the coast is classic California.
When it comes to wine tasting, you can enjoy everything from the famous Pinot Noirs in Russian River to the excellent Zinfandels in Dry Creek Valley. It’s hard to go wrong here.
Sonoma County has a lot more than just wine, though. The area is crisscrossed with hiking trails, there’s great shopping and dining in places like downtown Sonoma and Healdsburg, and history abounds in heritage areas like Jack London Historic State Park and Mission San Francisco Solano. You can go rafting on the Russian River, too.
Out on the Pacific Ocean, the Sonoma Coast offers beaches dotted with iconic West Coat boulders. Waterfront towns like Bodega Bay were used as filming locations for Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, too.
Sonoma is around a 1.5-hour drive from Palo Alto, depending where you go and what traffic is like on the way. My Sonoma day trip itinerary and my longer Sonoma itinerary can help you plan your visit.
5. Half Moon Bay
Next on my list of the best day trips from Palo Alto is Half Moon Bay. This coastal area in San Mateo County is famous for its big beaches, breathtaking views, and fall pumpkin patches.
From exploring the bluffs at Half Moon Bay State Beach to walking along the coastal trails and eating at the waterfront seafood restaurants, there’s a lot to do here. The downtown area has great shops and restaurants, too.
It’s easy to get to Half Moon Bay from Palo Alto. The drive takes 35 to 40 minutes if there’s no traffic. If you’re going in the run-up to Halloween, be prepared for major delays getting into town. It’s the most popular time to visit thanks to the seasonal attractions, and the roads get backed up for miles on weekends.
6. Pescadero
South of Half Moon Bay, Pescadero is another of my long-standing favorite day trips from Palo Alto. This picturesque coastal town is famous for its history and food. The main street is full of heritage shopfronts, a pretty church, and fun cafes and coffee shops.
Established in 1894, Duarte’s Tavern is a local landmark. It’s worth a trip just to try the artichoke soup and fruit pies here (I know this from personal experience, as I’ve been eating them since I was a child).
If you want to be by the Pacific Ocean, Pescadero State Beach is worth a visit. It features natural rock formations that add character to its sandy shoreline.
Pescadero is an hour’s drive from Palo Alto. It’s small enough that you can combine it with a trip to Half Moon Bay if you want to.
7. Big Basin Redwoods State Park
If you love nature, Big Basin Redwoods State Park is one of the best day trips from Palo Alto. As the name implies, this place is known for its ancient redwood trees, some of which are nearly 2,000 years old (and more than 50 feet around!).
Established in 1902, Big Basin is California’s oldest state park. It’s home to the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south of San Francisco.
Nestled in the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains, it offers visitors the chance to enjoy scenic hikes along well-marked trails, discover hidden waterfalls, and take in spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean.
Big Basin is around a 1-hour-and-15-minute drive from Palo Alto, depending on traffic. The road is winding, so make sure to be prepared if anyone you’re traveling with gets motion sick.
8. Monterey
Monterey is another of my all-time favorite day trips from Palo Alto. This city on California’s Central Coast is known for the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is home to an abundance of ocean life. I adored this place as a child, and I still enjoy visiting as an adult.
Monterey is also where you can find Cannery Row, a place that was once at the heart of the sardine-packing industry (if you’ve read John Steinbeck, you’ll know). Today this waterfront area is packed with seafood restaurants, shops, and bars.
This is also a fun place to get outdoors. You can go ocean kayaking in the bay, take a whale watching cruise, bike along 17 Mile Drive, or golf at The Links at Spanish Bay. And that’s to say nothing of places like Lovers Point Park, Asilomar State Beach, and Pacific Grove. Monterey is for you if you love ocean life and outdoor pursuits in equal measure.
The city is a 1.5-hour drive from Palo Alto. You can combine it with a trip to neighboring Carmel-by-the-Sea if you want to visit both in one day.
9. Carmel-by-the-Sea
Speaking of which, Carmel is next on my list of day trips from Palo Alto. Just south of Monterey, this charming coastal town is packed with picturesque streets lined with thatched-roof shops. Being here feels like stepping into an English seaside village on the California coast.
Carmel is also home to beautiful beaches, coastal trails, the historic Carmel Mission, and great wine tasting. If you’re into golf, Pebble Beach is a must. The Pebble Beach Golf Links have been rated the top public golf course in the country.
Carmel is a 1-and-a-half-hour drive from Palo Alto, depending on traffic. As I mentioned above, it’s easy to combine it with a trip to Monterey.
10. Oakland
Oakland is next on my list of day trips from Palo Alto. This famous city in the East Bay is worth a visit because of its cool downtown and important cultural highlights.
From the waterfront restaurants and tasting rooms in Jack London Square to the markets and shops in Old Oakland, this city has a lot going for it. And that’s to say nothing of Lake Merritt, where you can take in the views or take out a kayak.
The Oakland Museum of California is a great place to get into the state’s history, and the creative boutiques and restaurants in the Temescal Alleys are worth a special trip.
You can drive to Oakland from Palo Alto in around 45 minutes, depending on traffic (make sure to avoid rush hour). You can also take Caltrain to BART if you don’t want to drive, but it takes about an hour and 20 minutes. You can combine it with a trip to Berkeley if you want to as well.
11. Berkeley
Berkeley is another of my favorite day trips from Palo Alto. This university city in the East Bay is known for its counterculture, food, and campus life. I used to take day trips to Berkeley all the time when I was a teenager, and I still love visiting today.
Berekely is great for vintage shopping, eating, seeing colorful street art, and exploring the attractive college campus. Telegraph Avenue is the ideal place to get into the alternative scene in the city, and North Berkeley is home to some of the Bay Area’s best restaurants.
Berkeley is just north of Oakland, and it’s around 50 minutes from Palo Alto by car (if you avoid rush hour traffic…see a theme here?). You can also take Caltrain to BART if you don’t have a car, but it takes an hour and 40 minutes or more.
12. Woodside
If you want to stay relatively close to Palo Alto, Woodside is an easy day trip. From miles of hiking and equestrian trails to famous road biking routes and fun local restaurants, there’s a lot to do in this part of San Mateo County.
If you like touring historic mansions, Filoli is a country house set in 16 acres of formal gardens surrounded by a 654-acre estate. It’s fun to spend a day exploring the grounds, seeing the house, and having lunch at the cafe.
If hiking is your thing, you’ll be spoiled for choice in Woodside. There are miles of woodland trails in places like Wunderlich County Park and Huddart Park. If you’re a cyclist, the steep climb up Old La Honda Road is a pilgrimage for many avid road bikers.
When it comes to food, Buck’s is an institution. The quirky decor and knickknacks are famous. And that’s to say nothing of the Village Pub, which has a Michelin star. Alice’s Restaurant on Skyline Boulevard is legendary, too.
Woodside is so close to Palo Alto that you can drive to it in 15 minutes or so. It’s a great trip if you don’t want to spend too much time in the car.
13. Portola Valley
The same is true for Portola Valley, where I grew up. Right next to Woodside, this small town on the Peninsula is a great place to spend a day near Palo Alto.
Portola Valley is famous for hiking trails, road biking, and equestrianism. From the famous hiking mecca of Windy Hill to the cycling on Alpine Road and the horse stables dotted across the town, there’s a lot to do here for people who like getting outdoors.
Then there’s the Alpine Inn, a historic bar and grill that was established in 1852. It’s the second oldest continually operating tavern in California, and it’s popular with locals and students from Stanford University. The beer garden is the perfect place to have lunch in the sunshine.
Portola Valley borders Palo Alto, so it’s a quick drive no matter where in the city you’re coming from. It’s also easy to combine it with a day trip to Woodside since they’re so close.
14. Big Sur
On the opposite end of the distance spectrum, Big Sur is a great day trip from Palo Alto if you’re willing to drive a bit farther. The natural beauty here is hard to beat, and there’s amazing hiking, great beaches, iconic bridges, and stunning coastline to enjoy.
From the hikes-with-views at Andrew Molera State Park to the spectacular waterfall at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, this place is perfect for getting into nature. Add to that stretches of shoreline like Sand Dollar Beach and famous restaurants like Nepenthe, and there’s a lot to love about this part of California.
It takes just under 2 hours to drive from Palo Alto to Big Sur if there’s no traffic. Keep in mind that Big Sur stretches a decent way south along the Central Coast, though. It’s a good idea to stick to the northern part of the area if you only have a day.
15. San Jose
I started my list of day trips from Palo Alto with San Francisco, so it’s only fitting that I end it with the Bay Area’s other heavyweight city. San Jose is a great place to visit if you love urban areas. From shopping to cultural attractions, a famous rose garden, and sports arenas, this city has a lot to offer.
There’s plenty to keep you busy while you visit. The Tech Interactive in San Jose is a science and technology center with hands-on exhibits, and the Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose is a fun interactive place for kids.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Winchester Mystery House is an enchanting historic mansion, and the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum houses the largest collection of authentic ancient Egyptian artifacts on display in western North America.
San Jose also has lots of shopping and dining opportunities. From Santana Row and Westfield Valley Fair to Eataly Silicon Valley and Din Tai Fung, there’s a lot to love. Add to that bars like Camino Brewing Co and Henry’s World Famous Hi-Life, and there’s something for everyone.
You can get to San Jose from Palo Alto by car or train. The drive takes 20 to 25 minutes if there’s no traffic. If you go by Caltrain, you can get there in less than 30 minutes on a fast train.
Map of Day Trips from Palo Alto
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all the day trips on my list. You can see it here. If you click on the blue pins, you can find more information and my relevant blog posts about each one.
Best Day Trips from Palo Alto, California
I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of day trips from Palo Alto. Whether you’re looking for coastal beauty, natural wonders, wine country charm, or cultural experiences, these destinations near the city have it all.
There are more places that are a bit farther from the city, too. Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe, Sacramento, Mendocino, and San Luis Obispo are great options if you have more time. But those are the subject of another blog post. For now, happy travels in and around the San Francisco Bay Area!
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