Visitor Information

If you plan to visit Stanford University and the surrounding area, be sure to take advantage of the wealth of information available online. Below are recommendations on Web sites and other resources to help you select your accomodations, transportation, as well as enjoy your stay in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Directions to the Stanford Center for Professional Development
Transportation
Lodging and Dining
Services
Climate
Bay Area Activities

Directions to the Stanford Center for Professional Development

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Stanford Center for Professional Development

Stanford University
496 Lomita Mall, Durand Building 3rd Floor
Stanford, CA 94305-4008
Telephone: 650 204-3984
scpd-customerservice@stanford.edu

Via Ortega Closed During Construction

If you get directions online, they may tell you to turn onto Via Ortega, which is now closed during construction of the new Chemical Engineering building. Instead, you should turn onto Panama St. which you will encounter before or after Via Ortega depending on your direction of travel. The directions below use Panama St.

From Panama St., turn left into Parking Structure 2

From Highway 101, Northbound

1. Take exit #402/EMBARCADERO RD/OREGON EXPWY onto EMBARCADERO RD toward STANFORD UNIV/STANFORD UNIVERSITY/EMBARCADERO RD WEST - go 2.9 mi
2. Cross El Camino Real onto GALVEZ ST on the Stanford campus
3. Continue on GALVEZ ST - go 0.5 mi
4. Turn Right on CAMPUS DR E - go 1.1 mi
5. Turn Left on PANAMA ST - go 0.2 mi
6. Just after the road curves to the left, turn left into PARKING STRUCTURE 2.

From Highway 101, Southbound

1. Take exit #403/UNIVERSITY AVENUE - go 0.4 mi
2. Bear Left on UNIVERSITY AVE - go 1.9 mi
3. Continue on PALM DR - go 0.6 mi
4. Turn Right on CAMPUS DR W - go 0.8 mi
5. Turn Left on PANAMA ST - go 0.2 mi
6. Just after the road curves to the left, turn left into PARKING STRUCTURE 2.

From Highway 280, Northbound

1. Take the ALPINE ROAD/PORTOLA VALLEY exit onto ALPINE RD toward MENLO PARK/ATHERTON - go 1.4 mi
2. Continue on SANTA CRUZ AVE - go 0.1 mi
3. Turn Right on SAND HILL RD - go 0.6 mi
4. Turn Right on STOCK FARM RD - go 0.4 mi
5. Turn Left on CAMPUS DR W - go 0.2 mi
6. Turn Right on PANAMA ST - go 0.2 mi
7. Just after the road curves to the left, turn left into PARKING STRUCTURE 2.

From Highway 280, Southbound

1. Take exit #24/SAND HILL RD onto SAND HILL RD toward SAND HILL ROAD EAST/MENLO PARK/PALO ALTO - go 2.8 mi
2. Turn Right on STOCK FARM RD - go 0.4 mi
3. Turn Left on CAMPUS DR W - go 0.2 mi
4. Turn Right on PANAMA ST - go 0.2 mi
5. Just after the road curves to the left, turn left into PARKING STRUCTURE 2.

From El Camino Real, Northbound

1. Take ramp toward UNIVERSITY AVE/CALTRAIN STATION/STANFORD - go 0.2 mi
2. Turn Left on PALM DR - go 0.6 mi
3. Turn Right on CAMPUS DR W - go 0.8 mi
4. Turn Left on PANAMA ST - go 0.2 mi
5. Just after the road curves to the left, turn left into PARKING STRUCTURE 2.

The Green Earth Sciences Building (left) and the back of the Durand Building (right), from Panama Mall

From El Camino Real, Southbound

1. Take ramp toward UNIVERSITY AVE/PALM DR - go 0.2 mi
2. Bear Right on PALM DR - go 0.5 mi
3. Turn Right on CAMPUS DR W - go 0.8 mi
4. Turn Left on PANAMA ST - go 0.2 mi
5. Just after the road curves to the left, turn left into PARKING STRUCTURE 2.

Parking Structure 2

Parking Structure 2 is located at the corner of Panama St. and Via Ortega. Enter from Panama St., as the entrance from Via Ortega may be blocked during construction. A limited number of visitor parking spaces ia available on the first floor. Parking costs 25 cents for 10 minutes, $12 for a whole day. Purchase a visitor parking permit from the machine which accepts coins, bills, or credit cards, or pay the parking meter which accepts coins only. All other parking requires an A or C parking permit. Parking is free after 4 pm.

Walking Directions to the Durand Building and the
Stanford Center for Professional Development

From Parking Structure 2, walk east 1/4 mi. along Panama St. The Green Earth Sciences building is located on the left, where Panama Street ends and Panama Mall begins. Just past the Green building is the Durand building, four stories high. Continue walking along the short side of Durand, then turn left and down the steps onto Lomita Mall to the middle of the long side, where the entrance and elevators are. Take the elevator to the third floor lobby and the Stanford Center for Professional Development.

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Lodging and Dining

Hotels

There are several local hotels with rooms available at varying rates. Check with your hotel of choice whether a Stanford rate is available. This special discount must be specifically requested. Please note that you must be affiliated with Stanford during the dates of your visit to qualify for a Stanford rate. Attending a course at Stanford through the Stanford Center for Professional Development is classed as an affiliation.

• Four Seasons (For 2010, the SCPD rate during on-campus professional education courses, and the weekends directly before and after, is $225/night. Please contact the hotel directly to make your reservation at this special rate.)
• Stanford Park Hotel
• The Sheraton
• The Westin
• Stanford Guest House
• Stanford Terrace Inn

Stanford University Lodging Guide

Dining

There are several places to dine on and around campus. View a list of campus eateries. University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto offers a wide variety of places to eat and drink.

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Services

Post Office

A full service US Post Office is located in White Plaza.

Banking

Stanford Federal Credit Union has two locations on campus and Wells Fargo Bank, which will cash only American Express traveler's checks for non-customers. Bank of America has a Versateller ATM located at Tresidder Union and a branch across from the Stanford Shopping Center. For foreign currency services, Travelex Currency Exchange is located at 606 Stanford Shopping Center (650.321.3309).

Shipping

If you are attending a professional course at Stanford, we will have a shipping table and a member of our distribution team available at the end of your course. Please have your company account details or credit card details available for the waybill. The Stanford Center for Professional Development does not cover the shipping of materials back to your place of residence/work.

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Climate

The Stanford climate varies throughout the year. The temperature is highest in the summer, and can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit. To view current weather conditions in the area and a 10-day forecast, visit The Weather Channel. The temperature also varies in the lecture and seminar rooms. Evening weather tends to be noticeably cooler. We advise that you dress in layers when you come to campus.

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Bay Area Activities

Enjoy the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. These popular Web sites may help you plan your sight-seeing agenda.

• Only in San Francisco
• City of Palo Alto
• Bay Area Traveler

Plan your trip door-to-door using 511 Trip Planner.