Palo Alto, CA Road Trips

Palo Alto, CA serves as a quiet starting point in the Pacific Coast, connecting drivers to 6 outbound routes across the area. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 17-mile quick runs to 476-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Palo Alto, CA head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

city in Santa Clara County, California, United States

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Trip Routes

8

Longest Drive

476.3 mi

San Diego, CA

Quickest Drive

23m

San Jose, CA

Plan Around Palo Alto, CA

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Palo Alto, CA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Long Beach, CA to Palo Alto, CA 379.6 mi · 7h 13m San Francisco, CA to Palo Alto, CA 33 mi · 43m

Continue From Palo Alto, CA

Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.

Palo Alto, CA to San Diego, CA 476.3 mi · 9h 7m Palo Alto, CA to Fontana, CA 401 mi · 7h 36m Palo Alto, CA to Los Angeles, CA 355.2 mi · 6h 44m Palo Alto, CA to Sacramento, CA 115.9 mi · 2h 23m

Trips from Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto, CA to San Diego, CA

476.3 mi 9h 7m

Palo Alto, CA to Fontana, CA

401 mi 7h 36m

Palo Alto, CA to Los Angeles, CA

355.2 mi 6h 44m

Palo Alto, CA to Sacramento, CA

115.9 mi 2h 23m

Palo Alto, CA to Oakland, CA

34 mi 47m

Palo Alto, CA to San Jose, CA

16.9 mi 23m

Driving from Palo Alto, CA

Expect an average of 233 miles and about 4h 30m behind the wheel when leaving Palo Alto, CA. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 476 miles (9h 7m), while the shortest is just 17 miles.

Popular Destinations

Drivers leaving Palo Alto, CA most often head toward San Diego, CA (476.3 mi, 9h 7m), Fontana, CA (401 mi, 7h 36m), Los Angeles, CA (355.2 mi, 6h 44m), Sacramento, CA (115.9 mi, 2h 23m), and Oakland, CA (34 mi, 47m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

For the average 233-mile drive from Palo Alto, CA, expect to burn about 9.2 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.

Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 6 mapped routes leaving Palo Alto, CA and 2 routes heading into Palo Alto, CA, covering 8 total connections. Distances range from 17 to 476 miles.

The longest mapped route from Palo Alto, CA covers 476 miles and takes approximately 9h 7m. Shorter options start at just 17 miles.

The average route from Palo Alto, CA runs about 233 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 30m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

The most popular road trip destinations from Palo Alto, CA include San Diego, CA, Fontana, CA, Los Angeles, CA and Sacramento, CA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.