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North AmericaUnited StatesCalifornia

Palo Alto

California, United States · North America

About Palo Alto

Palo Alto is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Menlo Park, 51km from Golden Gate Bridge.

Palo Alto is a town located in California, United States. With a population of 66,853, it is an important destination in North America.

On a road trip, Palo Alto sits in United States, where you drive on the right. It's in the America/Los Angeles time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Palo Alto to your route.

About Palo Alto

Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo is located in Palo Alto, California and part of the City of Palo Alto's Community Services Department (CSD). It was founded in 1934 by Josephine O’Hara in the basement of a local elementary school. The small zoo holds approximately 200 species of mostly indigenous wildlife such as

Read more bobcats, raccoons, hedgehogs, ducks, bats, snakes and more. The museum has an interactive scientific exhibition that is changed every few years. They offer science classes to local students, over 14,000 students a year. In December 2017, Palo Alto's City Council unanimously approved plans for a $25 million reconstruction project. The museum re-opened to the public in 2021.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Palo Alto

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Palo Alto?

Palo Alto offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Palo Alto?

Plan your road trip to Palo Alto with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Palo Alto as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Palo Alto located?

Palo Alto is located in California, United States, North America. The coordinates are 37.4419 latitude, -122.1430 longitude.

What is the population of Palo Alto?

Palo Alto has a population of approximately 66,853 people, making it a town in United States.

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Quick Information

Population
66,853
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
California
Timezone
America/Los_Angeles
Coordinates
37.4419, -122.1430

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesCaliforniaTown

Worth the detour from Palo Alto

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

cafe

Alice's Restaurant

A legendary biker and car enthusiast hangout on Skyline Boulevard in the Santa Cruz Mountains, a must-stop on one of California's best riding roads.

12 km · about 20 min drive

tunnel

Tom Lantos Tunnels (Devil's Slide)

Twin highway tunnels that bypass the notorious Devil's Slide cliffs on Highway 1 south of Pacifica; the old clifftop roadbed is now a spectacular coastal trail.

36 km · about 40 min drive

museum

Blackhawk Museum

Classic and rare automobiles displayed as art in an elegant gallery setting in the San Francisco Bay Area.

45 km · about 50 min drive

museum

Exploratorium

A pioneering hands-on science museum on San Francisco's waterfront that inspired interactive museums worldwide.

46 km · about 55 min drive

landmark

Coit Tower

Art Deco observation tower on Telegraph Hill offering 360-degree views of San Francisco, the bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

46 km · about 55 min drive

museum

California Academy of Sciences

A unique museum combining an aquarium, planetarium, and natural history museum under a living green roof in Golden Gate Park.

46 km · about 55 min drive

landmark

Alcatraz Island

Notorious former federal penitentiary on a rocky island in San Francisco Bay that once held America's most dangerous criminals.

49 km · about 55 min drive

bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

The Art Deco suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait in famous International Orange; drive, cycle, or walk it, with classic viewpoints at Battery Spencer and Fort Point.

51 km · about 60 min drive

Driving roads near Palo Alto

  • 36 kmTom Lantos Tunnels (Devil's Slide)Twin highway tunnels that bypass the notorious Devil's Slide cliffs on Highway 1 south of Pacifica; the old clifftop roadbed is now a spectacular coastal trail.
  • 51 kmGolden Gate BridgeThe Art Deco suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate strait in famous International Orange; drive, cycle, or walk it, with classic viewpoints at Battery Spencer and Fort Point.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Palo Alto.

Stanford

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 13,809

East Palo Alto

🇺🇸 United States

3 km awayPop. 29,662

Menlo Park

🇺🇸 United States

4 km awayPop. 33,449

Atherton

🇺🇸 United States

5 km awayPop. 7,167

West Menlo Park

🇺🇸 United States

5 km awayPop. 3,659

North Fair Oaks

🇺🇸 United States

6 km awayPop. 14,687

Ladera

🇺🇸 United States

7 km awayPop. 1,426

Los Altos

🇺🇸 United States

7 km awayPop. 30,671

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence