There are 8 ways to get from Washington to Palo Alto by plane, bus (Greyhound), train, subway, 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.
Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
best- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane DCA - SFO
6h 56m$139–590Bus
- Take the bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Chicago Bus Station to Denver Union Stationbus
- Take the bus from Denver Union Station to Sparks Transit Centerbus
- Take the bus from Sparks Transit Center to San Francisco Bus Stationbus
- Take the bus from Salesforce Transit Center- Bay 37 to Clarke Ave & O'Connor St-Ravenswood Shopping Ctrbus Epx
2d 23h$485–942Train, BART
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Stationtrain
- Take the train from Chicago Union Station to Richmondtrain
- Take the subway from Richmond to Millbraesubway
3d 2h$1,015–2,123Drive 2,823 mi
- Drive from Washington to Palo Altocar 2,823 mi
45h 6m$516–745Fly Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane DCA - SJC
8h 38m$369–1,375Subway to Washington Dulles International Airport, fly to San Francisco International Airport
- Take the subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platformsubway
- Fly from Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane IAD - SFO
8h 19m$455–721Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshalltrain
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)plane BWI - SJC
8h 24m$249–1,504Train to Baltimore-Washington International Airport, fly to San Francisco International Airport
- Take the train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshalltrain
- Fly from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)plane BWI - SFO
8h 22m$405–1,213
Washington to Palo Alto by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Washington to Palo Alto is to fly which costs $130 - $600 and takes 6h 56m.
The fastest way to get from Washington to Palo Alto is to fly which takes 6h 56m and costs $130 - $600.
No, there is no direct bus from Washington station to Palo Alto. However, there are services departing from Washington Union Station and arriving at Clarke Ave & O'Connor St-Ravenswood Shopping Ctr via Chicago Bus Station, Denver Union Station, Sparks Transit Center and Salesforce Transit Center- Bay 37. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2 days 23h.
No, there is no direct train from Washington station to Palo Alto. However, there are services departing from Washington Union Station and arriving at Millbrae via Chicago Union Station and Richmond. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 3 days 2h.
The distance between Washington and Palo Alto is 2471 miles. The road distance is 2839.4 miles.
The best way to get from Washington to Palo Alto without a car is to bus which takes 2 days 23h and costs $480 - $950.
It takes approximately 6h 56m to get from Washington to Palo Alto, including transfers.
Washington to Palo Alto bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, depart from Washington Union Station.
Washington to Palo Alto train services, operated by Amtrak, depart from Washington Union Station.
The best way to get from Washington to Palo Alto is to fly which takes 6h 56m and costs $130 - $600. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs $480 - $950 and takes 2 days 23h.
What companies run services between Washington, DC, USA and Palo Alto, CA, USA?
Alaska Airlines, Inc., United Airlines, and three other airlines fly from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) every 4 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Washington Union Station to Clarke Ave & O'Connor St-Ravenswood Shopping Ctr via Chicago Bus Station, Denver Union Station, Sparks Transit Center, San Francisco Bus Station, and Salesforce Transit Center- Bay 37 in around 2d 23h.
- Website
- southwest.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 37m
- When
- Sunday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 50m
- When
- Saturday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 55m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 30m
- When
- Sunday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,400
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Chicago Midway
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $360–1,400
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 21m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- When
- Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
- Estimated price
- $250–1,000
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 40m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,000
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $260–1,000
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 41m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 12m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Las Vegas
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 10m
- When
- Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- $170–650
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via St. Louis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 15m
- When
- Saturday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $160–650
- Website
- united.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 37m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $360–1,400
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 59m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $140–550
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 38m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 54m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 56m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $160–650
- Website
- delta.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 53m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $240–950
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Minneapolis
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 8m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $370–1,400
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Los Angeles
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–1,500
Flights from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Salt Lake City
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $250–950
- Website
- aa.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via Phoenix
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 4m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $380–1,500
- Website
- alaskaair.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 57m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $220–600
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport via San Diego
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 39m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- $470–1,800
- Website
- flyfrontier.com
Flights from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to San Francisco International Airport via Denver
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 34m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $120–460
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to Chicago Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 48m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $250–550
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Chicago Union Station to Richmond
- Ave. Duration
- 2d 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $750–1,600
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–20
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $9–20
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Phone
- +1-510-464-6000
- Website
- bart.gov
Subway from Richmond to Millbrae
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 16m
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- $12–16
- Website
- https://www.bart.gov
- Adult Single Ride
- $12–16
- Phone
- +1 202 466 3876
- Website
- wmata.com
Subway from Farragut West, Blue/Orange/Silver Line Track 2 Platform to Washington Dulles International Airport, Silver Line Center Platform
- Ave. Duration
- 47 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- $2–3
- Website
- https://www.wmata.com
- standard fare after 9:30 p.m
- $2–3
- Phone
- 1-866-743-3682
- Website
- mta.maryland.gov
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- https://www.mta.maryland.gov
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 35 min
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- $2–9
- Website
- https://www.mta.maryland.gov
- Standard Fare
- $2–9
Rome2Rio's guide to Amtrak Acela
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 800-872-7245
- Website
- amtrak.com
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
Train from Washington Union Station to BWI Thurgood Marshall
- Ave. Duration
- 20 min
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- $6–550
- Schedules at
- https://www.amtrak.com/acela-train
- Website
- https://www.amtrak.com/home.html
- Business Class
- $6–440
- First Class
- $100–550
Rome2Rio's guide to Greyhound USA
Contact DetailsContact Details
- Phone
- +1 214-849-8100
- [email protected]
- Website
- greyhound.com
Bus from Washington Union Station to Chicago Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 17h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $110–220
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Chicago Bus Station to Denver Union Station
- Ave. Duration
- 21h 35m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $160–320
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Denver Union Station to Sparks Transit Center
- Ave. Duration
- 20h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $170–330
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
Bus from Sparks Transit Center to San Francisco Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 10m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–70
- Website
- https://www.greyhound.com/
- Website
- samtrans.com
Bus from Salesforce Transit Center- Bay 37 to Clarke Ave & O'Connor St-Ravenswood Shopping Ctr
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 36m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- $2–5
- Website
- http://www.samtrans.com
- Website
- http://www.samtrans.com
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More Questions & Answers
Washington to Palo Alto bus services, operated by Greyhound USA, arrive at Chicago Bus Station.
Palo Alto is 3h behind Washington. It is currently 12:48 AM in Washington and 9:48 PM in Palo Alto.
Washington to Palo Alto train services, operated by Amtrak, arrive at Chicago Union Station.
Yes, the driving distance between Washington to Palo Alto is 2839 miles. It takes approximately 45h 6m to drive from Washington to Palo Alto.
There are 490+ hotels available in Palo Alto.
















