SportsQuest
All games

Week 13, Fri, Nov 27, Time TBA local

SMU Mustangsat Stanford Cardinal

Stanford Stadium, Stanford. Fly into SFO.

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What we know about Stanford Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

Checked at the source
  • Downtown Palo Alto. 22 min. walk from the Caltrain station area. Closest town to the stadium, with Caltrain to San Francisco and San Jose.
  • San Francisco. Caltrain to Palo Alto, then walk. Make a weekend of it in the city and ride Caltrain down for the game.
  • San Jose. Caltrain to Palo Alto, then walk. Close to SJC airport, on the same Caltrain line.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Downtown Palo Alto around University Avenue and the Caltrain station, about a 22 minute walk across campus to the stadium.

Getting in from the airport

From a specialist guide
SFO San Francisco or SJC San Jose. From SFO, take BART to Millbrae and change to Caltrain for Palo Alto.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
Caltrain to Palo Alto. Palo Alto station, then a 22 minute walk to 625 Nelson Road. BART plus Caltrain. Change at Millbrae for Caltrain to Palo Alto. Marguerite shuttle to Stanford campus. Waymo. The Oval.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Fans can park and tailgate in any designated football lot around Stanford Stadium. In the Sunken Diamond Lot, don't spread into extra spaces. Lots open 5 hours before kickoff. Lot 2 at El Camino Grove opens at 6 AM, and overnight pass holders can enter at 3 PM two days before a Saturday game. Free Fan Fest in the Hammer Throw area of Cobb Track and Angell Field, open from 3 hours before kickoff until 30 minutes before. Food trucks, a beer garden and family games; vendors are cashless. RevelXP sells reserved tailgate packages on Maloney Field and Avery Plaza. Visitors without a pass can pay on the day at General Lots 7 and 8 and IM South Lot 4. Card or digital payment only.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: Clear bags up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Bag drops at Sunken Diamond and the north end near Gate 10 open 30 minutes before gates.
  • Re-entry: You can leave and come back until the end of the third quarter, with a ticket scan and security screening.
  • Cashless: Concessions are cashless.

Touring the stadium

From a specialist guide
The observation deck sits 250 feet up, with views across campus and, on clear days, to San Francisco. Open 10 AM to 4 PM, closed during academic breaks and finals.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
Walk back to Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 22 minutes, for frequent evening trains north to San Francisco. The free Marguerite shuttle also loops campus.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't bring cash: concessions and the day-of lots are card or digital only. Leave noisemakers, balloons, banners and open umbrellas at home.

Sidequests in Stanford

In the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Photo65 points

    Hoover Tower observation deck

    Ride up 285 feet to a deck 250 feet above campus. Clear days show San Francisco on the skyline.

    $. The day before

  2. Landmark40 points

    Memorial Church on the Main Quad

    Jane Stanford built this mosaic church on the Main Quad. She dedicated it in 1903, in memory of her husband.

    Free. The day before

  3. Outing50 points

    Rodin Sculpture Garden at the Cantor

    The largest Rodin collection outside Paris and Mexico City. The Gates of Hell is here, and it's free to enter.

    Free. The day before

  4. Tailgate75 points

    Stanford Fan Fest

    Free party by the stadium, food trucks, beer garden, games. Doors open 3 hours before kickoff.

    Free. 3 hours before kickoff

  5. Outing65 points

    Hike the Dish

    A 3.5 mile loop around a 150-foot radio dish from 1961. Views stretch to San Francisco and San Jose. In November the trail runs 6:30 AM to 5 PM.

    Free. The day before

Seats and views

Where each part of Stanford Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

Lower level, end zoneLower level, corner, home sideLower level, home sidelineLower level, corner, home sideLower level, end zoneLower level, corner, visitor sideLower level, visitor sidelineLower level, corner, visitor sideUpper level (200 level) and Skybox, end zoneUpper level (200 level) and Skybox, corner, home sideUpper level (200 level) and Skybox, home sidelineUpper level (200 level) and Skybox, corner, home sideUpper level (200 level) and Skybox, end zoneUpper level (200 level) and Skybox, corner, visitor sideUpper level (200 level) and Skybox, visitor sidelineUpper level (200 level) and Skybox, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
Lower level105 to 135, plus the Red Zone student sections in the south endUpper level (200 level) and Skybox201 to 240, plus the Skybox and Director's Level above the west sidelineTap any part of the stadium to see its view.