Where is East Palo Alto, California, U.S.

Written and Fact-checked by | Updated On: May 11, 2026

Where is East Palo Alto, California Located in the United States? - East Palo Alto is a city located in the San Mateo County in California, United States. East Palo Alto lies between 37.4688 Degrees North latitudes and -122.1411 Degrees West longitudes.

Location Map of East Palo Alto, San Mateo, California

Where is East Palo Alto Located in San Mateo, California

About Map: The map shows the location of East Palo Alto in San Mateo County, in the U.S. state of California.

East Palo Alto Map, California, USA

About East Palo Alto Map: This Google Map provides a detailed view with zoom, satellite, and street options to explore the area and its surroundings.

About East Palo Alto, San Mateo County, California

East Palo Alto is located in San Mateo County in the U.S. state of California, United States. It lies in the northern part of the state in the state of the United States within the San Francisco Peninsula region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The city was incorporated in 1983 and was named for its geographic location east of Palo Alto across San Francisquito Creek, and it developed from a small community into a residential city within the Silicon Valley metropolitan region.

Population

According to the United States Census Bureau, the population of East Palo Alto is 28,155 as recorded in the 2020 Census, and the population density is approximately 11,000 people per square mile.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, East Palo Alto covers a total area of approximately 2.6 square miles (about 6.7 square kilometers), including about 2.6 square miles (6.7 square kilometers) of land and a minimal amount of water area.

Location and Surroundings

East Palo Alto is situated north of Menlo Park and east of Palo Alto, positioned along the western shoreline of the San Francisco Bay. The city features residential neighborhoods, commercial districts, and nearby wetlands along the bayfront. U.S. Route 101 runs through the area, providing a major transportation route connecting East Palo Alto to surrounding communities across the San Francisco Bay Area.

Top Attractions

East Palo Alto offers parks, waterfront areas, and community facilities that support recreation and neighborhood activities. Popular destinations include the Ravenswood Open Space Preserve, Jack Farrell Park, and nearby Bay Trail paths along the shoreline. The city hosts community programs, cultural events, and outdoor activities throughout the year.

Transportation

East Palo Alto is served by U.S. Route 101 and nearby State Route 84, offering convenient highway access throughout San Mateo County and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Public transportation includes regional bus services connecting the city to surrounding communities and nearby Caltrain stations. The nearest major airport is San Francisco International Airport, located approximately 18 miles to the north.

Explore more cities in California or visit the United States Map section to learn more about the country’s geography.

Sources:

Population and area data sourced from the United States Census Bureau (2020 Census). General city information referenced from the Official East Palo Alto City Website.

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East Palo Alto City Facts

CityEast Palo Alto
StateCalifornia
CountySan Mateo County
CountryUnited States
RegionSan Francisco Bay Area - Peninsula
IncorporatedJuly 1, 1983
Founded1920s settlement
Total AreaApproximately 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2)
Land AreaApproximately 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2)
ElevationApproximately 13 ft (4 m)
Population (2023 estimate)Approximately 31,000+
Population (2020 Census)30,034
Population DensityApproximately 12,000 people per sq mi
Time ZonePacific Time (UTC-8 / UTC-7 DST)
ZIP Codes94303
Area Code650
Major HighwaysU.S. Route 101, State Route 84
Public TransitSamTrans Bus
Major AttractionsRavenswood Open Space Preserve, Cooley Landing Park, University Village
Official Websitehttps://www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/

Distance from East Palo Alto City, CA to Nearby Cities

  • Palo Alto, CA – 2 miles (3 km)
  • Menlo Park, CA – 3 miles (5 km)
  • Redwood City, CA – 6 miles (10 km)
  • Mountain View, CA – 7 miles (11 km)
  • Sunnyvale, CA – 10 miles (16 km)
  • Santa Clara, CA – 14 miles (23 km)
  • San Jose, CA – 18 miles (29 km)
  • Foster City, CA – 12 miles (19 km)
  • San Mateo, CA – 15 miles (24 km)
  • Belmont, CA – 10 miles (16 km)
  • San Carlos, CA – 8 miles (13 km)
  • Burlingame, CA – 18 miles (29 km)
  • Millbrae, CA – 20 miles (32 km)
  • San Bruno, CA – 22 miles (35 km)
  • Fremont, CA – 15 miles (24 km)
  • Hayward, CA – 20 miles (32 km)
  • Oakland, CA – 30 miles (48 km)
  • Berkeley, CA – 35 miles (56 km)
  • San Francisco, CA – 30 miles (48 km)
  • Union City, CA – 18 miles (29 km)

East Palo Alto, California Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January59424.20
April67471.30
July80560.10
October76540.80
Annual715018.40
Climate AttributeDetails
Climate Classification (Köppen)Warm-Summer Mediterranean (Csb)
Annual RainfallApproximately 18 inches
Annual Sunshine DaysAbout 260 days
Hurricane/Tornado RiskVery low hurricane risk; very low tornado risk
SnowfallRare (0 inches)

Driving Distances from East Palo Alto, California

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
Palo AltoCalifornia28 min
Menlo ParkCalifornia310 min
Redwood CityCalifornia615 min
Mountain ViewCalifornia715 min
Los AltosCalifornia818 min
SunnyvaleCalifornia1020 min
San MateoCalifornia1725 min
FremontCalifornia1725 min
San JoseCalifornia2230 min
San FranciscoCalifornia3440 min

Transportation and Connectivity in East Palo Alto, California

TransportationDetails
Airport NameSan Francisco International Airport
IATA CodeSFO
PortNearby Port of Redwood City
Major HighwaysU.S. Route 101, State Route 84 (Dumbarton Bridge), Interstate 280 (nearby)
Train/Amtrak ServiceNearby Caltrain stations at Palo Alto and Menlo Park; nearest Amtrak connection via Emeryville or San Jose
Local Bus/Transit ServiceSamTrans, VTA, and Dumbarton Express
  • U.S. Route 101 — Major north-south highway connecting East Palo Alto with San Francisco and San Jose.
  • State Route 84 (Dumbarton Bridge) — Provides direct access across San Francisco Bay to Fremont and the East Bay.
  • Interstate 280 — Nearby scenic freeway serving the San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley.
  • University Avenue — Primary local corridor linking East Palo Alto with downtown Palo Alto and surrounding communities.

Places to Visit in East Palo Alto, California

Landmark NameType
Ravenswood Open Space PreserveNature Preserve
Cooley Landing ParkWaterfront Park
Baylands Nature PreserveNature Preserve
Stanford UniversityUniversity Campus
Cantor Arts CenterArt Museum
The Foster MuseumMuseum
Bedwell Bayfront ParkRegional Park
Facebook (Meta) Visitor AreaCorporate Landmark
Palo Alto Art CenterArt Center
Shoreline Lake ParkRecreation Park

Colleges and Universities in East Palo Alto, California

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
Stanford UniversityPrivateUniversityWorld-class research
Foothill CollegePublicCommunity CollegeTransfer and career programs
Cañada CollegePublicCommunity CollegeAssociate degree programs
Menlo CollegePrivateUniversityBusiness education
De Anza CollegePublicCommunity CollegeSTEM and transfer programs
Notre Dame de Namur UniversityPrivateUniversityLiberal arts education
San Francisco Bay UniversityPrivateUniversityTechnology and business
Ravenswood City School DistrictPublicK–12 DistrictLocal public education

Waterbodies in East Palo Alto, California

San Francisco Bay, San Francisquito Creek, Matadero Creek, Adobe Creek, Ravenswood Slough, Cooley Landing Harbor, Flood Slough, Dumbarton Channel

Golf Courses in East Palo Alto, California

Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course, Stanford Golf Course, Shoreline Golf Links, Poplar Creek Golf Course, Mariners Point Golf Center, Crystal Springs Golf Course, Emerald Hills Golf Course, Moffett Field Golf Club

East Palo Alto, California — Key Historical Facts

  • East Palo Alto developed during the early 20th century as a residential community on the eastern edge of the San Francisco Peninsula.
  • The city was incorporated in 1983 after residents voted to establish an independent municipality within San Mateo County.
  • East Palo Alto has long been recognized for its cultural diversity and strong community activism.
  • Its location next to Silicon Valley has attracted significant residential and commercial investment in recent decades.
  • Environmental restoration along the San Francisco Bay shoreline has transformed former industrial areas into parks and protected wetlands.
  • Today, East Palo Alto continues to grow as a vibrant community with expanding housing, technology-related businesses, and easy access to major Bay Area employment centers.

References

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