The drive
The move from San Jose to Palo Alto usually runs up US-101 or I-280, and El Camino Real runs the whole way too. Outside rush hour it is a short drive. In the morning commute northbound and the evening commute southbound, it can take much longer. On an hourly local move, the drive is part of the job, so timing it well saves real money.
Older homes need more protection
Near downtown, neighborhoods such as Professorville and Old Palo Alto have homes that are more than a century old, with original wood floors, narrow staircases and tight turns. Furniture that fit easily into a newer San Jose home may need to be taken apart or carried carefully. Measure your largest pieces against the narrowest doorway and stair turn before the move.
Eichler neighborhoods
Midtown and south Palo Alto have large Eichler neighborhoods, with walls of glass, atriums and radiant floor heating in concrete slabs. Protecting floors and keeping long pieces away from glass are the priorities. See our guide to moving into an Eichler home for more detail.
City-run utilities
The City of Palo Alto provides electricity, gas, water and wastewater service, so you start service with the city rather than PG&E. Arrange the start date a week or two ahead, and remember to stop PG&E and San José Clean Energy service at your San Jose address.
Parking near downtown and the stations
Some neighborhoods near downtown and the California Avenue area have residential parking permit programs. Check your block's rules for guests and for the moving truck. Mature street trees can also limit where a tall truck can stop, so plan the truck spot with your movers.
The Stanford calendar
Stanford sits right next to Palo Alto, and the weeks around the start and end of the academic year are busy for moves in the area. If your dates are flexible, a mid-month or mid-week move is easier to book and often quicker on the road.
Rebuilds and storage
Many Palo Alto owners rebuild or remodel, which means moving out to a rental and back in a year or more later. If that is your plan, arrange storage for the furniture that will not fit in the rental, and keep a list of what is where.
Schools and timing
Families often time a move to Palo Alto around the school year. Enrollment usually requires proof of residence, so plan the move and the paperwork together. Summer is the busiest season, so book movers early.
Smaller closets, bigger decisions
Older Palo Alto homes often have smaller closets and less storage than newer homes. Decide before the move what will fit, and donate or sell the rest. It is easier than finding space for everything once you are there.
Caltrain and getting around
University Avenue and California Avenue Caltrain stations make it easy to commute without a car. If you are moving from a car-dependent part of San Jose, think about where you will park and whether you will need both cars.
The first week
Walk the neighborhood, find the nearest grocery and hardware store, and check trash and recycling days. Palo Alto has many parks and bike routes, which are worth exploring once the boxes are unpacked.
Planning the day
Start early to stay ahead of traffic, have your San Jose home fully packed before the crew arrives and send the crew a sketch of where large pieces go in the new home. Our Palo Alto movers page covers local details, and our local movers handle moves up and down the Peninsula.
Before you sign a lease or close
Visit the street at the time of day you plan to move, and look at where a truck could stop. Some Palo Alto streets are quiet at ten in the morning and full by evening. Check whether your building or block has parking rules, and ask the previous owner or landlord how other people have handled moves.
Garden and yard items
Older Palo Alto lots often have mature gardens, and many new residents bring potted plants from San Jose. Plants travel best in your own car, out of direct sun. Empty and clean garden tools, and drain fuel from mowers before the move.
If you are moving into a condo
Downtown Palo Alto and the El Camino Real corridor have many condo buildings with elevator bookings and HOA rules. Ask for the move rules as soon as you can, and book the elevator before you book the movers.
Protected trees
Palo Alto has rules that protect certain trees, including many oaks and other large trees. If you plan landscaping or a remodel after the move, check the city's tree rules before any work near large trees, and do not let a truck park on root zones in a front yard.
Single-story overlays in Eichler areas
Some Palo Alto Eichler neighborhoods have zoning overlays that limit second stories, to keep the low profile of the tract. If you are buying an Eichler with remodel plans, check the zoning before you assume you can add a floor.
El Camino Real, the slow way
El Camino Real runs the full distance from San Jose to Palo Alto, but with traffic lights every few blocks it is slower than US-101 or I-280 for a loaded truck. It is still handy for short hops, such as moving between Mountain View and Palo Alto.