There is a public train service (Caltrain) that runs from San Francisco downtown (4th and King) to the Stanford campus (Palo Alto station). Renting a car is adv

There is a public train service (Caltrain) that runs from San Francisco downtown (4th and King) to the Stanford campus (Palo Alto station). Renting a car is advisable if you're going to spend any significant time in the Bay Area but if you mostly plan to go to SS and then hop around SF, public transportation should be fine. If you're entirely here for SS, staying in Palo Alto is probably the wiser choice but there are more options in SF.