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Major city · United States

Redwood City

One night is enough: use Redwood City as a Caltrain base between San Francisco and San Jose, or a half-day for the courthouse square and farmers market.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Oct (dry, mild); Sep–Oct warmest
avoid Dec–Mar (rain, 3–4 wet days a month)
Airports
SFO · SJC
Nights
1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Redwood City sits mid-Peninsula on Caltrain, roughly 45 min from San Francisco and 40 min from San Jose. Downtown is small and walkable around a restored 1910 courthouse square. Most travellers use it as a cheaper bed than SF or Palo Alto, or stop for the Saturday market and a meal.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Redwood City, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–6
  • Street or quick mealBurrito or taco plate$10–16
  • BeerCarvery plate at a beer-hall style restaurant$15–25
  • Metro or bus rideCaltrain ride within the Peninsula$3.25–8 (check)
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entry (county history museum)$6 adult, $4 concession (check)
  • Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$180
  • Mid-range bedMotel or chain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
  • High-end bedMotel or chain-hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$300

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

San Mateo County History Museum in the 1910 courthouseDowntown Broadway and Courthouse SquareKiwanis farmers marketCaltrain Peninsula stop
Airports
SFO San Francisco International (About 20–25 min north by car; Caltrain + BART or SamTrans link) · SJC San Jose Mineta International (About 30–35 min south by car; Caltrain to Santa Clara then transfer)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Redwood City: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

15°C

5°C

4 rd

Feb

17°C

6°C

4 rd

Mar

19°C

7°C

3 rd

Apr

20°C

8°C

1 rd

May

23°C

10°C

1 rd

Jun

26°C

12°C

0 rd

Jul

27°C

14°C

0 rd

Aug

27°C

14°C

0 rd

Sep

26°C

13°C

0 rd

Oct

24°C

10°C

1 rd

Nov

18°C

7°C

2 rd

Dec

15°C

5°C

4 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Downtown is walkable end to end in about 15 min. Caltrain runs to San Francisco and San Jose from Redwood City station near Broadway and El Camino. SamTrans buses cover the county and link to Caltrain. US-101 and I-280 bracket the city for driving; Redwood Shores is east of US-101.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

San Francisco

go

Door to door: About 1 h 15 min (check; add time for the transfer from 4th & King)

Caltrain from Redwood City station to San Francisco 4th & King, then Muni or a walk to downtown

Caltrain ends at 4th & King, south of downtown; add a Muni hop or a 25-min walk.

Half Moon Bay

go

Door to door: About 35–45 min (check)

Drive via Hwy 92 west over the hill

Transit is limited (check); go by car or rideshare and return before dark.

San Jose

caution

Door to door: About 50 min

Caltrain south to San Jose Diridon

Fine for a game or museum; the downtown core is a further walk or light-rail hop from Diridon.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Downtown / Broadway

Walk to Caltrain, restaurants and the square; limited hotel stock, book early.

El Camino Real corridor

Motels and chain hotels along the strip; 10–20 min walk or a short rideshare to downtown.

Redwood Shores

East of US-101, quieter and business-oriented; you need a car or rideshare for everything.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or chain-hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$180US$180
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$160US$320
Caltrain Redwood City → San Francisco, one way2 × US$8 · check; zone-based fare, Clipper cardUS$16
Rideshare SFO → downtown Redwood City1 × US$45 · check; higher at peakUS$45
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 · checkUS$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$59
Trip total≈ US$325 per person per day, bed includedUS$650

check

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Burrito or taco plate$10–16
Carvery plate at a beer-hall style restaurant$15–25
Draught beer in a pub$7–10
Caltrain ride within the Peninsula$3.25–8 (check)
Rideshare across town$12–20
Museum entry (county history museum)$6 adult, $4 concession (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A low-risk suburban city; the real issues are thin late-night Caltrain service and summer heat if you walk midday (check local advisories for car break-ins).
  • Caltrain is commuter rail: late-night and weekend service is thin, so check the last train before a night out in SF.
  • US-101 and I-280 jam at commute hours (roughly 7–9am and 4–7pm); add buffer to airport runs.
  • Summer afternoons can hit the low 30s°C inland while the coast stays cool — layer up.
  • Downtown parking is metered and enforced; use the Middlefield Rd garage for the cinema complex.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Redwood City Police non-emergency
650-780-7100
Poison control (24 h)
1-800-222-1222

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Redwood CityRedwood City

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Police non-emergency650-780-7100
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No embassies here; consulates-general are in San Francisco. US visitors: your own country's consulate is in SF.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Caltrain Redwood City → San Francisco: about $8 one way, about 45 min (check)
  • Caltrain Redwood City → San Jose: about $6 one way, about 40–50 min (check)
  • Rideshare downtown → SFO: $40–55 (check)

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the Caltrain station? — Where is the Caltrain station?
  • Card, please — Card, please

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Redwood City. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Oct (dry, mild); Sep–Oct warmest · avoid Dec–Mar (rain, 3–4 wet days a month) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SFO and SJC: last Caltrain departures field-checked, rideshare fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Broadway and Courthouse Square, El Camino Real, Redwood Shores.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (San Mateo County History Museum, Fox Theatre, Cinemark) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Market-day fixtures so the Saturday and Wednesday markets can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources