Local directions and transportation

Because it was founded on a ranch (see the story here), Stanford at 8,000 acres is probably the largest university campus in the world. Just about everything you can see from center campus, all the way up to the top of the hills behind you, is Stanford land. A greenbelt separates central campus from Palo Alto, which means there's a considerable distance between the heart of the university and the town that was built to serve it. Thus, unlike most universities, Stanford is a community to itself, and is bus- or driving-distance, rather than walking-distance, from hotels, restaurants, shopping, etc.

Palo Alto has two business districts: the downtown, based on University Avenue, and a smaller district that was originally a separate town called Mayfield. Nobody remembers that, and it's usually just called "the California Street shopping district". The near end of downtown is about 1.5 miles from the Law School; California Street is just slightly closer, in another direction.

The School of Law is an ugly corduroy concrete building right in the middle of campus, close to the bookstore and the student union.

• Stanford campus vicinity map (California Street parallels Stanford Avenue near El Camino Real. The School of Law is off Campus Drive East.)
• Large map of the Stanford campus
• Searchable map
• Neighborhood of the School of Law

Driving
Weekends: Although one has to maneuver through some bewildering campus byways to get to the Law School (see maps, above), parking is nearby and pretty easy on weekends, especially in summer, and all lots not marked "resident student" are free on weekends.
Weekdays: Even in summer, it can be difficult to park on campus; during term it is almost impossible. Parking is $8 a day; there are a few meters that will take all $8 in quarters at once, but it's best to get an $8 chit for the permit lot. I can pick this up in advance for visiting friends who let me know they'll need it. Even with the permit, one is well advised to park before 9 AM during term, and it's not always easy during the summer either.

Public transit
So how do you get to campus on weekdays? Answer: a free shuttle bus called the Marguerite (after one of Leland's favorite horses) which runs every 12-15 minutes. To get here from Mayfield, take the A line which runs down California Street. Get off at Galvez Street and walk 1/3 mile up to the Law School (carry a map, or you'll never find it), or transfer to the B line at Campus Drive. From downtown, walk to the train station on Alma Street, take the pedestrian tunnel to the far side, and catch the B line from the loading zone. (The A line also terminates here.)
Maps and schedules

The Marguerite does not run on weekends during the summer! You'll have to drive or walk. It's a long walk, but a pleasant one. As mentioned above, Stanford is separated by a greenbelt from Palo Alto; the Law School is 1.5 miles from the center of downtown, and slightly nearer to California Street.

The closest thing to a frequently-running bus line that Santa Clara County Transit has is the number 22 bus that goes along El Camino Real as far north as central Menlo Park (and thus reaching all the Menlo Park sites mentioned elsewhere on these web pages). It does not go onto campus, so since it's a long walk from El Camino to central campus, it's not worth your while to take the 22 to Stanford unless you're coming from south of Page Mill Road.
Maps and schedules