Skip to main content

Plan Your Visit to SCU!

Thank you for making your plans to visit Santa Clara University!

Campus Visits include an information session which will begin in the Patricia A. and Stephen C. Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building followed by a campus tour. The entire visit will be approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. We recommend that you wear good walking shoes, check the weather and plan accordingly. Please use this site to help you make the most out of your visit. We look forward to seeing you soon!

1. Directions to Campus
2. Nearby Eateries and Things to Check-Out
3. Hotels
4. Frequently Asked Questions
5. Contact Us & Notices

 

Directions to Campus

Our Campus Address is 407 Palm Drive. Santa Clara, CA 95053
If you plan to use GPS, be sure you are heading to 407 Palm Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95053 at Santa Clara University. You can also use the recommendations below depending on where you are coming from.

Driving:

  • Drive east on Airport Blvd (follow signs for Coleman Ave)
  • Turn right onto Coleman Ave (follow signs for CA-82 towards Santa Clara)
  • Merge left onto De La Cruz Blvd (towards Santa Clara)
  • Turn right onto Lafayette St
  • Immediately turn right onto El Camino Real
  • Turn right onto Palm Drive
  • Turn left into parking garage

Public transit:

  • From either Terminal A (Stop 7) or Terminal B (Stop 5), take VTA Route 60 Bus (towards Winchester Station via SJC Airport) to Santa Clara Transit Center
  • Cross El Camino Real at Palm Drive
  • Continue walking up Palm Drive until reaching the loop
  • The Office of Undergraduate Admission (located in the Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building) will be on your left.

Driving:

  • Proceed to U.S. 101 South
  • Continue on U.S. 101 South to Exit 391 for Trimble Rd / De La Cruz Blvd
  • Take Exit 391 from U.S. 101 South
  • Turn right onto De La Cruz Blvd, continuing south towards El Camino Real
  • Turn right onto Lafayette St
  • Immediately turn right onto El Camino Real
  • Turn right onto Palm Drive
  • Turn left into parking garage

Public Transit:

  • Take BART from SFO Airport Station to Millbrae station
  • Take Caltrain south from Millbrae Station to Santa Clara Transit Center
  • Cross El Camino Real at Palm Drive
  • Continue walking up Palm Drive until reaching the loop
  • The Office of Undergraduate Admission (located in the Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building) will be on your left.

Driving:

  • Proceed to I-880 South
  • Take I-880 South to Exit 2 for The Alameda
  • Turn right on The Alameda
  • Keep right to take El Camino Real
  • Turn left onto Palm Drive
  • Turn left into parking garage

Public transit:

  • Take BART from OAK Airport to Coliseum Station
  • From Coliseum Station, take the Green or Orange Line south (towards Berryessa/North San Jose) to Milpitas station
  • From Milpitas station, take VTA Route 60 Bus (towards Winchester Station via SJC Airport) to Santa Clara Transit Center
  • Walk across El Camino Real at Palm Drive
  • Continue walking up Palm Drive until reaching the loop
  • The Office of Undergraduate Admission (located in the Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building) will be on your left.

Driving:

  • Proceed to U.S. 101 South towards San Jose
  • Continue on U.S. 101 South to Exit 391 for Trimble Rd / De La Cruz Blvd
  • Take Exit 391 from U.S. 101 South
  • Turn right onto De La Cruz Blvd, continuing south towards El Camino Real
  • Turn right onto Lafayette St
  • Immediately turn right onto El Camino Real
  • Turn right onto Palm Drive
  • Turn left into parking garage

Public Transit:

  • From 4th and King Station (San Francisco Caltrain Depot), take Caltrain south (towards San Jose/Gilroy) to Santa Clara Transit Center
  • Cross El Camino Real at Palm Drive
  • Continue walking up Palm Drive until reaching the loop
  • The Office of Undergraduate Admission (located in the Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building) will be on your left.

Nearby Eateries and Things to Check-Out in the Bay Area!

First time visiting Santa Clara? Check out some recommendations from our students and staff! 

eatery
Navigate here to Eateries
Eateries

Walkable from Campus

  • Cramer's Bagel (0.2 miles)
  • Starbucks (0.2 miles)
  • The Hut (0.5 miles)
  • Voyager Craft Coffee (0.8 miles)
  • Ike's Sandwiches (0.8 miles)
  • Jasmine Thai (0.9 miles)
  • Pizza My Heart (1.1 miles)
  • Rocko's Ice Cream Tacos (1.1 miles)

About 5 to 15 minutes drive from campus

  • In-N-Out Burgers (2 miles)
  • Marugame Udon (2.9 miles)
  • Eataly (3.2 miles)
  • Pizza Antica (3.3 miles)
  • Sushi Confidential (3.6 miles)
  • Opa! - Greek Restaurant (4 miles)
  • Crepevine Restaurants (4.2 miles)
  • Chaat Bhavan - Indian Vegetarian Restaurant (4.5 miles)
  • LUNA Mexican Kitchen (5.7 miles)
  • Orchard City Kitchen (5.7 miles)

Further than 15 minutes drive from campus

  • Hinodeya Ramen Bar (6.2 miles)
  • Zeni - Ethiopian Restaurant (6.7 miles)
  • Cơm Tấm Thiên Hương - Vietnamese Restaurant (7.6 miles)
  • Dough Zone Dumpling House (8.2 miles)
Santana Row
Navigate here to Shopping & Sites
Shopping & Sites

Walkable from Campus

  • Santa Clara Farmer's Market (Saturdays 9AM-1PM) (0.8 miles)
  • Franklin Square (1.0 mile)

About 5 to 15 minutes drive from campus

  • Santa Clara Town Center (1.8 miles)
  • Municipal Rose Garden (2.1 miles)
  • Westfield Valley Fair Mall (2.6 miles)
  • San Pedro Square Market (3.5 miles)
  • Santana Row - Shopping (3.8 miles)
  • Levi's Stadium (5.3 miles)
  • California's Great America - Amusement Park (5.5 miles)

Further than 15 minutes drive from campus

  • Vasona Lake County Park (9.9 miles)
  • Villa Montalvo Park (11.9 miles)
  • Japanese Friendship Garden (6.9 miles)
  • Hakone Estate and Gardens (11.4 miles)
  • Stanford Shopping Center (17.1 miles)
  • SFMoMA (Museum of Modern Art, FREE for 18 and under) (46.3 miles)
  • Conservatory of Flowers + Golden Gate Park (47.7 miles)
  • Fisherman's Wharf + Pier 39 (48.5 miles)
Hiking
Navigate here to Hiking Trails and Beaches
Hiking Trails and Beaches

Within a 30 minute drive from campus

  • Alum Rock Park (8.5 miles)
  • Sierra Vista Viewpoint + Hiking Trails (12.2 miles)
  • Mission Peak Regional Reserve (14.1 miles)

Further than 30 minutes drive from campus

  • Almaden Quicksilver County Park (14.5 miles)
  • Castle Rock State Park + Hiking Trails (21.8 miles)
  • Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (32.3 miles)
  • Seabright Beach (32.4 miles)
  • Twin Lakes Beach (33.5 miles)
  • Capitola Beach (34.4 miles)
  • Lands End Trail (49.2 miles)
  • Muir Woods National Monument (61.6 miles)

Hotels and Accommodations

Use the website below to look at nearby hotels and accommodations around SCU!

Hotels

Frequently Asked Questions

The entire visit will last about 2 hours and 15 minutes. Visits include a 15-minute informational presentation from an admission counselor, followed by a 30-minute Q+A panel with current Student Ambassadors, followed by a 90-minute walking tour of campus. These offerings are subject to change depending on student availability.

Our tours are generally given rain or shine. However, please note that as unforeseen circumstances arise (AQI of 150 or higher, dangerous weather conditions, illnesses etc.) the Undergraduate Admission Office may be required to cancel your visit. In the event of a cancellation you will be contacted via phone and email.

Guests are not required to bring anything, but are encouraged to bring comfortable walking shoes, water (tours can get warm, particularly during 1pm visits), sunscreen, and/or something to take notes with. Check the weather for your visit as we will be mostly outdoors.

You can use the directions listed on our website above for public transit/driving directions or check out this site.

If you plan to use GPS we strongly recommend Google Maps or WAZE and encourage you to be sure you are heading to 407 Palm Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95053 at Santa Clara University. 

Please plan accordingly as Bay Area traffic at times can be heavy.

Yes, there are a number of public transportation options available to travel to campus; by train, bus, and rideshare. Please see directions above for more information.

Campus and Parking Map: Click Here

Parking
When you arrive at the university, please drive through the main entrance of the university off El Camino Real. As you drive through the main entrance, please stop at the parking kiosk. If there is an attendant in the kiosk, please let the attendant know you are here for a campus tour with the Undergraduate Admission Department. The attendant will give you a parking pass and direct you to park in the small visitor lot on the left directly in front of the Main Parking Structure. You may also park on the third floor of the Main Parking Structure. Please note a parking permit is required to park your car on campus.


If you arrive when there is no attendant at the kiosk, please park either in the small visitor parking lot or on the third floor of the Main Parking Structure and visit the Campus Safety Office or Undergraduate Admission Office to obtain your parking pass. You can find the Campus Safety/Transportation office by turning left on the walking path out the west side of the parking structure. A parking permit can also be picked up in the Undergraduate Admission office.

Weekend Parking Information: Please note that parking passes are not required on the weekends. You may park in the small visitor lot on the left directly in front of the Main Parking Structure. You may also park anywhere in the Main Parking Structure.

The walking tour portion of your visit will cover the main points of interest on campus, but visitors may also wish to take a look at the various sports facilities that can be found on the southeast side of campus. These venues include Stephen Schott Stadium (baseball), SCU Softball Park, the Degheri Tennis Center, and Leavey Center (basketball/volleyball).

Additionally, tours will stop at the Malley Fitness and Recreation Center but will not go inside. If students and families would like to enter the facility and explore the various spaces offered by the Malley Fitness and Recreation Center, they may return to the front desk of the Malley Fitness and Recreation Center after their tour and request a visitor pass.

For those who are doing a self-guided tour, please check out our SCU Mobile App. Information and download can be found here

During the school year, Benson Memorial Center, our main dining hall, is open from 7:30am to 8:30pm. There you can get coffee, snacks, or a whole meal. We have a few satellite locations around campus - see the full list and operation hours here

Off-campus, Starbucks and Cramer’s Bagels are located across El Camino Real from the main entrance to campus (Palm Drive). The Hut is located immediately north of Lucas Hall. Additionally, there are a number of restaurants to the south/southeast of campus along The Alameda, including Pizza My Heart, Ike’s Sandwiches, and Voyager Craft Coffee.

If you want to go further and explore the surrounding area, please check out our recommended eatery section for suggestions from students and staff.

If your plans have changed and you want to cancel your registration or if you have any questions regarding this visit, please call the Admission Office at 408-554-4700 or email admission@scu.edu.

Check out this blog written by one of our admission counselors to learn how to make the most out of our college visit.

Yes! Visitors may store their luggage in the Undergraduate Office of Admission during their visit. Luggage will be taken at the front desk and placed in a secure location in the office. Visitors will fill out a bag tag with their name and phone number, and are free to access their luggage throughout the day. The office closes at 5:00pm. Visitors whose items have not been picked up by 4:55 will receive a phone call, but will be unable to retrieve their items after 5:00.

 

No. SCU does not offer admission interviews. You are free to speak to counselors during your visit to introduce yourself and ask any questions you may have, but there are no interviews.

During certain periods of time (usually academic holidays and breaks), we cannot guarantee that Student Ambassadors will be available to provide a student panel and/or a tour of campus. Therefore, certain visits may only consist of an informational presentation from an admission counselor.

Unfortunately, if we are at capacity on the date you are interested in attending and we are offering a session, we do accept walk-ins on a first come-first serve basis. We recommend arriving a couple minutes early to speak with our front desk to see if we can squeeze you in to the tour or if there are any cancellations.

Register for a Visit!

We offer both In-Person Tours, Virtual Information Sessions, Group Visits, and Self-Guided Options. 

Questions?

Please contact our office at 408-554-4700 or email admission@scu.edu

Get to know your Santa Clara University admission counselors and student ambassadors too! 

Follow Us

Alt text:  White lowercase Red YouTube play button icon on a white background.

In compliance with ADA/504, please notify the Office of Undergraduate Admission with your accommodation request at least 72 hours in advance at 408-554-4700 or admission@scu.edu.

Due to unforeseen circumstances surrounding COVID-19, poor air quality (based on an AQI of 150 or higher), or other situations, the Undergraduate Admission Office may cancel your visit and will contact you via phone and email.