Campbell

City / town · California

Campbell

Best timeMar–Nov
From you
Nearest airportSJC · 6 mi
Typical stay$200/night
On this page

Overview

Campbell is a town of 44,000 people (2020) south and west of San Jose.

2 sights · 2 things to do · 7 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 5 places to stay

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Campbell

The Ainsley House

A 15-room English Tudor-style house that has been restored to its 1920s appearance and decor. It is now a museum that is open to the public.

James Henry and Jessie Campbell House

Not open to the public, but is nice to eyeball as you walk or drive by.

Prunefest

Annual event, usually in May.

Farmers' Market

Main Street downtown is closed to traffic; free parking is available on-street and in a multistory edifice.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Mar–Nov. Summer highs reach about 85°F; winter lows dip to about 40°F. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby Los Gatos)

Jan: 5.0 in rain5"Jan: high 58°F, low 40°F58°40°JanFeb: 4.9 in rain4.9"Feb: high 62°F, low 41°F62°41°FebMar: 3.4 in rain3.4"Mar: high 66°F, low 43°F66°43°MarApr: 1.4 in rain1.4"Apr: high 70°F, low 45°F70°45°AprMay: 0.5 in rain0.5"May: high 76°F, low 49°F76°49°MayJun: 0.2 in rain0.2"Jun: high 82°F, low 52°F82°52°JunJul: 0.0 in rain0"Jul: high 85°F, low 56°F85°56°JulAug: 0.0 in rain0"Aug: high 84°F, low 56°F84°56°AugSep: 0.1 in rain0.1"Sep: high 83°F, low 54°F83°54°SepOct: 0.8 in rain0.8"Oct: high 76°F, low 49°F76°49°OctNov: 2.0 in rain2"Nov: high 65°F, low 43°F65°43°NovDec: 4.0 in rain4"Dec: high 58°F, low 40°F58°40°Dec

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

  • From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
  • SJC Mineta San Jose International Airport, San Jose — 6 mi away (major hub). Directions
  • SQL San Carlos Airport, San Carlos — 23 mi away. Directions
Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

  • Places to stay listed here: about $175–$200 a night (typical $200), from 3 listed prices.
  • Typical meal: about $25 per person at listed restaurants.
  • Estimated daily budget per person (room, two meals, local transport and an activity): budget ~$220, mid-range ~$280, comfortable ~$390.

See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.

Sample 1-day itinerary

Day 1

  • Morning James Henry and Jessie Campbell House, The Ainsley House
  • Lunch Naschmarkt
  • Afternoon Prunefest, Farmers' Market
  • Dinner Stacks
  • Evening Out of the Barrel

Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

    Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

    Map

    Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.

    Understand

    Campbell is part of Silicon Valley.

    Get in

    Get around

    • Downtown Campbell is eminently walkable, being only four blocks long.

    See

    • Campbell Ave. East of Winchester and west of Bascom. To the west, the Historic Downtown District offers a variety of small independent shops and restaurants. To the east, the Pruneyard Shopping Center offers a variety of well-known franchise chains. In between, the Los Gatos Creek Trail extends into Campbell Park.

    See James Henry and Jessie Campbell House

    Not open to the public, but is nice to eyeball as you walk or drive by.

    📍 91 S 2nd St
    MapsWebsite

    See The Ainsley House

    A 15-room English Tudor-style house that has been restored to its 1920s appearance and decor. It is now a museum that is open to the public.

    📍 300 Grant St🕒 Fri–Sun 11AM–3PM☎ +1 408-866-2119Checked May 2022
    MapsWebsite

    Do

    Do Prunefest

    Annual event, usually in May.

    Checked May 2022
    MapsWebsite

    Do Farmers' Market

    Main Street downtown is closed to traffic; free parking is available on-street and in a multistory edifice.

    along E. Campbell Ave, between Central Ave and 3rd St🕒 Sundays 9AM–1PMChecked May 2022
    MapsWebsite

    Buy

    Shop The Pruneyard

    The local upscale shopping center. Has restaurants, a Trader Joe's grocery store, and a cinema.

    📍 1875 S Bascom Ave☎ +1 605-992-8687Checked May 2022
    MapsWebsite

    Shop Pruneyard Cinemas

    Eat dinner at the dine-in movie multiplex.

    MapsWebsite

    Eat Coffee Society

    Bakery / Café

    The stage for a cast of musically inclined bohemians, laptop-toting grad students, fast-talking dot-com biz nerds, and other colorful locals.

    Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube
    MapsWebsite

    Eat Luna Mexican Kitchen

    Mexican$

    Mexican food in a vegetable-forward style with traditional ingredients such as beans, corn, and nopales. Most dishes are made in-house from fresh ingredients – even the tortilla chips. Good options for people on lower-carb diets.

    🕒 Sun–Thu 9AM–9PM; Fri Sat 9AM–10PM💲 $15–40
    Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube
    MapsWebsite

    Shop Rasputin Music

    An excellent record shop featuring hard to find new and used CDs, DVDs, clothing, etc. If for some reason you can't find it there, try Streetlight Records up Bascom Avenue to the north.

    📍 1820 S Bascom Ave☎ +1 408-558-0781Checked May 2022
    MapsWebsite

    Shop Recycled Books West

    This branch of San Jose's best used book store opened in 2004. The original store is still in business on the Alameda. This location has a little of everything, including several resident cats. Good sci-fi selection, but much more, too.

    📍 275 E. Campbell Avedowntown Campbell🕒 Mon–Sat 11AM–9PM, Sun 10AM–5PM☎ +1 408 370-3514Checked May 2022
    MapsWebsite

    Eat

    Eat Stacks

    Breakfast / BrunchGluten-free options

    Go there for breakfast. Gluten-free options.

    📍 139 East Campbell Ave🕒 Mon–Thu 7AM–2PM, Fri–Sun 7AM–2:30PM☎ +1 408 376-3516Checked May 2022
    Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube
    MapsWebsite

    Eat Taco Bravo

    Mexican

    Mexican fast food you could build a hacienda out of - that's a compliment, by the way.

    📍 1950 S Bascom Ave
    Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube
    Maps

    Eat Naschmarkt

    German / European$$$

    Named after an open-air produce market in Vienna, this upscale restaurant serves mostly Austrian and German-style food, such as bratwurst and Wiener schnitzel. Open kitchen.

    📍 384 E. Campbell Ave🕒 Sun Tue–Thu 5–9PM; Fri–Sat 5–9:30PM, closed Mondays💲 $65☎ +1 408 378-0335Checked May 2022
    Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube
    MapsWebsite

    Eat Orchard City Kitchen

    Breakfast / BrunchDessert / Ice cream$$$

    International fusion restaurant offering treats such as smoked duck breast with mustard and blackberries and lamb riblets with pumpkin seeds, chili honey, white chocolate, and hazelnuts. Opens earlier on the weekends for brunch.

    📍 1875 S. Bascom Ave, Suite #190Pruneyard Shopping Center💲 $25 brunch or lunch, $50 dinner☎ +1 408 340-5285⚠ Last checked May 2021 — confirm before you go
    Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube
    MapsWebsite

    Drink

    Drink Out of the Barrel

    Bar / Café

    Pub serving excellent fresh local craft beer. Has a nice outdoor patio. Bring your own food.

    📍 1875 S. Bascom Ave, Ste #560in the Prunyard shopping center, hidden away between Peet's Coffee and Luna Cafe🕒 noon to 10PM☎ +1-408-676-8332Checked Apr 2022
    Video reviews: Instagram reels · TikTok · YouTube
    MapsWebsite

    Sleep

    Stay DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Campbell – Pruneyard Plaza

    A Tuscan-style retreat. Smoke-free hotel with a pool and jacuzzi, fitness center and 24 hour business center. Free Wi-Fi, continental breakfast, newspaper delivery and parking. Restaurants and grocery store nearby in the Pruneyard. Near VTA bus routes 61 and 26. Half-mile walk to the VTA Green line light rail station.

    📍 1995 S Bascom Ave⚠ Last checked May 2021 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Stay Motel 6 San Jose - Campbell

    📍 1240 Camden Ave☎ +1 408-371-8870⚠ Last checked Oct 2019 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Stay Residence Inn San Jose Campbell

    Includes full kitchen. The larger upstairs suites can accommodate up to five people, including two cribs. Easy walk to an upscale grocery store and the Bascom & Curtner bus stop for VTA bus route 61, which runs from Good Samaritan Hospital through downtown San Jose. Smaller suites at ground level are wheelchair-accessible.

    📍 2761 S. Bascom Ave💲 From $175☎ +1 408-559-1551⚠ Last checked May 2021 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Stay TownePlace Suites San Jose Campbell

    Rooms with kitchenettes. Includes parking for two vehicles. Next door to Campbell Park, with playgrounds and basketball courts, and the Los Gatos Creek Trail for exercise. On VTA bus route 26.

    📍 700 E. Campbell Ave💲 From $275☎ +1 408-370-4510⚠ Last checked May 2021 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Stay Larkspur Landing Campbell

    All suites have a fully equipped kitchen. You can find freshly made cookies in the lobby, a fitness center and a library. On VTA bus route 56, which runs west to the Westgate shopping malls and then north to Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale.

    📍 550 West Hamilton Ave💲 From $200+☎ +1 408-364-1514⚠ Last checked May 2021 — confirm before you go
    MapsWebsite

    Go next

    The next town to the south is Los Gatos. Los Gatos boasts a larger downtown area, fancier shops, and richer residents.

    Continuing south on Hwy 17, one goes over the hill and arrives in Santa Cruz.

    Nearby

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