Overview
Woodside is a small town on the San Francisco Peninsula in California. It is considered one of the wealthiest towns in the United States, and is home to many celebrities and executives. Despite its small size, Woodside features many local attractions.
2 sights · 2 things to do · 4 places to eat
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Woodside
Filoli
A country house known for its formal gardens. It was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975 and added to the National Register of Historic Places the same year. Filoli is most widely recognized a…
Woodside Store
A historic store built by Robert Orville "Doc" Tripp and Mathias Parkhurst in the 1850s. Features a small gift shop that sells books and candy sticks.
Huddart Park
A good place for hikers, Huddart Park contains 24 miles of trails over 973 acres. It also has picnic areas, a playground and facilities for equestrians.
Wunderlich Park
A 942-acre protected area donated to San Mateo County in 1974 by former owner Martin Wunderlich. Features hiking trails of varying lengths through redwood forest, picnic areas, and equestrian facilities. The trails are p…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–Nov. Summer highs reach about 81°F; winter lows dip to about 40°F. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Redwood City)
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.
- SQL San Carlos Airport, San Carlos — 6 mi away. Directions
- SFO San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco — 15 mi away (major hub). Directions
SR 84, SR35 and I-280.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $14 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Huddart Park, Wunderlich Park
- Lunch Bucks
- Afternoon Filoli, Woodside Store
- Dinner Moss + Wonder Popsicles
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
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
SR 84, SR35 and I-280.
Get around
Public transportation is not available within Woodside due to its small size. However, SamTrans routes 78 and 278 make some stops not far from the town center, and route 85 stops at Alice's Restaurant.
See
See Filoli
A country house known for its formal gardens. It was donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975 and added to the National Register of Historic Places the same year. Filoli is most widely recognized as the mansion seen in the opening credits of the original Dynasty television show. It was also seen in the major motion pictures The Joy Luck Club (1993) and The Game (1997). Epicurean Group operates a café called the Quail Café and a bar called the Bluebird Bar on premises, but be aware that they have mixed reviews.
Do
Eat
Eat Alice's Restaurant
A restaurant at the intersection of SR 35 and 84 that has become associated with Arlo Guthrie's song of the same name. Despite being thousands of miles from Alice Brock's original restaurant in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, this out-of-the way eatery sports its own Group W Bench to tickle the fancy of Arlo Guthrie fans. Due to its popularity among motorcycle enthusiasts, the menu is full of motorcycle-themed entrées. For example, a "Yamaha" is a chicken breast sandwich with pineapple and teriyaki while a "Harley" burger comes with bacon and sausage (a play on the "Hog" nickname often given to Harley-Davidson motorcycles). Despite the gimmicks associated with its theme, Alice's retains a cheerful and pleasant atmosphere, accessible to visitors on four-wheeled vehicles just stopping in for a bite. It's not unusual on a Sunday morning to see dozens of motorcycles ranging from restored antiques to the newest and fastest sport bikes, all polished up for an informal bike show. To motorcyclists, the term "Alice's" refers both to the restaurant and the Skywood Trading Post (a general store with a deli and coffeehouse) directly across Skyline Boulevard. Even on weekdays, the parking lots on both sides of the street are filled with bikes, riders and the curious.
Eat Skywood Trading Post
A popular grocery store that also features a deli and various alcoholic drinks. It is common to see motorcycles here when the parking lot at the nearby Alice's Restaurant is full.
Eat Moss + Wonder Popsicles
Homemade gourmet popsicles at the intersection of Tunitas Creek Rd, Kings Mountain Rd, and Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35). Mostly sold on hot weekend afternoons.
Go next
Woodside is fairly close to a few other communities on the Peninsula:
- Portola Valley
- Redwood City
- Menlo Park and Atherton
- Palo Alto and Stanford
- Los Altos
- Los Altos Hills
Nearby
Portola Valley
City / town · 1 listings · 3 mi away
Menlo Park
City / town · 75 listings · 4 mi away
Redwood City
City / town · 24 listings · 5 mi away
San Carlos
City / town · 6 listings · 5 mi away
Belmont
City / town · 9 listings · 6 mi away
Palo Alto
City / town · 53 listings · 7 mi away
Los Altos Hills
City / town · 2 listings · 7 mi away
Foster City
City / town · 8 listings · 8 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.