Palo Alto, California is located in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Palo Alto ( [ ˌpæloʊ_ˈæltoʊ ] ; [ ˈpalo ˈalto ] ; from palo , literally `` stick '' , colloquially `` tree '' , and alto `` tall '' ; meaning : `` tall tree '' ) is a charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County , California , in the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States . San Francisco Peninsula . Its southern base is in northern Santa Clara County , including the cities of Palo Alto , Mountain View and Los Altos . Most of the Peninsula is occupied by San Mateo County , between San Francisco and Santa Clara counties , and including the cities and towns of Atherton , Belmont , Brisbane , Burlingame , Colma , Daly City , East Palo Alto , El Granada , Foster City , Hillsborough , Half Moon Bay , La Honda , Los Altos , Menlo Park , Millbrae , Mountain View , Pacifica , Palo Alto , Portola Valley , Redwood City , San Bruno , San Carlos , San Mateo , South San Francisco , and Woodside .