Hoover Tower
Hoover Tower
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This 285-foot tower furnishes an outstanding view and houses the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
284 reviews
Excellent
144
Very good
108
Average
29
Poor
3
Terrible
0
Blackrobe
Murphysboro, IL92 contributions
Mar 2020
We were blessed with a clear day and were able to see San Francesco and Portland. Carillon of 48 bells donated by the Belgian people sit at the top. Small history museums at the bottom one includes a piece of the Berlin Wall.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Piotr H.
Lodz, Poland3,877 contributions
Jul 2019
Great place. Very nice views. You can go up and down in about 30 minutes. From above you can see the whole bay area. Really nice
Written October 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
koki1015sv
Cupertino, CA61 contributions
Sep 2019
When you are at the top of the tower, you can have a bird's-eye view of its beautiful and splendid landscape. It might be a nice experience.
I was so surprised at seeing how large Stanford University was. I wasn't sure where the boundary was. There were a lot of historical buildings and forests.
I had to leave my backpack at the entrance because of security or safety policy. There weren't any place for bag drop-off, so I just put it on the floor! I felt a little anxious, but, luckily, I could retrieve my bag without any problems when I got back to the ground.
I was so surprised at seeing how large Stanford University was. I wasn't sure where the boundary was. There were a lot of historical buildings and forests.
I had to leave my backpack at the entrance because of security or safety policy. There weren't any place for bag drop-off, so I just put it on the floor! I felt a little anxious, but, luckily, I could retrieve my bag without any problems when I got back to the ground.
Written October 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tripOverMyFeet
3 contributions
Really nice place to look over the Stanford Campus and all of Palo Alto.
Written May 25, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DJ B
Mountain View, CA67 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Went to Stanford on Sunday for a bike ride. Saw that the Tower was open and decided to go in. I had not do this since I was a kid. Cost $4 per person. You go up the elevator and look out the arches. Great views on a clear day. They have pictures next to each opening showing you what you are looking at. Spent 15 minutes up top. Nice time
Written June 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Limor W
San Francisco, CA216 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
A short elevator ride will take you up to an observation platform with a 360 degrees view of Stanford University and SiliconValley on a clear day you can see San Jose and San Francisco. At the lobby level there are 2 exhibits for President Hoover and his wife Lou Hoover both whom were Stanford alumni. I learned a few things about them during my visit.
Written February 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MaxMaxi
San Francisco, CA36 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
If you are visiting Stanford, you should definitely take the elevator up Hoover tower to get the "view from above".
It gives you a great perspective of the Quad and the sheer size of the campus. Downstairs in the entry hall is an exhibit of the important work Hoover has done for peace.
It gives you a great perspective of the Quad and the sheer size of the campus. Downstairs in the entry hall is an exhibit of the important work Hoover has done for peace.
Written September 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CHCNV
Los Altos, CA206 contributions
Mar 2015 • Friends
Hoover Tower is actually a working library for the Hoover Institute on the Stanford campus. When you go up in the elevator, the "stacks" are only available to staff, so there are no stops on the way for visitors. The cost of going to the top is $2; having the right change will be appreciated. It's not worth your time to go up Hoover Tower on an overcast day, but if you hit a nice clear day, you will be able to see how big the campus is...and you'll be able to see the contours of Silicon Valley. Bring a jacket or sweater because it can be breezy at the top. There are historic displays in the two side rooms upon entry to the tower. It's open 10-4, so plan accordingly.
Written March 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
3Dtravelpro
51 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
We took a trip over to Stanford and had a Stanford student bring us, free of charge, up to the top of Hoover Tower. It was a spectacularly clear day and you could see the bridges and skyline of San Francisco way off in the distance.
This is an attraction that can give you a quick lay of the land, as long as it is a clear day. You will spend around 10 to 15 minutes at the top of the tower and will be able to see things on all sides.
They do have some photos of the main things you can view from each platform, which I found helpful.
All in all, it is worth a quick trip to see the sights from one of the highest vantage points around!
By the way, if you can't get a Stanford student to bring you the price is about $2 a head.
This is an attraction that can give you a quick lay of the land, as long as it is a clear day. You will spend around 10 to 15 minutes at the top of the tower and will be able to see things on all sides.
They do have some photos of the main things you can view from each platform, which I found helpful.
All in all, it is worth a quick trip to see the sights from one of the highest vantage points around!
By the way, if you can't get a Stanford student to bring you the price is about $2 a head.
Written June 29, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
happytomeetyou
Palo Alto, CA75 contributions
Oct 2011 • Friends
I kept hearing about Hoover Tower. I live near Stanford and often walk "The Dish", the hillside trail loop that looks down on the campus. I couldn't see what was the big deal about going up the tower, so I put it off for 2 years. Finally, visitors came to town, and a new student and I decided to take them there. The cost can't be beat - $2 per person, though if you have a student with you, 4 can get in free! There are no stairs, you're forced to take the elevator, so you miss out on that experience of attaining the goal. But! The view is worth it.
The elevator lets you out at the carillion (bells) platform, where you can look through the arches out in every direction to the views of the campus and beyond. Suddenly, you understand why people talk about it. Stanford buildings are not tall, and the tower juts up way above them, so you get a birds-eye view of the campus, which in itself is worth several minutes of study and people-watching. Then, looking out to the horizon, you can see in all directions - mountains, bay, San Jose, up to San Francisco. You can see homes and the lay of the land in a way that's not possible from other vantage points. All standing within the relatively historic tower, and knowing that the carillion is still active and can be heard most evenings around 5:30 pm (after visitors are off the tower).
So grab a student to take you up, see it in the late afternoon with the long shadows spotlighting the beautiful surroundings, and then descend to spend your $8 on lattes at The Coop, then sit outside and listen to the carillion concert as the sun sets while you sip. Perfect, right?
The elevator lets you out at the carillion (bells) platform, where you can look through the arches out in every direction to the views of the campus and beyond. Suddenly, you understand why people talk about it. Stanford buildings are not tall, and the tower juts up way above them, so you get a birds-eye view of the campus, which in itself is worth several minutes of study and people-watching. Then, looking out to the horizon, you can see in all directions - mountains, bay, San Jose, up to San Francisco. You can see homes and the lay of the land in a way that's not possible from other vantage points. All standing within the relatively historic tower, and knowing that the carillion is still active and can be heard most evenings around 5:30 pm (after visitors are off the tower).
So grab a student to take you up, see it in the late afternoon with the long shadows spotlighting the beautiful surroundings, and then descend to spend your $8 on lattes at The Coop, then sit outside and listen to the carillion concert as the sun sets while you sip. Perfect, right?
Written March 28, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Was wondering if the tower is near parking. Taking my father who has bad knees and can't walk very far. Thanks.
Written March 31, 2017
We were there on the weekend, an there was a lot of parking on campus. We parked near the visitors center. but there were many places closer. But I do not know about the permits required.
Written March 31, 2017
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