Portola Valley Homes for Sale
18 Homes for sale in Portola Valley
$6,988,000
40 Hillbrook Drive
Portola Valley, CA 94028
$3,695,000
133 Russell Avenue
Portola Valley, CA 94028
$3,500,000
176 Los Trancos Circle
Portola Valley, CA 94028
$3,395,000
163 Crescent Avenue
Portola Valley, CA 94028
$1,749,000
76 Old Spanish Trail
Portola Valley, CA 94028
$7,998,000
138 Bolivar Lane
Portola Valley, CA 94028
$7,495,000
1 Redberry Ridge
Portola Valley, CA 94028
$8,748,000
7 Redberry Ridge
Portola Valley, CA 94028
Browse Portola Valley by Property Type
Portola Valley Neighborhood Guide
Portola Valley is one of the most exclusive and quietly distinctive towns on the San Francisco Peninsula — a semi-rural enclave of roughly 4,500 residents tucked into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains between Palo Alto and the ridge. With no stoplights, a single town center, and a strict development ethic that preserves open space and natural habitat above almost everything else, it has remained resolutely rural while sitting minutes from Stanford and Silicon Valley's biggest employers. The San Andreas Fault runs directly through the town, which has shaped both its geology and its building regulations. Portola Valley attracts buyers who want extraordinary privacy, land, and natural beauty and are willing to pay a significant premium for it.
Why Buyers Love Portola Valley
- Unrivaled privacy and natural setting — Homes on multi-acre parcels, redwood canyons, and open hillsides make Portola Valley feel more like Woodside or the Santa Cruz Mountains than a Peninsula suburb. The sense of remove from Silicon Valley's density is real and highly valued.
- Extraordinary open space access — Coal Creek Open Space Preserve, Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, and the Portola Valley Trail system thread through and around the town, offering miles of hiking, equestrian, and mountain biking trails accessible from residential streets.
- Stanford and Sand Hill proximity — Despite its rural character, Portola Valley is a 15-minute drive from Stanford University, the Stanford Research Park, and Sand Hill Road venture capital firms — placing it at the intellectual center of Silicon Valley without any of the density.
- Strong community identity — The town maintains active governance over land use, a community center with regular events, and a culture of engaged residents who have collectively chosen slower growth over development. The Portola Valley Town Center and farmer's market are genuine community gathering points.
Neighborhoods at a Glance
Central Portola Valley / Town Center
The modest commercial core around Alpine Road, with the Town Center, library, community garden, and local businesses. Homes here are on smaller lots by Portola Valley standards but still generous compared to most Bay Area cities.
Ladera
A planned community in the northern part of town with smaller lot sizes and a more conventional suburban layout relative to the rest of Portola Valley. The most accessible price point in town and home to an active neighborhood association with its own community pool.
Los Trancos Woods
A wooded hillside community with custom homes on forested parcels, winding roads, and a strong neighborhood association. One of the most naturalistic residential settings on the Peninsula.
Portola Valley Ranch
A gated planned community with clustered homes, tennis courts, and a community pool, set among preserved open space. Offers a managed community feel within Portola Valley's rural envelope.
Blue Oaks / Upper Portola Valley
The hillside estates above the valley floor, with larger parcels, significant privacy, and expansive views of the bay and Silicon Valley. The most sought-after and expensive part of the town.
Local Amenities
Parks
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, Coal Creek Open Space Preserve, Arastradero Preserve (adjacent Palo Alto), Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, Portola Valley Town Trail system
Shopping
Town Center local businesses, Ladera Country Shopper, nearby Palo Alto and Menlo Park for full retail access
Dining
The Town Center has limited local dining options; residents rely on Alpine Road corridor and nearby Palo Alto. Rossotti's Alpine Inn (beloved historic beer garden at the edge of town) is a local institution.
Recreation
Windy Hill hiking and mountain biking, equestrian trails throughout town, Los Trancos Woods trail access, Coal Creek ridge rides, Rossotti's beer garden
Commute Times
| Destination | Drive | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco (Downtown) | 50 min | 75 min (drive to Caltrain + train) |
| Oakland (Downtown) | 50 min | 80 min (drive to BART + train) |
| Silicon Valley (Palo Alto) | 15 min | N/A (no direct transit) |
| Stanford University | 12 min | N/A (no direct transit) |
Portola Valley has no public transit service of its own — residents drive to Palo Alto, Menlo Park, or Redwood City Caltrain stations for rail access. The town is best suited for buyers with private vehicles, employers on the Peninsula or at Stanford, or those who work from home and prioritize the natural environment over commute convenience.
Commute times are estimates and may vary based on traffic, time of day, and route. Data is for informational purposes only.