Santa Clara County
Sunnyvale
Historic Murphy Avenue, Eichler tracts and two Caltrain stops
Historic Murphy Avenue in downtown Sunnyvale. Photo: The Sands of Time 0, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
01 — Welcome
Welcome to Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale runs from the San Francisco Bay wetlands in the north to the Cupertino border near I-280 in the south. Its historic downtown is centered on the 100 block of South Murphy Avenue, a short walk from the Sunnyvale Caltrain station.
Sunnyvale has one of the largest concentrations of Eichler homes in the Bay Area, in tracts such as Fairbrae, Fairorchard and parts of Cherry Chase, alongside many mid-century ranch homes. Townhomes, condominiums and apartments are common near downtown, along El Camino Real and in north Sunnyvale near the light rail line.
02 — Things to do
Around Sunnyvale
- Murphy AvenueSunnyvale's historic downtown street, lined with restaurants, cafes and bars in early 20th-century storefronts. The 100 block is a pedestrian mall.
- Sunnyvale Farmers' MarketA year-round Saturday-morning market on Murphy Avenue at Washington Avenue, operated by the Urban Village Farmers' Market Association.
- Las Palmas ParkA 24-acre community park on Russet Drive with a pond, themed playgrounds, a fenced dog park, picnic areas and the adjacent city tennis center.
- Baylands ParkOver 70 acres of developed parkland plus a seasonal wetlands preserve on East Caribbean Drive, connecting to the San Francisco Bay Trail.
- Sunnyvale Heritage Park MuseumA local history museum on Remington Drive housed in a replica of the Martin Murphy family home.
- Orchard Heritage ParkTen acres of preserved Blenheim apricot trees beside the Sunnyvale Community Center, with an interpretive exhibit on the valley's orchard history. The city is reviewing how the orchard is run after its longtime operator retired in 2026.
- Sunnyvale Community CenterA city park and recreation complex on East Remington Drive with picnic areas, an amphitheater and event spaces.
03 — Getting around
Commute & transit
Sunnyvale is served by Caltrain, the VTA Orange Line and several freeways, making it a common base for commutes across Silicon Valley. US-101 and CA-237 cross the north side of the city, CA-85 crosses the middle, and I-280 runs along the south.
- Caltrain: Sunnyvale station (downtown) and Lawrence station
- VTA Orange Line light rail: Moffett Park, Lockheed Martin, Borregas, Crossman, Fair Oaks, Vienna and Reamwood stations
- VTA Routes 20, 21, 53 and 55 and Rapid 523 at Sunnyvale station
- VTA Route 22 and Rapid 522 along El Camino Real
City averages from Walk Score; scores for a specific address vary.
04 — Schools
Public school districts
- Sunnyvale School District · Elementary & middle (TK–8)
- Cupertino Union School District · Elementary & middle (TK–8)
- Fremont Union High School District · High school (9–12)
- Santa Clara Unified School District · TK–12
School assignments depend on the exact address and can change. Confirm with the district before you buy.
05 — Local resources
06 — Questions
Which school districts serve Sunnyvale?
Where are the Eichler neighborhoods in Sunnyvale?
How many Caltrain stations does Sunnyvale have?
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