Palo Alto is an unincorporated community in Highland County, Virginia, United States. Palo Alto is located 11.4 miles (18.3 km) east-northeast of Monterey, Virginia on the South Fork South Branch Potomac River. The confluence of Spring Run with the South Fork South Branch Potomac River occurs near the community and Highland County's border with Pendleton County, West Virginia is located less than 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) north of Palo Alto.