6 best day trips from Napa Valley

Day trips compared

The day trips

22 km (14 mi) · About 30 minutes by car

1.Sonoma

Sonoma's historic plaza, Mission San Francisco Solano, the last of California's 21 missions to be founded, and a relaxed tasting scene. The surrounding Sonoma Valley has wineries, Jack London State Historic Park and Glen Ellen.

Getting there

Car via Carneros

Best for

Couples, Food lovers, Culture

80 km (50 mi) · About 1.5 hours by car, or bus and ferry

2.San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge, the Ferry Building, cable cars and Chinatown are a day trip away. Taking the ferry from Vallejo across the bay into the city avoids parking and traffic.

Getting there

Car, or Vine bus to Vallejo and the San Francisco Bay Ferry

Best for

First-timers, Culture

70 km (43 mi) · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car

3.Healdsburg and the Russian River Valley

Healdsburg's plaza is lined with tasting rooms, restaurants and shops, and nearby Dry Creek and Russian River valleys are known for Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Getting there

Car via Calistoga

Best for

Food lovers, Couples

100 km (62 mi) · About 1 hour 45 minutes by car

4.Point Reyes National Seashore

A wild coastal peninsula with the Point Reyes Lighthouse, elephant seals, tule elk and long beaches. Tomales Bay oyster farms are on the way.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Families, Quiet stays, Solo travellers

95 km (59 mi) · About 1.5 hours by car

5.Muir Woods

Old-growth coast redwoods line boardwalk trails in a canyon just north of San Francisco, with Mount Tamalpais and Muir Beach nearby.

Getting there

Car; parking or shuttle reservations required

Best for

Families, First-timers

40 km (25 mi) · About 45 minutes by car

6.Lake Berryessa

A large reservoir in the hills east of the valley for boating, kayaking, swimming and picnics, with the 'Glory Hole' spillway that drains water after very wet winters.

Getting there

Car

Best for

Families, Quiet stays

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• The Vine, run by the Napa Valley Transportation Authority, operates bus routes through the valley between Napa and Calistoga and to the Vallejo ferry terminal.
• The Napa Valley Wine Train runs scenic dining trips between Napa and St Helena; it is a sightseeing experience rather than transport.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask