Sight guide · Napa Valley · United States
Visiting Napa Valley Wine Train
Restored early 20th-century Pullman cars run a roughly 58 km round trip between Napa and St Helena while passengers eat lunch or dinner, with some packages adding winery stops.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California Republic, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Napa Valley Wine Train is an experience in Downtown Napa, Napa Valley. Allow 3–6 hours; it is expensive. Popular departures, especially weekends and harvest season, sell out; book well ahead.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Downtown Napa
- Time needed
- 3–6 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Book ahead
- Recommended
- Good for
- couples, food and views
- Best months
- March–April and November
Plan a trip to Napa Valley
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
About Napa Valley Wine Train
Restored early 20th-century Pullman cars run a roughly 58 km round trip between Napa and St Helena while passengers eat lunch or dinner, with some packages adding winery stops. It lets everyone enjoy the views without a designated driver.
Tip: Choose a package with a winery stop if you want to taste along the way, and sit on the side facing the vineyards rather than Highway 29.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 3–6 hours.
- Cost: Expensive.
- Book ahead: Popular departures, especially weekends and harvest season, sell out; book well ahead.
- Where: Downtown Napa, riverfront tasting rooms, Oxbow Public Market and the valley's widest choice of hotels.
Best time to visit Napa Valley Wine Train
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- March: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- April: 22°C (72°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- November: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, moderate crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-March the sun sets at about 19:16 local time (calculated for Napa Valley).
When to visit Napa Valley has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Napa Valley itinerary visits Napa Valley Wine Train on day 1, together with Oxbow Public Market and Downtown Napa tasting rooms.
- No. 1 of the 18 sights in our Napa Valley things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
Near Napa Valley Wine Train
Also in Downtown Napa, so you can walk between them:
- Oxbow Public Market — 1–1.5 hours, low cost
- Downtown Napa tasting rooms — half a day, mid-priced
- Napa Valley Vine Trail — 2–4 hours, free
If you like Napa Valley Wine Train
- Hot-air balloon flight — Yountville, 3–4 hours with transfers
- Inglenook — Oakville and Rutherford, 1.5–2 hours
- Chateau Montelena — Calistoga, 1.5 hours
- Schramsberg Vineyards — Calistoga, 1.5 hours
Staying near Napa Valley Wine Train
Stay in Downtown Napa ($$$) to walk here: riverfront tasting rooms, Oxbow Public Market and the valley's widest choice of hotels. All areas to stay in Napa Valley.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Napa Valley Wine Train?
Plan 3–6 hours. With Oxbow Public Market nearby, it fits a half-day in Downtown Napa.
+Is Napa Valley Wine Train free?
No, it is expensive. Booking ahead is advised.
+When is the best time to visit Napa Valley Wine Train?
March–April and November, the quietest of the good months. Choose a package with a winery stop if you want to taste along the way, and sit on the side facing the vineyards rather than Highway 29.
+Do I need to book Napa Valley Wine Train in advance?
Popular departures, especially weekends and harvest season, sell out; book well ahead.