Napa Wines Road Trip Itinerary
Experience the best of California wine country on the Napa Wines Road Trip! This 3-day journey starts in the city of Napa and ends in the city of Mendocino, covering a distance of ca. 273km. The best time of the year to drive this route is during the spring and summer months when the vineyards are in full bloom.
The route passes through the towns of Sonoma, Calistoga, and Cloverdale, each offering its own unique attractions. In Sonoma, take the time to explore the historic Sonoma Plaza and the surrounding wineries. Calistoga is a great place to relax and soak in the natural hot springs. And in Cloverdale, you can explore the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds and the neighboring vineyards.
The roads along the route are in good condition, offering spectacular views of the rolling hills and vineyards that make up the region. Drivers of all skill levels can enjoy the Napa Wines Road Trip, as it provides an amazing experience and unforgettable memories. However, it is important to note that this road trip does require a higher budget.
3
number of days
273 km
route length
high
budget
tourist
good for
on the right
traffic direction
low
accident level
START
Napa
Distance 273 km
Driving time 4.5 h
Pace: modest
71.0 kWh
Airports
SFO
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Napa, United States is a perfect starting point for the Napa Wines Road Trip. Located in the heart of wine country, Napa boasts a wide variety of attractions, from wineries and tasting rooms to hiking trails and hot springs. With its picturesque vineyards, rolling hills and charming downtown, Napa is a must-visit destination for wine lovers.
For travelers arriving by air, the closest international airport is San Francisco International Airport (SFO). From there, car rentals are available for those wishing to explore Napa Valley.
Once in Napa, visitors can sample the region’s renowned wines at a variety of wineries and tasting rooms, explore the trails of the Napa Valley State Park, and soak in the hot springs at Calistoga Spa Hot Springs. For a unique experience, take a ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train, which travels from Napa to St. Helena, providing an opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the valley while sipping wine.
Napa is also home to a vibrant downtown area, with a wide array of restaurants, shops, galleries, and theaters. A visit to the Oxbow Public Market, a lively indoor market featuring local specialties and artisanal products, is a must.
No matter how you decide to explore Napa, you’re sure to have a wonderful time. So start your Napa Wines Road Trip here and embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of wine country.
1
Napa
- Sonoma
Distance 21 km
Driving time 0.4 h
Pace: modest
5.5 kWh
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Itinerary
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Ready to take a road trip from Napa to Sonoma? This 13 mile journey will take you fewer than an hour to complete, and you'll get to experience some of the most unique historical sites in the region.
Start off in Napa and be sure to check out the Napa Valley Wine Train, a vintage train offering a luxurious experience, as well as the Napa Valley Opera House, a premier performing arts venue. Then, make your way to Sonoma and explore the historic Sonoma Plaza, the city's main square. Don't forget to visit the Mission San Francisco Solano, the northernmost of the California missions.
As you make your way between Napa and Sonoma, you'll be surrounded by gorgeous vineyards and rolling hills. Be sure to take in the scenery and snap a few photos! For more information on attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, be sure to check out the Itinerary of this stage.
Sonoma - United States - North America - Road Trip - Wikimedia Commons
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2
Sonoma
- Oakville
Distance 32 km
Driving time 0.8 h
Pace: modest
8.4 kWh
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Welcome, road-trippers! Get ready for an amazing journey from Sonoma to Oakville. This 20mi stage takes less than an hour to complete, and it is part of a larger tour.
In Sonoma, you can visit the mission San Francisco Solano, the last of the 21 California Missions, and the Sonoma Plaza, the heart of the city. The Plaza is surrounded by historic buildings, restaurants, and shops.
Continue your journey to Oakville and explore its historical downtown. Visit the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate, the former home of the Chisolm family, and the Oakville Galleries, which feature contemporary art exhibitions.
If you want to explore more, you can also visit the Bronte Creek Provincial Park, where you can find trails, a playground, and a farm.
For more information regarding attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please consult the Itinerary of this stage. Enjoy your trip!
Oakville - United States - North America - Road Trip - Wikimedia Commons
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3
Oakville
- Calistoga
Distance 31 km
Driving time 0.7 h
Pace: modest
8.1 kWh
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Welcome to the Oakville to Calistoga road trip stage! This scenic 19mi drive will take you less than an hour to complete and is one of the stages of an amazing road trip.
Start your journey in Oakville and make a stop at the beautiful Oakville Grade, a historical site with stunning views of the Napa Valley. Then, drive to the Oakville Grocery, a charming store where you can pick up some local specialties before continuing your adventure.
The next stop is at the Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, a great place for a short hike and to enjoy the breathtaking views of Mount St. Helena. After that, you can visit the historic Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, a working mill from the mid-19th century.
Continue your journey to Calistoga and make a stop at the Sharpsteen Museum, a fascinating museum dedicated to the history of the area. Then, take some time to explore the Petrified Forest, where you can see fossilized trees that are millions of years old.
Finally, end your journey in Calistoga, where you can visit the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser of California. This is a great place to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please consult the Itinerary of this stage. Enjoy your road trip!
Calistoga - United States - North America - Road Trip - Wikimedia Commons
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4
Calistoga
- Santa Rosa
Distance 29 km
Driving time 0.6 h
Pace: modest
7.6 kWh
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Welcome, road-trippers! Are you ready for the Calistoga to Santa Rosa stage of your tour? This 18mi journey will take you less than an hour to complete.
Starting in Calistoga, you can visit the Old Faithful Geyser of California, the Calistoga Hot Springs, and the Sharpsteen Museum. The Old Faithful Geyser of California is a unique geothermal feature, while the Calistoga Hot Springs is a great spot to relax and enjoy the natural hot springs. The Sharpsteen Museum is a great way to learn more about the history of Calistoga and the Napa Valley.
Continuing your journey, you will arrive in Santa Rosa. Here you can explore the Charles M. Schulz Museum, the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens, and the Sonoma County Museum. The Charles M. Schulz Museum is dedicated to the life and work of the famous cartoonist, while the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens is a great place to learn about the famous horticulturist. The Sonoma County Museum offers a great selection of exhibits on the history of the local area.
For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along this route, please refer to the "Itinerary" of this stage. Enjoy your journey and have a great time!
Santa Rosa - United States - North America - Road Trip - Wikimedia Commons
Santa Rosa - United States - North America - Road Trip - Wikimedia Commons
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5
Santa Rosa
- Cloverdale
Distance 49 km
Driving time 0.5 h
Pace: fast
14.6 kWh
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Itinerary
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Are you ready for a 30mi road trip from Santa Rosa to Cloverdale? This stage of your journey will take you less than an hour, and there are plenty of interesting places to visit along the way.
In Santa Rosa, take some time to explore the Luther Burbank Home and Gardens. This historic home and park is a great place to learn about the work of Luther Burbank, a horticulturalist and botanist who developed more than 800 varieties of plants.
As you drive to Cloverdale, make sure to stop at the Russian River Brewing Company. This award-winning brewery offers a variety of delicious craft beers, and the tasting room is a great place to relax and enjoy a cold one.
In Cloverdale, take a stroll through the Cloverdale Historical Museum. This museum is a great place to learn about the history of Cloverdale, as well as the surrounding area.
For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along this route, please check the "Itinerary" of this stage. Enjoy your journey!
Cloverdale - United States - North America - Road Trip - commons.wikimedia.org
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6
Cloverdale
- Mendocino
Distance 110 km
Driving time 1.5 h
Pace: fast
33.1 kWh
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Itinerary
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Welcome to the beautiful road trip stage from Cloverdale to Mendocino! This 68mi drive will take you less than 2 hours and will provide you with a wonderful opportunity to explore the historical gems of Northern California.
Start your journey in Cloverdale and make sure to visit the Cloverdale Historical Society Museum, where you can learn about the rich history of the town. As you drive along the stunning winding roads, you will pass through the small towns of Geyserville and Healdsburg and be able to admire the stunning views of the vineyards.
Continue your journey to Mendocino, a quaint town with a rich history. Make sure to visit the Kelley House Museum and the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens to learn more about the area. Don't forget to take a stroll along the Mendocino Headlands State Park, a stunning coastal park with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
This is just one of the stages of a larger tour. For more information regarding attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please check the "Itinerary" of this stage. Enjoy your trip!
Mendocino - United States - North America - Road Trip - Wikipedia
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Mendocino
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Mendocino, United States, is a scenic town located along the Pacific coastline in northern California. It is the perfect destination to end your Napa Wines Road Trip and explore the beauty of nature. The main street of Mendocino is lined with charming houses and galleries, and you can find many unique shops and restaurants.
One of the best places to visit in Mendocino is the Mendocino Headlands State Park. This park is located on a rugged stretch of the California coastline and features a number of trails and views of the Pacific Ocean. You can also explore the nearby Mendocino National Forest, an area that is home to a variety of wildlife, including the endangered California red-legged frog.
In Mendocino, you can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities such as kayaking, fishing, and whale watching. For those who are looking for a more leisurely experience, there are plenty of beaches to explore. You can take a stroll along the beaches, or simply relax and take in the stunning views of the coastline.
For those who are traveling by air, the closest international airport is the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) located approximately 90 miles away.
Mendocino is a wonderful destination to end your Napa Wines Road Trip and explore the natural beauty of northern California. With stunning views of the coastline, plenty of outdoor activities, and unique shops and restaurants, Mendocino is sure to be an enjoyable and memorable experience.
Napa Wines Road Trip at a glance
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Start:
Napa
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End:
Mendocino
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Distance:
273 km
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Stay:
3 days
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Getting there:
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
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When to drive:
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
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More info:
More info you can find in the "Itinerary" section at each stage.
The above Napa Wines Road Trip will become a perfect inspiration for your future travels.
We’ve given you a base that can be easily expanded with your own original trip ideas.
If travelling by car is your plan when moving around California, there are a number of essential road rules to follow and a number of elements to remember to turn your adventure into pure pleasure.
These tips will surely become useful for travellers who are interested in renting a car or hiring a camper.
It is essential to be mindful of the local road rules when sightseeing around California.
When moving around California in a car, try to avoid alcohol at any expense.
Tourists ought to remember that the allowed level of alcohol in blood is low and cannot exceed 0.5‰.
In order to avoid speeding offence, it is best to never exceed 40km/h, which is the maximum allowed speed around the city.
In non-build-up areas, drivers can travel at the maximum car speed of 72km/h.
On motorways, avoid exceeding the maximum speed of 129km/h.
In order to stay safe, we recommend driving with your headlights on at daytime and equipping your car with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit.
The majority of travellers are also interested in the travel expenses of the whole road trip.
Of course, depending on the budget option that interests you, the money that you have to pay for your trip expenses may vary.
Let’s have a look at the budget options.
If you go for the cheapest offer, you need to spend the maximum of 38 EUR on fuel to cover the planned 273km.
Holidaymakers will have to pay the average of up to 242 EUR for budget overnight stays.
The travel expenses related to restaurants and food within this option will cost up to more or less 216 EUR.
Travellers will have to pay about 135 EUR if they aim for the cheapest car rental offer as well.
Thus, you can expect the travel expenses to be roughly 496 EUR without car rental and 631 EUR with vehicle rental.
Tourists who are interested in greater comfort and the standard option will pay roughly 50 EUR for the fuel needed to cover the tour.
If you are into standard accommodation options, expect that the expenses may amount up to more or less 352 EUR.
The slightly increased standard in comparison to the budget option entails costs amounting to approximately 324 EUR.
Travellers who want to cover the tour in a standard rental car can expect a cost of about 162 EUR.
Summing up the standard offer, the estimated cost of the road trip will total approximately 888 EUR for holidaymakers who would like to try vehicle rental and 726 EUR for those who are not interested in rental.
Holidaymakers who are considering the highest level of comfort will be pleased with the premium option.
When it comes to this offer, the estimated cost of the road trip will total about 1,359 EUR for drivers who are considering car hire and 726 EUR for those who do not need a hire car.
Travellers who would like to cover the itinerary in a premium rental car should expect a cost of about 270 EUR.
If you are interested in the highest comfort of the itinerary, the gasoline cost will be up to about 63 EUR.
You should expect to pay roughly 432 EUR for restaurants and food and more or less 594 EUR for accommodation options if you are searching for the top standard of services during your adventure.
Our trip will also come up to the expectations of all camper lovers.
When it comes to this travel means, you will pay up to approximately 675 EUR.
You have to spend the maximum of 75 EUR to cover the planned mileage of the road trip in a camper.
Travellers who are interested in camper rental should expect to pay approximately 165 EUR for overnight stays and around 216 EUR for expenses connected with food.
The section Road Trip Costs shows all the mentioned details in a simple manner.
The period between January and December is perfect to explore the part of California showed in our adventure idea.
There are plenty of picturesque scenic drives and road trips that are available on our website if Napa Wines Road Trip has inspired you.
Hopefully, the great versatility of travel opportunities will surely come up to the expectations of the most demanding holidayers.