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Napa California - how to get there?

last year

last modified: last year

I’m going to Napa this fall. I’ve always wanted to go, so I’m excited to finally do it. I’m meeting my parents there. There is only one direct flight from my town into Sonoma and the times don’t work for me. My other options are to fly into SFO, Oak, or Sacramento and rent a car and drive to Napa. Anybody have any recommendations? Thanks!!!

Featured Answer

Bunny

last year

I live in Sonoma County (I like it better than Napa too, but I'm biased). The area is beautiful in the fall. You don't say what month, but it can still be very hot through most of October, our dreaded fire season. Fingers crossed for all of us that we have an easy time of it this year.

Olives and wine, what could be better?

Comments (17)

sushipup2
last year
Oakland or Sacramento will be the easiest drive, depending on time of day. If you expect to drive at rush hours, definitely Sacto.
Zalco/bring back Sophie!
last year
last modified: last year
My vote is Oakland or SFO. Oakland is closer. Sacramento seems farther away. Sounds like a great trip.
rockybird thanked Zalco/bring back Sophie!
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ljwrar
last year
Looking at driving times around 7PM tonight, Oakland and Sacramento look like a toss up. If you come in around rush hour, I would avoid Oakland. The Hwy 80 corridor can be miserable then. SFO would be my third choice because you have to travel through San Francisco and over a bridge, and it has the longest driving time. Have a great trip!
rockybird thanked ljwrar
chinacatpeekin
last year
Agree, fly into Oakland and rent a car. Enjoy your visit!
rockybird thanked chinacatpeekin
maddie260
last year
Oakland airport is great!
rockybird thanked maddie260
terezosa / terriks
last year
Oakland or Sacramento. Sacramento is slightly farther, but you should have less traffic until you get to I-80.
rockybird thanked terezosa / terriks
Gooster
last year
What part of Napa? Oakland is closer but Sacramento generally has less traffic and may be closer/faster for points north in the Napa Valley or Russian River area. Not SFO at all.
rockybird thanked Gooster
4kids4us
last year
I flew from the East Coast a few years ago - we chose to fly into Sacramento and rent a car. When I mapped it out, it was only about 5 minutes longer than flying to Oakland. I think I also factored in which airport had better flight times and pricing. It was an easy drive and no traffic at the the times we were heading from/to airport.
rockybird thanked 4kids4us
rockybird
Original Author
last year
Thank you everyone!! This is a big help! I might choose Sacramento then. Oakland only has one flight that works (Jet Blue) and it’s surprisingly expenscie. I’m planning to arrive around 630-7 PM on a Sunday and leave around 12-2:00 on a Wednesday. Hopefully those times beat the traffic.

@Gooster We are staying in the town Napa, at the George Hotel. It looks like a cute Victorian hotel with great reviews.
Gooster
last year
@rockybird there can be traffic on Sunday nights on I80 but you are arriving in a bridge season and so should be OK (beofre Ski after the big summer rush). You should let flight availability/cost be your guide.
rockybird thanked Gooster
rockybird
Original Author
last year
@Gooster Thank you. It must be the busy season because we booked the rooms two months ago. Every hotel was booked but we lucked out and got two rooms at this one.
Gooster
last year
Fall is busy in Napa (actually, most seasons are) but it is a swing season in Tahoe, which is what creates traffic on US50/I80. Even more crowded recently, I understand.
rockybird thanked Gooster
terezosa / terriks
last year
I would probably also choose Sacramento. The airport is north of the city, and when you go to Napa you don't go through the city at all.
rockybird thanked terezosa / terriks
Lars
last year
last modified: last year
I used to go to Sonoma frequently when I lived in San Francisco (I preferred it to Napa), and I noticed that fall was a busy time there, partly because of the olive harvest season. Also, it can be uncomfortably hot in the summer. The seasons Gooster is talking about are the ones further east (especially east of Sacramento) that one takes I-80 to get to, including Lake Tahoe. This can affect weekend traffic on I-80. I like Tahoe in the summer but not in the winter, but then I do not ski.

Sonoma and Napa will be busy in the fall - Tahoe not so much. Anyway, Sacramento should be a good airport with less urban traffic than Oakland.

Olive season in Sonoma starts in November. Paso Robles (which is where we go now) has its olive festival the second week of November, and this is the best time to buy olive oil there.
rockybird thanked Lars
suero
last year
I remember one trip in Napa. For each mile up the valley, the temperature went up 2 degrees. We quit when it reached 100.
rockybird thanked suero
rockybird
Original Author
last year
@Bunny @Lars Thanks! I am going last week of sept-first week of october for five nights. I’m used to the heat, living in AZ, but it will be a change for my parents. Bunny, how nice to live in such a beautiful part of the country!

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