Napa Valley sign: Welcome to this world famous wine growing region

Getting To & Around Napa Valley

Getting to Napa Valley is easy and stress-free

Napa Valley is located north of San Francisco Bay, with several airports conveniently located nearby.

We have many transportation options to the Napa Valley, car or limousine services, rental cars, or public transportation.

Take a look at the directory of local transportation companies that can help ensure a safe and memorable trip to and from Napa Valley from a variety of locations.

 
 
 

Airports Near Napa Valley

The Napa Valley is located near several commercial airports:

  • 58 miles from San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
  • 51 miles from Oakland International Airport (OAK)
  • 63 miles from Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
  • 83 miles from San Jose International Airport (SJC)
  • 45 miles from Sonoma County Airport (STS)

Private airports are also available:

  • 7 miles from Napa County Airport (APC)
  • 32 miles from Buchanan Field Airport (CCR)
 

Napa Valley, California map

 

FAQ

With multiple transportation options and miles of the valley to explore, we want you to know there's no wrong way to enjoy Napa Valley
 

How do you get from San Francisco to Napa Valley?


Transportation to Napa Valley

How far is it from San Francisco to Napa Valley?


Map of where is Napa Valley

Can you do a day trip to Napa Valley from San Francisco?


Plan your trip to Napa Valley

What is the closest major airport to Napa Valley?


Airports near Napa Valley
 
San Francisco Bay Area
Transportation To Napa Valley  

Drive a Car

The most popular way to get to Napa Valley from San Francisco is by car. Typically it takes about an hour to drive from San Francisco to Downtown Napa during the week, and sometimes up to two hours on the weekend. You can take a scenic route across the Golden Gate Bridge to wine country or, alternatively, use the Bay Bridge to travel through the East Bay to get to Napa Valley. 


Private Transportation Services

Private transportation services, such as limousines, SUVs or buses, may be reserved for airport transportation. (Many of the same services can also be booked for Napa Valley winery tours.) Most services can schedule your appointments for both individuals and groups as well as arrange dining reservations. The benefit is these drivers not only know the "secret routes" – they also know how to keep you extremely comfortable.


San Francisco Bay Ferry

The San Francisco/Vallejo Bay Ferry provides a scenic and leisurely route to Napa Valley. The San Francisco Ferry Building, located at the foot of Market Street along the Embarcadero waterfront in downtown San Francisco, is accessible by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) from SFO. The Vallejo Ferry Terminal is just a block away from the Vallejo Transit Center, then use the connecting VINE Transit bus service to the Napa area.


Amtrak San Joaquins

Amtrak San Joaquins offers a comfortable and convenient way to travel to Napa Valley from the Bay Area and Central Valley. To get to Napa Valley, travelers can take the Amtrak San Joaquins train to the Martinez station and transfer onto Amtrak Thruway Bus Route 7. Three stops later, travelers arrive at the Soscol Gateway Transit Center in Napa, located next to downtown and a short walk to Oxbow Public Market, the Napa Valley Wine Train, Napa Valley Welcome Center and many other enjoyable activities.


Rental Cars and Ride Share

All major airports offer car rental stations to help visitors get to Napa Valley. In the city of Napa, you will find Enterprise, Avis, or Budget for car rental services.

Download a ride share from the App Store or sign up with UBER or Lyft to request a ride. Ride share services are prevalent through the San Francisco Bay Area and they can take you directly to your location in and around Napa Valley.


Traffic Tips

To avoid rush-hour traffic when driving - set your trip to drive at unusual times - especially late night (after 8pm).

Utilize carpool High Occupancy Vehicle "HOV" lanes. San Francisco rewards drivers who combine passengers. Take full advantage of the diamond lanes to speed past much of the traffic. Make sure to note the times for HOV exclusive right to the special high-speed lanes on signs throughout Bay Area highways.
 

 
Getting Around Napa Valley

Experience Napa Valley "Car-Free"

Going car free doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. Even if you drive to Napa, leaving your car parked and taking advantage of bicycle tours, transit, and walking, makes a difference. Every car trip you eliminate helps improve the experience of visiting Napa Valley – now and in the future.


Public Transportation

The VINE Transit is the fixed-route bus system in the County of Napa. All buses are wheelchair accessible. There are daily routes that run the length of the valley, throughout the city of Napa, and extend to the Vallejo Ferry terminal. Weekday routes include access to El Cerrito Del Norte BART and the Suisun City Train Depot.


Shuttles Up Valley

The shuttles provide on-demand transit services within its city limits for the general public. These shuttles are wheelchair accessible.

Calistoga Shuttle: Call (707) 963-4229 to schedule a pick-up and the vehicle will arrive within 15-30 minutes. Cost: Free for lodging guests.
St. Helena Shuttle: Call (707) 963-3007 to schedule a pick-up and the vehicle will arrive within 15-30 minutes. Cost: $1
The Yountville Trolley: Call (707) 944-1234 or (707) 312-1509 after 7:00 p.m. This service is free thanks to the generous support from the Town of Yountville.


Biking

Many lodging facilities in the Napa Valley have bicycle rentals, and there are several bicycle rental companies that deliver to the smaller accommodations. Download our Napa Valley Bike Map.


The Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition is a grass-roots nonprofit that currently has completed 12.5 miles of a walking/biking trail system that runs from the City of Napa north to Yountville. The coalition is working to build 47 safe and scenic miles of level, paved, family-friendly, free-access class 1 trail, that runs the entire length of the valley – from the Vallejo ferry to Calistoga.