Sunset over a vineyard in Napa Valley

Where is Napa Valley?

 

Napa Valley, California


Napa Valley wine country is located in Northern California, 50 miles northeast of San Francisco. With more than 400 wineries and 90 tasting rooms open to the public, Napa Valley is known for world-class wine, as well as beautiful countryside and near perfect weather year-round.

Napa Valley is home to more than 150 restaurants and several Michelin-star restaurants.

There are more than 120 overnight accommodation options to choose from in the Napa Valley, including hotels, resorts, country inns, and boutique inns.

DID YOU KNOW? — Only 4% of California's wine comes from Napa Valley.

Driving to Napa Valley


Distance to Napa Valley approximately:

Lake Tahoe160 miles / 257 km
Las Vegas, NV600 miles / 965 km
Los Angeles, CA400 miles / 644 km
Monterey, CA160 miles / 257 km
Reno, NV190 miles / 306 km
San Diego, CA540 miles / 870 km
Santa Barbara, CA375 miles / 604 km

 

Driving from the Bay Area?


Distance to Napa Valley approximately:

Berkeley50 miles / 80 km
Fairfield30 miles / 48 km
Fremont80 miles / 130 km
Oakland53 miles / 85 km
Palo Alto90 miles / 145 km
Sacramento70 miles / 113 km
San Francisco60 miles / 97 km
San Jose95 miles / 152 km
Santa Rosa (to Calistoga) — 16 miles / 26 km
Sonoma15 miles / 24 km
Walnut Creek47 miles / 76 km

Flying to Napa Valley


Nearby Airports

Several nearby airports are available with easy access. Distance to the Napa Valley Welcome Center approximately:

Oakland International Airport (OAK)51 miles / 82 km
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)63 miles / 101 km
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)58 miles / 93 km
San Jose International Airport (SJC)83 miles / 133 km
Sonoma County Airport (STS)32 miles / 72 km

DID YOU KNOW? — There are many transportation options to Napa Valley including private car or limousine services, car rentals, ridesharing, or public transportation.

Napa Valley Mountains


The two mountain ranges of the Napa Valley were created during the formation of the San Andreas fault. The Vaca Range, which forms the valley's eastern boundary, shields us from the heat of the Central Valley.

The Mayacamas Mountains separate us on the west from the cooler, marine influences experienced in neighboring Sonoma County.

DID YOU KNOW? — The valley floor between the mountain ranges is just 35 miles long and 5 miles across at its widest point.

Napa Valley Roads


There are two roads that run north to south in the valley floor – Highway 29 is the main road from the city of Napa to Calistoga on the west side of the valley. On the east side is the less traveled Silverado Trail.

Several roads run west to east between the two main roads, while a few curvy highways also take you up into the mountains.

DID YOU KNOW? — All of the main roads are scenic, with views of vineyards and access to many wineries.

Napa Valley Towns & Regions


The Napa Valley consists of five distinctive towns – Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, the city of Napa and American Canyon. Each town has its own unique identity that invites exploration.

The small town of Angwin sits on the summit of Howell Mountain while the regional areas of Rutherford and Oakville on the valley floor boast iconic wineries. Additionally, Lake Berryessa offers outdoor recreational opportunities.

Napa Valley Appellations


Napa Valley is an American Viticultural Area, or AVA, and within it exists 16 additional AVAs.

Each appellation has unique characteristics of soil, elevation and/or temperature that create distinctive grape-growing conditions and styles of wine.

  • Valley Floor AVAs
      Calistoga
      Coombsville
      Oak Knoll
      Oakville
      Rutherford
      St. Helena
      Stags Leap
      Yountville

  • Mountain AVAs
      Atlas Peak
      Diamond Mountain
      Howell Mountain
      Mount Veeder
      Spring Mountain

    Other AVAs
      Chiles Valley
      Los Carneros (Carneros)
      Wild Horse Valley