Napa Valley is only a flight away. Start making vacation plans now.
You’ve booked your much-needed vacation to Napa Valley, but now you’ve got to figure out how you’ll get there. With five airports nearby, each with its unique benefits, visiting Wine Country has never been easier. From rental cars to restaurants, our guide breaks down what you need to know about each airport for your best travel experience. Air travel can be stressful, but with our traveler’s guide, the vacation will start on the tarmac.
Photos courtesy of Sonoma County Airport – Charles M. Schulz (STS)
About: Fly directly to Wine Country! The Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS) wins for convenience as it’s the closest airport to Napa Valley and is serviced by top carriers, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Avelo Airlines. Car rentals are available, as are ride shares like Lyft and Uber.
Distance to downtown Napa: 47.3 miles
Insider Tip: Passengers flying on Alaska Airlines from Charles M. Schulz are permitted to check up to one case of wine for no additional charge through the Alaska Airlines Wine Flies Free program. Just recently, Avelo Airlines launched a similar program, allowing your wine to travel for free from STS.
Limousine & Black Car Services:
(note: each car service below offers transportation services from all five airports)
Bus & Transit:
About: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the bustling nerve center of domestic and international travel for Northern California. The airport is open 24 hours a day, with direct flights to and from many corners of the world. In fact, SFO services over 50 airlines, so you’ll have options. Most major car rental companies can be found on the fourth floor of the SFO Rental Car Center.
Distance to downtown Napa: 58.6 miles
Insider Tip: The San Francisco/Vallejo Bay Ferry provides a scenic route to Napa Valley traveling across San Francisco Bay. The Ferry Building, located at the Embarcadero waterfront in downtown San Francisco, is accessible by Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) from SFO. The Vallejo Ferry Terminal is just a block away from the Vallejo Transit Center, where you can catch the connecting bus service, The Vine, to the Napa area. Taxis and private car services are also options to travel from the Vallejo Ferry Terminal.
About: Although a busy international travel hub, Oakland International Airport (OAK) is slightly smaller (and therefore less crowded) than its cousin across the bay, SFO. Many major airlines serve OAK, including Alaska Airlines, Delta, and Southwest. You’ll also find a range of car rental companies to choose from, such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, and Enterprise.
Distance to downtown Napa: 50 miles
Insider Tip: If you didn’t get your fill of wine tasting in Napa, stop by Vino Volo located in both Terminal 1 and 2. You can shop for any last-minute bottles of wine and grab one last cheeky sip or two, accompanied by small sharing plates, before your flight.
About: Sacramento International Airport (SMF) iis smaller than Oakland or SFO, making it easier to navigate. This airport’s redesigned terminal includes an elevated people mover and concourse. Airlines such as American, Delta, JetBlue, United, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest offer numerous non-stop flight options. Car rental companies are plentiful, just note the car rental shuttle offers pick-up approximately every ten minutes to transport visitors to the on-airport rental car terminal.
Distance to downtown Napa: 63 miles
Insider Tip: There are 41 direct flights to Sacramento International Airport, both domestic and international (Mexico and Canada). Scroll their list to see if you’re a non-stop flight away from visiting Wine Country!
About: Napa County Airport, “The Skyport to Wine Country,” is a very small local landing strip that services charter flights and private aircraft only. Originally built by the United States Army Air Forces in 1942, the airport recently completed a runway rehabilitation project. You can now fly directly to this airport on your own chartered plane or, if you’re a licensed pilot, by flying yourself. Of course, flying private comes at a cost; prices range from $9k – $25k+. To charter your own plane to or from Napa, contact Napa Jet Center.
Distance to downtown Napa: 9 miles
Insider Tip: Note there are no car rentals available from this airport, so plan to arrange a car service in advance.
Limousine & Black Car Services:
WineCountry Experiences: Discover and book our marketplace of curated unique experiences in Napa Valley.
Covet Pass: A unique membership offering complimentary wine experiences, hotel and travel discounts, access to events, and additional fun perks.
Lodging Deals: We have partnered with the leading hotels and resorts in Napa Valley to offer our users exclusive perks, such as complimentary bottles of wine at check-in, resort credits, and wine tasting passes.
As you can see, Napa Valley might be one of the most well-connected wine regions in the country. With five different nearby airports to choose from and countless car rental, shuttle, and public transportation options, you’ll be sipping your way through Wine Country in no time.
Wineries
