Best Way to Travel to Napa Valley

  • Travel
  • by WINECOUNTRY COLLECTIVE
  • on JANUARY 27, 2023
  • 79599
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Travel

Best Way to Travel to Napa Valley

By WineCountry Collective January 27, 2023

When visiting Napa Valley, you know you will experience a premier Wine Country adventure, so why not arrive in style? We imagine you’re eager to get to your destination, so we’ve laid out all the best and most convenient ways to get there.

Napa Valley is close to several major airports that offer convenient transportation to your destination via shuttle, train, rental car, or ferry service. With our suggestions and tips, you’ll be arriving in Napa Valley with ease, ready for your first glass of wine.

Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS)

Three different airline carriers offer daily non-stop service to Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS), making it easy to reach Wine Country in just a few short hours. Daily nonstop flights include: Alaska Airlines to/from Los Angeles, Burbank, Orange County, San Diego, Portland, and Seattle; American Airlines to/from Phoenix Sky Harbor and Dallas; and Avelo Airlines to/from Burbank, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs. What’s also great is that if you’d like to take some wine home with you, Alaska Airlines offers their Wine Flies Free program, which, as the name suggests, allows passengers to check a case of wine for free. Two of the best choices for transport from Sonoma to Napa Valley include Beau Wine Tours and Napa Valley Tours & Transportation, both of which will meet you at the terminal then whisk you off to your destination in comfort.

Insider Tip: Beau Wine Tours also offers fantastic wine tours in both Napa Valley and Sonoma County. We recommend the VIP dinner service where you are treated to a sunset ride with champagne from your hotel to your restaurant of choice anywhere in the valley.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

outdoor view of San Francisco International Airport
Outdoor View of the San Francisco International Airport. Photo Courtesy of Fly SFO

San Francisco International Airport, located roughly 60 miles from Napa, is the largest airport in the bay area and represents a major hub for travel in and out of the city. While virtually every form of transportation service is available from SFO, for ease and convenience, you can’t beat Napa Valley Tours & Transportation, offering pick-ups right outside the terminal. More budget conscious? We recommend taking Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) from the airport to the San Francisco Ferry Building where passengers can board the Vallejo Ferry for a relaxing and scenic trip across the Bay. From Vallejo, travelers can pick up the Napa Vine route 11 shuttle to downtown Napa. Uber is also quite ubiquitous in these parts. Not up for more public transportation? Download the app and get delivered to your hotel from the ferry for under $30.

Insider Tip: Grab a hand made empanada from El Porteño at the Ferry Building before you leave, and wash it down with a pint of Villager IPA from Fort Point Beer Company. Not hungry in SF? There are food and brewery options at the Vallejo Ferry Terminal, not to mention a bar on the ferry.

California Wine Tours
Transportation options from the Oakland Airport. Photo Courtesy of California Wine Tours

Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Budget-conscious travelers looking at alternate airports for deals and international visitors interested in bypassing the San Francisco bustle will have the option to land across the bay in Oakland. The airport itself is a bit smaller, but hosts millions of travelers per year nonetheless. OAK offers all of the usual transportation options; however, the best choice for ease and value will be California Wine Tours airport transportation service. California Wine Tours is a great way to get to Napa from OAK and they also offer private and group tours of their partnered wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma.

Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

Sacramento International Airport
Sacramento International Airport. Photo Courtesy of Visit Sacramento

Flying into Sacramento International Airport affords the traveler with a much more intimate airport experience than SFO and Oakland, yet still offers plenty of great dining and shopping on the premises. Getting out of the airport is easier too. Napa Shuttle & Limousine is the go to concierge and transport from California’s capital city airport. In addition to providing a luxury ride to Napa Valley from the airport, they also accommodate complete wine tours for those inclined to explore wineries and restaurants in Napa Valley.

Insider Tip: Wine enthusiasts eager to begin their tasting experience will want to pop into Vino Volo at the Sacramento Airport’s Terminal A to sample wines from Napa, Sonoma, and beyond.

Mineta San José International Airport (SJC)

Wine Country explorers heading to Napa Valley via the San Jose International Airport will be greeted with a blend of art and technology indicative of Silicon Valley’s contribution to innovation. Browse futuristic sculptures in the lobby, or unwind from your flight over a drink at Island Brews before heading to baggage claim. For a relaxing ride to Napa, we recommend Pure Luxury Tours to take care of your transportation needs. In addition to boasting one of the largest chauffeured fleets in the region, as a Certified Green ground transportation company, Pure Luxury’s commitment to lessening the carbon impact on the environment makes them the natural choice.

Insider Tip: If you decide to rent a car and drive yourself to Napa, take I-680N. Try to plan ahead and avoid morning (7am-9am) and evening (3p-7p) commute times and be sure to have $5 cash on hand for the Benicia Bridge toll.

Conclusion

We’ve chosen to highlight specific routes and operators to certain destinations, but many of them offer service to all Bay Area airports. We can’t wait to see you, we’ll have wine waiting!