Highway 29
The west side, straight through every town. The famous gates are here, and so is the traffic: on a Saturday afternoon it can crawl between St. Helena and Rutherford.
Car service to Napa Valley
Thirty miles from downtown Napa to Calistoga, five towns, and two roads that run the length of it. We drive it every day, from the airport, the city or your hotel in the valley.
~1 h
from San Francisco
~1 h 15
from SFO
~1 h
from Oakland (OAK)
~1 h 10
from Sacramento (SMF)
Get a quote to Napa ValleyTimes to downtown Napa, in light traffic
The Napa line
The valley, south to north
Each town has its own page with drive times, drop-offs and the rides people book there. Minutes are from downtown Napa.
Carneros
~10 min southThe cool southern end, shared with Sonoma. Sparkling wine houses, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the first vineyards you see driving up from the city.
Car service to CarnerosNapa
DowntownThe city at the bottom of the valley. Most hotels, the riverfront, Oxbow Public Market, and tasting rooms you can walk between after the car drops you.
Car service to NapaYountville
~15 minA one-mile town in the middle of the valley. The French Laundry, Bouchon, Domaine Chandon, and the dinner reservations people plan a whole trip around.
Car service to YountvilleOakville and Rutherford
~20 to 25 minTwo crossroads, not towns, and the heart of Napa Cabernet. The estates sit side by side on Highway 29, so three tastings here can be five minutes apart.
Car service to Oakville and RutherfordSt. Helena
~30 minThe valley's main street: a walkable row of shops and restaurants with some of the oldest wineries just outside town. The usual lunch stop on a full day.
Car service to St. HelenaCalistoga
~40 to 45 minThe north end, where the valley narrows. Hot springs, mud baths and resort stays, and the longest transfer from the airports, so it is the one to book ahead.
Car service to CalistogaHow it drives
Two roads, side by side
Silverado Trail
The east side, no towns and few stoplights. Quieter wineries against the hills, and the road your driver takes when Highway 29 backs up.
A sample day
Three tastings and lunch, from San Francisco
About nine hours door to door. Change any stop; the car is yours for the day.
9:00
Pick-up at your hotel in San Francisco
10:15
First tasting in Oakville or Rutherford
12:00
Lunch in St. Helena or Yountville
1:45
Second tasting on the Silverado Trail
3:30
Third tasting in the Stags Leap District
5:00
Head south, bottles in the back
6:15
Back at your hotel
Next valley over
Sonoma County
About 30 minutes west of Napa over the hills. Add a Sonoma tasting to a Napa day, or give it a day of its own.
Car service to Sonoma CountyFarther afield
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Suisun Valley is next door, Lodi and Livermore are an hour away, and the list keeps going to Virginia.
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