Napa Valley is a world-famous wine region northeast of San Francisco. Its sprawling vineyards and undulating hills make a day trip to Napa Valley feel like you’ve been transported to the Italian countryside.

A Napa Valley day trip is surprisingly easy from San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area! It takes less than two hours to drive to Napa from all regions of the Bay Area, depending on traffic, of course.

Though Napa Valley is renowned for its wineries and most people visit for a day of wine tasting, there is plenty to do that doesn’t involve drinking wine (but you can do lots of that too)!

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I’m not a big wine drinker, or drinker at all for that matter! Despite living in the Bay Area for most of my life, I’ve held off on visiting Napa Valley because I thought drinking wine was the only thing to do there.

I’m so glad I was wrong!

In addition to the wineries, because there are a lot of those, Napa Valley also has an exquisite restaurant scene, boasting multiple Michelin-starred restaurants. Not a foodie? There is also a thriving art scene with sculptures, murals, and galleries throughout Napa Valley!

One of my favorite things to do on a Napa Valley day trip is to visit the wineries, not to drink the wine, but to explore the gorgeous properties and take in the views! Many of the wineries are open to the public to explore, even without booking a tasting.

Whether you’re interested in a day of wine tasting on the Napa Valley Wine Train, exploring the vineyard-filled landscapes and art, or eating your way through the upscale restaurants, a day trip to Napa Valley is the perfect getaway.

Where is Napa Valley?

Napa County is about 70 miles northeast of San Francisco, just east of Sonoma, another popular destination for wine tasting.

The Napa Valley is an area within Napa County, to the east of the Mayacamas Mountains, which run diagonally from Mendocino to Napa, separating Sonoma and Napa Valley.

The towns that make up Napa Valley, from north to south, are: Calistoga, St. Helena, Yountville, Napa, and American Canyon.

How To Spend One Day in Napa Valley

This day trip to Napa Valley visits three of the five main towns that make up the Napa Valley. It includes a visit to a famous bakery, a meander through town to explore art installations, a few winery visits (wine drinking optional!), and stops at some other must-see spots.

Even with just one day in Napa Valley, you can pack your day full with all the iconic sights and activities there are to see and do in Napa Valley!

Get Breakfast at Bouchon Bakery

The lime green bakery in central Yountville fits perfectly among the trendy restaurants and buildings surrounding it. I had heard of Bouchon Bakery about a baker’s dozen times before finally visiting.

Although I had heard of it, I wasn’t sure why Bouchon Bakery was so well-known and popular until I tried an almond croissant for myself. Wow! The shop itself is tiny, and there was a consistent line out the door on a weekday, but the baked goods are top-notch.

Bouchon Bakery was opened in 2003 by Chef Thomas Keller. If that name sounds familiar, perhaps you’ve heard of his 3-Michelin-Starred restaurant: The French Laundry? Yes, that one.

The French Laundry is also in the same neighborhood in Yountville as Bouchon Bakery, as well as a few of Chef Keller’s other restaurants: Bouchon Bistro, Adhoc + Addendum, and RO Restaurant & Lounge.

This is the perfect place to grab a morning pastry with tea or coffee and start your day trip to Napa Valley!

Yountville Art Walk & Downtown

Yountville is exceptionally charming and by far my favorite town of the three I have visited in Napa Valley. The streets are pristine, the town is full of trees and greenery (including a vineyard!), and there are art installations throughout the downtown.

The Yountville Art Walk sounds like some street fair, but it’s more of an art scavenger hunt!

Stop into the Yountville Visitor Center to get a Yountville Art Walk map after indulging at Bouchon Bakery. The map shows all the different pieces of art placed throughout town, as well as the price for the ones that are for sale!

I assumed, since many of the pieces are for sale, that they change often. On the contrary, the kind man we spoke to at the visitor center said some have been there over 30 years!

My favorite installation is the cute stone mushrooms lounging around under a large, shady tree. It’s one of the ones that has been here for decades, despite being for sale at a whopping $18,000.

Oakville Grocery

Oakville Grocery is right on the side of Highway 29 and has been there since 1881. It has a low-key, farm-style exterior that doesn’t give any indication of the upscale, gourmet grocery store and deli inside.

They serve fresh sandwiches, wood-fired pizza, boxed lunches (perfect for picnics at the wineries!), and breakfast dishes. You can also shop their shelves full of fancy packaged goods, bottles and bottles of wine, and artisanal cheeses.

If you’re getting hungry by this point, Oakville Grocery is the perfect place to stop and get some food! Though we had already eaten lunch by the time we visited, I did leave with a couple of giant, soft cookies that were delicious.

Oakville Grocery can easily be spotted as you drive north on Highway 29 due to the large, vintage Coca-Cola mural on the side. As a certified Coca-Cola aficionado (it’s my guiltiest pleasure), the mural is the whole reason I stopped here!

There is a small parking lot on-site, but we parked on the other side of the vineyard along the street near Ghost Block Estate Wines.

Peju Winery

Continuing north up Highway 29, stop at Peju Winery to explore their gorgeous property. Even if you’re not planning to drink wine, you can visit the property and walk around — that’s what we did!

Peju Winery is a charming winery with dusty pink walls and provincial French-style architecture, with a 50-foot tower designed by Calvin Straub.

The property is beautiful, like many of the wineries in Napa Valley. It has a small koi pond, bronze sculptures, and outdoor seating among the vineyards.

Most notable, though, are the spindly 40-foot trees that line the entrance to the property. The thin tree trunks narrow as they reach the top, arching over the driveway to create an otherworldly display as you enter the winery.

These unusual trees aren’t from another planet; they’re just regular Sycamore trees that were pruned twice a year, starting in the 1980s, to create the look you see today!

Get Lunch at Clif Family Food Truck

If you haven’t already wined and dined at Oakville Grocery, head to Clif Family Tasting Room in St. Helena to get lunch from their farm-to-table food truck.

This isn’t your ordinary street food truck, though I love those too. The Bruchetteria Food Truck is elevating food truck cuisine to a rotating menu of fresh, organic dishes and sides. Gluten-free and vegan options are available!

Clif Family has a lovely, mostly shaded outdoor patio filled with green plants. It’s the perfect place to grab lunch, relax, and plan out your next activities.

Want to taste some wine while you’re here? Inside, they have a small but beautiful tasting room with friendly service and organic wines.

P.S., if you’re familiar with Clif Bars, this is the same Clif family who created those!

Welcome to Napa Valley Sign (South)

After spending the first part of your Napa day trip driving north on Highway 29, the rest of the day will be spent driving south down Highway 29! Your first stop after the Clif Family Food Truck will be the “Welcome to Napa Valley” sign.

You likely spotted the welcome sign on the left-hand side of the road as you left Yountville and headed to Oakville Grocery!

Though it’s tempting to try and stop when you first see it, I’ve put it at this point in the itinerary to make it as easy as possible for you to pull over for some fun photos. As it’s on the opposite side of the highway, trying to access it while going north is unsafe.

Now that you’re heading south, it’s easy to pull over into the large dirt pull-off area and get out to take photos!

The Napa Valley Wine Train tracks run between the sign and the parking area, so be very careful walking across them to get to the sign. As we left, the train arrived and stopped here so the passengers could take photos.

Downtown Napa

Continuing south, stop in downtown Napa to explore! When people visit Napa for the first time, they sometimes confuse Napa, the town, with Napa Valley.

The town of Napa is, in my opinion, not the most interesting area, especially if you’re not going wine tasting. It’s worth a stop to see some of the main sights, but otherwise, I wouldn’t spend a large amount of time here.

But everyone has different preferences — you may love it!

Things To Do in Downtown Napa

Kayak Down the River

Downtown Napa is split by sharp S-curves of the Napa River that snakes through town. If you want to get out onto the water, you can rent a kayak, peddleboat, paddleboard, or go on a guided kayak tour.

River Walk

If land dwelling is more appealing, there’s a short River Walk along the Riverfront Promenade, which brings you to a lovely courtyard behind the old Napa Mill with a rose garden, mosaic fountain, and vineyard-covered walkway.

Be sure to stop at the giant #RiverWalkChair for a photo!

Eats & Treats

There are numerous restaurants, wineries, and coffee shops throughout downtown Napa. If you need some sweets though, look no further than Vintage Sweet Shoppe!

They serve all the sweets you could ask for! From ice cream to coffee and chocolate-covered strawberries to wine tastings, they really have it all.

Napa Valley Wine Train

Downtown Napa is where you board and disembark from any rides on the Napa Valley Wine Train. You must book your spot on the train ahead of time and choose from their selection of experiences.

More on the wine train at the end of this itinerary!

Domaine Carneros Winery

One of the wineries I was most excited to visit was Domaine Carneros. Though reservations are strictly required in advance for an official tasting, you can visit the grounds without a reservation.

Domain Carneros is an imposing chateau perched atop a hill overlooking the undulating vineyards of Napa Valley. Though it was built in 1987, it is modeled after Château de la Marquetterie, a chateau from the 18th century in the Champagne region of France.

A grand staircase, flanked by manicured topiary and rows of vineyards, leads you to the front entrance of the chateau. As you ascend the stairs, stop to read the plaques that share information about the winery’s history.

Many of the wineries in Napa Valley do not have food, but Domaine Carneros does! You cannot bring in outside food, but with a reservation, you can order table service.

If you don’t have a reservation but still want to try some of their award-winning sparkling wines or Pinot Noir, you can order a glass of wine to enjoy at the tables inside or while walking around the property. Outdoor seating is for reserved tastings only.

Optional: Dinner on the Napa Valley Wine Train

We left Napa Valley after a stop at Domaine Carneros, but the Napa Valley Wine Train dinner is a luxurious option for those who want to stay in the valley a bit longer.

The Napa Valley Wine Train is a restored Pullman railcar with different train cars, all exquisitely decorated. It offers a variety of experiences during the daytime and in the evening, including multi-course lunches, a full-day tasting, afternoon tea, and multi-course dinners.

Dinner on the Napa Valley Wine Train is only available one or two days a week, which varies by season. From April to November, most 2.5-hour dinner rides are available on Saturday evenings, with some running on Fridays as well.

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Alternative Day Trip Itineraries

Napa Wine Train Day Trip

Want the ultimate day trip to Napa Valley? Scrap this itinerary and head straight to downtown Napa to embark on a 6-hour Napa Wine Train experience!

The Legacy Experience begins at 9:45 a.m. as everyone arrives for their day on the train and in the vineyards. It includes a morning beverage, a 4-course lunch, a stop at the “Welcome to Napa” sign, and stops at two different vineyards for tastings.

After a full Napa day trip via the Napa Wine Train, you arrive back at the train station by 2:30 p.m.

If you still have energy for more activities, you can follow the above itinerary to explore downtown Napa and visit Domaine Carneros.

The Napa Wine Train also offers shorter, 3-hour experiences if a full 6 hours is too long for you. Choose from multi-course lunches, a 7-course tasting, or an afternoon tea experience in partnership with CHANDON.

All-Day Napa Day Trip Itineraries

More Things To Do in Napa Valley

Looking for even more things to do in Napa Valley? Swap out the activities above or add more to your itinerary if you have extra time!

The Petrified Forest

Calistoga is the northernmost town in Napa Valley, and while it’s not included in this particular day trip itinerary, it’s worth a stop if you have time.

The Petrified Forest is west of downtown Calistoga in the mountainous area of Napa County. It has some of the world’s most well-preserved redwood trees in the world, all of which were petrified in a volcanic eruption 3 million years ago.

It costs $14 per person to visit The Petrified Forest, and while most reviewers say it’s underwhelming, nature lovers may find it worth a visit!

Castello di Amorosa

The famous castle winery you’ve probably seen on Instagram before is Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga. The castle is a replica of 13th-century style Tuscan castles, complete with dungeons and a moat!

You must have a reservation to visit; entry is not permitted through the gate without your email confirmation for your reservation.

Because the castle is the main attraction here, take a guided tour to explore the entire thing and learn about the history and building of it!

Old Faithful Geyser of California

Did you know California had its very own Old Faithful? Because I sure didn't! Calistoga is home to a petrified forest, a castle winery, and a mini version of Wyoming’s Old Faithful Geyser.

It costs $15 per person to enter to view the geyser, but there’s also a small farm with animals, a Geology Museum, and a garden.

You can also bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it at one of the many seating areas!

Gotts Roadside

An alternative lunch option in St. Helena is Gotts Roadside. They’re a roadside diner serving a modern take on the classic American diner foods, including burgers, fries, and fish tacos.

While I haven’t been to this location, I have been to the one in San Francisco and can attest to how delicious their food is! They even have Impossible patties that you can swap in for any of their burgers.

The Gotts Roadside in St. Helena is the first location ever opened back in 1999. They then expanded to the San Francisco location that I’ve been to, as well as another location in downtown Napa!

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Explore Napa Valley by sky with an early morning ride in a hot air balloon! The hot air balloon rides take off at sunrise. This means you’ll need to either start your day trip to Napa Valley before the sun comes up or stay overnight for an early start the next day.

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How to Get to Napa Valley

Napa Valley Day Trip From San Francisco

A day trip to Napa Valley from San Francisco is about 50 miles away and takes less than one hour to drive, more if there’s traffic.

From San Francisco, you can either take Highway 101 North across the Golden Gate Bridge (no tolls going north out of SF) or Highway 80 East. Both routes are about the same distance; just check traffic to see if one has more traffic than the other before you depart.

This estimated time and distance is for San Francisco to Napa (the town), where the Napa Wine Train departs. If you follow the itinerary in this post and skip the wine train, you’ll begin your day in Yountville.

San Francisco to Yountville starts the same as the route to downtown Napa, via Highway 101 or 80. But you’ll continue on Highway 29 north for another 9 miles to reach Yountville.

Napa Valley Day Trip From the East Bay

Napa Valley is about 73 miles away from the East Bay, which takes a little over an hour without traffic.

If you’re coming from the East-East Bay, aka the Tri-Valley, take Highway 680 north, then take the exit for Highway 12, which becomes Highway 29. Follow this until you reach Yountville!

If you’re coming from Oakland or the surrounding areas in the East Bay, take Highway 580 North and Highway 80 East, then exit to Highway 29.

Tips for A Napa Valley Day Trip

Plan ahead: Napa Valley is a widespread area along Highway 29. Without planning ahead, you’ll end up driving back and forth. If you follow this itinerary, it should be a smooth trip north, then back down south, making stops along the way.
Download your maps: I didn’t have service in some areas of Napa Valley and wished I had downloaded my maps like I usually do. You can download a map of Napa Valley for use offline in the Google Maps app.
Wear sun protection: The Napa Valley gets lots of sun and is warm for most of the year. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, etc. to protect yourself from the sun while enjoying your Napa day trip!
Make reservations: The majority of wineries require advance reservations for wine tasting. Some even get booked out weeks or months in advance! If you plan to go wine tasting, be sure to make your reservations before your day trip.
Hire a driver: Drinking and driving is an awful and dangerous idea. Have a designated driver in your group, hire a driver for the day, or book an all-day tour with transportation!