Los Angeles to Napa: How to Plan a Wine Country Weekend

Los Angeles to Napa is about 400 miles. Done wrong, that's a weekend spent mostly in the car. Done right, it's one of the best trips in California.

Driving or Flying?

Driving is about 400 miles, and most people should plan on 6 to 7 hours without stops. Add more on a Friday afternoon or a holiday weekend. It makes sense if you want your own car for the trip and you have at least three days.

Flying is usually faster door to door. Most visitors fly from LAX or Burbank into San Francisco, Oakland or San Jose, then drive about 1.5 to 2 hours to Napa or Sonoma. The Sonoma County airport in Santa Rosa has had some direct service from Southern California, so check current schedules, since routes change.

How Many Days Do You Need?

For a weekend trip, two nights is the minimum. With one night, you spend more time traveling than tasting. Three nights gives you a day each for Napa and Sonoma, or a slower pace with a long lunch and an unscheduled afternoon.

If you only have a short stay, pick one area. Not sure which? Our Napa vs. Sonoma guide will help you decide.

Plan the Days, Not Just the Drive

Because you're traveling a long way, each day counts. Two or three wineries per day is plenty, and here's why fewer is better. Book tastings ahead of time, especially on weekends, since many places require reservations and the popular ones fill up first.

Where you stay shapes the whole trip. See our picks for where to stay in wine country before you book.

How We Help

Many visitors are planning from somewhere else and don't know the area. We design your itinerary around your tastes and your group, coordinate with the wineries and handle the reservations. You get a plan you can follow without spending your evenings on research.

Our concierge fee is $125 for a one-day plan and $200 for two days, and your $50 planning deposit is credited toward it. See full pricing.

Curious what a well-paced day looks like? See a sample wine country day or tell us what you're looking for and we'll build one with you.