Put this beautiful scenic drive from San Francisco to Sonoma at the top of your list of things to do in wine country!
Sipping wine at fancy vineyards is the most well-known thing to do in Sonoma County. And rightfully so: After all, together Sonoma and neighboring Napa represent one of the most famous wine regions in the world. But wine tasting isn’t the only fun thing to do here. I should know – I spent four years exploring Sonoma county while earning my bachelor’s degree at Sonoma State.
Long before I could legally drink, I fell in love with Sonoma’s green rolling hills, small farms, shady country roads and rugged coastline. So when some of my friends were headed there for a weekend of wine tasting, I begged them to branch out and explore more of this incredible county. My absolute favorite thing to do there is this scenic drive from San Francisco to Sonoma past fruit markets and antique stores, out to the coast, through hippie towns and ancient redwood forests.
Scenic Sonoma Drive
I mapped out a route for my friends that started with them driving north from San Francisco up to Sonoma county and then following my road trip loop. You could do this as a day trip from San Francisco or on a day when you’re taking a break from wine tasting in Sonoma or Napa. Here’s what the drive entails:
- 7 stops
- 170 miles
- 4 hours of total drive time
NOTE: Mileage and drive time will be much shorter if you’re not coming from and going back to San Francisco.
Charming Road Trip Stops
This winding route goes past apple orchards, tucked-away wineries, old homes turned into antique stores and out to Highway 1 along the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It’s a doozy of a drive and you’re going to love it. Besides the great views, there are fun stops along the way where you can get out and explore all that gorgeousness.
Here are the best things to do along this scenic drive from San Francisco to Sonoma:
Take Stunning Hikes
With hiking, it’s all about the views, amiright? There are so many places on this driving route where you’re going to get some fantastic eye candy, including two easy hiking trails.
First up is Hawk Hill in Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s Marin Headlands in Sausalito. It’s a hilltop trail that gives you the most amazing view of San Francisco Bay, the city and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you happen to visit in the fall, look up. The hill is also a prime location for spotting hawks migrating overhead.
For a totally different experience, one of the stops on the drive is at an old-growth coastal redwood forest. The trees at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve in Guerneville are the tallest living things in the world. Some are taller than a football field and more than 1,400 years old! It’s eerily quiet walking along the spongy, fern-covered forest floor as ribbons of sunlight stream down between giant trees, making you feel as if you’re back in the Jurassic time period.
Visit Sonoma’s Coolest Little Towns
I don’t know about you, but I love me a cute town – a place that has pretty architecture, shops filled with irresistible trinkets and lots of cool eateries. Plop me down in a town like that I can spend a full afternoon exploring every nook and cranny, especially if I’m fueled by tasty treats like a huge cup of steaming chai and a slice of lemon olive oil cake or a charcuterie board and a glass of wine.
If you’re like me, you’ll be happy to know that there are two such stops along the route. The first one is Petaluma, an adorable riverside town that was the setting for George Lucas’ breakthrough movie American Graffiti. Its ornate iron-front buildings from the late 1800’s not only make this town charming to stroll around, but are also the reason it’s on the National Register of Historic Places.
The other charming town is Sebastopol, an old hippie town with a main drag lined with independent shops and eateries. Here you can find shops selling tie-dye, goddess statues and incense next door to boutiques with pricy denim and hipster granny panties and hoodies. And the food, well, take your pick from farm-fresh salads and sandwiches to global cafes that serve everything from Vietnamese sandwiches to Himalayan dishes to ramen bowls.
Eat Delicious Food & Wine
Speaking of eating…I’ve got some good recommendations for where you can chow down at stops along the drive.
On the coast, you can dig into a plate of BBQ oysters or a bowl of clam chowder and buy a bag of saltwater taffy in every imaginable flavor.
Driving down a country highway lined with apple orchards, there’s a small shop that sells fresh-baked pies. Eat a slice there or take it to go.
And what kind of travel writer would I be if I didn’t turn you on to at least one watering hole that locals love? End the trip with a glass of hard cider from a local apple orchard at a hip little taproom or make your way to an under-the-radar Sonoma winery. Option 3: Do both – no judgment here!
Go on the Sonoma Drive
You can get all of these awesome things to do in Sonoma county and more – cool hikes, charming towns, delicious eats and under-the-radar wineries – in my Sonoma Weekend Road Trip Guide. Because, why make things harder on yourself?
Happy travels,
P.S. I’m going to let you in on another fantastic weekend getaway. It’s a secret California wine town where many of the Sonoma and Napa labels get their grapes from. It’s a totally laidback, low-key place that’s super fun and relaxing. But if you’d rather do more road trips, perhaps a visit to bourbon country on an awesome Kentucky road trip should be next?
DO YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE THE BEST THING TO DO IN SONOMA IS THIS GORGEOUS DRIVE TO YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!
