Day Trippin' › California › From Sacramento › Best biking spots
Our picks for the best biking spots within 3 hours of Sacramento: 12 places, 0 under an hour away, 8 between 1 and 2 hours and 4 between 2 and 3 hours, counted by road time from ZIP 95814.
We put first the places with a real photo, a well-known name, a family-friendly note and an official site, then list the rest by drive time. The closest is Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail, 1 hr 17 min southwest of Sacramento.
Under 1 hour 1 to 2 hours 2 to 3 hours
Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
#1 · Landmark · 1 hr 37 min southwest
The famous orange bridge. Walk or bike across for big views of the city, the bay and the Marin Headlands.
Heads-up: Fog and wind are strong. Parking at the visitor plaza fills early. Bridge toll applies only to southbound cars. Welcome Center at south end; check goldengate.org for hours and parking
Photo: Taras Bobrovytsky, CC0
#2 · Island · 2 hr 17 min southwest
Ferry to a bay island with a loop road, hiking, bike rentals and old military sites.
Heads-up: Ferry needs advance tickets. No ferry on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Last boat leaves early afternoon in winter (confirm before you go).
Photo: Stepheng3, Public domain
#3 · State park · 1 hr 30 min southwest
A San Rafael bayside park with shoreline trails, a historic fishing village and biking.
Heads-up: Hot in summer. Few services.
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
#4 · Garden · 1 hr 35 min southwest
A huge city park with gardens, lakes, museums, bike paths and the Japanese Tea Garden.
Heads-up: Car-free areas on some days. Parking inside is limited.
Photo: Grey3k, CC BY 3.0
#5 · State park · 2 hr 36 min south
Coastal bluffs, historic dairy farm buildings and bike-friendly trails north of Santa Cruz.
Heads-up: Fog and wind on the bluffs. Dogs only on some trails. Open 8am-sunset; park store closed until further notice after flooding; no dogs
Photo: young shanahan, CC BY 2.0
#6 · State park · 2 hr 41 min south
Quiet second-growth redwood canyon with creek trails and mountain bike routes near Aptos.
Heads-up: Some trails are closed after storms. Check the park page. Day-use fee per vehicle; about 30 miles of trails
Photo: Nikita, CC BY 2.0
#7 · Beach · 2 hr 49 min south
Wide dunes and a long, quiet beach with a paved bike trail along the bay.
Heads-up: Strong wind and cold water. Stay out of the surf. Open 8am-sunset; some trails (part of Beach Range Road) closed; no campground yet, under construction
Photo: Griest, CC BY 3.0
#8 · Bike trail · 1 hr 17 min southwest
A smooth paved path through the East Bay hills that follows an old rail line. Good for easy bike rides.
Heads-up: Shared with walkers and horses. Weekend crowds.
Photo: Buzzlovestravel, CC BY-SA 4.0
#9 · Bike trail · 1 hr 29 min southwest
A flat shoreline path from Tiburon toward Corte Madera with bay views and cafes in town.
Heads-up: Weekend crowds near the ferry landing.
Photo: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
#10 · Bike trail · 1 hr 36 min southwest
A flat waterfront path under the Golden Gate Bridge with beach and bridge views. Easy ride or stroll.
Heads-up: Windy and foggy. Dogs on leash in set areas. NPS/Presidio page for Crissy Field Marsh and Beach
Photo: Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 4.0
#11 · Bike trail · 1 hr 59 min south
A paved creek trail from Los Gatos toward San Jose, with shade and small lakes.
Heads-up: Trailheads can fill on weekends.
#12 · Bike trail · 1 hr 45 min south
A long paved path along a creek from Fremont toward the bay. Birds and flat riding.
Heads-up: Little shade. Wind in the afternoon.
Our top picks are Golden Gate Bridge (1 hr 37 min), Angel Island State Park (2 hr 17 min), China Camp State Park (1 hr 30 min), Golden Gate Park (1 hr 35 min) and Wilder Ranch State Park (2 hr 36 min). The page lists 12 places in all.
12: 0 under an hour away, 8 between 1 and 2 hours and 4 between 2 and 3 hours, by road from ZIP 95814.
Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail, about 1 hr 17 min southwest of Sacramento.
5 need no pass or fee, including Alameda Creek Regional Trail, Crissy Field Promenade and Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail. Fees change, so check each place.
12 of the 12 list themselves as open year-round. Places with a season say so on their card; check hours before you go.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP <class 'zip'> (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner); places under 25 minutes away count as in town. Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.