Hike · 55 min southwest
Muir Woods National Monument
Easy paths through old coast redwoods in a quiet canyon just north of the city.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; best on weekdays
- See the official site for current fees
Day Trippin' › California › From Napa
Day trips from Napa
From Napa, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is about 15 minutes away, Exploratorium under an hour, and Mount Diablo State Park under an hour and a half. The best day trips from Napa, by drive time.
181 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
10 day trips from Napa
- Muir Woods National Monument 55 min southwest
- California Academy of Sciences 59 min south
- Old Sacramento State Historic Park 1 hr northeast
- Winchester Mystery House 1 hr 26 min south
- Point Reyes Lighthouse 1 hr 29 min southwest
- Alcatraz Island 1 hr 38 min south
- Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park 1 hr 47 min northeast
- Mendocino Village 2 hr 29 min northwest
- Columbia State Historic Park 2 hr 34 min east
- Pinnacles National Park 2 hr 46 min southeast
Within an hour from Napa 43 spots
Museum · 59 min south
California Academy of Sciences
An aquarium, planetarium, rainforest dome and living roof all under one roof in Golden Gate Park.
- 3-5 hrs · Easy
- Open daily (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Historic site · 1 hr northeast
Old Sacramento State Historic Park
A riverfront district of Gold Rush and railroad-era buildings with wooden sidewalks, under Tower Bridge.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
Museum · 52 min south
Exploratorium
Hands-on science exhibits on the San Francisco waterfront. Great for kids and curious adults.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Closed Mondays (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Landmark · 56 min south
Golden Gate Bridge
The famous orange bridge. Walk or bike across for big views of the city, the bay and the Marin Headlands.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; fog common in summer
- See the official site for current fees
Wildlife · 43 min northwest
Safari West
A wildlife preserve near Santa Rosa with guided safari truck tours and overnight tents.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
State park · 45 min northwest
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
Wide valley views, oak woodlands and a night sky observatory in Kenwood.
- 2-4 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Small town · 50 min south
Sausalito
A hillside bay town with galleries, a waterfront walk and ferry rides to the city.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to visit
1 to 2 hours from Napa 64 spots
Landmark · 1 hr 26 min south
Winchester Mystery House
A huge odd mansion in San Jose with stairs to nowhere and doors that open to walls.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Landmark · 1 hr 29 min southwest
Point Reyes Lighthouse
A historic lighthouse at the end of a long peninsula road with steep stairs and winter whale watching.
- 2-3 hrs · Moderate
- Year-round; open Thursday to Monday (confirm before you go); whale season Dec to Apr
- See the official site for current fees
Island · 1 hr 38 min south
Alcatraz Island
Ferry to the old island prison with an audio tour and big city views.
- Half day · Easy to moderate
- Year-round when ferry is running
- See the official site for current fees
Historic site · 1 hr 47 min northeast
Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park
The place in Coloma where the 1848 gold find set off the Gold Rush, with a replica sawmill, a museum and gold panning on the American River.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- California State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
Observatory · 1 hr 52 min southeast
Lick Observatory
Historic hilltop telescopes above San Jose with a long winding road and big views.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Grounds open daily; visitor center hours limited (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Theme park · 1 hr 56 min south
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Classic seaside amusement park with a wooden coaster, arcade and a wide beach next door.
- Half day · Easy
- Open daily in summer; limited days in winter (confirm before you go)
- See the official site for current fees
Historic site · 1 hr 58 min northeast
Empire Mine State Historic Park
One of California's richest hard-rock gold mines, with a stone owner's cottage, formal gardens and the old mine yard.
- 2-3 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Admission (per person); trails free
State park · 1 hr 18 min southeast
Mount Diablo State Park
A tall peak in the East Bay with a summit road, wide views and many trails.
- Half day · Easy to strenuous
- Year-round; spring wildflowers; summit views best on clear days
- See the official site for current fees
2 to 3 hours from Napa 70 spots
Small town · 2 hr 29 min northwest
Mendocino Village
A seaside village on a bluff with art galleries, shops and Victorian houses.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round
- Free to walk
Historic site · 2 hr 34 min east
Columbia State Historic Park
A whole Gold Rush town kept as it was, with stagecoach rides, gold panning, old saloons and costumed shopkeepers.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
National park · 2 hr 46 min southeast
Pinnacles National Park
Spires and talus caves from an ancient volcano, plus condors and good hiking trails.
- Half day · Moderate
- Year-round; best Oct-May
- See the official site for current fees
State park · 2 hr 51 min east
Calaveras Big Trees State Park
Giant sequoias in the North Grove on an easy, mostly flat loop, where the big trees first became famous in the 1850s.
- 2-4 hrs · Easy
- Year-round (best May to October)
- California State Parks day-use fee (per vehicle)
Aquarium · 2 hr 30 min south
Monterey Bay Aquarium
World-famous aquarium with kelp forest, jellyfish and sea otters, right on the water.
- Half day · Easy
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
State park · 2 hr 36 min south
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Rocky coves, sea otters, harbor seals and cypress groves, often called the crown jewel of state parks.
- 3-5 hrs · Easy to moderate
- Year-round
- See the official site for current fees
Beach · 2 hr 39 min northwest
Glass Beach Fort Bragg
A pebble beach with sea glass pieces polished by waves. Look, do not take.
- 1-2 hrs · Easy
- Year-round; best at low tide
- Free
Viewpoint · 2 hr 47 min south
Bixby Creek Bridge
Photo stop for the tall arched bridge on Highway 1 in Big Sur.
- 30 min · Easy
- Year-round
- Free
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Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 94559 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.