Best Way to Get Around Napa Valley Without the Stress

One of the biggest surprises for first-time visitors to Napa Valley is how far apart the wineries are. While downtown offers a walkable cluster of tasting rooms, the majority of wineries are spread out across the valley, often miles apart.

With limited public transit, unreliable Uber availability, and the risk of a DUI, having a solid transportation plan before your Napa trip is essential.

In my opinion, hiring a private driver is the best way to get around Napa Valley. It might seem pricey, but I’ve got tips to make it more affordable and reasons why it’s worth it for at least one day of your trip.

As a Bay Area local since 2017, I’ve been to Napa Valley dozens of times and have experienced it all from driving ourselves, booking private drivers, using Uber, and joining tours.

Here are my best tips for getting around Napa Valley for a safe, seamless, and stress-free trip.

#1 PICK

Hire a Designated Driver!

✅ No worry about who is driving after a tasting
✅ They drive YOUR rental so you can sit back & relax
✅ Personalized wine tasting itinerary with hidden gems

✨ BONUS: Use code DDNS and mention me when you book to receive a free Unwined Gift Kit with your tour 🎁🍷

See why this is my top pick for Napa Valley

Your Transportation Guide to Napa Valley

My top recommendations for getting around Napa Valley are by a private driver, tour, or rental car. Uber and Lyft can be done with a couple of caveats, which is why it is not one of my top choices.

You can also book various unique tours to see the valley and taste wine such as by bike, trolley, and even train.

Hire a Private Driver

To me, this is the way to go when visiting Napa Valley. Hiring a private driver gives you the flexibility of planning your own itinerary of wineries. Also, it allows everyone from your party to have fun and participate in the wine tasting without worrying about driving later.

You do not need a private driver for every day that you are in Napa. Instead, plan on a day that you want to be your main wine tasting day where you will visit 2 to 3 wineries. Your driver will be your DD for the day, and there’s no stress for ordering an Uber in time or getting behind the wheel.

✅ My recommendation for a private wine tour & driver in Napa Valley! Check rates & availability here 🍷

Tips For Booking a Private Driver

You have two options: book a customizable private wine tour that comes with a driver or hire a private driver to drive your car. Private tours are pricier but perfect for groups since they offer larger vehicles. I did this for my husband’s birthday with friends, and it was a blast!

While it might sound expensive, the convenience outweighs the expense, especially compared to the hassle and cost of multiple Ubers. Plus, private tours can handle all the planning and help customize your itinerary.

Or you can book with a company that will drive your car or rental for the day. We Drive offers referral services that will connect you with a professional driver. It is a lot more affordable to hire someone to drive your rental than booking a private tour.

Renting a Car

If you are spending more than a day or two in wine country, I highly suggest renting a car for your trip.

For one, you’ll need a car to get to Napa Valley from the airport. If you haven’t booked your flights already, I recommend you fly into Sacramento International Airport.

Secondly, a car will allow you to explore the different towns in Napa Valley or hop over to Sonoma which is about an hour’s drive away.

Driving to the wineries yourself is the most popular and budget-friendly way to get around Napa. Since we live about an hour away, we have done it many times. However, it is important to be a responsible driver when wine tasting.

Consider rotating designated drivers within your group each day or it is also acceptable to taste your wine but not swallow it. Do as the professionals do and swirl, smell, and taste the wine but instead of swallowing it just spit it out in the designated spit bucket.

✅ I highly recommend Discover Cars 🚗 for your Napa trip, it’s my go-to rental site!

Tours of Napa Valley

A small group tour is the perfect way to taste wine, explore Napa Valley, and meet some new friends.

These tours are typically cheaper than booking a private tour. However, you do not get to select the wineries you want to visit. Usually, the tour will have a set wine-tasting itinerary.

Small Group Tour

In this small group wine-tasting tour, your guide will pick you up from your Napa Valley accommodation and take you to three charming wineries for your wine tastings. You will also get to enjoy a picnic lunch at a winery.

✅ This is the small group tour that I recommend, check rates & availability here

Napa Valley Wine Train

Travel back in time and hop aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train, a restored vintage train from the 20th century.

You can ride the rails and experience sweeping views of Napa Valley with a gourmet multi-course meal on their two-story Vista Dome.

🚂 Pssst: If you are interested in the Napa Valley Wine Train, a tip to save some $$ is to purchase the Priority Wine Pass, you can save up to $160 on the experience. Also, you get tons of other discounts on wine tastings and hotels. Get $20 off your pass with my coupon here! 🍷

Napa Valley Wine Trolley

Travel in style as board the Napa Valley Wine Trolley. The open-air trolley whisks you away on a guided tour of Napa Valley. You’ll explore three wineries, learn about the region’s history, and enjoy a garden-side vineyard lunch.

Bike and Wine Tour

Start your bike tour along the countryside of Napa Valley. You will get to visit two wineries where you will enjoy wine tastings and a delicious wine-country picnic lunch.

Uber in Napa

Uber is available in Napa Valley and can be a convenient option for getting around. However, relying on Uber for a full day of wine tastings can be unpredictable.

Long wait times or unavailable drivers might cause you to miss strict tasting reservations, as most wineries allow only a 15-minute grace period.

Additionally, mountain wineries often discourage Uber, as drivers rarely come back up for pickups.

If you choose to use Uber, stick to valley floor wineries and plan plenty of time between tastings to avoid any hiccups.

Public Transportation in Napa Valley with VINE Transit

I don’t usually recommend relying on public transit in Napa Valley because it’s not the most direct or convenient way to get around. But I wanted to mention it because it can be a great option if you don’t have a car or are trying to save money on transportation.

The VINE bus system connects the major towns in the valley, though it doesn’t stop directly at the wineries. It can get you close to certain areas, and from there, you can easily grab an Uber to your destination.

If you’re staying in towns like Calistoga, Yountville, or St. Helena, you’re in luck! Each has its own local shuttle service that can take you to wineries, restaurants, and shops nearby, making it easier to explore without a car. Just make sure to book the shuttle in advance.

FAQ: How to Get Around Napa Valley

Can you walk from winery to winery in Napa?

Most of the wineries in Napa Valley are not within walking distance and require driving between destinations, but tasting rooms in downtown Napa, Yountville, Calistoga, and St. Helena are walkable.

Is Napa Town walkable?

Downtown Napa is very walkable, you can explore many popular restaurants, tasting rooms, hotels, the riverfront, and shops by foot.

Can you go to Napa without a car?

To get to Napa without a car, you can take an Uber, book a shuttle from SFO, public transportation, join a small or private tour, or book a private transfer.

🙋‍♀️ Need more help planning? Join my FREE Napa Facebook Group!
Where you can get travel tips, personalized advice, help with your itinerary, and more.