Lake Tahoe to Wine Country

My husband %26amp; I are planning an 8 day rip at the end of Sept, visiting both Lake Tahoe and Napa or Sonoma vineyards. It was suggested we fly into Scramento since its between the 2 spots, instead of flying into Reno and then returning from CA. We have vacationed in Tahoe before, never been to wine country so we would like to spend more time there. Any helpful tips on what the drive is like between these locations and suggestions on what is reasonably do-able in 4 or 5 days. We don%26#39;t mind driving, but do not want to spend all our time in the car woudl rather be drinking the wine!

Lake Tahoe to Wine Country

Just some helpful tips while your there- since you%26#39;ll most likely be there during crush (harvest)- utlize the Silverado Trail, and not just HWY 29-- Your best bet distance wise would be to cut over through Sacramento when you come over from Tahoe.

Hope this helps!

Lake Tahoe to Wine Country

September is so beautiful in Tahoe and in Napa/Sonoma, you%26#39;ve picked a great time of year. Though, as was previously mentioned, it will be busy in Napa/Sonoma. You should probably pin down your lodging there right away first and then you can follow up with the Tahoe Plans. Find out what part of your vacation has the best deal/vacancy for Napa/Sonoma and then you can set something up for Tahoe pretty easily for the other part.

Flying into Sacramento it%26#39;s about 1 hour to Sonoma or Napa unless you are driving during the commute. Then it will be much longer. Going to Tahoe from Sacramento will be about 2 hours maybe a little less.

Between Tahoe and Napa I would plan on at least three hours but again it will depend on day of the week and hours of the travel.

Are your 8 days between 2 weekends or are most of these days weekdays? That would be helpful to know. If possible, spend as little as you can in Napa over the weekend portion of the trip since that would be, not only the most crowded, but the most expensive time.

Thanks for the info. We will be traveling from Friday to Monday or Tuesday. Thinking of going to Tahoe Friday through Tuesday or Wednesday, driving to Napa and staying through the weekend until Monday or Tuesday. Have not made flight arrangements yet. Any suggestions on a central area that we can stay to see the most in Napa?

Hi gowhilewecan,

suzie-travels is so right, you%26#39;ve picked probably the best time of year to visit either place. (I%26#39;ve lived in both!) For lodging, it depends on what you have in mind. Staying upvalley, like Yountville or St. Helena, you would be closer to all the wineries and some world class restaurants. The city of Napa itself has far more lodging options, and there are many places to stay within walking distance of the town center, which has several tasting rooms that stay open later than those of the wineries, several fabulous restaurants, Copia, and the Wine Train. It also makes a good jumping off point if you wanted to make a day trip to the neighboring county of Sonoma (About a 25 min. drive) Hope this helps!

thanks to all of you for your suggestions! Had some other issues to deal with and have not been able to focus on our trip, but now its back at the top of the list! I%26#39;ve done some searching for accomodations and the first group of places right in Napa and Sonoma in our budget are booked. I%26#39;m expanding my search and had a recommendation to stay in Calistoga but that seems far from Napa or Sonoma. Any thoughts on that town?

Have you checked out the Yountville Inn, in Yountville? It%26#39;s a favorite place of ours. Great location, with private patios next to a creek.

http://www.yountvilleinn.com/

I am going to go back to your itinerary. If you fly into Sacramento, then drive to Tahoe and then back to wine country aren%26#39;t you backtracking? If you fly into Reno and out of SFO or Oakland then you only need to travel in a straight line (?) Just a thought.

Oh, if you really get skunked on lodgings I notice that some people stay in Fairfield which is about 20 miles from Napa on I80.