Getting Around Santa Rosa
A vibrant city in the center of Sonoma Wine Country, Santa Rosa (pop. 170,685) blends small-town friendliness with urban amenities. The thriving downtown boasts three distinct shopping districts among historic buildings and pleasant neighborhoods.
Here’s how to get around and explore Santa Rosa.
Cruise by Car
Bring your vehicle or rent a car — driving in and around Santa Rosa offers much to see. Check out this convenient interactive map of Santa Rosa’s downtown.
Book a Tour and Private Transport
Relax and let someone else handle the driving. Whether you want to go wine tasting, stroll the redwoods, explore small towns, or take in nearby coastal views, Sonoma County tour companies have you covered.
Check our listings for Sightseeing & Tours and Transportation for comfortable vans, taxis, open-air Jeeps, motorized trolleys, vintage biplanes, and even designated drivers offering custom tours.
For more options, discover 12 Tour Ideas for Exploring Sonoma Wine Country.
Hop on a Bus or Train
- Santa Rosa Transit & CityBus has routes throughout the city and offers online trip planning to help you get where you want to go.
- Sonoma County Transit offers service from Santa Rosa to other charming towns in Sonoma Wine Country.
- Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) trains are sleek, clean-diesel trains that carry passengers comfortably through many areas in Sonoma County. Find more at Exploring Sonoma County by SMART Train.
- Golden Gate Transit buses run from Santa Rosa to San Francisco.
Fly into Santa Rosa
In Santa Rosa, the Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport (STS) offers convenient flights. Here, you can find rental cars, taxis, and other ground transportation options.
Groome Transportation runs buses between Santa Rosa, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Oakland International Airport (OAK), with stops in Petaluma and Sonoma Wine Country.
Bike the Trails
Whether you’re a beginner or pro, cycling is a great way to get around Santa Rosa, where you’ll find a vast network of bike trails. Here are some excellent routes to explore on two wheels.
- Find all of the best Bike Trails in Santa Rosa.
- Visit Santa Rosa Cycling Club for their hosted local rides and events.
- For more great trails in the region, check Popular Bike Itineraries: Cycling through Sonoma Wine Country.
Check out Sonoma County Bike Rentals and Tours for all your gear and fun trips to book, and peruse our Guide to Cycling in Sonoma County.
Walk or Hike
Santa Rosa is a large, relatively flat city with lots of inviting, walkable areas to explore. For self-guided walking tours, like historic districts and art walks, view this handy interactive map of downtown Santa Rosa.
- Historic Railroad Square offers an authentic old town ambiance with a variety of antique stores, galleries, and shops, as well as lodging, entertainment, and live theater.
- Courthouse Square is a beautiful outdoor plaza and community gathering space, surrounded by a variety of boutiques, shops, restaurants, and businesses.
- South A Street Art District (also known as SOFA) features the highest concentration of art studios (approximately 30) in Sonoma County, alongside galleries, restaurants, and other businesses.
- Historic walking tours of Santa Rosa offer interesting, docent-led and self-guided tours, including the rural cemetery.
- The multi-use Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail lets you stroll a 1.8-mile path through the pleasant freshwater wetland while watching for birds and wildlife.
Don’t miss 5 Fun Things to Do in Santa Rosa. For more ideas, stop by the California Welcome Center, Santa Rosa to view this historic building and pick up maps and tips from the friendly experts.
There are lots of nearby activities and attractions, so be sure to check out Things To Do in Sonoma County, Hotels & Lodging, and Food & Wine.
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