The heart of California wine country, the city of Napa is home to about 78,000 people. The same breezy climate that makes the area prime for growing grapes is one of the main tourist draws. Nearly 4 million people travel to Napa for various reasons throughout the year. Many come not only for the wine but to see one of the most famous embarkation points for the Gold Rush. Indeed, Sutter's Mill is only about 100 miles away to the northeast.
Napa, California, has some of the most exquisite Victorian homes in the state. The Queen of England began her reign just about 10 years before the city was founded, so the influence is understandable. The city is also known for its fine dining. Cordeiro's Steakhouse and Mustard's Grill, which feature wonderful fish dishes, are two of Napa's notable eateries, the latter holding a Michelin Star. For a different take on steakhouses, try the Galpao Gaucho Brazilian Steakhouse.
Minor-league baseball has been a presence in Napa, California for decades. The recent contraction of minor-league baseball has driven some teams to become collegiate-league teams, and the Sonoma Stompers are no exception. Collegiate teams aren't affiliated with MLB clubs, but their players sometimes make it to "The Show." You can take in a game while in Napa and possibly see a budding major-league star. If you're a basketball fan, then it's only an hour's drive to see the Sacramento Kings' home games. Hockey fans can drive only a little further to be able to see San Jose Sharks' home games too.
The Trade Winds RV Park lies 17 miles to the south and is right on the water. The campground provides 78 RV campsites that offer full sewer and water hookups and both 30-amp and 50-amp electricity. The common lounge at the campground features a flat-screen TV, and if you like to read, then you can borrow from the on-site library that is open all year.
The RV campground within Skyline Wilderness Park is just a brisk afternoon's 3-mile hike from downtown Napa, California. The campground gives you a rustic experience. Even the sites with hookups offer just electricity and water with no sewer. There are also 10 sites that can accommodate horses, up to two per site.
The RV campground at the Brannan Island State Recreation Area is particularly family-friendly. Pets are allowed as long as they are always leashed. This RV campground is limited to rigs from 20 feet to 36 feet in length. The park offers terrific fishing all year, and winter is the most popular time for some RVers to visit to avoid a crowded campground.
It's just 44 miles to Brannan Island State Recreation Area from Napa. Boating of all sorts is the main attraction at this park. Water enthusiasts can kayak along the streams and rivers, as can those who own motorboats. Although the waters are too narrow for sailboats, windsurfers will enjoy skimming along while close to the wind. The beaches are great for a relaxing swim or picnic in the sunshine. Angling is also popular, and you can hook almost anything from bluegills up to mighty sturgeon.
Mount Diablo State Park is a leisurely 90-minute drive from Napa, California. Mount Diablo itself rises to nearly 4,000 feet, and there are several hiking trails to the summit. Many folks find the summit hike too crowded, however, and prefer to hike through Mitchell Canyon. In the early fall, hundreds of thousands of tarantulas migrate through the canyon, and you can even book guided nature tours to observe them. On a clear day, if you do happen to summit Mount Diablo, then you can see almost all of the park's 20,000 acres stretched out before you.
Only 60 miles or so separate Napa, California, from Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. The park has 25 miles of hiking trails and a large wildlife population that includes deer, elk, gray foxes, and bobcats. If stargazing is your thing, then not only can you pull out your telescope for great nighttime views, but you can visit the Robert Ferguson Observatory. It contains one of the largest refracting telescopes in the world.
The California National Historic Trail actually crosses nine states as it wends from Missouri to California. It was the principle route that prospectors seeking their fortune took to get to California during the Gold Rush. Part of the trail passes near Napa, California. The portion of the trail near Napa is fairly flat, so it's great for beginning hikers. The trails are also nice for horseback riding, so you can bring your equine friends along to enjoy your expedition.
The John Muir National Historic Site is only 34 miles from Napa, California. The site includes the home where Muir lived and commemorates his devotion to the natural world. Several of California's national parks received the designation only because of Muir's tireless work. Muir's thinking on the land, and the First Nations peoples who lived on it previously, evolved over his lifetime, and the historic site educates visitors about that change of worldview. If you enjoy hiking, then the intermediate trails will be both challenging and relaxing.
In July of 1944, two munitions ships blew up in the harbor of Port Chicago. More than 300 sailors lost their lives. The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, which is fewer than 40 miles from Napa, California, honors those lost sailors. After visiting the memorial itself, you can hike along easy and intermediate trails in the area. The easy trails are great for families because the surface accommodates strollers as well as being nice and flat. Along the moderately difficult trail, there are several spots with benches where you can sit to observe ships leaving and entering the harbor.
Mendocino National Forest is 87 miles from Napa, California. The forest comprises four separate wilderness areas that cover a combined 913,000 acres. The forest doesn't have a paved entrance, so you either have to park and hike or take an unpaved road with a vehicle other than your RV. The hiking trails range in difficulty from veritable "walks in the park" to rugged hikes over uneven ground and up steep inclines. Geocaching is allowed within the park, and fishing for trout and steelhead is popular.
Eldorado National Forest, which is 113 miles from Napa, California, is a four-season park that offers hiking trails in warm weather and cross-country skiing on a snowpack nearly 10 feet high in the winter. In any season, the temperature varies in the park because the altitude ranges from 1,000 feet to 10,000 feet above sea level. The trails at the highest elevations are for experienced hikers who have the proper equipment. Always pay attention to the weather forecasts if you're going to hike above the tree line.
A little less than 200 miles away, Tahoe National Forest sits on the border between California and Nevada. The forest is home to several giant tree species, notable among them Sequoia sempervirens, which is one of the last surviving members of the sequoia family of trees. These trees can grow to nearly 400 feet in height. Several of the hiking trails in this forest are also good for mountain bikes. The Overland Emigrant Commemorative trail is one of these, and it's 15 miles or so of moderate hiking or biking.
You're never too far from a national park in California because nine of the nation's 63 national parks are in the state. Perhaps the most famous of them is Yosemite National Park, which is a little more than 190 miles from Napa, California. If you are a climber, then you will find all manner of challenges at the park. El Capitan is perhaps the most challenging, a naked cliff that's more than 3,000 feet of vertical wall. The hiking trails offer various difficulties as well. If you're a photographer, then you can follow in Ansel Adams's footsteps while snapping pictures of the marvelous landscape.
Lassen Volcanic National Park lies 220 miles to the north of Napa, California. The nature of this park is such that hiking in it requires you to stay on the trails and not stray off of them. The dried lava can be unpredictable. The hiking provides great views of the surrounding mud pots, smoking volcanoes, and a collection of geysers. There's a guest ranch at the park, too, that provides access to mineral baths and massages, as well as terrific food at the on-site restaurant.
Pinnacles National Park sits about 160 miles south of Napa, California. This park is one of the few places to find California condors in their natural habitat. As of December 2022, there are just 336 of this wondrous bird in the wild. Seeing their 10-foot wingspan as they glide overhead is certainly worth the trip. Most of the hiking trails, regardless of skill level, are short in this park. You may also be interested in exploring Bear Gulch Cave or Balconies Cave during your visit.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Napa, CA, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Napa?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Napa from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Napa?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
