Sonoma County might be a small corner of California Wine Country, but you’ll be surprised at how easy it is to get there. With four different airports to choose from, all offering direct flights from both U.S. destinations and a few international cities, too, you can be sipping Sonoma wine in a matter of hours. Here are the best options for getting to Sonoma County.
2200 Airport Boulevard, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Nestled in the hills almost within spitting distance of at least a dozen wineries, Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS) is undoubtedly the most convenient option for inbound travelers to Sonoma. Named for longtime resident Charles M. Schulz, the intimate airstrip is festooned with Peanuts characters, with Snoopy-as-flying-ace practically its mascot.
Many flights into STS are charters and small private planes, so if you’re flying in your private plane this is your obvious choice, but there are plenty of nonstop flights with major airline carriers, too. Alaska Airlines offers flights to/from Los Angeles, Burbank, Orange County, San Diego, Portland, and Seattle; American Airlines flies to/from Phoenix Sky Harbor and Dallas; Avelo Airlines flies to/from Bend, Boise, Burbank, Kalispell, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Pasco, and Salem. Feel like extending your vacation to a far away locale? All the airlines offer a wide range of connecting flights to destinations in the continental U.S., Mexico, and beyond.
Arriving passengers may pay more to drop directly into the region, but ground transportation couldn’t be simpler. Walk outside the single-gate terminal to hail a cab to downtown Santa Rosa, pick up an Uber or Lyft rideshare, or rent a car from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Ace Rent-a-Car and drive to your destination. You can also catch a Sonoma County Transit (707.576.7433) or Mendocino Transit Authority (707.462.1422) bus. Groome Transportation (707.837.8700) also connects STS to Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, SFO, and OAK.
780 S Airport Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94128
With more than 50 million passengers passing through its gates every year, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is busy. The compact West Coast hub is a well-oiled machine, though, with relatively few delays, an easy-to-navigate configuration, premium shopping and dining options, and service from more than 50 domestic and international carriers.
Domestic passengers deplane in Terminals 1, 2, and 3, with Terminal 1 handling American, Southwest, and Jetblue flights, Terminal 2 handling Air Canada, Alaska, Breeze, and Delta flights, and Terminal 3 handling United flights. Terminals 2 and 3 offer bars and shops for wine aficionados, and the AirTrain links all three and the International Terminal easily.
Travelers wishing to take a leisurely drive through Sonoma—preferably in a convertible, weather permitting—will need to rent a car. SFO offers multiple options here, too: Take a Blue Line AirTrain from any terminal to access the nine agencies housed at the onsite rental car center. It’s a 56-mile drive to Sonoma, via the Golden Gate Bridge; there’s no toll on the outbound trip, but traffic may add to drive times.
To get to Sonoma County sans car, take Groome Transportation. Call 707.837.8700 from any “Airporter” stop, located at the baggage claim level in each terminal. Fares are $34.00 each way to Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Sonoma County Airport. California Wine Tours also offers a shuttle service to and from the airport to Sonoma, as well as private and group wine tours.
1 Airport Drive, Oakland, CA 94621
Serving about one-fifth the travelers of SFO, Oakland International Airport (OAK), has just 29 gates in two terminals, making it easy to get where you’re going. Low ceilings and gray terrazzo can make the airport feel cramped, but Oakland makes up for what it lacks in glitz with convenience and savings. No-frills carrier Southwest is the biggest player here, making airfares competitive.
Oakland International is almost exactly the same distance from Sonoma as SFO—only 58 miles via the Richmond San Rafael Bridge. Shuttle buses serve the airport’s rental car center around the clock from Terminal 1 (Alaska, Allegiant, Contour, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Spirit and Volaris airlines) and Terminal 2 (Southwest).
No-frills carrier Southwest is the biggest player here, with its own terminal. But you’ll also find flights from Advanced Air, Alaska, Allegiant, Azores, Contour, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Spirit, Sun Country, Viva, and Volaris Airlines.
Oakland International is almost exactly the same distance from Sonoma as SFO—only 58 miles via the Richmond San Rafael Bridge. Shuttle buses serve the airport’s rental car center around the clock from Terminals 1 and 2. Those who’d rather avoid driving should head to the Ground Transportation Center outside the baggage claim area and the platform marked “4D Scheduled Buses”. This is where you can pick up the shuttle via Groome Transportation. Call 707.837.8700 to schedule your pick up, which occurs every two hours from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. to take Wine Country visitors to Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, San Rafael, and STS for $40-$51 each way depending on where you choose to be dropped off. Additional shuttles from Bay Star, Super Shuttle, and both California Wine Tours and Napa Valley Tours & Transportation will provide door-to-door service anywhere in Sonoma County by appointment.
6900 Airport Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95837
Passengers may pay somewhat more to fly into Sacramento International Airport (SMF), but will enjoy its ease and open, airy environment. Thanks to a $1 billion modernization project a few years back, Sacramento’s 32 gates offer a big-city travel experience at a manageable scale. Still just 73 miles from Sonoma, SMF handles non-stops from 30 U.S. cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Denver.
Completed in 2012, Terminal B (and its futuristic people mover) handle Aeromexico, Alaska, Frontier, Hawaiian, Horizon, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and Volaris; American, Delta, United, and Air Canada operate out of Terminal A. Catch a shuttle at ground level in either terminal to visit the onsite rental car terminal; they arrive every 10 minutes.
Shuttle transportation to Sonoma is more challenging—but not impossible—from Sacramento. Contact Napa Airporter 707.252.1900 to reserve shared shuttle service. For a more upscale option, arrange for a limousine or town car pick up directly from the airport with Beau Wine Tours or Napa Valley Tours and Transportation.
Ready to book your Sonoma getaway? Whether you choose to fly into the quaint STS to arrive in a flash or you don’t mind a bit more of a journey from SFO or SAC, there’s an airport for everyone near Sonoma County.
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