Pacific Ocean to Lush Forest: Explore California’s Northern Central Valley
Northern Central Valley, California
Start / End
San Francisco, Sacramento, or Fresno
States Covered
National Parks
Yosemite National Park
Total Distance
1,025 miles (1,650 km)
Suggested Days
11-14
Suggested Seasons
Year-round
#ThisIsMyRoute
Preparation
As you may already know, California has fairly temperate weather all year round. At higher elevations in the winter months, you may find snow and cold weather, but far fewer people. Our favorite time of year to visit is during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, but we recommend timing your visit to include the fresh produce you want to taste! Did you know two thirds of American’s produce comes from the Central Valley of California?
This route is worthy of two weeks of vacation, but it could be done in a week depending on how often and how long you stop.
Itinerary
ARRIVE IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY
Along our route there are three major airports in three different cities: San Francisco (SFO), Sacramento (SMF), and Fresno (FAT). We are starting the itinerary in San Francisco and ending in Fresno, but you could start and end wherever suits your flight itinerary best! We suggest getting on the road and starting your trip, but if you’d like to spend some time in San Francisco first, below are a few of our favorites.
FAIRFIELD
50 MINUTES – 47 MILES/76 KM
Cruise out of the big city northeast towards Fairfield. Located just 15 miles from Napa Valley, Fairfield is surrounded by farmland, rolling hills, country roads, and acres of vineyards. The beauty of Fairfield is that while the north is full of wineries, the south is bordered by wildlife refuge areas, waterways, and bays that are just waiting to be fished and paddled through.
If you love seeing native wildlife or birds, head over to the Suisun Wildlife Center or Grizzly Island Wildlife Area. For something unique, visit Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company to see how this family-owned company grows and produces oil from their own groves—you can enjoy tastings, too!