Off the Beaten Track in Sonoma County

When you visit major tourist regions, there are going to be lots of other like-minded people. Sometimes you want to get away from the crowds, traffic, noise, and tourist traps, especially after you've visited the same area a couple of times. Or you might just want some local charm. Some parts of Sonoma County (and Napa) can be quite busy during vacation season and on many other weekends, but it's actually pretty easy to avoid the crowds.

Sonoma County is quite large; actually bigger than the smallest state, Rhode Island. The south part of the county is closest to the Bay Area cities and its several million residents. So the first trick is to go north.

There are two major routes coming from the Bay Area: US 101 and State Highway 12. The next thought is to stay away from these roads, as most visitors will probably stay close to a major highway.

Click on map to enlarge
image from sonomawine.com

The Carneros and Sonoma Valley wine regions plus the town of Sonoma are the busiest areas (they are along Highway 12). Parts of Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys close to Highway 101 and especially the town of Healdsburg can also be crowded.

Some wine regions on the map don't have much in the way of tasting rooms or other services. Wine tasting is concentrated in Carneros, Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley. Suggestions for avoiding the crowds are western Russian River Valley, northern Dry Creek, and  Alexander Valley.


In Napa County, Highway 29 is the main route dissecting the valley, and much of it is lined with tasting rooms. Like Sonoma, the southern part of the county is closer to the Bay Area and therefore busier. Silverado Trail, a secondary road paralleling Highway 29 to the east, is busy in the southern part of the county. The smallest crowds will be upvalley in the Calistoga area. Also, head for the hills on either side of the valley floor. Look for smaller, off the main road wineries.