Northern California
Northern California puts San Francisco beside the Napa and Sonoma valleys, redwood forests and Yosemite, and a road trip can link them.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Northern California is the part of the state that starts at the San Francisco Bay Area and runs north along the Pacific coast and inland to the Sierra Nevada. Trips often begin in San Francisco, a city of steep hills, cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge, which links it to Marin County. North of the city, the coast leads to Redwood National and State Parks, where some of the tallest trees on Earth grow. North of the Bay, the Napa and Sonoma valleys hold the region's wineries.
Yosemite National Park lies in the Sierra Nevada, where granite cliffs and waterfalls rise around the valley. Spring and fall suit the coast and valleys best, while mountain roads can close with snow in winter. Winding roads make every drive slow, so plan on two or three areas and leave room for the drives.
Northern California in five
- Choose a corridor before you plan daysThe coast, the wine valleys and the Sierra pull in three directions, and the drives between them are long. Pick two for a week, rather than all three.North Coast and Redwoods
- Compare San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento flightsSan Francisco is the main gateway, Oakland is a lower-key alternative on the Bay, and Sacramento suits trips that start in the Sierra or Tahoe. Check the drive to your first base, not just the fare.Oakland
- Skip the car in San Francisco itselfParking is costly and transit covers the main sights, so pick up the rental on the day you leave the city for the coast, the valleys or the mountains.San Francisco
- Budget for the $100 fee at Yosemite and SequoiaYosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon are two of the 11 parks that charge non-US residents $100 per person aged 16 and over on top of entry, unless you hold an annual pass.The $100 park fee, explained
- Check smoke and road alerts in late summerWildfire smoke and temporary road closures can affect the Sierra and the coast from late summer into fall. Check air quality and Caltrans alerts before long drives.
Things to do in Northern California
See all attractions in Northern California
Need to know
- Airport
- San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK) and Sacramento (SMF)
- Getting there
- Fly into the Bay Area or Sacramento; Amtrak serves Sacramento and Oakland
- Getting around
- A rental car outside the Bay; BART and Muni inside San Francisco
- Best base
- San Francisco or Oakland first, then one coast, wine or Sierra base
- Time needed
- 5 to 10 days for two corridors
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCool, green
- FebruaryWet, green
- MarchWildflowers
- AprilMild, clear
- MayMild, fog starts
- JuneDry, foggy coast
- JulyFoggy, busy
- AugustFoggy, busy
- SeptemberWarm, clear
- OctoberClear, harvest
- NovemberCool, rain returns
- DecemberCool, quiet
Right now in Northern California
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 33%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Northern California
12:38 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°7°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue17°8°56%Tuesday: Rain. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 56%.
- Wed19°7°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Thu21°9°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri23°10°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 23°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat25°11°0%Saturday: Clear. High 25°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun25°12°0%Sunday: Cloudy. High 25°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 08:13 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Napa Valleyabout 1 to 1.5 hours from San Francisco by carWine country with small towns, best with a driver or a night.Read the guide
- Monterey and Big Surabout 2 to 3 hours south of San FranciscoA coast drive with cliffs and sea otters, better with an overnight.Read the guide
- Lake Tahoeabout 3.5 to 4 hours from the Bay Area by carA mountain lake that works for a ski or summer weekend, not a day trip.Read the guide
Before you go to Northern California
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Northern California, checked
- Visa-waiver travelers need an approved ESTA before flying to the US. Check travel.state.gov for your passport.Source
- Cannabis is legal for adults 21 and over, but smoking it in public places is not allowed. Check California's cannabis rules.Source
- Declare fresh fruit, plants, seeds and meat when you arrive in the US. Undeclared food can bring a penalty from CBP.Source
- Tipping is expected at restaurants, bars and for drivers. At restaurants, 18 to 20 percent of the bill is typical.
Plan around Northern California
The Bay Area's main gateway
Read the guideOrange CountySouthern California's beach and theme park county
Read the guideNapa ValleyWine country about an hour north of the city
Read the guideLake TahoeAlpine lake and ski base in the Sierra
Read the guideYosemite National ParkGranite valleys, with the $100 fee
Read the guideNorth Coast and RedwoodsGroves and fog north of San Francisco
Read the guideAll of the USAStates, parks and cities in one planning hub
Read the guideNorthern California FAQ
What is the best way to see Northern California?
Fly into San Francisco, spend two or three days in the city, then rent a car for one corridor. Coast to redwoods, wine valleys to Tahoe, or Yosemite each need three to four days.
How many days do you need in Northern California?
A week covers San Francisco plus one corridor. Ten days lets you combine a second, such as wine country then the Sierra. Fewer than five means staying in and around the Bay.
Is Northern California the same as the Bay Area?
No. The Bay Area is the region around San Francisco Bay. Northern California is far larger, running north to the Oregon border and east to the Sierra Nevada and Lake Tahoe.
When is the best time to visit Northern California?
September and October are warm and clear in the Bay and wine country. Spring suits wildflowers and green hills. Summer fog is common on the coast, and the Sierra is best from June to September.
Do you need a car in Northern California?
Not in San Francisco, Oakland or Berkeley, where BART and buses cover the main sights. For the coast, wine valleys, Tahoe and Yosemite, a rental car is the practical choice.