Santa Rosa Blog|Your Blog About Santa Rosa
Dec
25
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Don Nadeau asked:
This article gives you the pros and cons of the airports closest to Mendocino and the Redwood Park area, so you can decide which airport is best for you.
Airports Serving Mendocino
The immediate Mendocino area has no airports except the Little River Airport for small private planes. You will need to fly into another city and then drive or take a series of buses to reach the Mendocino coast.
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport
The nearest airport to Mendocino with commercial service is Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, CA.
Yes, that’s Charles Schultz, as in Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Charles Schultz lived and worked in Santa Rosa and nearby Sebastopol for more than 30 years.
The Sonoma County Airport, (also referred to as the Wine Country Airport or Santa Rosa Airport), is just west of U.S. Highway 101 along Airport Boulevard four miles north of Santa Rosa. You’ll reach Mendocino in around 2 hours.
Although most convenient to Mendocino, Sonoma County Airport suffers from few commercial flights and just three rental car choices. The lack of airline competition often means higher fares.
Horizon Air (owned by Alaskan Airlines) flies in nonstop from Los Angeles (LAX), Portland, and Seattle. Delta may start service soon.
Alternative Mendocino airports
Most travelers reach Mendocino from San Francisco International, Oakland International, and Sacramento Airports. These offer numerous choices of airlines and car rental companies. All are around 3.5 hours from Mendocino.
You may also use Arcata/Eureka Airport described below.
Sacramento Airport
Although folks often overlook it when traveling to the Mendocino coast, the Sacramento International Airport enjoys important advantages.
Unlike travel between Oakland or San Francisco airports and Mendocino, driving from Sacramento International Airport to Mendocino can be much easier. You don’t have to worry worrying about rush-hour congestion because you don’t need to drive through urban areas to reach Mendocino. In fact, you don’t even drive into Sacramento.
With a metro area population now nearing 2 million people, Sacramento enjoys extensive air service, including budget airlines JetBlue and Southwest, which helps keep the fares of all airlines down.
San Francisco International
With Southwest again serving “SFO,” as well as budget airlines AirTran and Frontier, San Francisco no longer deserves a reputation for higher fares compared to Oakland.
Although you’ll face some stop-and-go driving through San Francisco, you may agree that it’s made up for by the scenic drive through Golden Gate Park and over the Golden Gate Bridge.
Oakland International
Oakland International gives you continuous freeway access to U.S. Highway 101 on your way to Mendocino.
You may face congestion, though. On weekday mornings, you’ll battle the rush hour going toward San Francisco, even though you’re not entering the city. On weekend afternoons, you’ll battle the rush from San Francisco on other portions of your drive. So, try to avoid these times.
Arcata/Eureka Airport
The Arcata/Eureka Airport (ACV) offers a very scenic alternative to reach Mendocino. Located some 30 minutes from Redwood National Park, the Arcata and Eureka Airport gives easy access to awesome local sightseeing.
Moreover, taking just 3 hours, you’ll reach the Mendocino coast more quickly from this airport than from the Bay Area or Sacramento.
But please don’t be in a hurry. Include one of the most scenic detours in the world, the Avenue of the Giants, in your trip.
Even though the Arcata Airport has more commercial service than the Sonoma Airport, “ACV” suffers from traditionally high airfares. This may improve somewhat when Delta starts service in June, 2008. Also, rental car prices have been nearly twice as high as those at the San Francisco International.
However, if you take in the uniquely “green” culture in Arcata and the breathtaking natural beauty of the area, Arcata/Eureka Airport offers a wonderfully scenic gateway to Mendocino, and may be worth the extra cost.
Pick the airport that suits your specific desires and needs, and enjoy the Mendocino coast!
SANTINO
This article gives you the pros and cons of the airports closest to Mendocino and the Redwood Park area, so you can decide which airport is best for you.
Airports Serving Mendocino
The immediate Mendocino area has no airports except the Little River Airport for small private planes. You will need to fly into another city and then drive or take a series of buses to reach the Mendocino coast.
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport
The nearest airport to Mendocino with commercial service is Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, CA.
Yes, that’s Charles Schultz, as in Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Charles Schultz lived and worked in Santa Rosa and nearby Sebastopol for more than 30 years.
The Sonoma County Airport, (also referred to as the Wine Country Airport or Santa Rosa Airport), is just west of U.S. Highway 101 along Airport Boulevard four miles north of Santa Rosa. You’ll reach Mendocino in around 2 hours.
Although most convenient to Mendocino, Sonoma County Airport suffers from few commercial flights and just three rental car choices. The lack of airline competition often means higher fares.
Horizon Air (owned by Alaskan Airlines) flies in nonstop from Los Angeles (LAX), Portland, and Seattle. Delta may start service soon.
Alternative Mendocino airports
Most travelers reach Mendocino from San Francisco International, Oakland International, and Sacramento Airports. These offer numerous choices of airlines and car rental companies. All are around 3.5 hours from Mendocino.
You may also use Arcata/Eureka Airport described below.
Sacramento Airport
Although folks often overlook it when traveling to the Mendocino coast, the Sacramento International Airport enjoys important advantages.
Unlike travel between Oakland or San Francisco airports and Mendocino, driving from Sacramento International Airport to Mendocino can be much easier. You don’t have to worry worrying about rush-hour congestion because you don’t need to drive through urban areas to reach Mendocino. In fact, you don’t even drive into Sacramento.
With a metro area population now nearing 2 million people, Sacramento enjoys extensive air service, including budget airlines JetBlue and Southwest, which helps keep the fares of all airlines down.
San Francisco International
With Southwest again serving “SFO,” as well as budget airlines AirTran and Frontier, San Francisco no longer deserves a reputation for higher fares compared to Oakland.
Although you’ll face some stop-and-go driving through San Francisco, you may agree that it’s made up for by the scenic drive through Golden Gate Park and over the Golden Gate Bridge.
Oakland International
Oakland International gives you continuous freeway access to U.S. Highway 101 on your way to Mendocino.
You may face congestion, though. On weekday mornings, you’ll battle the rush hour going toward San Francisco, even though you’re not entering the city. On weekend afternoons, you’ll battle the rush from San Francisco on other portions of your drive. So, try to avoid these times.
Arcata/Eureka Airport
The Arcata/Eureka Airport (ACV) offers a very scenic alternative to reach Mendocino. Located some 30 minutes from Redwood National Park, the Arcata and Eureka Airport gives easy access to awesome local sightseeing.
Moreover, taking just 3 hours, you’ll reach the Mendocino coast more quickly from this airport than from the Bay Area or Sacramento.
But please don’t be in a hurry. Include one of the most scenic detours in the world, the Avenue of the Giants, in your trip.
Even though the Arcata Airport has more commercial service than the Sonoma Airport, “ACV” suffers from traditionally high airfares. This may improve somewhat when Delta starts service in June, 2008. Also, rental car prices have been nearly twice as high as those at the San Francisco International.
However, if you take in the uniquely “green” culture in Arcata and the breathtaking natural beauty of the area, Arcata/Eureka Airport offers a wonderfully scenic gateway to Mendocino, and may be worth the extra cost.
Pick the airport that suits your specific desires and needs, and enjoy the Mendocino coast!
SANTINO
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Dec
23
Filed Under (Flights) by
Don Nadeau asked:
You want to go to California wine country–and for good reason. Not only will you see the scenic splendor of soft hills covered with vineyards, but you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy the history, architecture, and some of the best restaurants in the U.S. However, since Napa and Sonoma Valleys don’t have their own commercial airports, you will need to select among airports nearby, including the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, and the airports in Sacramento (SMF), San Francisco (SFO), and Oakland (OAK).
Picking the right airport can definitely impact your costs and enjoyment of the California Wine Country. Here I’ll review the pros and cons of each airport so you can pick the one that suits you best.
Oakland Airport (OAK)
Can we talk? Oakland Airport is my least favorite choice because its highways are congested, and the drive to Napa passes through urban sprawl.
If you do select this airport, be especially careful with timing. You won’t want to mix rush-hour traffic with trying to make a flight.
On the other hand, Oakland Airport offers the most budget airfares in Northern California.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
If you are visiting both the Bay Area and Napa Valley, this airport is a good choice.
The San Francisco Airport offers the most non-stop flights into Northern California. And, with Southwest, AirTran, and Frontier serving SFO, you can get airfares as low as Oakland’s.
However, just traveling toward Napa, you can get stuck in traffic congestion, or even worse, rush-hour slowdowns.
Here’s a route that cuts down on congestion by avoiding downtown San Francisco: From the airport, take westbound Interstate 380, which starts just north of the rental car terminal. Then take the northbound I-280 freeway, northbound Highway 1, and then the Golden Gate Bridge for better scenery, even though you’ll encounter some stop and go driving on Highway 1 in San Francisco.
Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, your route will depend on your first stop, but see the link at the bottom of this article for instructions on locating the most scenic drives through Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
Sacramento Airport (SMF)
The Sacramento Airport is probably used least for access to the Wine Country, and yet I often prefer it.
With a population nearing 2 million, Sacramento benefits from extensive air service, including budget airlines, such as JetBlue and Southwest, which help to keep the fares down of all the airlines serving this airport.
In addition, you don’t have to drive through dense urban areas to get to Napa Valley. In fact, you don’t have to drive through Sacramento at all, which allows you to avoid rush-hour congestion.
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS)
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport reopened to commercial flights in 2007. It is often called the Sonoma County Airport, and also referred to as the Wine Country Airport or Santa Rosa Airport.
(The airport is named for the famous Charles Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown and his pals. Charles Schulz lived in Santa Rosa and nearby Sebastopol for more than 30 years.)
Commercial airlines serving the Sonoma Airport include Alaska Airlines’ Horizon Air arriving from Seattle, Los Angeles, and Portland. Delta may also begin service to Sonoma Airport.
With little airline competition and few commercial flights, the biggest disadvantage to choosing this airport is high prices for flights and rental cars.
However, you may very well balance these higher costs with excellent deals on hotel rooms in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and garden-filled Santa Rosa (my favorite), all near the Sonoma Airport. For extra savings, you may wish to use Priceline’s “name your own price” bidding, available for these cities.
The strongest reasons to select the Sonoma Airport come down to beauty and proximity. Using scenic Highway 12 from Santa Rosa, a route lined with wineries–some world-renowned–you’re one hour from Napa and 45 minutes from the Sonoma Plaza. St. Helena in the upper Napa Valley is approximately 30 minutes from the airport.
And, on top of breathtaking beauty, this choice can steer you clear of Bay Area congestion.
You Pick
As you can see, if you want to see California’s gorgeous wine country, you CAN get there from here. I’ve told you my preferences–San Francisco Airport if I’m visiting the Bay Area too, or Sacramento Airport if I’m just going to the Wine Country. And, nonstop flights to Sonoma County Airport will certainly appeal to travelers who live in Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle.
But of course choose according to your own needs and preferences. I hope my summary of pros and cons has helped you decide which airport will work best for your next trip to Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
LIDSTER
You want to go to California wine country–and for good reason. Not only will you see the scenic splendor of soft hills covered with vineyards, but you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy the history, architecture, and some of the best restaurants in the U.S. However, since Napa and Sonoma Valleys don’t have their own commercial airports, you will need to select among airports nearby, including the Sonoma County Airport in Santa Rosa, and the airports in Sacramento (SMF), San Francisco (SFO), and Oakland (OAK).
Picking the right airport can definitely impact your costs and enjoyment of the California Wine Country. Here I’ll review the pros and cons of each airport so you can pick the one that suits you best.
Oakland Airport (OAK)
Can we talk? Oakland Airport is my least favorite choice because its highways are congested, and the drive to Napa passes through urban sprawl.
If you do select this airport, be especially careful with timing. You won’t want to mix rush-hour traffic with trying to make a flight.
On the other hand, Oakland Airport offers the most budget airfares in Northern California.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
If you are visiting both the Bay Area and Napa Valley, this airport is a good choice.
The San Francisco Airport offers the most non-stop flights into Northern California. And, with Southwest, AirTran, and Frontier serving SFO, you can get airfares as low as Oakland’s.
However, just traveling toward Napa, you can get stuck in traffic congestion, or even worse, rush-hour slowdowns.
Here’s a route that cuts down on congestion by avoiding downtown San Francisco: From the airport, take westbound Interstate 380, which starts just north of the rental car terminal. Then take the northbound I-280 freeway, northbound Highway 1, and then the Golden Gate Bridge for better scenery, even though you’ll encounter some stop and go driving on Highway 1 in San Francisco.
Beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, your route will depend on your first stop, but see the link at the bottom of this article for instructions on locating the most scenic drives through Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
Sacramento Airport (SMF)
The Sacramento Airport is probably used least for access to the Wine Country, and yet I often prefer it.
With a population nearing 2 million, Sacramento benefits from extensive air service, including budget airlines, such as JetBlue and Southwest, which help to keep the fares down of all the airlines serving this airport.
In addition, you don’t have to drive through dense urban areas to get to Napa Valley. In fact, you don’t have to drive through Sacramento at all, which allows you to avoid rush-hour congestion.
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS)
Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport reopened to commercial flights in 2007. It is often called the Sonoma County Airport, and also referred to as the Wine Country Airport or Santa Rosa Airport.
(The airport is named for the famous Charles Schulz, creator of Charlie Brown and his pals. Charles Schulz lived in Santa Rosa and nearby Sebastopol for more than 30 years.)
Commercial airlines serving the Sonoma Airport include Alaska Airlines’ Horizon Air arriving from Seattle, Los Angeles, and Portland. Delta may also begin service to Sonoma Airport.
With little airline competition and few commercial flights, the biggest disadvantage to choosing this airport is high prices for flights and rental cars.
However, you may very well balance these higher costs with excellent deals on hotel rooms in Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and garden-filled Santa Rosa (my favorite), all near the Sonoma Airport. For extra savings, you may wish to use Priceline’s “name your own price” bidding, available for these cities.
The strongest reasons to select the Sonoma Airport come down to beauty and proximity. Using scenic Highway 12 from Santa Rosa, a route lined with wineries–some world-renowned–you’re one hour from Napa and 45 minutes from the Sonoma Plaza. St. Helena in the upper Napa Valley is approximately 30 minutes from the airport.
And, on top of breathtaking beauty, this choice can steer you clear of Bay Area congestion.
You Pick
As you can see, if you want to see California’s gorgeous wine country, you CAN get there from here. I’ve told you my preferences–San Francisco Airport if I’m visiting the Bay Area too, or Sacramento Airport if I’m just going to the Wine Country. And, nonstop flights to Sonoma County Airport will certainly appeal to travelers who live in Los Angeles, Portland, and Seattle.
But of course choose according to your own needs and preferences. I hope my summary of pros and cons has helped you decide which airport will work best for your next trip to Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
LIDSTER
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