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Marin County & Napa Valley Scenic Drives Part V: Finding budget accommodation

Deciding where to stay
Ways to save on Wine Country hotels & alternatives

This page gives the information you need to pick the best locations for overnight budget stays for your Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Marin County visit. You learn how to find bargains on hotels, inns, and resorts, and find out camping and hostel locations.

Although the Napa and Sonoma areas offer some of the best hotels in the world, which can cost over $600 per night, we focus on more affordable stays.

We cover:

1. Wine Country hotel geography
2. Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Rohnert Park – best value
3. Napa and Sonoma
4. Rutherford and St. Helena
5. Calistoga
6. Marin County coastal accommodation
7. Point Reyes National Seashore and state parks
8. A rustic spa alternative

For driving directions to this area, see Marin and Napa Scenic Drive parts III and IV.

(Continued below)

Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part I (Introduction)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II a (Reaching Marin from S.F.)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II b (Reaching Marin from SFO)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part II c (Reaching Marin from Oakland)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part III (Marin County scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part IV (Napa Valley scenic drive)
Marin & Wine Country Scenic Drive, Part V (Accommodation suggestions)

Wine Country hotel geography

In general, you can divide the California Wine Country into three main parts.

The sweeter grapes are harvested in a long strip along U.S. Highway 101 extending nearly to the Pacific Ocean, some south but most north of Santa Rosa. This area gets more winter rainfall and somewhat cooler summer temperatures.

The hills above these western valleys tend to be covered with lush vegetation, and even redwood groves in places.

On the other hand, the most prestigious wines—again we’re speaking in generalities—come from the drier Sonoma Valley east of 101 and the even drier Napa Valley east of that.

These latter two valleys are where most visitors want to stay.

The hills are covered with classic California oaks and grass, with pines at the very highest elevations.

Because the Napa and Sonoma valleys are adjacent, both make convenient bases for your visit to the Wine Country. Santa Rosa and Petaluma are a little less convenient, but offer far more economical accommodation.

Don’t confuse Sonoma County, which includes Santa Rosa, with the Sonoma Valley, which includes the town of Sonoma and the grape growing area immediately north and south of it.

Santa Rosa, Petaluma, and Rohnert Park

If like most people, you wish to stay in a hotel or motel, while in the Wine County, but don't want to spend a lot of money, here is our #1 tip:

Stay in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, or Rohnert Park!

Nearly always, you will find the best Wine Country hotel values in Santa Rosa, nearby Petaluma, and Rohnert Park along U.S. 101. These three places are convenient to sightseeing in both Marin County and the Wine Country.

In these cities, you will find everything from Motel 6–four of them—to the Hyatt Vineyard Creek and Sheraton Sonoma County Petaluma, with lots of moderate cost choices in between.

Check out typical prices on Hotels.com

Napa and Sonoma

We lump these commercial centers of the Wine Country region together, as both Napa and Sonoma make convenient bases for your stay.

Napa—especially its town center—is more charming, but Sonoma offers more historic interest. They are close to each other, so you can easily explore both.

Napa is more convenient to the upper Napa Valley and Calistoga.

These towns tend to be expensive—sometimes very expensive. You find the Marriott Napa Valley and Renaissance Lodge at Sonoma, but few more moderately priced places.

One way to get around the high prices is to use:

Punch in “Napa, CA” and you’ll often find highly discounted rates displayed for Napa and nearby towns.

As with Priceline.com, you choose the

neighborhood,
quality and amenities (2 to 5 stars plus resorts), and
price,

but not a specific hotel or inn. Unlike Priceline, you do not bid.

Interestingly, higher star-rated places sometimes cost less than lower quality ones. If you notice one of these, grab it!

Conscientious bargain seekers will attempt to undercut the Hotwire price by using—

Priceline Hotels - Select your Exact Hotel or Name Your Own Price!

Type in "Napa, CA" or "Sonoma, CA".

Rutherford and St. Helena

We like the area around St. Helena and Rutherford in the upper Napa Valley very much.

Napa Valley narrows here with the mountains closer, and it is just so picturesque Not only have the vineyards a fine mountain backdrop, the small towns themselves are a joy to explore.

Anchored by the graduate school of the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, this area hosts some of the best restaurants in California.

Sorry. You won’t find bargain hotels here. You may find discounts using Hotels.com—if you are lucky. Type in “Napa, CA” and see prices for throughout the region.

The most popular places, such as the luxe Meadowood Napa Valley in St. Helena, have little incentive to reduce prices, except during the winter.

Calistoga

We also like Calistoga.

Although located at the far north end of Napa Valley, you remain close to the most prestigious wineries and restaurants. Nevertheless, the hot springs are the big draw here.

The excellent Calistoga Chamber website links you to the various spa resorts and motels.

Marin County coastal accommodation

There are a few bed and breakfast-type places along the coast in small towns such as Stinson Beach, but most travelers who want to explore this area in depth over several days either camp or stay in hotels along Highway 101.

Most use a hotel or motor inn in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, or Rohnert Park along Highway 101 as their base for a multi-night visit to Point Reyes. See Part III for directions. However, you can also stay in nearby San Rafael, Novato, and Larkspur. See Part 3B for easy access to these.

Most of the usual chains are available.

Hotels.com lists discounted places first. These are guaranteed to have the lowest on-line price of any website that allows you to book specific hotels prior to paying. Input “Santa Rosa, CA” or “San Rafael, CA.”

Hotwire.com discounts even more. You pick the town, the quality and amenities you desire—as well as the price, but don’t learn where you will stay until after you pay.

Hotwire lets hotels get rid of access inventory at great prices to you, without angering their higher paying customers, who never see these deals advertised.

Point Reyes National Seashore and state parks

Point Reyes National Seashore offers camping for those who hike or bike in. The park allows no cars near sites. The park also has an excellent hostel, the Point Reyes Hostel, which like the camping should be booked in advance. Before showing up without a reservation, keep in mind how close you are to all the people in the Bay Area—many less than an hour away!!

Nearby Samuel P. Taylor State Park and Mount Tamalpais State Park also offer camping for visitors who come by car. We urge you to book ahead with Reserve America and to read the rules carefully. Tamalpais has a few cabins.

If you haven’t camped in California state parks, you’re in for a real treat. Unlike so many state park systems, California keeps its camping areas and parks as natural as possible—no golf courses, no unnecessary buildings, no resort hotels, no mowed lawns.

Middletown - a "new age" rustic spa alternative

Thirty minutes of scenic, but rugged paved mountain driving takes you from Calistoga to the Harbin Hot Springs spa. This 30 minutes also takes you back to the 1960's, a 1960's without toleration of alcohol or drugs.

In its oak-covered canyon setting, Harbin offers up relaxation. No television, no cell phone reception.

Visitors come in all ages and from all walks of life, but Harbin works best for adults, as there are no structured activities for children, who are also not allowed in some of the hot spring pools.

Nearly everyone sheds clothes in and around the various hot, warm, and cold soaking pools and the swimming pool. This "new age" California milieu may or may not be for you.

See the website for information about Harbin's rooms, cabins, and camping spots. During the long summer dry season, many visitors don't bother to put up tents, but instead spread out bedding on several wooden decks near the soaking pools.

In winter, the road from Calistoga to Harbin may become snow covered.

Have fun in Marin County and the Wine Country! You’re visiting a great area.