Guide to Picking Napa Valley Towns – Which one is best?!

There’s a chance this post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you), that goes directly towards little Rosie’s dog treats!

Napa Valley is home to some of the best wine in the world! While Napa looks small on a map, finding a place to stay can be overwhelming. From bed and breakfasts to luxury hotels, these tips will help you find a place that is perfect for you!

First things first, you will need to narrow down what area you want to stay in! There are six Napa valley towns that are all so unique: Downtown Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena. Each town will give you a very unique experience and it truly depends on what type of vacation you are looking for!

From North to South:

Calistoga

Calistoga will be the furthest town from the airport and will tack on an extra 45 minutes of driving time each way, so with that you will find more locals and far less tourists! In this town you will get the slow-paced, peaceful, and relaxing vacation of your dreams.

I say relaxing because it is known for the spas, mud baths and hot springs! Calistoga has a large abundance of spas and wellness retreats. Instead of spending every day wine tasting in Napa Valley, take a detox day to enjoy one of their many spas! 

I recommend staying in Calistoga if:

• You are on your honeymoon in Napa Valley
• You want an intimate, romantic vacation
• You want a slow paced and relaxing vacation
• You have been to the touristy places in Napa Valley and want to see more local spots

Without a question, the best hotel in Calistoga is The Francis Hotel. This historic home has been renovated into a chic wine country Inn and will give you the most romantic experience. They have a pool, salt room, infrared sauna, fire pits, and a heavenly breakfast. Click here for availability and rates.

St. Helena / Rutherford / Oakville

St. Helena, Rutherford & Oakville are right in the middle of all the best wineries, which makes the driving time shorter and the wine tasting time longer – WOOHOO! I grouped these together because the distance from St. Helena to Oakville is only a 10 minute drive. Finding hotels in this area will give you the same experience. 

The drive from the San Francisco or Oakland airport is only 1 hour and 30 minutes (depending on traffic of course, we are talking about California here!). These towns are only 20 minutes further than downtown Napa and have far less crowds. 

There will be less food options than downtown Napa, but there is a small downtown area in St. Helena with shopping and restaurant options.

I recommend staying in St. Helena area if:

• You don’t want to spend a lot of time traveling between wineries
• You want a scenic stay in the middle of the rolling vineyards
• You want a slow paced and relaxing vacation
• You have been to the touristy places in Napa Valley and want to see more local spots

I made St. Helena my home base on my recent trip to Napa Valley and I have to say… I definitely loved it more than staying in downtown Napa. Click here to read my Napa Valley Itinerary Based in St. Helena!

In my opinion, the main reason to stay in the St. Helena area is if you want to take advantage of the amazing views you get! Being in the middle of all the wineries, a lot of these hotels provide jaw-dropping scenery. My top two choices for the luxury traveler are:

1. Situated on top of a vineyard, Las Alcobas will make you will feel like you are staying in a winery. This 5* hotel has everything you could ever need, you’ll be tempted to never leave! They have a lovely fire pit terrace that gives you one of the best views in Napa Valley. Click here for availability and rates.

2. If you want a hotel with luxurious views, Auberge Du Soleil is a MUST. The pool has a view, the restaurant has a view, the spa has a view, the rooms have a view, this place is no joke. Everywhere you look has outstanding scenery of the Napa Valley and nearby wineries. Click here for availability and rates.

Yountville

Yountville will give you a good mix of the slow paced feel of Calistoga and the popular and touristy feel of Downtown Napa. Having plenty of restaurants to choose from and still not too far from the wineries, this is an excellent choice for travelers.

Yountville is also home to the famous restaurant: French Laundry – that takes a year to get a reservation! 

I recommend staying in Yountville if:

• Plan to spend a lot of time eating in downtown Napa but still don’t want a lot of travel time between wineries
• Have been to Napa before and don’t need to re-visit all the touristy spots
• Want a quite and relaxing nightlife
• Love art and strolling through art galleries

The top hotel in Yountville is by far Hotel Villagio. This ultra chic hotel has everything from a fun bar with a pool table, modern rooms,  luxurious spa, and adorable picnic grounds along the vineyards. Click here to view pricing and availability. 

Downtown Napa

Downtown Napa has a little bit of everything from world known restaurants, wine bars from wineries in the area, endless hotel/BnB options, shops for souvenirs, and nightlife for people who get a second wind after wine tasting all day! This will be the most lively and touristy town of the bunch, but I wouldn’t say it is overly touristy. Napa has so much charm that even in the most touristy spots, it’s still so beautiful!

There are many hotels in this area, so picking the right one can be challenging. If you are doing Napa on a budget, you will probably want to stay in Downtown Napa, because you will find more budget friendly hotels. 

The only downsides to staying in downtown Napa are being the farthest from the wineries compared to the other towns & being the most crowded out of all the towns.

I recommend staying in Downtown Napa if:

• You are a big foodie and want to try all the many restaurants
• First time in Napa Valley
• You want to go shopping and do other activities
• You want to be around nightlife with plenty of bars and restaurants

It’s truly hard to pick a hotel in Downtown Napa because there are so many good ones! If I had to narrow it down, I would choose the Archer Hotel. The overall design to the small details, this place is a DREAM! Not only is the hotel magnificent, but it is in the best possible location, right in the heart of downtown Napa. Don’t miss out on their rooftop pool, gym and bar! Click here to view rates and availability. 

My pick after being many times? St. Helena is my go-to! I loved being in the middle of all the wineries and less driving time between wine tastings! 

Wine lover like me? Here are some guides I think you would love:

• Napa Valley Itinerary – Based in St. Helena!
• How to spend your 21st Birthday in Napa (3 Day Itinerary)
• 3 Days in Paso Robles, CA
• Portland Itinerary + Wine Tasting in Willamette!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂

Like this post? Pin it here!