Calistoga

Calistoga is the small town at the north end of the Napa Valley, where Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail finally meet under the slopes of Mount St. Helena. It grew up around hot springs in the 1860s and it still feels more like a spa town than a wine destination. Lincoln Avenue, its main street, is a few blocks of low storefronts, cafes and old resorts with mineral pools out back.

Our Napa and Sonoma guide helps you choose between the two valleys and plan tastings. This page is only about Calistoga: getting there, the mud baths, the geyser and the Petrified Forest, the wineries with the best visits, where to eat and a sample day.

Getting there from Palo Alto

Calistoga is about 100 miles from Palo Alto. Plan on 2 to 2.5 hours each way. There are two main routes:

• Through the East Bay: cross the Dumbarton or San Mateo Bridge, take Interstate 880 north to Interstate 80, cross the Carquinez Bridge to Vallejo, then follow Highway 37 and Highway 29 north through Napa, Yountville and St. Helena. This is usually fastest.
• Through San Francisco and Marin: take US 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge, then Highway 37 and Highway 121 east to Napa and Highway 29 north up the valley. It is more scenic and often better on weekend mornings.

Highway 29 through the valley slows to a crawl on weekend afternoons, especially through St. Helena. The quieter Silverado Trail on the east side is a good way home. Tolls depend on your route: the East Bay route usually means a state bridge toll each way, while the Marin route means only the Golden Gate toll on the way back. Our bridges and tolls guide has the 2026 rates.

If anyone in your group will be tasting, plan for a sober driver or a tour from the start. Rideshare cars are scarce at the top of the valley late in the day.

Mud baths and hot springs

Calistoga's volcanic mud, mixed with hot mineral water and peat, has drawn visitors for more than 150 years. A classic treatment goes like this: you sink into a warm tub of mud, rinse off, soak in mineral water, then rest wrapped in a blanket. Many spas add a massage.

Dr. Wilkinson's Backyard Resort and Mineral Springs, at 1507 Lincoln Avenue, has run mud baths since 1952 and recently reimagined them. Several other resorts in town also sell spa visits to day guests. Book ahead, especially on weekends. Check each spa's age and health rules too. Mud baths are usually not recommended during pregnancy or with heart conditions, so ask before you book.

Old Faithful Geyser and the Petrified Forest

These two family stops are a welcome break from wine.

Old Faithful Geyser of California

At 1299 Tubbs Lane, just north of town, a geyser shoots hot water into the air about every 15 to 30 minutes, according to its plan-your-visit page. The grounds also have a small geology museum, picnic lawns, bocce courts and a farm of rare animals, including Tennessee fainting goats, four-horn sheep and guard llamas. Leashed dogs are welcome and parking is free.

It is open every day of the year from 9 a.m., rain or shine. Closing is around 7 p.m. from late spring through summer and earlier in the off-season. Holiday hours may vary, so call (707) 942-6463 if you are cutting it close. Most visitors stay one to two hours.

The Petrified Forest

About five miles west of town on Petrified Forest Road, short trails lead past giant redwood logs that turned to stone after a volcanic eruption buried them around 3.4 million years ago. Its site lists daily hours of about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission of $14 for adults, $13 seniors, $8 juniors and $6 children. It is a privately owned site and a good stop on the back road toward Santa Rosa.

Wineries with a view, a castle or a cave

Calistoga has dozens of tasting rooms. Three stand out for the experience as much as the wine. All take reservations:

• Sterling Vineyards: an aerial gondola carries you up a hill to the winery, with tastings at the top and views down the valley. Its 2026 calendar was active and visits are booked online.
• Castello di Amorosa: a re-creation of a medieval Tuscan castle with a moat, towers and cellars. Tours and tastings are booked online with a flat $4.95 booking fee. Full refunds are available up to 24 hours ahead.
• Schramsberg: a sparkling wine house known for its hand-dug caves, with tours and tastings by appointment only.

Prices change often and differ by experience, so check each winery's site. Everyone tasting must be 21 or older with photo ID. For a cheaper approach, see the winter passport below and our wine tasting guide.

The Winter in the Wineries passport

Every winter, Visit Calistoga sells a tasting passport. The 2026 to 2027 Winter in the Wineries passport costs $80 and is valid December 5, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Presale began October 23, 2026, with physical passports ready for pickup in mid-November. It covers tastings at about 25 participating wineries, including Sterling Vineyards, Clos Pegase, Tank Garage Winery and V. Sattui, plus discounts on lodging, dining and spa visits. Several restaurants also waive corkage on bottles bought at passport wineries. For a two-person winter trip with several stops, it pays for itself quickly.

Where to eat

Lincoln Avenue and the streets just off it hold most of the town's restaurants. A few confirmed for late 2026:

• Evangeline, 1226 Washington Street, a mostly outdoor restaurant with a heated, tented patio. Its site lists dinner nightly from 5 to 8:30 p.m. and a Thanksgiving 2026 menu.
• Lovina, 1107 Cedar Street, which lists service from noon to 8 p.m. and strongly encourages reservations.
• Calistoga Inn and Brewery on Lincoln Avenue, a casual brewpub that lists breakfast daily from 9 to 11 a.m. and weekday lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with reservations on Resy.
• House of Better, at Dr. Wilkinson's, 1507 Lincoln Avenue, handy if you are booked for a mud bath.

Hours change with the season, so check each restaurant's own site before you go.

Best time to go

Late winter into early spring is a lovely time to visit. The mustard blooms bright yellow between the bare vines, the valley is green and the winter passport is in effect. Crowds and hotel prices are at their lowest. Harvest season, from late August through October, is the most exciting and the busiest. Summer days at the top of the valley are often far hotter than Palo Alto, so plan outdoor stops for the morning. Weekdays are calmer all year. Our weather guide explains the inland heat.

A sample day

1. 7:30 a.m. Leave Palo Alto through the East Bay.
2. 9:45 a.m. Old Faithful Geyser, catching an eruption or two.
3. 11 a.m. Gondola ride and tasting at Sterling Vineyards, booked ahead.
4. 12:30 p.m. Lunch on Lincoln Avenue.
5. 2 p.m. Mud bath and mineral soak while your designated driver explores the Petrified Forest.
6. 4:30 p.m. Early dinner, then home down the Silverado Trail.

That is a long day with four or more hours of driving. A night in town makes it far more relaxed. You can compare hotels and spa resorts in Calistoga. To the west, Jack London State Historic Park and Healdsburg make good second days. Browse all our day trips from Palo Alto for more.

Frequently asked questions