Gualala, California travel guide: things to do, food & where to stay

Overview

Gualala is a city in the North Coast region of California, population 1,900. It serves as a commercial center for the surrounding area.

1 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés

Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage

Best things about Gualala

Adventure Rents

Rents canoes, single and tandem kayaks, for the peaceful Gualala river.

Plan your trip

Best time to visit & weather

Most comfortable: Jun–Oct. Summer highs reach about 66°F; winter lows dip to about 40°F. Wettest: Jan and Dec. (climate data from nearby Mendocino)

Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).

Getting there

From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
STS Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa — 42 mi away. Directions
CCR Buchanan Field, Concord — 96 mi away. Directions
SFO San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco — 101 mi away (major hub). Directions

Full “Get in” guide ↓

Budget & where to stay

No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.

Food for you

Cuisine (tap to filter)

What to ask about, for your diet

Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder

Understand

Gualala (formerly, Guadala, Walhalla, and Wallala) is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County on the Pacific coast at the mouth of the Gualala River, on State Route 1. Gualala was once a logging town, but tourism is now its central economic activity.