Overview
The Sacramento Valley is the northern part of the Central Valley in California.
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 94°F; winter lows dip to about 41°F. Very hot (Jul, Aug) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Jan and Feb. (climate data from nearby Sacramento)
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.
- SMF Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento — 22 mi away (major hub). Directions
- CCR Buchanan Field, Concord — 76 mi away. Directions
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is the region's biggest airport, offering flights from California cities, as well as other states.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Sample 3-day trip
- Day 1: Sacramento County — explore the town.
- Day 2: Colusa County — explore the town.
- Day 3: Glenn County — explore the town.
Built from the best-covered destinations in this region; open each for its own day plan.
Photos
Places in Sacramento Valley
Regions
Colusa County
Visitors to rural Colusa County will find an abundance of rice fields and almond trees, but a limited number of amenities and attractions. Sights that may be of interest include four national wildlife refuges, as well as the Colusa County Courthouse in the town of Colusa, which was erected in 1861 and is the oldest remaining courthouse in the Sacramento Valley.
Glenn County
Glenn County is an agricultural region that is most likely to be experienced by travelers passing through on Interstate 5. While it lacks significant amenities, there are a few options for travelers to experience small-town America at events such as the Glenn County Fair, held in mid-May in the town of Orland, or at the Thunderhill Raceway Park outside of Willows, home to the longest automobile race in the United States: the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.
Sacramento County
Sacramento County stretches from the wetlands at the edge of the San Francisco Bay to the rolling hills of Gold Country. The Sacramento and American Rivers played prominent roles in the county's development, and today offer outdoor opportunities ranging from boating to fishing to birdwatching. The capital city of Sacramento is located at the rivers' confluence, and visitors will appreciate its historic districts and more than 25 museums.
Sutter County
Tiny Sutter County lies between the Sacramento and Feather rivers, with nearly 90% of the county's land used for grazing and agriculture. The county is home to the eroded volcanic lava domes of the Sutter Buttes, which occupy a circular area roughly 10 mi across and are sometimes referred to as the world's smallest mountain range.
Yolo County
With extensive farmlands, Yolo County offers numerous opportunities for visitors to engage in agritourism: farmer's markets are held regularly, organic farms offer tours and the opportunity to pick your own produce, and more than 35 wineries can be found in the county. The college town of Davis is home to California's third-largest state university and boasts the highest number of bikes per capita in the USA, a statistic that led the US Bicycling Hall of Fame to move to the town in 2010.
Yuba County
Located along the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas, rural Yuba County offers recreational opportunities in the Plumas and Tahoe National Forests, and visitors can get a glimpse into the area's Gold Rush past at the ghost town of Timbuctoo and neighboring Smartsville. The western side of the county is flatter, more populous, and primarily used for fruit orchards, rice fields, and grazing.
Cities
- Davis
- Galt
- Marysville
- Sacramento
- West Sacramento
- Yuba City
Other destinations
The Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, or California Delta, is the delta of the Sacramento River, and covers a huge area of the Sacramento Valley and the San Joaquin Valley. The California Delta includes islands, farming towns, and wildlife refuges.
Get in
By plane
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is the region's biggest airport, offering flights from California cities, as well as other states.
By bus
Amtrak and Greyhound offer bus service to many Sacramento Valley cities, including Redding, Chico, Oroville, Corning, and Marysville.
By train
Amtrak runs two long distance trains and two regional trains through Sacramento and the Sacramento Valley.
- The Coast Starlight runs from Seattle and Portland through Sacramento to San Francisco (via Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles.
- The California Zephyr runs from San Francisco (via Emeryville) through Sacramento to Reno, Salt Lake City, Denver, Omaha, and Chicago.
- The Capitol Corridor is a regional train that runs from the Bay Area to Sacramento making major stops in Vacaville, Fairfield, Suisun City, Martinez, Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Fremont, Santa Clara and San Jose. Carefully consult the schedule when buying tickets for this since some of the daily runs are by bus instead of train.
- The Gold Runner is a regional train that runs from Sacramento south into the San Joaquin Valley making major stops in Stockton, Fresno, and Bakersfield.
By car
Major roads through the Sacramento Valley area include Interstate 80, which runs east-west, and Interstate 5 and Highway 99, which run north-south.
Go next
- North Coast and Shasta Cascades, to the north
- San Francisco, the Bay Area and the Central Coast, to the west
- San Joaquin Valley, to the south
- Sierra Nevada and the Gold Country, to the east
Nearby
Marysville
City / town · 5 listings · 11 mi away
Yuba City
City / town · 5 listings · 12 mi away
Rocklin
City / town · 14 listings · 20 mi away
Roseville
City / town · 15 listings · 21 mi away
North Highlands
City / town · 1 listings · 24 mi away
Citrus Heights
City / town · 8 listings · 24 mi away
Auburn
City / town · 18 listings · 24 mi away
McClellan Park
City / town · 1 listings · 24 mi away
My experience
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