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Are bold cabernets and beautiful vineyard landscapes calling your name? If so, a trip to California’s Napa Valley is a must for the ultimate wine experience in the United States. Although this famous wine region is not known for being a bargain destination, Napa Valley can be done on a moderate budget with some careful planning.
No matter what you are traveling for, whether it’s a birthday, bachelorette party, or couple’s trip, there are ways to experience the best of Napa without going (totally) broke. Here’s the first hint:
To stay on a budget, make a trip to Napa all about the wine.
To me, this means putting your money towards wine tastings and skipping luxuries like fancy hotels, luxury tours, hot air balloon rides, and dinner at the French Laundry. Instead, round out your itinerary with beautiful hikes and nature walks around Napa.
Below, I am listing out how you can experience the best of wine country while on a budget, with savings tips in every category. Let’s get into it!
Here is what to expect for a two-person weekend trip to Napa Valley on a budget (in USD):
This is what I would consider to be a moderate budget for two people taking a 3-day weekend trip to Napa Valley. These rounded numbers are a somewhat accurate representation of what we actually spent, although we spent less in some areas (flights) and more in others (wine purchases).
Below I am going into how to stay within this budget or spend even less in certain areas. That said, even while keeping your Napa trip on a budget, I still recommend planning for at least a couple worthwhile splurges. Pre-planned splurges are definitely better than last-minute impulse buys, although the latter can definitely still happen when tipsy on good wine.
Travel Savvy Tip
Don’t look at this budget as a lump sum! That’s the quickest way to get intimidated and assume Napa Valley is unattainable. The truth is, you won’t pay the full amount at once. You’ll buy your flight and lodging right away, and then likely pay nothing for a few months.
Once it gets closer to your trip, you’ll book wine tasting and restaurant reservations. When you get back home, you’ll pay off any remaining vacay expenses you’ve incurred.
Breaking it into chunks like this is a much more approachable way to budget and afford a wine getaway like Napa Valley!
Napa Valley Budget Breakdown:
Flight
$500 (price for two people)
The amount I have entered above of $500 represents what I consider to be a median flight price for travel from another US city. However, my husband and I spent less than this both times we flew into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to visit Napa Valley:
- In 2019, we paid $267.68 total for both of our flights. However, we’d applied a flight credit from another trip, so the real total was likely between $600-$700 from Cleveland, Ohio.
- In 2023, we paid $22.40 total for our flights. This is because we found a great deal using credit card points.
Solo travelers should budget around $250 for airfare; everyone should read the below tips to avoid overpaying for flights:
- Be flexible with your travel days. For example, weekend flights are typically the most expensive. Play around with searching different departure and arrival days, and you’ll be surprised what a difference that can make.
- Travel during the low season, when there is an overall drop in prices. In Napa Valley, low season runs in the winter months between January and March. We traveled to Napa during February, which was a dream for more reasons than the low prices!
- Last but not least, the tip that has helped me the most: Sign up for a credit card with travel rewards points. We’ve gotten countless free flights thanks to our cards, simply due to points earned on every day purchases. We’ve had great experiences using both the Capital One Venture and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Transportation
$100
You’ll have to get from your house to and from the airport somehow. If you don’t have friends or family to drive you, Uber it is!
Also, while you’re in Napa Valley, chances are that sometimes you’ll want the flexibility to not drive yourself. I know when we were headed out to dinner for the evening, we wanted to be able to drink wine at our leisure and not worry about being good to drive.
These Ubers/Lyfts will add up and should be used sparingly. However, it’s always better to spend a little more than to be reckless with safety while on vacation.
Rental Car
$200 – Car, $75 – Gas
Renting a car in Napa Valley is fairly affordable over a few days and is cheaper than ubering everywhere. You won’t need four wheel drive or anything; a basic sedan works fine.
Most of the roads are well-paved and flat and the weather tends to be dry, unless you’re visiting in the winter. Just be smart when its comes to visiting wineries. It’s better to spend a little extra on an Uber to avoid an unsafe situation. Also, remember that you are allowed to dump excess wine while tasting, and no one will judge you for not finishing your pour.
I also think it’s wisest to start your day at the furthest winery from your hotel and work your way back for efficiency’s sake.
Lodging
$750
During both visits to Napa Valley, Aaron and I stayed at lower cost inns. We have zero regrets, since we care way more about our experiences exploring Napa than what our hotel room looks like.
If you like cozy inns and B&B’s, the Candlelight Inn in Napa is the perfect place to stay on a budget and is just a few quick minutes from downtown Napa’s dining scene. Besides being romantic and charming for couples, this inn even includes a delicious daily breakfast. I especially loved the complementary wine available each evening in the lobby.
For a more rugged setting in what is basically an entire apartment, I can’t recommend enough the Trailside Inn Bed and Breakfast in Calistoga. The grounds were tucked among surrounding vineyards and boasted a pool and hot tub. The host also made us fresh banana and apple breads each morning for breakfast.
Although this inn wasn’t walking distance from town, we were within ten minutes driving distance from the Venge, Vincent Arroyo, and Schramsberg wineries!
Food & Drink
$655
It’s essential to explore Napa’s renowned dining scene, which boasts several Michelin starred restaurants within the valley. Unfortunately, these critically acclaimed eateries don’t come cheap, which is why I budgeted $655 for this category. However, this amount also factors in having drinks with dinner, which you can totally skip.
Dining will be a difficult area to save money while in Napa Valley, since you’ll probably want to check out at least a couple atmospheric restaurants for a memorable meal. Here are three tips for keeping this part of your budget from getting out of control:
- Book a hotel with breakfast included for at least one meal that won’t require dining out.
- Pack a lunch and snacks to eat between wine tastings (see next category).
- Minimize ordering of drinks with dinner.
- Mix in some budget meals during your stay.
Here are some lower cost meals my husband and I ate during our Napa Valley trips:
- Calistoga Inn Restaurant & Brewery (Calistoga): $73 for pizza, wings, and drinks.
- Tacos Garcia food truck (Yountville): $22 got us flavorful, satiating burritos. I highly recommend getting the chorizo.
- Gott’s Roadside (Napa): We spent $42 on two juicy burgers with fries. I particularly liked the unusual flavors of the kimchi burger.
- Bounty Hunter Wine Bar (Napa): On our February 2019 trip, we took a break from wine sipping and spent $70 on a barbecue dinner.
We’ve had amazing splurge meals at Bottega, Ad Hoc, and Cook St. Helena.
Solo travelers should budget around $300 or less for food and drink. I know I tend to eat more simply and drink less alcohol when traveling alone.
Groceries
$20
You don’t have to go crazy buying groceries in Napa. However, if you stay somewhere with at least a mini fridge, it’ll be easier to stay on budget by making sandwiches for lunch each day. I recommend buying some other snacks too, like chips, yogurt, and granola bars to eat in between wine tastings.
Wine Tastings
$800
While it’s near impossible to find a cheap wine tasting in Napa Valley, it is possible to stay within a budget (as budgets go in Napa).
I’ve curated a list of tastings that more or less fit the $800 I’ve estimated above, without sacrificing anything on the quality of wine:
- Vincent Arroyo: $60 for two people, and you’ll try 8-10 wines!
- Biale: $100 for two people. Some of my favorite Zinfandel is sold here.
- Mumm Napa: $80 for two people. Take a break from red wine for some bubbly while perusing the adjacent art gallery.
- Grgich: $150 for two people. This winery first put Napa on the map.
- Venge Vineyards: $90 for two people. Each tasting fee is waived with purchase of a bottle.
- Summit Lake: $150 for two people. Delicious red wines are served during an intimate tasting, with especially delicious Zinfandel. Tasting fees are credited towards wine purchases.
- Caymus: $100 for two people. This is one of the most famous wineries in Napa.
- Frog’s Leap: $80 for two people doing the informal Garden Bar Tasting.
Keep in mind that it is not always necessary for each person to get their own tasting. If you are willing to share one between two people, this will cut your expenses in half.
On the other hand, you may have room in your budget for a few splurge wineries. Here are two I recommend:
- Schramsberg: A sparkling wine producer that distributes widely in the United States. The most intriguing part of the tasting is the tour of the wine caves that were originally carved in the mid-19th century. A tasting and tour costs $85 per person.
- Cade: Drink some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley with sweeping views from Howell Mountain. Tastings are $100 per person.
Solo travelers should budget around $400 for wine tastings.
Other Activities
$75
Napa Valley has more awesome sights in the vicinity beyond the vineyards. Swapping out a wine tasting or two with a couple of these awesome trails will help to save some money:
- Muir Woods National Monument: A wonderful National Park Service site that boasts trail for all abilities and some of the best redwood trees near Napa Valley. It’s easy to add a visit here on the drive to or from SFO. This park is a bit pricey, charging $9.50 for parking and $15 per person for admission.
- Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve: Although an hour’s drive from Napa Valley, this state park boasts equally nice redwood trees to Muir Woods for a quarter of the price. There is no admission fee; only a $10 parking fee is required.
- The Petrified Forest: This is your chance to see 3.4 million year old trees that have been preserved in volcanic ash. A self-guided tour to explore one mile over two trails costs $12 per person.
- Bothe-Napa Valley State Park: Explore a range of easy to moderate trails of varying lengths without leaving Napa Valley. I personally recommended the largely flat, shady 3-mile Redwood Trail. Parking costs $10.
- Point Reyes: This National Seashore is a hike to reach from Napa Valley. However, we were willing drivers who managed to squeeze in a visit before going to the airport, as we had a late flight home. What we got in return for our efforts were absolutely stunning views of the Pacific Coast. If it’s not too windy, you might even be allowed to descend the steep stairs to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. There is no entrance fee to visit
Solo travelers should budget around $40 for activities.
Pet Boarding
$200
Do you have a fur baby like us? While it’s ideal to have a friend or family member watch your pet for free, that isn’t always possible. When Aaron and I travel together, we always pay to board our dog in a cozy little “suite” at his vet office.
Prices for this where I live in Northeast Ohio tend to run about $50 a night, but vary wildly in quality and services included.
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I hope this budget helps you in planning a more affordable trip to Napa Valley. While this cost rundown is based on one couple, you will save even more money if you are traveling with a group and can split costs. This little bit of extra planning and consideration will go a long way in getting the most for your money in Napa.
