Is There Uber in Napa: How to Get Around Napa Valley 2024

The wine is flowing, and you are having a good time, but the most important question of the day is, how are you going to get to your next wine tasting safely and on time? Many people who haven’t visited wine country before wonder if you can depend on Uber in Napa Valley.

I am a Bay Area local with many first-hand experiences in wine country. I can tell you that getting around Napa Valley does require a little bit of planning ahead of time.

However, I am here to guide you through all of the best options for your Napa Valley itinerary.

In this post, you will learn all of the deets on Uber in Napa Valley, other forms of transportation to get around Napa, how to save money wine tasting, and the top tours that take care of all of the planning for you.

⏰ No time to read the entire article? No worries, I’ve got you covered ..

The best way to get around Napa Valley is by a private driver because you get to customize your itinerary, have a designated driver in a luxury car for the day, & they book all of your wine-tasting reservations for you! 🍷

Is There Uber in Napa Valley

Right off the bat, I want to answer this question for you. Yes, there is Uber in Napa Valley. However, Uber might not be the best option for you and your wine tasting crew. And I am going to explain why.

Why Uber in Napa is Not the Best Option

I am a huge fan of using shared cars, especially when traveling, it is a necessity, and we are lucky to have them. However, in Napa Valley and Sonoma there are not as many shared cars available.

Waiting around for a late Uber or for one to become available could cause some issues in your wine tasting itinerary. Napa Valley is not a large city, like San Francisco. There are not as many Ubers available to you at your beck and call. If you have a full day of wine tastings at various wineries, you will need a strict schedule.

All of the wineries in Napa Valley now require reservations in advance. Wineries allow a 15 minute grace period from your scheduled wine tasting. However, if you are later than 15 minutes, they are very strict and could give up your reservation.

Another issue you may encounter with trying to Uber in Napa Valley is spotty service. Some of the wineries, like in Calistoga for example, are tucked away in the beautiful rolling hills of Napa Valley and do not get the best cell service.

The cost of purchasing multiple Ubers can quickly add up. Depending on where you reserve your wine tastings, the distance between wineries can range from 15 to 30 minutes to even a 45-minute drive.

If you are in a large group and visiting on a busy weekend, you will absolutely see Uber prices surge. In that case, you are already spending a lot of money, and other forms of transportation are way more convenient and reliable than an Uber.

When is the Best Time to Use Uber in Napa

There are other times that you can rely on using Uber in Napa. Such as if you are on a flexible schedule.

If you are only planning on visiting one winery for the day, Uber can be a great option for you. Or take an Uber to your dinner reservations at one of the many incredible farm-to-table restaurants in Napa Valley.

💰 Want to Save $$ Wine Tasting

🍷 The average cost for a basic wine tasting in Napa Valley is $40 per person.
Priority Wine Pass can cut your tasting fees in half! With discounts like their famous 2 for 1 tastings at participating wineries.

* My readers get the Wine Pass at a discounted rate. Make sure to use the coupon code TTWT to get the best deal!

What is the Best Way to Get Around Napa Valley

So Uber may not be the ideal form of transportation for you. However, there are plenty of other fun and unique ways to get around Napa Valley.

Private Drivers ⭐️ My recommendation
Small Guided Tours
Hop Aboard the Vintage Napa Valley Wine Train
Rent a Car and Drive Yourself
Napa Valley Wine Trolley
Walk to Tasting Rooms
Bike to the Wineries

1. Hire a Private Driver

To me, this is the way to go when visiting Napa Valley. Hiring a private driver gives you the flexibility of planning your own itinerary of wineries. Also, it allows everyone from your party to have fun and participate in the wine tasting without worrying about driving later.

6-Hour Private Customized Wine Tour up to 6 Guests Napa Valley

⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🍷 BOOK NOW

a group of people clinking wine glasses together during their wine tasting in napa valley

This custom and private 6-hour tour through Napa Valley will include pick up from your downtown Napa hotel and stops at 2 to 3 different wineries of your choice.

Before your Napa trip, a tour guide will help you customize a unique itinerary to suit your group’s personal preferences. And book your wine tasting reservations for you! You can seat up to 7 passengers in the luxurious SUV.

“Was great! Highly recommend. Daemon was excellent and highly knowledgeable about the area. Would do again.” – Michelle G. (read more reviews)

✅ Check rates & availability for the Private Napa Valley Wine Tour here

Another great idea is to hire a designated driver. There are many offered in Napa Valley, WEDRIVE is one of the referral services that will connect you with a professional driver. The driver will be your DD, and you will enjoy the freedom of being driven around in the comfort of your car or rental car.

Tip: Make sure the company and driver are properly insured and licensed by looking them up on the California PUC’s Transportation Carrier page.

2. Small Group Tours

A small group tour is the perfect way to wine taste in Napa Valley and also meet some new friends.

A group of friends drinking wine on a small group tour instead of uber in napa

Another perk to the small group tours is that they are typically cheaper than the private tours. However, you do not get to select the wineries you want to visit. Usually, the tour will have a standard wine tasting itinerary in Napa.

Small-Group Wine-Tasting Tour through Napa Valley

⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🍷 BOOK NOW

On this small group wine-tasting tour, your guide will pick you up from your Napa Valley accommodation in a small shuttle and take you to three charming wineries for your wine tastings. You will also get to enjoy a picnic lunch at a winery.

“We had such a great time on this tour! Went to smaller vineyards that we never would have found on our own. Army was an amazing guide who taught us so much and also showed us some gems in downtown wine country. We would highly recommend!” – Lindsey S. (read more reviews)

✅ Book your Small Group Wine Tasting Tour here

3. Napa Valley Wine Train

Travel back in time and hop aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train, a restored and vintage train from the 20th century. The Napa Valley Wine Train offers a variety of unique experiences, such as a Murder Mystery dinner.

You can ride the rails and experience sweeping views of Napa Valley with a gourmet multi-course meal on their two-story Vista Dome. Or extend your journey and add on a wine tasting and tour at two well-known wineries in Napa Valley.

✅ Book your trip on the Napa Valley Wine Train here

4. 🚗 Renting a Car for Napa Valley

If you are traveling through northern California to visit Napa Valley, I suggest renting a car for your stay. Having a car in Napa Valley is not absolutely necessary; there are many ways around it. However, the closest major airports are Oakland International and SFO, and they are both an hour or more away.

Napa County, spanning over 11,000 acres and 30 miles across four major areas – Napa, Yountville, St Helena, and Calistoga – is larger than often perceived. Each town in Napa Valley has its distinct charm, and I highly recommend exploring all four of them if you can.

a beautiful pink, purple and yellow sunset behind a Napa Valley vineyard

A budget friendly way to get around Napa Valley is by driving to the wineries, but it’s important to be a responsible driver when wine tasting.

Consider rotating designated drivers within your group each day or it is also acceptable to taste your wine but not swallow it. Do as the professionals do and swirl, smell, and taste the wine but instead of swallowing it just spit it out in the designated spit bucket.

✅ Avoid the hassle and book your car rental ahead of time for the lowest rate by clicking here!

5. Napa Valley Wine Trolley

⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🍷 BOOK NOW

Travel in style as board the Napa Valley Wine Trolley. Your trip will start at pick up at the Oxbow Market in downtown Napa as the open-air trolley whisk you away to a tour of Napa Valley with a professional guide. You will learn about the Napa wine region and the history of Napa Valley.

“What a fun day! The Trolley was a great way to see Napa, & what Richard doesn’t know about the area probably isn’t worth knowing! The 4 wineries all had delicious wine, and lunch was really tasty” – Samantha J. (read more reviews)

The trolley tour includes stops at three different wineries and delicious lunch outside in the gardens alongside the vineyards.

It is important to note that the wine tastings are not included in the price, and you will need to purchase them separately. The wine tastings at the wineries range between $30 to $40 per person.

Tip: After your tour, explore the Oxbow Market. It’s my favorite! A great spot to grab some fresh produce, cheeses, baked goods, and meats for later.

✅ Check rates & availability for the Napa Valley Wine Trolley here

6. Bike to the Wineries

Booking a bike tour and wine tasting offers a unique and memorable experience. You get to enjoy the beautiful outdoors by biking alongside vineyards while also tasting some delicious Napa Valley wines.

Full-Day Napa Valley E-Bike Tour

⭐ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | 🍷 BOOK NOW

Start your small group tour with a bike ride along the countryside of Napa Valley. You will get to visit two wineries where you will enjoy wine tastings and a delicious wine-country picnic lunch.

“Our Napa Valley Winery + Picnic Tour was excellent choice. The tour and site seeing will definitely be a memorable event for me and my family. I highly recommend this tour and will return and recommend to my family and friend. Thank you Viator!” – Mariluz (read more reviews)

✅ Check rates & availability for the Full-Day Napa Valley E-Bike Tour here

7. Can I Walk to the Wineries in Napa?

The answer to can you walk to the wineries in Napa varies, it depends on what type of day you want to plan.

The majority of the wineries in Napa Valley are not within walking distance of each other and you will need to drive to each destination.

However, the wineries you can walk to are the tasting rooms in downtown Napa, Yountville, Calistoga, and St Helena. The best part about going to the tasting rooms is you will be only footsteps away from the many bakeries, the Oxbow Market, and farm-to-table restaurants.

a flaky almond croissant from bouchon bakery

an assortment of fluffy macaroons from bouchon bakery next to a red glass of wine

My all time favorite bakery to visit in Napa Valley, Bouchon Bakery. Famously known for its artisanal bread and French pastries, Bouchon Bakery, is a must-try when visiting downtown Yountville. There’s almost always a line, so arrive early or put an order in ahead of time.

Tips to Saving Money in Napa Valley

Visiting Napa Valley doesn’t come cheap. Accommodations are pricey, and an average wine tasting is usually $35 to $45 per person at each winery. And at some wineries, you will see tastings ranging from $75 to $100 or even more. It all starts to add up quickly.

So are there any ways to actually save money in Napa Valley? My answer is YES, and it’s called the Priority Wine Pass.

Priority Wine Pass

The Priority Wine Pass gets you the best-discounted rates at many of the wineries and experiences in Napa Valley. Some of our favorites, V. Sautti, Hall Wines St. Helena & Rutherford, Beringer Winery, Charles Krug, and Black Stallion, are just a few on their long list of wineries that offer savings.

Slash prices even more with their 2 for 1 deal, where you can purchase one tasting and get the second free and get away with 1 pass per couple. This deal is incredible, and I can’t believe it exists, especially for Napa Valley.

how to save money with wine tastings with priority wine pass

However, before you decide on this option, check their current deals and make sure it’s a winery you want to visit since these wine tasting deals vary from winery to winery.

Is The Napa Priority Wine Pass Worth It?

Honestly, purchasing the Priority Pass is a no-brainer. Whether you are a seasoned Napa Valley regular or visiting for only a day or weekend, the Priority Wine Pass pays for itself.

Also, once you are part of the Priority Wine Pass club, the doors are open to so many other money-saving opportunities. They offer discounted driving services and tours, accommodations at local Airbnb’s, free trip planning, and their couples package, the ultimate Napa Valley experience.

What to do with all of this money you are saving with the Priority Wine Pass? Put that extra cash towards a romantic dinner, a private driver, or get pampered at a luxury hotel.

* My readers get the Wine Pass at a discounted rate. Make sure to use the coupon code TTWT to get the best deal!

✅ To save money on your wine tastings get your Priority Pass here

Cons to the Priority Wine Pass

The only con to saving money with the Priority Wine Pass is if a winery you want to visit is not on their list.

However, Priority Wine Pass is not just for Napa Valley but can also earn you savings at many other popular wine tasting destinations. Such as Sonoma, Livermore, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Santa Cruz, Ventura, Oregon, Washington, and more.

The Priority Wine Pass may not have a winery you want to visit on their list right now, but it can expose you to many other amazing wineries that you may never have heard of and otherwise would not have visited along the west coast.

Want to learn more about the Priority Wine Pass? Priority Wine Pass Is it Worth It 2023: All You Need to Know

Do You Tip Wine Tour Guides In Napa?

A popular question that most people have when visiting wine country is: Do you tip when wine tasting in Napa Valley? Tipping your server or sommelier is not required, but the Napa etiquette is to tip them a couple of dollars if you enjoyed your experience.

Many of the servers go above and beyond during your wine tasting. Most will even throw in an extra tasting of a wine you want to try or like during your tasting. Also, they are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about wine and love answering questions and connecting with the customer.

If you take a guided tour, tipping your tour guide is expected. Unless you had an awful experience, I highly suggest you tip your tour guide.

A rule of thumb for tipping tour guides is to tip 10% to 20% of the tour cost per person.

In Conclusion: Uber in Napa & Getting Around in Napa Valley

Now you know, that there is Uber in Napa Valley, but there might be other options that are best for your plans. After numerous Napa Valley trips, I can confidently say that if you are looking for the absolute best experience of wine country then a tour is the way to go.

It’s zero stress for planning, you don’t have to worry about a designated driver, and you get your own local guide to Napa Valley. Yes, it is expensive, but it is worth it!

Is There Uber in Napa: How to Get Around Napa Valley 2024

Is There Uber in Napa Valley