Napa, California: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Napa Valley, California, is a world-class wine-growing region, boasting luxurious spas, top-ranked restaurants, and pristine golf links. There are several airports near Napa Valley, including Napa County Airport, also known as Napa Valley Airport or Napa Army Airfield. This airport is located five miles outside downtown Napa and exclusively serves private and charter flights. For commercial airline services, travellers can consider nearby airports such as Sonoma County Airport, Oakland International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport.

Napa County Airport

Napa County, CA, is indeed home to the Napa County Airport, also known as Napa Valley Airport. It is a public airport situated five miles (8 km) south of Napa, in Napa County, California, United States. The airport has three runways and is known as the "Skyport to the Wine Country," as Napa Valley is a world-renowned wine-growing region.

The history of the airport dates back to the early 1940s when it was built by the United States Army Air Forces and named Napa Flight Strip. It served as an emergency landing airfield for military aircraft during training flights. Later, it was expanded and renamed the Napa Army Airfield, becoming an auxiliary airfield for the Fourth Air Force Hamilton Army Airfield. The base was used to train fighter pilots, who flew P-38 Lightnings before their deployment overseas. After World War II, the airport was deeded to Napa County for civil use and became a hub for local businesses.

In the spring of 1947, Southwest Airways began serving the Napa County Airport with six daily flights to various destinations in California. However, by the fall of 1953, Southwest Airways had ceased its operations at the airport. Several other small commuter airlines have also served the airport with scheduled passenger flights over the years. The airport has received upgrades and renovations over time, including extensive work on its control tower in 2008, funded by the federal government.

Today, the Napa County Airport does not have commercial airline service, but it offers charter flight options through companies like Atlantic Aviation and the Napa Jet Center. The closest airports to Napa with commercial airline services include Sonoma County Airport (Santa Rosa), Oakland International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport.

The Napa County Airport is a source of pride for the community, and visitors are welcome to watch arriving and departing aircraft while enjoying the amenities that the region has to offer.

Sonoma County Airport

Napa Valley, California, is a world-class wine-growing region, with top-ranked restaurants, luxurious spas, and pristine golf links. Napa County Airport, popularly called Napa Valley Airport, is a public airport located five miles (8 km) south of Napa, in Napa County, California, United States. It has three runways and about 122,000 flights take off or land annually. The airport currently has scheduled passenger flights, with airline service provided by Aero, offering a "scheduled charter" service. However, there is no commercial airline service into or out of the Napa County Airport. For commercial airline services, the closest airports from Napa are Sonoma County Airport (Santa Rosa), Oakland International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport.

Oakland International Airport

Napa County, California, does have an airport, but it does not have any commercial airline services. The closest airports to Napa with commercial airline services are Sonoma County Airport (Santa Rosa), Oakland International Airport, Sacramento International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport.

History

The city of Oakland initially considered constructing an airport in 1925. The announcement of the Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii prompted the city to purchase 680 acres (280 hectares) of land in April 1927. During World War II, the U.S. Armed Forces temporarily took control of Oakland Airport in 1943, converting it into Naval Air Station Oakland, an airlift base for military flights to the Pacific Islands. All scheduled civilian services were shifted to San Francisco International Airport during this period.

After the war, in 1946, Western Airlines commenced operations at Oakland Airport, followed by American Airlines, TWA, United, Transocean Air Lines, and Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA). Oakland Airport became a hub for non-scheduled and supplemental air carriers, with several major companies based there. During the Vietnam War, World Airways utilized Oakland Airport to transport thousands of military personnel to their bases in Southeast Asia. An international arrivals facility was constructed, enabling the airport to handle international flights.

Current Status

San Francisco International Airport

Napa County has an airport, also known as Napa Valley Airport. However, there is no commercial airline service to or from the airport. Napa County Airport is located 8 km south of Napa and has three runways. It was built by the United States Army Air Forces in the 1940s as an emergency landing airfield for military aircraft.

If you are looking for commercial airline services, the closest airports to Napa Valley are:

• Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa
• Oakland International Airport (OAK)
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Among these, San Francisco International Airport is the largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area and the second-busiest in California. It is owned and operated by the City and County of San Francisco, and it is located 12 miles southeast of San Francisco. The airport offers non-stop flights to Asia, the South Pacific, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and the US. It also provides world-class facilities, shopping, and dining options. In addition, SFO has a Rental Car Center, allowing travellers to conveniently pick up and drop off rental cars.

Sacramento International Airport

Napa County, California, does have an airport, but it does not have any commercial airline services. The closest airports to Napa with commercial airline services are Sonoma County (Santa Rosa), Oakland International, Sacramento International, and San Francisco International.

In 2006, Sacramento International Airport became one of the first airports in the nation to offer free wireless internet service. The airport has continued to expand and develop, with the opening of the new Terminal A and various improvements to address noise and wildlife concerns.

Frequently asked questions