Sonoma Town's Air Transportation Options: What You Need To Know

Sonoma County, California, is a small corner of California Wine Country, with four different airports to choose from, all offering direct flights from both U.S. and international destinations. The Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS) is located in Santa Rosa, California, and is the most convenient option for inbound travellers to Sonoma. The airport offers shorter lines, easy parking, and ground transportation connections. While Sonoma County Airport does not have a dedicated airporter service, there are several shuttle services available, including the Napa Airporter and Groome Transportation, which offers scheduled transportation 365 days a year between Sonoma County and San Francisco and Oakland Airports.

Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (STS)

STS is located about seven miles northwest of downtown Santa Rosa and is the only airport offering scheduled air service into the North Bay region. The airport offers direct flights to various destinations across the continental U.S., Mexico, and beyond. Many flights to STS are charters and small private planes, but there are also nonstop flights with major airline carriers.

STS provides a hassle-free experience with shorter lines, easy and affordable parking, and ground transportation connections. The airport has a full-service bar and restaurant, Costeaux On The Go, which offers acclaimed baked goods, savoury items, coffee, and more. The restaurant also stocks the airport vending machines with tasty snacks. For public transportation, Sonoma County Transit runs buses to various destinations countywide. Groome Transportation also connects STS to nearby cities and other airline hubs, with free Wi-Fi on every bus.

The Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit (SMART) train station is located just over a mile from the airport, and passengers can get there by bus, taxi, or ride-share. SMART offers energy-efficient, clean diesel trains that travel all the way to Marin County, where passengers can take a ferry to San Francisco.

Napa Airporter shuttle service

The Napa Airporter offers a shuttle service to and from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Oakland International Airport (OAK), Sacramento International Airport (SAC), and Travis Air Force Base (TAFB). The shuttle service covers all of Solano, Napa, Sonoma, and Yolo Counties, including towns such as Sonoma City, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, and Petaluma.

The Napa Airporter provides a 24-hour, 7-days-a-week, door-to-door airport shuttle service. The shuttle has eight daily pick-up and departure times, including early morning and late-evening options, allowing for easy alignment with your travel schedule. The spacious shuttle bus offers comfortable seating, air conditioning, and ample storage space for luggage. The company prides itself on safety, with professional, experienced, and licensed drivers who ensure a secure and smooth ride.

In addition to the Napa Airporter, there are other shuttle services that serve Sonoma County Airport (STS). These include Groome Transportation, which offers free Wi-Fi and stops at the largest communities in Sonoma County, and California Wine Tours, which provides a shuttle service to and from the airport, as well as private and group wine tours.

Sonoma County Airport (STS) is located in Santa Rosa, California, and is known for its hassle-free environment with shorter lines, easy parking, and ground transportation connections. The airport is named after Charles M. Schulz, a longtime resident, and features Peanuts characters throughout, with Snoopy-as-flying-ace as its mascot.

Sonoma County Shuttle Routes

Sonoma County, California, is served by the Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS). The airport is located in Santa Rosa and offers direct flights from both U.S. and international destinations. With shorter lines, easy parking, and ground transportation connections, it provides a hassle-free experience for travellers.

Several shuttle services operate in Sonoma County, providing convenient transportation options for visitors. Here are the details of the shuttle routes and services:

Groome Transportation:

Groome Transportation, formerly known as Sonoma County Airport Express, offers scheduled shuttle services 365 days a year. They provide transportation between Sonoma County and San Francisco and Oakland Airports. The shuttles drop passengers off near the skycap stations at the airport and pick them up outside the baggage claim area. Groome Transportation also serves STS and other airline hubs, with stops at the largest communities in Sonoma County. Their buses offer free Wi-Fi and comfortable travel.

Napa Airporter:

Napa Airporter provides a shared shuttle service to and from Sonoma County. They can be contacted at 707.252.1900 to reserve a ride. This service offers a convenient option for travellers looking for shuttle transportation to Sonoma.

Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit (SMART):

The Sonoma-Marin Area Regional Transit, or SMART, operates an energy-efficient train service in Sonoma County. The SMART train station is located about a mile from the STS airport, and passengers can take a bus, taxi, or rideshare to reach it. SMART trains connect passengers to Marin County, where they can take a ferry to San Francisco.

California Wine Tours:

California Wine Tours offers a shuttle service to and from the airport, as well as private and group wine tours. This service combines convenient transportation with the opportunity to explore Sonoma's renowned wine country.

Sonoma County is known for its wine country and convenient travel options, making it a popular destination for travellers. These shuttle services provide reliable and comfortable transportation within the county and to nearby airports.

Sonoma County Airport Express

The Sonoma County Airport Express, now known as Groome Transportation, offers shuttle services to and from San Francisco, Oakland, and Sonoma County Airports. The shuttle service is available 365 days a year and provides scheduled transportation between Sonoma County and the two airports. The buses pick up passengers directly outside the baggage claim carousels and drop them off near the skycap stations at the airport.

Passengers can expect reasonable rates for the shuttle service, and children under 12 years old can ride for free when accompanied by an adult. The company also offers a discount for additional adult passengers when one adult passenger is booked at full price. This discount is available for online bookings only.

To use the Sonoma County Airport Express, passengers can call (707) 837-8700 or look for the "'Airporter' stops located at the baggage claim level in each terminal." The company asks that passengers arrive 10-15 minutes before departure for all locations.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Historically, the airport was used as a Coast Guard base and Army Air Corps training and staging base during World War II. It was called Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Mills Field and Coast Guard Air Station, San Francisco. After the war, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) began service from SFO, offering five weekly flights to Honolulu, one of which continued to Canton Island, Fiji, New Caledonia, and Auckland.

Today, SFO is a modern airport with a range of amenities and efficient transportation connections. It was among the first airports in the United States to install moving walkways inside a terminal, with a 450-foot set opening in Concourse B in 1964, claiming the title of the world's longest at the time.

For those travelling to Sonoma County, SFO is a viable option, although it is further away from Sonoma than Oakland International Airport (OAK). Groome Transportation offers a shuttle service from SFO to Sonoma, with fares at $34.00 each way.

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