There are two ways to drive Napa Valley, and which one you choose sets the tone for the whole day. Highway 29 is the main road, signed as the St. Helena Highway for most of its run through the valley. It carries the famous names, the towns, the restaurants, and very nearly all of the traffic. The Silverado Trail runs parallel a couple of miles to the east and is the quiet alternative.
This guide covers the 52 wineries in our catalog with verified addresses directly on Highway 29, running from the city of Napa up to Calistoga. For the other side of the valley, see our Silverado Trail guide.
What driving Highway 29 is actually like
The highway starts wide and fast at the southern end near the city of Napa, then narrows to two lanes for most of the valley. Through St. Helena it becomes the town's Main Street, complete with crosswalks, parked cars and a speed limit that drops sharply. This is the single biggest reason Napa drive times blow out: everyone heading north has to funnel through the same few blocks.
The corridor also climbs a real temperature gradient. Calistoga at the northern end regularly runs several degrees warmer than the city of Napa, because the cool marine air pushing up from San Pablo Bay loses its influence as the valley narrows. Drive the length of it on a summer afternoon and you will feel the difference through the window.
One practical note that catches first-timers: the addressing on Highway 29 is genuinely inconsistent. St. Helena numbers addresses relative to the town, so you get 401 St. Helena Highway South and 3022 St. Helena Highway North, while the Oakville and Rutherford stretch uses an entirely separate range in the 7000s and 8000s. Do not try to navigate by street number alone. That is why the wineries below are grouped by town rather than by address.
Every Highway 29 winery in our catalog
Winery list computed from our catalog using verified street addresses, listed alphabetically. Wineries on side roads a short way off the highway are not included here - browse the full Napa Valley directory for those.
Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail?
The honest answer is that most people should drive both, in a loop. Head north on Highway 29 in the morning when you want the landmark estates and a lunch stop in a town, then come back south on the Silverado Trail in the late afternoon when the highway is at its worst and the Trail is at its prettiest. The two roads are only a few minutes apart, connected by half a dozen cross roads.
If you only have time for one, choose by what you want from the day. Highway 29 is the better choice for a first visit, because the names you already know are on it and the towns give you somewhere to eat and walk. The Silverado Trail is the better choice for a return visit, for smaller appointment-only estates, and for anyone who would rather not sit in traffic.
Planning the drive
Three wineries is a realistic day on Highway 29, not five. Allow 75 to 90 minutes per tasting plus drive time, and remember that the St. Helena stretch will cost you more minutes than the map suggests. Book the marquee estates well ahead, since they fill first.
For timing the trip, see the best time to visit Napa Valley, and our vintage guide for what the current releases are likely to taste like. If tasting fees are a concern, Napa tasting deals covers where they are waived.
Frequently asked questions
How many wineries are on Highway 29 in Napa?
Our catalog lists 52 Napa Valley wineries with verified addresses on Highway 29, also signed as the St. Helena Highway. The true number of producers along the corridor is higher, since many estates sit on side roads a short distance off the highway.
Is Highway 29 or the Silverado Trail better?
They suit different days. Highway 29 has the famous names, the towns, the restaurants and most of the traffic. The Silverado Trail runs parallel a couple of miles east and is quieter, faster to drive and lined with smaller estates. Many visitors drive up one and back down the other.
How long does it take to drive Highway 29 through Napa Valley?
The run from the city of Napa to Calistoga is roughly 30 miles and takes about 45 minutes with clear roads. In summer and during harvest, allow considerably longer - the two-lane stretch through St. Helena is the usual bottleneck.
Can you visit Highway 29 wineries without reservations?
Some, but not most. The majority of Napa wineries operate by appointment, and the well-known Highway 29 estates book out furthest ahead. Check each winery profile for its current policy and book the marquee names well in advance.