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Major city · United States

ClearlakeClearlake, California

Give Clearlake 2 nights if you want the lake and Mount Konocti; 1 night is enough if you are only passing through on CA-29.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Clearlake sits at the southern end of Clear Lake, the largest natural lake entirely inside California and more than 1.5 million years old. It is a small lakeside city of about 15,000 people, not a resort town: you come for water, hiking and quiet, and you need a car to do any of it. Two nights covers the lake, Mount Konocti and Anderson Marsh without rushing.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (hot, smoky fire season), Dec–Feb (quiet, some closures)
Airports
STS · SFO · OAK
Nights
2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Clearlake911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Clearlake, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–6
  • Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, mainTipping 18–22% is expected.$18–32
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$12–18
  • BeerDraught beer$7–9
  • Budget bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$90
  • Mid-range bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$130
  • High-end bedBudget motel room, a night, per roomUS$180

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$190 · High US$320

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Clear LakeMount KonoctiAnderson Marsh State Historic ParkClear Lake State ParkSeaplane Splash-in (September)
Airports
STS Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County (Santa Rosa) (Closest larger airport; about 1.5 h by car via US-101 and CA-29 (check)) · SFO San Francisco International (About 2.5–3 h by car (check); the usual gateway for a Lake County loop) · OAK Oakland International (About 2.5 h by car (check))

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    13°C (55°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    15°C (59°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  4. Apr

    not flagged

    20°C (68°F)

  5. May

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    30°C (86°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    33°C (91°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    13°C (55°F)

Best: May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (34°C (93°F)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F) low), wettest Jan (11 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Clearlake: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

13°C (55°F)

1°C (34°F)

11 rd

Feb

15°C (59°F)

2°C (36°F)

10 rd

Mar

17°C (63°F)

3°C (37°F)

10 rd

Apr

20°C (68°F)

5°C (41°F)

6 rd

May

25°C (77°F)

8°C (46°F)

4 rd

Jun

30°C (86°F)

11°C (52°F)

1 rd

Jul

34°C (93°F)

13°C (55°F)

0 rd

Aug

33°C (91°F)

13°C (55°F)

0 rd

Sep

31°C (88°F)

11°C (52°F)

1 rd

Oct

25°C (77°F)

7°C (45°F)

4 rd

Nov

17°C (63°F)

3°C (37°F)

8 rd

Dec

13°C (55°F)

1°C (34°F)

11 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

A car is effectively required. Lake Transit runs buses between Clearlake, Lower Lake, Kelseyville, Lakeport and on to Calistoga and Ukiah, but frequencies are low and stops are spread out (check current timetables). CA-29 and CA-53 are the two main roads; the lake loop is about 100 km and takes 1.5–2 h without stops (check).

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Clear Lake State Park

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive CA-29 north to Soda Bay Road, about 35–40 min from Clearlake

Open sunrise to sunset; swimming, fishing, short trails and a visitor centre. Day-use fee applies.

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Drive CA-53 south toward Lower Lake, about 15 min

Flat Cache Creek Nature Trail, good birding; sunrise to sunset, no dogs.

Lakeport

go

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive CA-29 north along the west shore, about 35 min

County seat with the better restaurant and waterfront selection; easy half-day.

Middletown

caution

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive CA-29 south, about 40 min

Mostly a pass-through stop on the way to Napa; not worth a dedicated trip.

Calistoga and Napa Valleygo

Door to door: 1.5 h

Drive CA-29 south over Mount St. Helena, about 1 h 15 min to Calistoga

A full day or an overnight; the road is winding and slow.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake

The main strip: motels, the Best Western El Grande Inn and lakefront restaurants within walking distance of each other.

Clearlake Oaks and East Highway 20

Quieter stretch east of town with cabins and campgrounds; you need a car for everything. Rates vary — check current listings.

Lower Lake

Small town south of Clearlake on CA-53; closest base for Anderson Marsh, 15–20 min drive from the Clearlake strip.

Soda Bay Road

Rural lakeshore north of town, closest to Clear Lake State Park; 25–35 min drive from the Clearlake strip (check).

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–230 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Lakefront hotel or inn room1 × 2 nights × US$220US$440
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$190US$760
Rental car, one day1 × US$60 · 2026 estimate (check)US$60
Fuel, lake loop plus day trips1 × US$25 · 2026 estimate (check)US$25
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 · 2026 estimate (check)US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$132
Trip total≈ US$362 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,447

2026 estimate (check)

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights excluded. Prices are estimates — check current rates. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Diner breakfast$12–18
Deli sandwich or burger$12–20
Sit-down dinner, mainTipping 18–22% is expected.$18–32
Draught beer$7–9
Gallon of petrol$4.50–5.50
State park day-use fee$8–10
Kayak or canoe rental, half day$40–70

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Clearlake is a small rural city; lock your car, do not leave valuables visible at trailheads or boat ramps, and stay off unlit rural roads after dark. Check current local crime data before choosing an area to stay.
  • Summer wildfire smoke can close roads and ruin the view: check air quality and Caltrans road conditions before you drive.
  • Lake levels drop late in the season; boat ramps and some marina services may be unusable — call ahead (check).
  • Cell coverage is patchy on the east shore and around Mount Konocti (check).
  • Anderson Marsh is a wildlife preserve and is not dog-friendly.
  • Rural roads are dark and deer are common at dusk.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Clearlake Police (non-emergency)
707-994-8251
Caltrans road conditions
1-800-427-7623

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

ClearlakeClearlake, California

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Clearlake Police (non-emergency)707-994-8251
  • Caltrans road conditions1-800-427-7623

Embassy

No consulates in Lake County; nearest are in San Francisco.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Lake Transit local fare: about $2–3 one way
  • Clearlake → Calistoga by Lake Transit: about 1 h 30 min, connections required
  • Clearlake → Lakeport by car: about 35 min, 30 km (19 mi)

Say or show

  • Where is the boat ramp? — Where is the boat ramp?
  • Is the lake safe to swim in today? — Is the lake safe to swim in today?
  • Do you take cards? — Do you take cards?
  • Can we get a table for two? — Can we get a table for two?
  • Is there a fire restriction in effect? — Is there a fire restriction in effect?

English is the only language you need.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Clearlake. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (hot, smoky fire season), Dec–Feb (quiet, some closures) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for STS, SFO and OAK with drive times and last-rental-car cutoffs.
  2. Walking clusters for the Lakeshore Drive strip, Lower Lake and Soda Bay Road with rescue anchors.
  3. Place pages for Clear Lake State Park, Anderson Marsh and Mount Konocti with verified hours and fees.
  4. Fire-season and smoke fixtures so arrival gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Clearlake

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