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Major city · United States

VolcanoVolcano, California

Give Volcano half a day plus a cave tour: 1 night is enough, 2 if you add wineries or Shenandoah Valley hikes.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Volcano is a Gold Rush hamlet of about 115 people in Amador County, 3 mi (5 km) north of CA-88 and roughly 1 h 15 min from Sacramento by car. There is no volcano here: miners in the 1850s thought the bowl-shaped valley was a crater. Today the draw is Black Chasm Cavern, a short walkable Main Street and quiet lodging used as a base for Amador wine country.

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
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (inland heat), Dec–Feb (ice on back roads)
Airports
SMF · OAK · SFO
Nights
1
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 Volcano911 ▾

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 Volcano, 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.

  • CoffeeCoffee or pastry on Main Street$4–8
  • Street or quick mealBurger or sandwich at the country store$8–15
  • BeerDraft beer$6–9
  • Budget bedMotel or chain hotel double (Jackson, Plymouth), a night, per roomUS$80
  • Mid-range bedHistoric inn double room, a night, per roomUS$140
  • High-end bedHistoric inn double room, a night, per roomUS$220

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$140 · High US$260

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.

Black Chasm CavernGold Rush Main StreetAmador County wine countrySt. George Hotel
Airports
SMF Sacramento International (About 1 h 30 min by car via CA-99 and CA-88; the usual gateway.) · OAK Oakland (About 2 h 30 min by car; use only if fares are much lower.) · SFO San Francisco International (About 2 h 45 min by car; check traffic before committing.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    14°C (57°F)

  3. Mar

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    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

    34°C (93°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

    12°C (54°F)

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

Warmest Jul (34°C (93°F)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F) low), wettest Jan (10 rain days), driest Jul (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Volcano: 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

12°C (54°F)

2°C (36°F)

10 rd

Feb

14°C (57°F)

3°C (37°F)

9 rd

Mar

17°C (63°F)

4°C (39°F)

9 rd

Apr

20°C (68°F)

6°C (43°F)

6 rd

May

25°C (77°F)

9°C (48°F)

4 rd

Jun

30°C (86°F)

12°C (54°F)

2 rd

Jul

34°C (93°F)

15°C (59°F)

1 rd

Aug

34°C (93°F)

15°C (59°F)

1 rd

Sep

31°C (88°F)

13°C (55°F)

2 rd

Oct

25°C (77°F)

9°C (48°F)

4 rd

Nov

17°C (63°F)

5°C (41°F)

7 rd

Dec

12°C (54°F)

2°C (36°F)

9 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 required: there is no bus or train into Volcano, and the cavern is about a 10-min drive from Main Street. Everything on Main Street is walkable in 5 min. Fuel up in Jackson or Plymouth before arriving.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Jackson

go

Door to door: About 30 min

CA-88 west and CA-49, about 25 min by car

County seat with the Chaw'se Indian Grinding Rock park nearby.

Sutter Creek

go

Door to door: About 40 min

CA-88 west then CA-49 north, about 35 min by car

Best preserved Gold Rush main street in the county.

Plymouth

go

Door to door: About 35 min

CA-88 west to CA-49 south, about 30 min by car

Wine tasting rooms and the Shenandoah Valley loop.

Lake Tahoeovernight

Door to door: About 2 h 45 min

CA-88 east over Carson Pass, about 2 h 30 min by car

Too far for a comfortable return day; Carson Pass closes in heavy snow.

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.

Main Street / St. George Hotel

Walk to the store, gallery and pub; the only true walkable base.

Volcano Union Inn (Consolation St)

Four rooms above the pub; no pets, children not recommended.

Shenandoah Valley and Plymouth

Wine-country motels 20–40 min away; more choice, you drive to dinner.

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
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Historic inn double room1 × 1 night × US$140US$140
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140US$280
Rental car, one day, compact1 × US$70US$70
Black Chasm Cavern tour, adult2 × US$23 · checkUS$46
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$58
Trip total≈ US$317 per person per day, bed includedUS$634

check

2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or pastry on Main Street$4–8
Burger or sandwich at the country store$8–15
Pub main dish$10–23
Draft beer$6–9
Black Chasm Cavern tour$23 adult, $15 ages 4–12 (check)
Gallon of gas, Amador County$4.50–5.50 (check)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a town this size: the real risks are rural driving (deer, ice, no cell signal), summer heat and cave stairs. Lock the car and keep valuables out of sight at trailheads.
  • Cell coverage is patchy in the valley and on the CA-88 approach: download offline maps.
  • Black Chasm Cavern is a guided tour with stairs and tight passages; check tour times and book ahead in summer.
  • Summer afternoons regularly pass 35 °C (95 °F); carry water on any walk.
  • Rural roads have deer at dusk and black ice in winter: avoid night driving if you can.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Amador County Sheriff (non-emergency)
209-223-6500
Poison control
1-800-222-1222

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.

VolcanoVolcano, California

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

16104 Main St, Volcano, CATo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Amador County Sheriff (non-emergency)209-223-6500
  • Poison control1-800-222-1222

Embassy

No consulates in Amador County; nearest consulates-general are in San Francisco. US visitors: 911 and county services handle everything.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • SMF airport → Volcano by rental car: about 1 h 30 min, fuel about $10–15 (check)
  • Volcano → Jackson by car: about 25 min, 20 km (12 mi)
  • Black Chasm Cavern tour: $23 adult, $15 ages 4–12 (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the trailhead? — Where is the trailhead?
  • Is Carson Pass open? — Is the pass open?
  • Do you take cards? — Can I pay by card?
  • Table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • How far is the cavern? — How far is the cave?
  • Thanks, appreciate it — Thank you

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

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 Volcano. 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: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (inland heat), Dec–Feb (ice on back roads) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for SMF: last sensible rental-car pickup, CA-88 winter closure check, overnight rung.
  2. Three walking clusters with rescue anchors: Main Street, the cavern road, the Shenandoah tasting loop.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Black Chasm Cavern, St. George Hotel, Union Pub) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Gold and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources

Ask about Volcano

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