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Major city · United States

WindsorWindsor, California

Base here 1–2 nights only if you have a car and want a quiet, flat Wine Country town; otherwise sleep in Healdsburg or Santa Rosa and stop for lunch.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (inland heat), Dec–Feb (rain)
Airports
STS · SFO · OAK
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Windsor is a small Sonoma County town of about 27,000 people, 9 miles north of Santa Rosa and 63 miles north of San Francisco, sitting right on US-101. It is not a Wine Country headline act: the draw is a compact, walkable Town Green with independent shops and restaurants, a free summer concert series, and easy access to wineries and regional parks. Come for one night as a cheaper, quieter base between Santa Rosa and Healdsburg, or as a lunch and leg-stretch stop on the drive north.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

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 mealDinner main, mid-range restaurant$22–38
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast burrito$10–15
  • BeerDraft beer at a taproom$7–9
  • Budget bedFamily room or suite (up to 4), a night, per roomUS$180
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$190
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$380

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$80 · Mid US$160 · High US$300

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

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.

Town Green and summer concertsIndependent restaurants and tasting roomsSonoma County wine country accessFlat, bike-friendly streets
Airports
STS Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport (About 5 miles south; SMART train and Sonoma County Transit route 62 link it to Windsor.) · SFO San Francisco International (About 70 miles south; Sonoma County Airport Express bus runs to the Sonoma County Airport, then train or bus.) · OAK Oakland International (About 70 miles southeast; Sonoma County Airport Express bus to the Sonoma County Airport, then train or bus.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Windsor: 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

14°C

3°C

11 rd

Feb

16°C

4°C

10 rd

Mar

18°C

5°C

10 rd

Apr

21°C

6°C

6 rd

May

24°C

8°C

4 rd

Jun

28°C

10°C

1 rd

Jul

30°C

11°C

0 rd

Aug

30°C

11°C

0 rd

Sep

29°C

10°C

1 rd

Oct

25°C

8°C

4 rd

Nov

18°C

5°C

9 rd

Dec

14°C

3°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

Windsor is almost flat and nearly every street has a sidewalk, so walking covers the centre. Sonoma County Transit route 66 loops within town and has been free (check current status); route 60 runs Santa Rosa–Windsor–Healdsburg–Cloverdale and route 62 links Windsor, the airport and Santa Rosa. SMART trains stop at the downtown Windsor station and connect to Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma and Marin County. Uber and Lyft both operate. A car is still the practical choice for wineries and parks outside town.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Healdsburg

go

Door to door: About 20 min

SMART train from Windsor station, about 10 min; or US-101 north by car

Bigger plaza, more tasting rooms and better dinner choice; easy half-day or evening.

Santa Rosa

go

Door to door: About 20–30 min

SMART train, about 10 min; Sonoma County Transit route 60/62

Charles M. Schulz Museum and more city services; useful on a rainy day.

Petaluma

go

Door to door: About 40 min

SMART train south, about 30 min

Historic riverfront downtown; pair with a SMART day pass.

Sebastopol

caution

Door to door: About 30 min

Car via River Road, about 20 min

No direct transit; worth it only with a car and a specific stop in mind.

Bodega Bay

go

Door to door: About 50 min

Car via River Road and CA-1, about 40 min

Coast, seafood and fog; go early, the road is slow and parking fills.

Rohnert Park

skip

Door to door: About 30 min

SMART train south, about 20 min

Suburban and car-oriented; no reason to detour unless you have a specific event.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Downtown / Town Green

Walk to restaurants, tasting rooms and the Thursday concerts; the only area where you can park once and forget the car.

Old Redwood Highway corridor

Chain and budget motels along the old highway; 5–10 min drive to the Green, cheaper rates.

South Windsor / Bell Road

Near the beverage district and the airport; best if you are flying out early or touring breweries.

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
$130–200 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$190US$190
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$160US$320
SMART train, Windsor–Santa Rosa return2 × US$8 · checkUS$16
Wine tasting fees, per winery2 × US$30 · check; many rooms waive it with a bottle purchaseUS$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$62
Trip total≈ US$339 per person per day, bed includedUS$678

2026 estimate in US dollars; prices are shown before sales tax. Flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–6
Breakfast burrito$10–15
Diner or pub main$15–25
Dinner main, mid-range restaurant$22–38
Draft beer at a taproom$7–9
Wine tasting flightcheck; varies by room$20–40
Regional park parkingcheck; some parks free$7
Rideshare, Windsor to Santa Rosa$20–30

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Windsor is a low-crime small town; the real risks are heat, wildfire smoke, and driving US-101 after wine tasting. Use 911 for emergencies and don't leave valuables visible in a parked car.
  • A car is effectively required for wineries, the coast and regional parks; buses are infrequent.
  • Summer afternoons inland regularly pass 32°C; hike or bike in the morning.
  • Wildfire smoke can arrive any summer or autumn — check air quality before outdoor plans.
  • Some tasting rooms and restaurants close early on weekdays; check hours the same day.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Sonoma County emergency information
211

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.

WindsorWindsor, California

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Sonoma County information211

Embassy

No embassies in Windsor; consulates-general are in San Francisco (most countries). US visitors: your own consulate is also in San Francisco.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • SMART Windsor → Santa Rosa: about $4 one way, about 10 min (check)
  • Sonoma County Transit route 66 in town: free as of 2022 — check current status
  • Rideshare Windsor → STS airport: $15–25, about 10 min

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Where is the Town Green? — Where is the Town Green?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • A table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Is there a tasting fee? — Is there a tasting fee?
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?

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

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 Windsor. 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 (rain) · 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. 6 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 STS: SMART and route 62 timings field-checked, plus a late-arrival taxi fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: Town Green, Old Redwood Highway, Bell Road beverage district, Windsor River Road.
  3. Place pages with verified hours for the museum, regional parks and tasting rooms, and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wildfire-smoke and heat fixtures so summer and autumn days can go green or amber.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources