Nestled in the hills almost within spitting distance of at least a dozen wineries, Charles M. Schulz – Sonoma County Airport (STS) is undoubtedly the most convenient option for inbound travelers to Sonoma. Named for longtime resident Charles M. Schulz, the intimate airstrip is festooned with Peanuts characters, with Snoopy-as-flying-ace practically its mascot.
Many flights into STS are charters and small private planes, so if you’re flying in your private plane this is your obvious choice, but there are plenty of nonstop flights with major airline carriers, too. Alaska Airlines offers flights to/from Los Angeles, Burbank, Orange County, San Diego, Portland, and Seattle; American Airlines flies to/from Phoenix Sky Harbor and Dallas; Avelo Airlines flies to/from Burbank, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs. Feel like extending your vacation to a far away locale? All the airlines offer a wide-range of connecting flights to destinations in the continental U.S., Mexico, and beyond.
Arriving passengers may pay more to drop directly into the valley, but ground transportation couldn’t be simpler. Walk outside the single-gate terminal to hail a cab to downtown Santa Rosa, pick-up an Uber or Lyft ride share, or rent a car from Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Ace Rent-a-Car and drive the length of the valley. You can also catch a Sonoma County Transit (707.576.7433) or Mendocino Transit Authority (707.462.1422) bus. Airport Express (707.837.8700) also connects STS to Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, SFO and OAK.
Whether you choose STS for a whirlwind winery tour, SFO as the jumping-off point for a tour of Northern California, or any option in-between, all four gateways make Sonoma easy to enjoy. You may not want to leave, but when you do, the airports on our list will deliver you—and perhaps a few wine finds—safely back home.