Santa Rosa
Introduction
Santa Rosa sits in Sonoma County, in the North Bay region of the Bay Area, and serves as the county seat. It is the largest city in California's Wine Country and Redwood Coast, which makes it a natural base for exploring that part of the state.
Getting around
Santa Rosa CityBus is the city's local bus operator and the main form of public transport for visitors. Schedules and rider information are published at SRCityBus.org, which is the best place to check routes and times before you travel. CityBus also provides paratransit services for riders who need them, and it works alongside other county operators such as Petaluma Transit and Sonoma County Transit, so the systems are coordinated regionally. Note that the source material does not identify any rail, metro or tram network serving Santa Rosa, so plan on buses, taxis, ride-hailing and walking rather than assuming a train or tram option exists.
- Check schedules and rider information at SRCityBus.org before you travel.
- Call 707-543-3333 with transit questions.
- Customer service is available at the Downtown Transit Mall, but the kiosk has been temporarily relocated across the street to the City Hall Annex during renovations, so check ahead before you go.
- The Transit Operations Building is at 45 Stony Point Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95401.
- The Downtown Transit Mall serves as a central point for bus riders and customer service, making the downtown area a convenient base for reaching buses on foot.
- Because CityBus has been evaluating proposed service changes through a Short-Range Transit Plan, routes and timetables may evolve, so double-check your route shortly before you travel.
- The source material does not cover airport transfers; confirm with CityBus and regional operators such as Sonoma County Transit which services connect the airport area with the city.
Three days in Santa Rosa
Day one: Start in Santa Rosa, the heart of Sonoma County in California's Wine Country. Get oriented around the Downtown Transit Mall, where Santa Rosa CityBus routes converge, and use the Downtown Transit Mall as your base for exploring the city centre on foot. Because CityBus is short range, it works well for getting around Santa Rosa itself, while Sonoma County Transit and Petaluma Transit extend your reach across the wider North Bay.
Day two: Head out into Sonoma County and the broader Bay Area using Sonoma County Transit, with Petaluma Transit as another option for connecting onward. Schedules matter here, so check them before you set out. Note that some services are administered from offices including the City Hall Annex and the Transit Operations Building on Stony Point Road, CA, so call customer services if you need help planning your route.
Day three: Use Santa Rosa CityBus again for a final day in Santa Rosa, or look toward the Redwood Coast if you want to push further afield. The Short Range Transit Plan shapes how CityBus serves the city, so it is worth checking schedules in advance. Call customer services with any questions before you travel.