Book with whoever runs the park, and only if you're a group: most park tables in Napa and Sonoma are first-come, first-served. Sonoma County Regional Parks rents group sites online, 3 days to 12 months ahead, for $75 for up to 99 people, and a gathering of 25 or more needs one. City parks book through each city's recreation office, from the City of Napa's rental form to Santa Rosa's online system, and the shelters at Lake Berryessa and Lake Sonoma book on Recreation.gov. Whether you can serve wine depends on the agency too; the last section covers it. Fees here are as posted in September 2026.
When you need a reservation or a permit
A picnic for a few friends usually needs no booking. Bigger groups hit a headcount rule:
- Sonoma County regional parks: any picnic or gathering of 25 or more needs a group-site reservation, made at least 3 days ahead.
- Yountville and Windsor: Yountville requires an organized-group permit for groups over 25, and Windsor's town parks require a permit from 25 people.
- Petaluma: at Walnut Park, gatherings of 20 or more, or anyone wanting exclusive use, need a facility permit.
- Santa Rosa: groups over 100 need a park permit on top of a site reservation.
- State parks on the coast: an organized party of roughly 20 to 50 set up in a day-use area needs a special-event permit, and at Armstrong Redwoods even a 50-person birthday in the picnic area needs one.
- Smaller venues: Bartholomew Park asks groups of 10 or more to reserve by phone, and Sonoma Botanical Garden asks groups of 8 or more to book two business days ahead.
Sonoma County regional parks
These seven parks have group sites you book online through Regional Parks, 3 days to 12 months ahead. Bookings are non-refundable, and every car pays parking ($8, or $12 in summer at some parks). The reservations line is (707) 565-2267, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
| Park | Group site | Guests | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Lake, Santa Rosa | Six areas: Shady Oaks, Lower and Upper Jackrabbit, Great Horned Owl, River Otter, Pond Turtle | 25–50, 25–99 or 25–150, by site | $75 (up to 99), $130 (100–150) |
| Ragle Ranch, Sebastopol | Gazebo, Oak Savanna, Volleyball area, Lions Grove | 25–50 (Gazebo 25–99) | $75 |
| Riverfront, Healdsburg | Redwood Grove | 25–75 | $75 |
| Shiloh Ranch, Windsor | Entrance picnic area | 25–75 | $75 |
| Tolay Lake, Petaluma | One site with grills | 25–99 | $75 |
| Maxwell Farms, Sonoma | Maxwell Glen | 25–99 | $75 |
| Doran, Bodega Bay | Miwok site | 25–50 | $75 |
Larson Park in Sonoma also has a reservable group area, but it isn't in the online system: call Regional Parks' main office at (707) 565-2041. Amplified music is banned at the group sites at Spring Lake, Ragle Ranch and Tolay Lake.
City parks in Napa Valley
City of Napa. Book with the city's Picnic Rental Form, 7 days to 12 months ahead ((707) 257-9529); no online booking was found. Non-residents add $150 a day, and Kennedy Park rentals run 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or sunset.
| Park | Sites | Guests | Fee (full day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennedy Park | 12: three pavilions, four large, five medium | Up to 60 (pavilions, medium) or 100 (large) | $175 pavilion, $115 large, $62 medium |
| Fuller Park | 9: five medium, four small | Up to 60 or 30 | $62 or $33 |
| Dry Creek Park | 1 medium | Up to 60 | $62 |
| O'Brien Park | 4 small | Up to 30 each | $33 each |
| Century Oaks Park | 1 small | Up to 30 | $33 |
| Playground Fantastico | 1 small | Up to 30 | $33 |
St. Helena, Yountville and Calistoga. St. Helena books online through its Rec1 catalog or at (707) 968-9222, with full payment and a refundable deposit at booking. Yountville books 6-hour blocks online through its CivicRec catalog; staff approve the request, then invoice.
| Park | Sites | Guests | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crane Park, St. Helena | Areas 1–3, covered Area 4, 8 bocce courts | Not published | $50 (Areas 1–3) or $80 (Area 4) at resident rates; bocce $20 a day |
| Lyman Park, St. Helena | The gazebo and nearby tables, or the whole park | Not published | $50 resident, $80 non-resident; whole park $500 / $750 |
| Yountville Community Park | 3 sites bookable online | Up to 50 each | $52 resident / $199 non-resident per 6 hours (Site 3: $82 / $255) |
| Veterans Memorial Park, Yountville | Site 5 plus 4 bocce courts | Up to 75, plus 10 per court | About $79–$81 / $249–$255 per 6 hours |
| Pioneer Park, Calistoga | Single picnic areas or the whole park | Not published | Not published; call (707) 942-2838 |
Skyline Wilderness Park in Napa rents its group picnic area, which has a cook shack, through the park office at (707) 252-0481; rates aren't published online.
City parks in Sonoma County
Santa Rosa. The city takes picnic reservations online, by phone at (707) 543-3753, by email at picnics@srcity.org or in person at Finley Community Center. Howarth books 10 to 365 days ahead. As of September 2026, Doyle Park's sites aren't taking reservations.
| Park | Sites | Guests | Fee (non-resident) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howarth Park | 8 sites | Up to 50 (six sites), 80 or 90 | $80 ($105); $160 ($185) for the two larger sites |
| Finley | Reservable sites | Up to 50 each | $80 ($105) |
| Galvin | A small and a large site | Up to 50 or 184 | $60 ($85) or $120 ($145) |
| Youth Community Park | A small site and a gazebo site | Up to 50 or 48 | $60 ($85) or $120 ($145) |
| Rincon Valley | A small and a large site | Up to 50 or 128 | See the city's price list |
| Southwest | Gazebo site | Up to 50 | $120 ($145) |
| Franklin | One site | Up to 50 | $60 ($85) |
| Bayer Park | Sites A and B | Up to 50 each | $60 ($85); phone or in person only |
Other towns. In Sonoma, the Plaza and Depot Park rent through the city's Special Events Manager at (707) 339-2534; the fees below are from the city's schedule effective August 2021, and small events take about one to two weeks to approve.
| Park | What you can reserve | Guests | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonoma Plaza | A quadrant, by the day | Not published | $300 (SW, NE or NW) or $400 (SE), plus a deposit and an event application fee |
| Depot Park, Sonoma | One of two sections | Not published | $50 a section per day, plus an application fee and a deposit |
| Giorgi Park, Healdsburg | A large oak site or two small sites | Up to 100, 40 or 50 | Not published; book on the city's Rec1 catalog or at (707) 431-3301 |
| Walnut Park, Petaluma | The gazebo area, up to a year ahead | Not published | $174, plus a $158 deposit |
| Ives Park and Willard Libby Park, Sebastopol | A picnic area, by special event permit (30+ days ahead) | Up to 50 at these rates | $50–$100 a day, plus a $150 deposit |
A small picnic or birthday on Sonoma Plaza needs no reservation, though the city suggests checking that no large event is booked that day.
State parks
| Park | What you can reserve | Guests | Fee and how to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarloaf Ridge, Kenwood | Upper or lower day-use area; group campground | Up to 50 each; campground 115 | $50 plus day-use fees; campground $165. ReserveCalifornia or 1-800-444-7275 |
| Jack London, Glen Ellen | The Oak Grove or the Terrace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., casual picnics only | Not published | $150 plus $10 per vehicle. By email or at (707) 938-5216 ext. 5 |
| Bothe-Napa Valley, Calistoga | One covered group site | Not published | Not published; call (707) 942-4575 |
| Armstrong Redwoods, Guerneville | Smokey's Den, by special-event permit | Up to 150 | $35 filing fee plus $400–$1,000 in event fees (2024 guide). Up to 18 months ahead |
| Fort Ross, Jenner | Call House Picnic Area or Historic Orchard, by Conservancy permit | Not published | $35 filing fee, a $300–$625 permit and a $250 location fee. Apply 30+ days ahead |
| Petaluma Adobe | The picnic grove, for a private event | Not published | Through the parks' special event permits office, (707) 939-6188 |
The Sonoma Coast beaches, such as Goat Rock and Salmon Creek, have no reservable group sites; parties need a special-event permit from State Parks' Russian River sector.
Lakes
| Park | What you can reserve | Guests | Fee and how to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Shores, Lake Berryessa | Six covered shade shelters | Up to 50 | $33 a shelter per day, plus $5 parking. Recreation.gov |
| Lake Sonoma | Six group shelters with a large grill | About 75 (one holds 50) | $50–$75 a day, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Recreation.gov, up to a year ahead |
At Oak Shores, the reservation holder must arrive by noon or the shelter is released, parking isn't guaranteed, and shelters can't be reserved on summer holiday weekends.
Santa Rosa
One of Sonoma County's most popular regional parks, Spring Lake circles a small reservoir on Santa Rosa's east side with a paved 2.3-mile loop, a summer swim lagoon, boat rentals and a campground. It is a full-day family picnic destination with grills everywhere, and its trails link straight into Howarth Park and Trione-Annadel State Park.
- Own food
- yes
- Wine allowed
- yes
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Dogs
- Yes
- Fee
- $8–$12/vehicle
Nearest picnic food: Canevari's Deli · 3.6 mi
Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa's 138-acre flagship community park wraps around Lake Ralphine, with fishing, seasonal boat rentals, tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds, trails that connect to Spring Lake, and a kids' ride area. It has the most picnic infrastructure of any city park and is one of the few where you can legally drink, but only at certain hours and never from glass.
- Own food
- yes
- Wine allowed
- yes
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Dogs
- Yes
- Fee
- Free entry
Nearest picnic food: Canevari's Deli · 2.7 mi
From aboveNapa
Kennedy Park is the city's go-to spot for big group picnics, with covered pavilions and more reservable sites than any other Napa park. It also has a Napa River boat launch, a river trail, ball fields and a skate park. It's free to drop in, but you can only drink here with a reserved site and a city alcohol permit.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Park (Kennedy Park)
- Own food
- yes
- Wine allowed
- no
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Dogs
- Outside
- Fee
- Free entry
Nearest picnic food: Fivetown Grocery (The Meritage Resort) · 1.6 mi
From aboveYountville
A rare Napa Valley town park where a bottle of wine with your picnic is legal: Yountville code allows beer and wine here. Group sites have charcoal grills and hold about 50, and a big playground keeps kids busy. Reserve a site through the town's online system for a party, or grab an open table.
- Own food
- yes
- Wine allowed
- yes
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Dogs
- No
- Fee
- Free entry
Nearest picnic food: Bouchon Bakery · 0.5 mi
Kenwood
A true mountain-park picnic in the Mayacamas above Kenwood, with creekside tables that all have barbecues, 25 miles of trails and the Robert Ferguson Observatory. Wine appears to be fine in the day-use picnic areas but not in the alcohol-free campground; the vehicle fee is $8-$10.
- Own food
- yes
- Wine allowed
- yes
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Dogs
- Outside
- Fee
- $10/vehicle
Nearest picnic food: St. Helena Farmers' Market · 4.6 mi
Dry Creek Valley
Lake Sonoma's main picnic grounds sit at the head of Dry Creek Valley, about 11 miles from Healdsburg: roofed group shelters and free single tables on a big, shady lawn below the dam, next to the Visitor Center and fish hatchery. Federal rules allow alcohol unless an area is posted otherwise, so it makes a relaxed end-of-tasting-day stop, especially for groups.
Lake Sonoma – Warm Springs Recreation Area (Visitor Center & Fish Hatchery)
- Own food
- yes
- Wine allowed
- yes
- Reservation
- Not needed
- Dogs
- Yes
- Fee
- Free entry
Nearest picnic food: Dry Creek Peach & Produce · 2.6 mi
Can you serve wine at a reserved site?
A reservation rarely changes the park's alcohol rule, and in some places you need a separate permit.
| Who runs the park | Wine at a reserved picnic site |
|---|---|
| Sonoma County Regional Parks | Allowed, except at Maxwell Farms and Larson Park, where alcohol stays inside the group area with a valid event permit |
| City of Napa | Only with a special permit issued with the reservation, plus liability insurance with liquor coverage; glass is banned |
| Santa Rosa | The drinking hours still apply: weekdays from 5 p.m. to sunset, all day on weekends and holidays; other times need a permit. None at Bayer's reserved sites, and never in glass |
| Yountville | Beer and wine allowed; spirits need a special-event permit |
| St. Helena | Beer and wine allowed, not spirits; Lyman Park is dry after 8 p.m. |
| Calistoga | Beer and wine only at approved events, with prior city authorization, extra permits and insurance; never liquor |
| City of Sonoma | Allowed from 11:30 a.m. to sunset; serving alcohol at a reserved event needs the city's alcohol application |
| Healdsburg (Giorgi Park) | Only with City Council or City authorization |
| Petaluma | Alcohol permits only for designated areas at Lucchesi and McNear parks |
| Sebastopol | A separate "Use of Alcohol in City Park" permit |
| State parks | Allowed at day-use sites unless posted; Sugarloaf's campground is alcohol-free, and permitted events at Armstrong need host-liquor liability coverage |
| Lakes | Allowed, but no glass at Oak Shores |
Every park's own rule is in can you drink wine in Napa and Sonoma parks.
Booking tips
- Count cars, not just guests. Sonoma County charges parking for every car on top of the site fee, and Jack London adds $10 a vehicle.
- Expect no refunds. County group sites and Jack London's sites are non-refundable, rain or shine.
- Check what's on site. Grills, shade and power vary: Spring Lake doesn't have electrical hookups at every site, and Jack London's Terrace has no barbecues or water.
- Leave the speaker at home unless your permit covers it. Several group sites ban amplified music outright.
- Book the park first, then the extras. Picnic companies and caterers work around the venue's rules, and permits for public sites are usually the host's job.
For group-size limits at wineries, and companies that set up a group picnic, see group picnics in Napa and Sonoma, or share your date and headcount and we'll suggest options.
