Parks & public spaces
Free or low-cost, often gorgeous, and the best option if you want to open a bottle you already own. Alcohol rules differ by city, county and state park, so we list the rule for every park.
By county: Napa Valley · Sonoma County. Last checked September 2026.
87 places · last checked September 2026 · how we verify
| Park | Area | Wine allowed | Reservable areas | Fee | Dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alston Park | Napa | No | Yes, for groups | Free | Yes |
| Andy's Unity Park | Santa Rosa | Yes | — | Free (no parking fee) | Yes |
| Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve | Guerneville & Monte Rio | — | — | $10 per vehicle to drive in or to use the entra… | Outside |
| Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park | St. Helena | Yes | Yes, for groups | Admission $8 adults, $3 ages 6-17, free under 6… | No |
| Bartholomew Park | Sonoma | — | Yes, for groups | Free entry and parking | Outside |
| Bodega Dunes Day Use (Sonoma Coast State Park) | Sonoma Coast | Yes | — | $10 per vehicle day-use fee | Outside |
| Bodega Head (Sonoma Coast State Park) | Sonoma Coast | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free (Sonoma Coast State Park charges its $10 d… | Outside |
| Bothe-Napa Valley State Park | Calistoga | Yes | Yes, for groups | $10 per vehicle day-use ($8 seniors, $4 ADA); f… | Outside |
| Clarke Ranch (Wetlands Edge Preserve gateway) | American Canyon | — | Yes, for groups | Free | Yes |
| Cloverdale River Park | Cloverdale | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 (fall–spring) / $12 (summer); free f… | Yes |
| Crane Creek Regional Park | Petaluma | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 per vehicle; free for Regional Parks… | Yes |
| Crane Park | St. Helena | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free; reserved picnic areas $50 (Areas 1-3) or… | Yes |
| Del Rio Woods | Healdsburg | Yes | — | Parking $8 (fall–spring) / $12 in the summer se… | Yes |
| Depot Park | Sonoma | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free | Yes |
| Doran Regional Park | Sonoma Coast | Yes | Yes, for groups | $8 day-use parking per vehicle (free for Sonoma… | Yes |
| Ernie Smith Community Park | Sonoma | Yes | — | Free (no parking fee) | Outside |
| Finley Community Park | Santa Rosa | — | Yes, for groups | Free when not reserved; reservable sites $80 ($… | — |
| Foothill Regional Park | Windsor | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8; free for Regional Parks members | Yes |
| Fort Ross State Historic Park | Sonoma Coast | Yes | — | $10 per vehicle day use ($9 seniors); the recei… | Outside |
| Fuller Park | Napa | No | Yes, for groups | Free; picnic-site rental (full day) $62 medium… | Outside |
| Galvin Community Park | Santa Rosa | — | Yes, for groups | Free first-come tables; reservable sites $60 (s… | Yes |
| Giorgi Park | Healdsburg | No | Yes, for groups | Free; picnic-site reservation fees apply (amoun… | — |
| Goat Rock Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park) | Sonoma Coast | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free | Outside |
| Guerneville River Park | Guerneville & Monte Rio | No | Yes, for groups | Free (free parking) | Yes |
| Healdsburg Plaza (Plaza Park) | Healdsburg | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free (downtown street/lot parking; check posted… | — |
| Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach | Healdsburg | No | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 (fall–spring) / $12 in the summer se… | Outside |
| Helen Putnam Regional Park | Petaluma | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 per vehicle; free for Regional Parks… | Yes |
| Howarth Park | Santa Rosa | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free entry and free parking; reserved picnic si… | Yes |
| Ives Park | Sebastopol | No | Yes, for groups | Free | — |
| Jack London State Historic Park | Glen Ellen | Yes | Yes, for groups | $15 per vehicle ($50 for 10-24-passenger vehicl… | Yes |
| John F. Kennedy Memorial Park (Kennedy Park) | Napa | No | Yes, for groups | Free entry and parking; unreserved tables are f… | Outside |
| Johnson's Beach | Guerneville & Monte Rio | No | — | $10 per car parking; umbrella and boat rentals… | No |
| Juilliard Park | Santa Rosa | No | Yes, for groups | Free (street parking only) | Yes |
| Kenwood Plaza Park | Kenwood | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free (free parking) | Yes |
| Larson Park | Sonoma | No | Yes, for groups | Free (no parking fee) | Yes |
| Luther Burbank Home & Gardens | Santa Rosa | No | Yes, for groups | Free garden and museum entry (donations welcome… | No |
| Lyman Park | St. Helena | Yes | — | Free; gazebo plus adjacent tables rent for $50… | Yes |
| Maxwell Farms Regional Park | Sonoma | No | Yes, for groups | $8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks… | Yes |
| Monte Rio Beach | Guerneville & Monte Rio | No | — | No day-use fee listed; summer chair, tube and u… | Yes |
| Moran Goodman Park | Glen Ellen | Yes | — | Free | Yes |
| Napa River Ecological Reserve | Yountville | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free | Yes |
| North Sonoma Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve | Santa Rosa | Yes | — | $8 parking (free for Regional Parks members) | No |
| Oak Shores Day Use Area (Lake Berryessa) | Lake Berryessa | Yes | Yes, for groups | $5 per day parking ticket, sold at kiosks in th… | Outside |
| Oxbow Commons | Napa | No | — | Free (event rental $115/hour, smaller sections… | Yes |
| Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park | Petaluma | No | Yes, for groups | Admission $3 adults, $2 youth, free for ages 5… | Yes |
| Pioneer Park | Calistoga | No | Yes, for groups | Free to use; rental fees for picnic areas or th… | — |
| Putah Canyon Recreation Area (Lake Berryessa) | Lake Berryessa | — | Yes, for groups | Day use $20 per vehicle (includes 4 people; $5… | Yes |
| Ragle Ranch Regional Park | Sebastopol | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 per vehicle (free for Regional Parks… | Yes |
| Rincon Valley Community Park | Santa Rosa | — | Yes, for groups | Free when not reserved; two reservable sites (s… | Yes |
| Riverfront Regional Park | Russian River Valley | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 (fall–spring) / $12 in the summer se… | Yes |
| Running Fence – Watson School Historic Park | Sonoma Coast | Yes | — | Free | Yes |
| Salmon Creek Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park) | Sonoma Coast | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free at the North and South Salmon Creek beach… | Outside |
| Salt Point State Park | Sonoma Coast | Yes | Yes, for groups | $10 per vehicle day use ($9 seniors); a same-da… | Outside |
| Scotty Creek Beach | Sonoma Coast | Yes | — | Free (limited parking) | Yes |
| Shiloh Ranch Regional Park | Windsor | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8; free for Regional Parks members. Gr… | Outside |
| Skyline Wilderness Park | Napa | — | — | $6 per vehicle; $3 per person walking, biking o… | Outside |
| Smittle Creek Day Use Area (Lake Berryessa) | Lake Berryessa | Yes | Yes, for groups | Unclear. Reclamation's 2026 page lists the $5 p… | Yes |
| Sonoma Botanical Garden | Glen Ellen | — | Yes, for groups | Garden admission $17 adults, $14 seniors 65+, $… | No |
| Sonoma Plaza (Plaza Park) | Sonoma | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free | No |
| Sonoma State Historic Park - General Vallejo's Home (Lachryma Montis) | Sonoma | No | Yes, for groups | No charge listed for the grounds or picnic area… | Outside |
| Sonoma Valley Regional Park | Glen Ellen | Yes | Yes, for groups | $8 parking per vehicle (free for Regional Parks… | Yes |
| Spring Lake Regional Park | Santa Rosa | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 per vehicle fall–spring, $12 in summ… | Yes |
| Steelhead Beach Regional Park | Russian River Valley | No | Yes, for groups | Parking $12 per vehicle in summer, $8 fall-spri… | Yes |
| Stillwater Cove Regional Park | Sonoma Coast | Yes | Yes, for groups | $8 day-use parking per vehicle (free for Sonoma… | Yes |
| Sunset Beach River Park | Russian River Valley | No | Yes, for groups | Parking $12 per vehicle in summer, $8 fall-spri… | Yes |
| Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve | Santa Rosa | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 per vehicle (includes the solar EV c… | Yes |
| Tolay Lake Regional Park | Petaluma | Yes | Yes, for groups | Parking $8 per vehicle; free for Regional Parks… | Yes |
| Trione-Annadel State Park | Santa Rosa | Yes | Yes, for groups | $8 per vehicle day-use fee (cash or self-regist… | Outside |
| Veterans Memorial Park | Napa | No | — | Free (plaza rental for events $50/hour; non-res… | Yes |
| Veterans Memorial Park (Yountville) | Yountville | Yes | — | Free; Picnic Site 5 about $79-$81 resident / $2… | No |
| Villa Chanticleer Park (Lower Villa Chanticleer Park) | Healdsburg | No | — | Free | Yes |
| Vineyard Park | Yountville | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free | No |
| Vista Trail & Vista Point (Sonoma Coast State Park) | Sonoma Coast | Yes | — | Free | No |
| Wappo Park | St. Helena | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free | Yes |
| Westwood Hills Park | Napa | No | Yes, for groups | Free (Carolyn Parr Nature Center admission also… | Yes |
| Windsor Town Green | Windsor | No | Yes, for groups | Free | Yes |
| Wright's Beach (Sonoma Coast State Park) | Sonoma Coast | Yes | Yes, for groups | $10 per vehicle day use ($9 seniors); Wright's… | Yes |
| Yountville Community Park | Yountville | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free; reserved picnic sites (6-hour block) $52… | No |
| Duncan's Landing (Sonoma Coast State Park) | Sonoma Coast | Yes | — | Free | — |
| Gualala Point Regional Park | Sonoma Coast | Yes | — | $8 parking (free for Regional Parks members) | Yes |
| Keiser Park | Windsor | — | — | Free; permits for groups of 25+ | Yes |
| Lake Sonoma – Warm Springs Recreation Area (Visitor Center & Fish Hatchery) | Dry Creek Valley | Yes | Yes, for groups | Free for single-table picnic sites; group shelt… | Yes |
| Russian Gulch (Sonoma Coast State Park) | Sonoma Coast | Yes | — | Free | Yes |
| Sugarloaf Ridge State Park | Kenwood | Yes | Yes, for groups | $10 per vehicle day use ($8 for seniors 62+, st… | Outside |
| Tomodachi Park | Sebastopol | — | — | Free | — |
| Walnut Park | Petaluma | No | Yes, for groups | Free. Gazebo/group-area rental $174 for a priva… | Yes |
| Willard Libby Park | Sebastopol | — | — | Free | — |
Free or low-cost tables and lawns — alcohol rules listed for each.
Napa
Alston Park is Napa's big open-space park and the city's second-most-visited, drawing dog owners and hikers. It suits a simple trailside picnic after a walk more than a full group spread. New permanent restrooms opened in fall 2025. Alcohol is not permitted.
Nearest picnic food: Genova Delicatessen · 1.7 mi
St. Helena
A working 1840s water-powered grist mill on a wooded creekside site just north of St. Helena, now a state historic park operated by the Napa County Regional Park & Open Space District with the Napa Valley State Parks Association. Weekend visitors can watch the miller grind grain, buy stone-ground flour and picnic at tables around the mill.
Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park
Nearest picnic food: Brasswood Bar + Bakery · 1.0 mi
Calistoga
A wooded state park on Highway 29 between St. Helena and Calistoga, run by the Napa County Regional Park & Open Space District under an operating agreement with California State Parks. It offers one of the few large public picnic grounds in the upper Napa Valley, with grills, a reservable group ramada, a summer pool, camping and more than 10 miles of trails.
Nearest picnic food: Brasswood Bar + Bakery · 2.2 mi
American Canyon
Clarke Ranch is American Canyon's gateway to the Napa River wetlands, with lawn and picnic seating next to flat trails through restored marsh. It's a handy stop at the southern entrance to Napa Valley. Whether you can open wine depends on whether the picnic area is signed as a designated picnic area.
Clarke Ranch (Wetlands Edge Preserve gateway)
St. Helena
Crane Park is where St. Helena locals hold birthday picnics and bocce afternoons, and city code allows beer and wine. Reserve a picnic area and a couple of lighted bocce courts for a group. On summer Fridays the farmers market sets up here.
Nearest picnic food: St. Helena Farmers' Market · 0.1 mi
Napa
Fuller Park is Napa's historic, shady neighborhood park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in Old Town near downtown. Nine tree-named picnic sites and a new inclusive playground make it an easy family lunch stop, but alcohol needs a reserved site and permit.
Nearest picnic food: Contimo Provisions · 0.4 mi
Free or low-cost tables and lawns — alcohol rules listed for each.
Santa Rosa
A community-designed county park in Santa Rosa's Moorland neighborhood, opened in 2018 with barbecue grills, picnic tables and plenty of lawn. It's a free, practical family picnic spot close to Highway 101.
Nearest picnic food: Oliver's Market · 2.9 mi
Guerneville & Monte Rio
A protected grove of ancient coast redwoods just north of Guerneville, with some of the tallest and oldest trees in the county and easy, level trails. The picnic grounds are the main draw for groups: dozens of first-come tables and grills in permanent shade, plus a big reservable group site. Whether you can open a bottle of wine there is not spelled out on official pages, so confirm before you pack one.
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve
Nearest picnic food: Quail & Condor · 8.9 mi
Sonoma
A privately owned estate park that's open to the public, run by the nonprofit Bartholomew Foundation, and one of the prettiest free picnic spots near Sonoma, with lawns, redwoods and vineyard views minutes from the Plaza. The on-site winery that funds the park sells bottles and tumblers for picnickers, though the rules don't say whether you can bring your own wine.
Nearest picnic food: Sonoma's Best · 0.7 mi
Sonoma Coast
An accessible picnic stop in the Bodega Dunes section of Sonoma Coast State Park, with flush restrooms and trails through the dunes behind a long sandy beach. Dogs must stay off the beach.
Bodega Dunes Day Use (Sonoma Coast State Park)
Sonoma Coast
The rocky headland at the mouth of Bodega Harbor is the Sonoma Coast's classic whale-watching lookout, and it's free. Pack a windproof layer, claim a table at the west lot, then walk the 1.9-mile Bodega Head loop for views over Bodega Bay and the open ocean.
Bodega Head (Sonoma Coast State Park)
Nearest picnic food: Wild Flour Bread · 9.5 mi
Cloverdale
The northernmost Sonoma County river park, just off Highway 101 in Cloverdale, with a flat 1-mile paved trail, a boat launch and simple picnic areas along the Russian River. It's a handy, low-key lunch stop at the top of Alexander Valley or on the way to Anderson Valley, and alcohol isn't banned.
Nearest picnic food: Dry Creek Peach & Produce · 9.1 mi
Yes at some: Andy's Unity Park, Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, Bodega Dunes Day Use (Sonoma Coast State Park), Bodega Head (Sonoma Coast State Park), Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, Cloverdale River Park, and 45 more allow alcohol. Alston Park, Fuller Park, Giorgi Park, Guerneville River Park, Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, Ives Park, and 18 more do not. Rules vary by city, county and state park, so check each listing.
Questions people ask