American Graffiti - Petaluma, California - Salute to American Graffiti

All About Petaluma
Especially for Visitors!

Located at the end of the 14 mile-long Petaluma River that connects to the ocean at San Pablo Bay, Petaluma is just a 40 minute drive north on US 101 from the Golden Gate Bridge and is only 18 miles due east of the Pacific Ocean, Point Reyes National Seashore and the Sonoma Coast.

Settled in 1850 and incorporated in 1858, Petaluma is the oldest northern California city between San Francisco and Eureka. By 1900 it had become the focal point for commerce between San Francisco and points north as paddle-wheelers and barges transported timber, agricultural and dairy products, industrial supplies and people between the two cities. By 1917, it had grown to be the undisputed world leader in the production of chickens and eggs and was also one of the wealthiest cities in the Nation. The incubator was invented here in 1875.

Today, with a population of about 60,000, this quintessential “American Hometown” is the perfect blend of the past and present with its turn of the century Iron-Front Buildings, stately Victorian homes and Petaluma River Waterfront. Historic downtown is packed with antique, gift and apparel shops, restaurants and the Petaluma Historic Museum and Library, which has California's only free-standing stained glass dome. The new Theatre District, adjacent to the River, includes a modern cinema complex, business and shopping areas and city-style apartments.

Abundant with business parks, industry, quality schools, hospital and medical center and numerous local and regional parks, Petaluma is surrounded by rolling hills dotted with ranches, farms and vineyards. It is also host city to the United States Coast Guard's only western training center located in Two Rock Valley, 10 miles to the west.

Petaluma & Services

Traffic Conditions, Hwy 101

City

Dept. of Motor Vehicles

Petaluma School District

Santa Rosa Junior College: Petaluma Campus

Animal Services

Nearby

Coast Guard Training Center

Infineon Raceway

Sonoma Coast

Sonoma State University

Transportation

Air: Local

Petaluma Airport

Sonoma County Airport (served by Horizon/Alaska Airlines)

Air: National/International

Of the two major airports serving the Northbay area, Oakland is our recommended choice. It is less busy, easier to access, and you don’t have to drive through San Francisco to get to and from Petaluma. The bus service between it and Petaluma runs less frequently. The same bus company services both airports. Their Petaluma location very convenient: the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds off Washington Street, adjacent to US 101. If need be, you could easily walk from it to the Best Western Petaluma Motel.

San Francisco is served directly by BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), which is cheap and fast transportation if you are planning to stay in the downtown area of San Francisco or the East Bay area. BART does not serve Marin or Sonoma (Petaluma) Counties .

Regardless of which you choose, the best times to be traveling between Petaluma and either airport are between 9:30am and 2:30pm, and between 7:30pm and 5:30am. From the airport to Petaluma, you will encounter very heavy and very slow traffic (in two locations) after 3pm and from Petaluma to the airport, it’s very congested and slow after 6am. Allow at least an extra hour and a half of travel between Petaluma and the airport if you are traveling during heavy traffic times or you may miss your flight!

Oakland International Airport

San Francisco International Airport

Bus – Taxi – Car Rental

Petaluma Bus

Sonoma County Bus

Bay Area Bus

Airport Bus-San Francisco & Oakland

Lodging & Food