Nicest Small Towns To Visit Near Sacramento
Sacramento is a great place to call home, but everyone needs a change of scenery now and then. Lucky for you, some of California's most distinctive towns sit within a short drive of the capital. You can sip your way along Gold Country wine trails and wander 19th-century mining main streets, then chase rapids and waterfalls on the rivers nearby. These six towns make easy day trips or weekend getaways. Pick one and go.
Auburn
Auburn sits in the Sierra foothills about 33 km northeast of the capital and makes a favorite stop for anyone headed to Lake Tahoe. Old mining-town facades meet a booming beer-and-wine scene, so spend an afternoon on the Placer County Wine Trail, where spots like Wise Villa Winery and Restaurant pour at their best near sunset. Below town, the Middle Fork of the American River churns up serious rapids, while the Lake Clementine Trail runs beneath the Foresthill Bridge, the highest in California and the fourth-highest in the country at 730 feet. Bed down at the Auburn State Recreation Area campground or at Hotel Vista Sierra downtown. End the night at one of two award-winning breweries, including Moonraker Brewing, which has earned worldwide acclaim.
Copperopolis
About 80 miles southeast of the capital, this Calaveras County town channels a Mediterranean countryside, complete with olive oil tastings and artisanal ice cream. It grew up around the copper boom of the mid-1800s rather than gold, and the revitalized Town Square at Copper Valley now mixes boutiques and lofts with the brick Copperopolis Congregational Church from 1866, one of the county's last Gothic Revival buildings. From the pedestrian-friendly square, Vista Point looks out over the Central Valley at sunrise and sunset. The Stanislaus River feeds the X-shaped Lake Tulloch, which offers 55 miles of shoreline for swimming, watersports, and lakeside camping. Verona18 serves local flavors with relaxed outdoor seating and elevated views.
Nevada City
Settled as a mining camp in 1849, Nevada City carries the relaxed elegance of a European-style village. Wooden balconies shade Broad Street, where 19th-century storefronts now hold antiques, indie shops, wine rooms, and a seasonal farmers' market. The district's National Exchange Hotel is one of the oldest continuously operated hotels west of the Rockies. For an overnight with character, Inn Town Campground rents centrally located luxury tents next to the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum. Outside town, the historic Edwards Crossing Bridge spans the South Yuba River, and a photogenic suspension bridge over Deer Creek leads to swimming holes worth the walk.
Placerville
Once known as "Hangtown," this crossroads town of just over 10,000 has traded its rowdy past for a lineup of bakeries, tasting rooms, and family fun about 43 miles east of the capital. The El Dorado Wine Region surrounds it with more than 20 wineries, and downtown's colorful facades hide history at every turn. The 1852 Fountain-Tallman Museum is the oldest building on Main Street, packed with period photos and memorabilia from its days as a soda works. Race fans pack the famed Placerville Speedway for sprint car nights, and Lions Park keeps things easy with public courts and a play area. Across town, Gold Bug Park and Mine runs tours of a mine that opened in the 1880s.
Sutter Creek
Known as the "Jewel of the Mother Lode," Sutter Creek went from timber camp to mining hub after gold turned up in 1851. Today it claims one of Gold Country's most walkable main streets, a tidy stretch of under 3,000 residents lined with shops and boutiques. Nineteenth-century buildings with balconies set the scene for strolling, wine tasting, and people-watching from above. Stay right on the main drag at Hotel Sutter or slip off to a quiet bed-and-breakfast. The nearby Shenandoah Valley AVA pours down-to-earth tastings at Avio Vineyards and Domenico Winery.
Winters
Just 30 miles west of the capital, Winters greets you with a historic main street and a foodie streak that runs deep. It anchors "Yolo County's Beer-Muda Triangle" and the Winters Highlands AVA, established in 2023 and one of the state's newest. Graze the artisan cheese shop, sip Rhone varietals at the Turkovich Family Wines tasting room, or settle in at the Buckhorn Steakhouse in a grand former hotel on Main. Putah Creek skirts town and forms Lake Solano, good for fishing, canoe rentals, and camping. Work up an appetite on the Blue Ridge Trailhead, a climb rewarded with views of Lake Berryessa and the surrounding hills.
Your Next Day Trip From Sacramento
Life in the Farm-to-Fork Capital is pretty good, but you do not need a plane ticket to switch things up. These towns put mining history, river canyons, and California wine country within easy reach of home. Whether you are after fresh air or a tasting flight, each one rewards a day trip or a lazy weekend. Pick a direction and point the car.
