Travel SMART to Petaluma

Vacationing in the north bay couldn’t be easier. If you’re coming from the Bay Area, it’s a breeze to hop on the ferry and connect to parts north on the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) train. The trains run north and south along the US 101 corridor. Getting there will be half the fun as you ride the rails. With so many downtown stops, grabbing lunch along the way is easy. While on board, enjoy beautiful vistas with no traffic worries. The SMART trains currently travel as far as Windsor, with a Healdsburg station expected in 2028, and the possibility of a Geyserville station, which would be a nice stop for wine tasting. Ultimately, the train will run further north to Cloverdale.

When you travel the North Bay corridor on SMART, you travel in style. Each sleek, clean, comfortable cars feature adjustable seating, overhead luggage shelves, and a restroom. The two-car SMART train accommodates 300+ passengers and 40+ bicycles. At least through June 2027, seniors (65+) and youth (0-18) ride free, though they may be asked to show ID to the conductor after boarding. With its expanded weekend and commute service, you’re sure to find a schedule that fits your plans.

With historic Petaluma’s plethora of dining, shopping, and recreation options just a 10 minute walk from the train platform, visitors love day-tripping in Petaluma, and some even make plans to return with hotel reservations and luggage for a longer stay. Before walking downtown or settling into your hotel, grab a Petaluma Visitors Magazine, a historic downtown, self-guided walking tour map, and dining and point of interest recommendations and directions at the adjacent Petaluma Visitors Center.

The SMART train carries Petaluma’s passenger railway legacy forward from the establishment, in 1864, of a steam locomotive that continued until the last passenger train passed by the Mission-Revival style depot in 1958.