Fairfield, CA Road Trips

Fairfield is a mid-size city that shares a metroplex with Suisun City. Travis Air Force Base, home of the 60th Air Mobility Wing, is located just to the east of Fairfield. C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft and KC-10 Extender refueling aircraft are common sights in the skies over the twin cities. Fairfield is located along Interstate 80, the main route between the Bay Area and Sacramento, about midway between the two. The climate of Fairfield is typical of the Sacramento Delta, cool winters and hot, humid summers. Winter temperatures average 37º-65º F. Summer temperatures average 56º-89º F. As Fairfield is located near the Carquinez Straits, where wind from the San Francisco Bay is funneled through a narrow channel, Fairfield can experience strong winds.

1 Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, 2548 Grizzly Island Road, Suisun City (take Grizzly Island Road south from SR12), ☏ +1 707 425-3828. Hiking, fishing, hunting, and boating. Some areas are disabled accessible. 2 Hill Slough Wildlife Area, Grizzly Island Road, immediately south of SR 12, ☏ +1 707 425-3828. 1,722 acres of salt tidal marsh, marshes, sloughs and upland grasses. Excellent areas for bird-watching. 3 Jelly Belly Factory tour, 1 Jelly Belly Ln, toll-free: +1-800-953-5592. Daily from 9:15AM–4PM, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Easter Sunday. Take a self-guided walking tour of the factory where Jelly Belly jelly beans are made. A highlight is the robotic stacking machine and portraits made of jelly beans. Also check out the factory store where "defective" jelly beans are sold as Belly Flops. The tour is very popular, so expect a wait, usually less than 30 minutes. Weekdays are best, because you get to see the factory in operation. Breakfast, lunch, and ice cream sold in the onsite Jelly Belly Café & Snack Bar ($10 breakfast, $15 lunch). Bus and RV parking available (daytime only). The walking tour, which is about a quarter-mile long, is accessible to wheelchair and stroller users. $7 adults, $3 children, babies free. (updated Jun 2022) 4 Rush Ranch, Grizzly Island Rd (2 miles south of Highway 12). 8AM-dusk. A working ranch that is kept as open space for the public. There are historic displays and hiking trails over the hills and marshes surrounding the ranch as well the opportunity to interact with the animals on the ranch. Free.

Mary's Pizza Shack, 1500 Oliver Rd, ☏ +1 707 422-2700. Family-run chain offering Italian comfort-food staples, wine & beer, with a weekday happy hour. Texas Roadhouse, 3333 N Texas St, ☏ +1 707 422-7623. Lively chain steakhouse serving American fare with a Southwestern spin amid Texas-themed decor.

1 Best Western Cordelia Inn, 4373 Central Pl, ☏ +1 707 864-2029, toll-free: +1-800-422-7575, fax: +1 707 864-5834. 2 Courtyard Fairfield Napa Valley Area, 1350 Holiday Ln, ☏ +1 707 422-4111, fax: +1 707 428-3452. 3 Fairfield Inn & Suites Fairfield Napa Valley Area, 315 Pittman Rd, ☏ +1 707 864-6672, fax: +1 707 864-6282. 4 La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Fairfield - Napa Valley, 316 Pittman Rd, ☏ +1 707-344-9228. 5 Homewood Suites by Hilton, 4755 Business Center Dr, ☏ +1 707-863-0300. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: noon. An all suite hotel equipped with full kitchens and free wireless Internet. Complimentary amenities include a hot breakfast and a light dinner with beverages (Monday-Thursday). 6 Motel 6 Fairfield North, 1473 Holiday Ln, ☏ +1 707 425-4565, fax: +1 707 435-9232.

Fairfield is about half way between San Francisco (48 mi (77 km)) and Sacramento on I-80 (43 mi (69 km)). Fairfield is accessed from Exit 39 (Red Top Rd) through Exit 48 (Manuel Campos Pkwy, N Texas St) of I-80. Nearest BART stations to Fairfield are the El Cerritos Plaza Station, 34 mi (55 km) southwest, in El Cerrito (via Central Ave from Exit 14A of I-80) and the Concord Station, 32 mi (51 km) southwest, in Concord (via Concord Ave from Exit 52 of I-680). to in San Jose. I-680 serves as a (73 mi (117 km)) bypass around the East Bay cities, to San Jose via Fremont, from exit 40 of I-80 in Fairfield. Connects Napa (19.5 mi (31.4 km) west of Fairfield) to Lodi (47 mi (76 km) east of Fairfield), through Fairfield and I-5 (exit 485 of I-5). It runs concurrent with I-80 between exits 39B and 43 south of town. This serves as the most direct route for travelers coming from Stockton or anywhere further south on I-5/CA-99 to Fairfield or to the other North Bay Area cities (Richmond, Vallejo, Novato, Petaluma, etc). Sacramento International Airport (SMF IATA), 6900 Airport Blvd., Sacramento, ☏ +1 916 929-5411. SMF in Sacramento is 50 miles northeast of Fairfield, about a 55-minute drive. San Francisco International Airport (SFO IATA), Intersection of S. McDonnell Rd and S. Link Rd., San Francisco, toll-free: +1-800-435-9736. SFO in South San Francisco is 57 miles southwest of Fairfield, about a 1-hour drive. Oakland International Airport (OAK IATA), 1 Airport Drive, Oakland, ☏ +1 510 563-3300.

Fairfield is a sprawling city, and a car is recommended to travel anywhere. 1 Fairfield/Suisun Transit System (FAST Transit), Fairfield Transportation Center, 2000 Cadenasso Dr, ☏ +1 707 422-2877, fax: +1 707 426-3298, [email protected]. M-F 6:30AM-8:12PM, Sa 8:30AM-6:05PM, Su no service. Fairfield/Suisun Transit System provides local service between Fairfield and Suisun on eight routes. See 'By bus' under 'Get in' in above for links to Solano Express buses. Base local fare: Adult - $1.50, Senior and disabled - $0.75. Extended area fares vary. See System Map on website for details.