Solano County
United States · Americas
About Solano County
Solano County is in the Bay Area of California. It is more rural than many other Bay Area counties with a population of approximately 400,000.
Solano County travel guide
Understand
Solano County was one of the state's original counties at the time of statehood in 1850, and two of its cities have served as early state capitals: Vallejo was the capital in 1852 and again in 1853, while Benicia served as the capital from February 1853 until February 1854. The county is named after Chief Solano of the Suisun people, a Native American tribe of the region that was closely allied to General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. As of 2026, private developers are attempting to create a planned city called California Forever on farmland in southeastern Solano County. This plan has been criticized heavily by Solano County residents, and depends on a ballot initiative after environmental impact studies are completed. Should this planned community be built, Solano County will change dramatically.
Getting there
Interstate 80 is the main highway through the region, taking travelers from San Francisco northeast through the county towards Sacramento. Interstate 680 provides access from the East Bay, while Interstate 780 cross along the Carquinez Strait connecting Interstate 80 to Interstate 680. Interstate 505 enters the county from the north and provides access for travelers traveling south on Interstate 5, the main north-south route through California. Several SolTrans bus lines serve Solano County from the East Bay.
Getting around
FAST provides service around the Fairfield area, and SolTrans serves the area around Vallejo and Benicia.
Go next
1 Napa County - Neighboring Solano County to the northwest, America's preeminent wine-producing region attracts more than five million annual visitors to over two hundred wineries, often overcrowding the roadways on summer weekends. Travelers will find world-famous restaurants to complement the wines, and lodging that includes luxury spas, B&Bs, and upscale hotels. Those uninterested in viticulture may choose to enjoy the hot springs of Calistoga or hike/bike the many parks and trails in the area's beautiful rolling hills. 2 Yolo County - With extensive farmlands, Solano County's northern neighbor offers numerous opportunities for visitors to engage in agritourism: farmer's markets are held regularly, organic farms offer tours and the opportunity to pick your own produce, and more than 35 wineries can be found in the county. The college town of Davis is home to California's third-largest state university and boasts the highest number of bikes per capita in the USA, a statistic that led the US Bicycling Hall of Fame to move to the town in 2010. 3 Sacramento County - Bordering Solano County to the east, Sacramento County stretches from the wetlands at the edge of the San Francisco Bay to the rolling hills of Gold Country. The Sacramento and American Rivers played prominent roles in the county's development, and today offer outdoor opportunities ranging from boating to fishing to birdwatching. The capital city of Sacramento is located at the rivers' confluence, and visitors will appreciate its historic districts and more than 25 museums. 4 Contra Costa County - Solano County's southern neighbor is a primarily residential county that offers a vast array of food, shopping, and lodging options for Bay Area visitors. The landscape is dominated by Mount Diablo, a peak that provides excellent hiking opportunities and, on clear days, summit views that stretch for well over 100 miles in all directions. Other attractions include the John Muir Historic Site in Martinez,
Overview adapted from Wikipedia, travel guide fromWikivoyage (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.