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California, United States

Fairfield

Home of Jelly Belly; Solano County seat; Gateway to Napa and Sonoma Valleys; Travis Air F…

Overall
5.8
Per day
$169 from $118
Season
Peak: Summer and harvest wine weekends

Best for:Wine country

  • Drive
  • Train
Directions

Best connected to San Francisco 1 h by car

Overview

Compared with the Bay Area and Sacramento, Fairfield is where a lot of commuters settle when they want more house for the money. It is the seat of Solano County, sits between San Francisco and Sacramento, and has about 122,000 residents. Travis Air Force Base is a major part of the community, and Napa Valley is only about 20 minutes away.

The best-known attraction is the Jelly Belly factory tour, and you can also hike Rockville Hills Regional Park, visit the Travis Heritage Center, or taste wine in Green Valley and Suisun Valley. Life here is suburban and practical, with hot summers that often top 95 degrees. It is cheaper than Napa or Contra Costa, but still expensive by national standards. Violent crime is around or a bit above the state average, and car break-ins and theft are the main risks in shopping lots.

Trip planning at a glance

Peak season
Summer and harvest (September-October) wine weekends
Nearest airport
Oakland International (OAK), 45 miles southwest

Highlights

  • Jelly Belly Factory tour
  • Anheuser-Busch Fairfield Brewery (limited tours
  • check availability)
  • Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center
  • Rockville Hills Regional Park hiking
  • Solano Town Center and Green Valley Wine Country
  • Lake Solano and Suisun Marsh nearby
  • Old Town Suisun City waterfront (adjacent)
  • Cordelia Hills and Green Valley wineries
  • Napa Valley about 25 minutes away

Best connected to

San Francisco

California, United States ·

6.0
Distance
45 mi · 72 km
Drive
1 h
Train
likely (not verified) · 1 h 24 min

adds beaches and museums & galleries

Oakland

California, United States ·

5.7
Distance
45 mi · 72 km
Drive
1 h
Train
likely (not verified) · 1 h 14 min

adds museums & galleries and food scene

Sacramento

California, United States ·

6.0
Distance
45 mi · 72 km
Drive
45 min
Train
likely (not verified) · 1 h 21 min

adds museums & galleries and food scene

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Scores

Out of 10. Open any score to see how it’s worked out. “Data-based” scores come from published figures; “Hey! En Route estimate” scores are worked out from what we know about the city; “Hey! En Route rating” scores were set by our editors.

5.8/10Good
  • Connector Score7.9

    28 worthwhile cities within three hours; reachable by road, intercity train, and local transit; lodging and sights for an overnight stop. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Safety7.0

    About 370 violent crimes per 100,000 people a year; the US average is about 370. Data-based

  • Affordability4.0

    Cost of living index about 125, where the national average is 100. Data-based

  • Transportation6.5

    Reachable by: road, intercity train, and local transit. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Car-free friendliness5.5

    Intercity train or bus, plus local transit and walkability. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Walkability4.9

    Estimated from city size and transit; no walkable downtown noted. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Things to do5.9

    Known for 6 kinds of attraction, with 6 annual events listed. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Food & dining4.8

    Estimated from city size and dining listings. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Places to stay5.8

    Lodging at budget, mid-range and luxury prices. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Nature & outdoors5.5

    Known for mountains & hiking, lakes & rivers. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Scenic value6.3

    From its landscape: coast, mountains, lakes and parks. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Family friendliness4.4

    Zoos, aquariums, theme parks and museums, weighted by safety. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Solo-traveler friendliness5.3

    Safety, getting around without a car, hostels, and things to do. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Nightlife4.5

    Estimated from city size and live music. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Remote-work friendliness4.6

    City size, affordability, cafés and connections. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Road-trip convenience6.5

    28 worthwhile cities within three hours’ drive, plus parking, EV charging and RV options. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Train-trip convenience7.8

    Intercity train service, with 21 nearby cities reachable by rail. Hey! En Route estimate

  • Bus-trip convenience1.5

    No intercity bus service noted. Hey! En Route estimate

City info

Country
United States
State / province
California
Population
122,489
Metro area
455,376
Area
108 km²
Density
1,137 / km²
Elevation
13 m
Currency
USD
Local time
6:19 pm UTC-07:00
Power
Type A/B, 120V 60Hz
Drives on the
Right
Known as
Home of Jelly Belly (Jelly Belly Candy Company); Solano County seat; Gateway to Napa and Sonoma Valleys; Travis Air Force Base community
Founded
1856 founded by Robert Waterman; 1903 incorporated
Languages
English; Spanish; Tagalog; Chinese; Vietnamese; Punjabi
Airports
Oakland International (OAK), about 45 miles southwest; Sacramento International (SMF), about 45 miles northeast; San Francisco International (SFO), about 55 miles southwest; Travis Air Force Base (SUU) is military with limited civilian use, adjacent to the city; Napa County Airport (APC), about 25 miles, general aviation
Tipping
Restaurants 18-20%; bars $1-2 per drink; taxis and rideshare 15-20%; hotel housekeeping $3-5 per night; bellhops $2-5 per bag; winery tasting staff 15-20% (often per party); delivery 15-20%

Community signals

Not enough responses yet to show a trend.

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About this data

Population 122,489 (July 1, 2025), land area 41.59 sq mi, median value and rent are from Census QuickFacts (ACS 2020-2024). Metro figure 455,376 is the Vallejo MSA as specified (Fairfield is in Solano County's Vallejo MSA; the Bay Area CSA is larger). visitor_website is the Visit Fairfield attractions page seen in search results, and I did not confirm it is an official bureau site; the city calendar is official. Elevation, coordinates, founding, event months, hotel ranges, tipping, crime rate, cost index and distances are approximate or from general knowledge; lower confidence. URLs not load-tested.

Last verified September 25, 2026 · Source: Research spreadsheet · Editorial ·

Neighborhoods

8 areas to know, and who each one suits.

Old Town Fairfield

Historic downtown

    Green Valley

    Upscale rural

      Cordelia

      Northwest, near I-680 and I-80

        Suisun Valley border

        Wine area

          Solano Town Center area

          Shopping

            Fairfield Corridor

            Central

              Cordelia Junction

                Travis area

                East, base

                  Where to base yourself

                  • Near Solano Town Center and I-80 for chain hotels
                  • Cordelia for I-680 access and shopping
                  • Old Town Fairfield and Suisun City for a quieter base
                  • Napa or Vallejo for wine-country ambience. Tiers: budget motels near I-80
                  • mid-range chains such as Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express
                  • luxury is limited locally (see Napa or Vacaville)

                  Suburbs and neighboring towns

                  Suisun City (4 mi; car, FAST bus); Cordelia (4 mi; car, unincorporated); Green Valley (5 mi; car, unincorporated); Vacaville (11 mi; car, bus service unconfirmed); Vallejo (14 mi; car, bus service unconfirmed); Benicia (14 mi; car); American Canyon (15 mi; car); Dixon (18 mi; car)

                  What a visit costs

                  Per person per day, with a room shared by two. Change anything below to fit your trip.

                  Budget

                  $118/day

                  Lodging about $105 a night

                  Mid-range

                  $169/day

                  Lodging about $163 a night

                  Luxury

                  $286/day

                  Lodging about $285 a night

                  Budget calculator

                  Vehicle
                  mpg

                  These are estimates from typical prices, not quotes. Real costs vary with season, events, booking time and your own habits; taxes and fees are approximate.

                  Cost of living

                  For longer stays and relocation.

                  Cost of living index
                  125 (national average = 100)
                  Typical 1-bedroom rent
                  $2,050 a month
                  Median home price
                  $624,300
                  Research notes

                  About 120-130 versus US=100 (approximate; not verified in this pass); typical 1BR rent about $1,900-2,200 per month (Census median gross rent for all units $2,266)

                  Real estate

                  Buying or renting long-term: prices, trends and the rules.

                  Median home

                  $624,300

                  Mortgage calculator

                  Census median owner-occupied value $624,300; median gross rent $2,266 (Census ACS 2020-2024); market note: a commuter market between the Bay Area and Sacramento, more affordable than Napa or Contra Costa; current listing median not retrieved

                  Research notes on prices and seasons

                  Hotels per night: budget $85-125; mid-range $125-200; luxury $220-350 in the wider region. Peak season is summer and harvest (September-October) wine weekends; Travis AFB events add midweek demand. Rough daily visitor budget excluding lodging: $65-110

                  Where to stay

                  Which part of town suits which kind of trip.

                  • Near Solano Town Center and I-80 for chain hotels
                  • Cordelia for I-680 access and shopping
                  • Old Town Fairfield and Suisun City for a quieter base
                  • Napa or Vallejo for wine-country ambience. Tiers: budget motels near I-80
                  • mid-range chains such as Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express
                  • luxury is limited locally (see Napa or Vacaville)

                  Places to stay

                  2 listings in Fairfield, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                  Nearby

                  1 place outside Fairfield, within an easy drive.

                  Top sights

                  • Jelly Belly Factory tour
                  • Anheuser-Busch Fairfield Brewery (limited tours
                  • check availability)
                  • Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center
                  • Rockville Hills Regional Park hiking
                  • Solano Town Center and Green Valley Wine Country
                  • Lake Solano and Suisun Marsh nearby
                  • Old Town Suisun City waterfront (adjacent)
                  • Cordelia Hills and Green Valley wineries
                  • Napa Valley about 25 minutes away

                  Known for: Mountains & hikingLakes & riversHistoric sitesWineries & breweriesLive musicShopping

                  Things to do

                  3 listings in Fairfield, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                  See what’s on: events and festivals

                  Known for: Wineries & breweriesLive music

                  Food & nightlife

                  2 listings in Fairfield, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                  Events

                  Dated events will appear here as they’re added.

                  Every year

                  • Fairfield Downtown Sundays and farmers market (seasonal)
                  • Fourth of July celebration and fireworks (July)
                  • Solano County Fair (Vallejo, summer)
                  • Fairfield Summer concerts and Movies in the Park (summer)
                  • Fairfield-Suisun Festival of Lights or holiday events (December, verify)
                  • Fairfield Car Show events (spring to fall, verify)

                  Official events calendar ↗

                  Safety information is a guide from public data and our research, not a guarantee. Conditions change; check local news and official advice before you go.

                  7.0

                  Very good · Data-based

                  About 370 violent crimes per 100,000 people a year; the US average is about 370.

                  Safety overview

                  Violent crime is around or somewhat above the California average (roughly 450-550 per 100k, approximate and not verified); vehicle theft and car break-ins are the main visitor risk, especially at shopping centers and freeway-adjacent lots. Hospitals: NorthBay Medical Center (Fairfield), NorthBay VacaValley Hospital nearby, Kaiser Permanente Vacaville and Vallejo. Hazards: earthquake (Green Valley and Vaca faults, and the Hayward and Rodgers Creek fault systems), summer heat above 95F, grass wildfire and smoke, Suisun Marsh area flooding

                  Local notes

                  Specific places where extra care is worthwhile, especially at night. Most visits are trouble-free.

                  Some blocks around older apartment corridors in central Fairfield and along Texas Street or West Texas Street near downtown have higher crime; use ordinary caution at night. Solano Town Center, Green Valley and Old Town Fairfield are generally comfortable in daytime

                  Safety & health

                  Health

                  • Hospital (ER)NorthBay Medical Center
                  • Hospital (ER)NorthBay VacaValley Hospital nearby
                  • Hospital (ER)Kaiser Permanente Vacaville
                  • Hospital (ER)Vallejo

                  Last verified September 25, 2026 · Source: Research spreadsheet · Editorial ·

                  Local directory

                  7 listings in Fairfield, ranked by traveller reviews. Featured listings are marked.

                  Nearby cities and connections

                  Find the next city worth adding to your trip from Fairfield: how far, how long, and how to get there.

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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Train
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                  Drive
                  1 h 30 min est.
                  Train
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                  Drive
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                  Train
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  Drive
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                  6.4
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                  Drive
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                  6.6
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                  Drive
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                  6.0
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                  Drive
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                  6.1
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                  Drive
                  4 h 25 min est.
                  Train
                  likely (not verified) · 5 h 46 min

                  Times marked “est.” are estimates: drives use typical road distances at highway speeds, and train or bus times assume both cities have service. Always check a route planner and timetables before you travel.

                  Route ideas

                  Suggested by Hey! En Route from the best-connected next stops. Save one to your routes and make it your own.

                  2-day trip

                  Fairfield (1 night)

                  3-day trip

                  Fairfield (1 night) → San Francisco (1 night)

                  About 47 mi, 1 h 1 min of travel

                  5-day trip

                  Fairfield (2 nights) → San Francisco (1 night) → San Jose (1 night)

                  About 96 mi, 2 h 2 min of travel

                  7-day trip

                  Fairfield (2 nights) → San Francisco (1 night) → San Jose (1 night) → Sacramento (1 night)

                  About 213 mi, 4 h 23 min of travel

                  10-day trip

                  Fairfield (2 nights) → San Francisco (2 nights) → San Jose (1 night) → Sacramento (1 night) → Reno (1 night)

                  About 345 mi, 7 h of travel

                  Suggested city pairs

                  Building your own routes is part of Hey! En Route Plus. See what’s included

                  Community signals

                  Not enough responses yet to show a trend.

                  Fairfield City Circle

                  For people considering Fairfield, visiting soon, living there for a while, or comparing it with somewhere else.

                  Sign up to join

                  No discussions yet. Be the first to share something useful.

                  Share experience, not guesses presented as fact, and keep contact details out of posts. Community guidelines

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