10 Reasons to Explore Highway 128 in Sonoma County

Winding its way from Sonoma County’s eastern border, Highway 128 offers a delightful way to explore the beauty and bounty of Sonoma Wine Country away from the hustle and bustle.

This unique stretch of highway varies from two-lane country roads to a four-lane thoroughfare, where it becomes part of coastal Highway 101. Here are some great reasons to take this scenic drive.

1. The Wine

Highway 128 passes through the beautiful scenery of the Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley, and Northern Sonoma viticultural areas (or official wine-growing regions). With more than 100 wineries along this route, there are many inviting estates and convenient tasting rooms to discover.

• Visit Hanna Winery in Healdsburg with a picnic to relax and enjoy a great glass of wine in stunning surroundings.
• At Jordan Vineyard & Winery in Healdsburg, you can take a vineyard tour and sample food-and-wine pairings with 360-degree views.
• Don’t miss Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Geyserville where you can taste wines and check out the renowned director’s Oscars and movie memorabilia.

2. Good Food With a View

Whether you want to pick up a picnic lunch, grab a loaded burger, or sit down to casual and flavorful farm-to-table fare, you’ll find it in this bountiful area of Sonoma County. Here, Mother Nature is generous, and cooks and chefs use plenty of fresh local ingredients to create wonderful food you can enjoy in bucolic settings where the weather is mild year-round.

3. Lord Snort

Standing 20 feet high and 30 feet long, this massive sculpture of a galloping mechanical boar is a sight in front of Soda Rock Winery in Healdsburg. Dubbed ‘Lord Snort’ by its creator, acclaimed Sonoma County sculptor Bryan Tedrick, this dynamic art piece can spin 360 degrees on its pedestal, and its head can nod up and down. Crafted with new and reclaimed steel, the six-ton installation took more than 1,000 hours to create.

4. Geyserville

Highway 128 travels through the tiny downtown of Geyserville. Named for the geothermal springs east of town, this tiny village charms visitors with its “Wild West” storefronts and wooden boardwalks. Chat with locals at the coffee shop, pop into a delicious eatery or inviting wine-tasting room, browse gifts and antiques, and discover everything from nails to cowboy boots at Bosworth & Son Store.

On a hillside just north of Geyserville, you can try your luck at the River Rock Casino.

5. Healdsburg

The historic plaza at the center of this charming Sonoma Wine Country town is about six miles south of the highway and well worth a detour. A wine, foodie, and shopping haven with a hip, small-town vibe — downtown Healdsburg is a wonderful place to get out of the car and explore.

6. Cloverdale

Family-friendly Cloverdale offers a compact downtown filled with Victorian buildings, a thriving arts community, and highly regarded Zinfandel wines. Strolling along Main Street reveals intriguing stores, galleries, restaurants, and tasting rooms — as well as a performing arts center and local history museum.

7. The Sculpture Trails

Two quaint Sonoma Wine Country towns boast impressive outdoor sculpture trails. The Geyserville Sculpture Trail includes more than 25 impressive pieces, with new installments periodically. Check out the gallery of sculptures and sculpture trail map. 

Run by the Cloverdale Historical Society, the Cloverdale Sculpture Trail is an annual juried display of 12 artworks, changing each May. The historical society features an online overview of current sculptures and a Cloverdale Sculpture map. You can access audio information on your self-guided tour via the Octocast mobile app.

8. The Russian River

Splash, paddle, or fish in this lazy, meandering waterway. You can also hike, or bird watch along the river’s pleasant banks.

Cloverdale River Park is a great place to take in the Russian River. Here, you’ll find a picnic area with tables, a launch area for kayaks or canoes, and a 1.3-mile paved multi-use trail for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach is another excellent place to experience the beautiful Russian River. Enjoy the shady picnic facilities and wide, sandy beach.

9. Lake Sonoma

Lake Sonoma in Geyserville offers 8,000 acres of blue water surrounded by oak-studded hills. The lake holds plenty of trout, bass, and catfish. There is shore access for fishing, which can be even more of an experience from a boat. Rent everything from a canoe to a powered fishing boat at the Lake Sonoma Marina.

10. The Sweet, Wine Country Accomodations

There’s so much to see and do, you may want to check in for the night, enjoy Sonoma Wine Country hospitality, and get a fresh start in the morning.

Along Highway 128, the family-owned and operated Geyserville Inn provides all the comforts of a modern hotel with the charm and service of a small country inn. It features 38 rooms and three king suites, an outdoor pool, and exceptional onsite dining and wine tasting. 

This is just a sampling of what you can discover along scenic Highway 128 in Sonoma County. For more ideas, read 5 Fun Things To Do in Cloverdale and 5 Fun Things To Do in Geyserville.