Amtrak’s popularity has increased in the past few years, thanks to its investments in infrastructure, new trains, and passenger experiences. In 2024, the rail company hit an all-time ridership record of 32.8 million, a 15% increase from the previous year. Ticket revenue reached a record $2.5 billion. 2025 also started strong, with Amtrak’s newest route smashing first-year expectations despite a rusty spring. But what people have been most excited about are the scenic and cultural routes.
Amtrak has a variety of these rides, from an upscale national parks route that will cost you $8000 to North Carolina’s Amtrak day trip, which lets you explore the state’s craft beer culture. But it is Amtrak’s underrated California route, the San Joaquins, which is quietly becoming a dream trip for wine lovers. It runs between Bakersfield and either Oakland or Sacramento, primarily traversing the Central Valley of California—the state’s largest wine-producing region. The San Joaquins route is a 6-hour journey that gives you easy access to charming wineries and several exciting destinations, including an iconic national park. Read on to learn more about Amtrak’s idyllic wine trip.
A Wine Lover’s Dream Amtrak Trip
Sunset at the vineyard in Lodi, California, USA in summer
Chantarat/Shutterstock
Amtrak’s San Joaquins route is often overlooked in favor of more popular ones like the Coast Starlight, which is known for its dramatic seaside views. But the former simply features another scenic side of California—its agricultural region. The train is named after the San Joaquin Valley, the southern half of the state’s Central Valley, known as “the food basket of the world.” The area is lush with seasonal crops, and notably, 151,000 vineyard acres, making it the largest wine country in California. With at least 10 stops in the San Joaquin Valley, the San Joaquins train is definitely a wine lover’s dream. You will find historic and world-renowned wine destinations like the “Zinfandel Capital of the World”—Lodi, on the Sacramento branch of the route. The San Joaquins route splits in Stockton, with one branch going towards the San Francisco Bay Area, ending at Jack London Square in Oakland.
In the shared southern trunk of the route, you have the Madera Wine Trail, one of America’s oldest grape-growing regions; then Modesto, home to the largest family-owned winery in the U.S., the E & J Gallo Winery. Between the two is also Merced, gateway to Yosemite National Park. You can transfer to the Amtrak Thruway Bus Route 15a, or the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) bus, which goes directly to Yosemite Valley.
Although the San Joaquins doesn’t directly pass through Napa Valley, going there is pretty easy from the Martinez station, where you can take the Amtrak Thruway Bus Route 7. It directly connects you to the Soscol Gateway Transit Center in Downtown Napa. From there, you can hop on the antique Napa Valley Wine Train, which then takes you to St. Helena—the heart of the Napa Valley—and back. You can also take the Amtrak Thruway Route 18 from Hanford station to Paso Robles, one of the best wine regions to visit in the U.S. in 2025. It previously topped the list, with USA Today describing it as a “great alternative to the pricey Napa area.”
Amtrak San Joaquins Route And Schedule
Vineyard in Central California with mountains in the background
Sandra Foyt/Shutterstock
Amtrak San Joaquins is a Y-shaped route. It starts in Bakersfield, California, in the south, heading toward the rose town of Wasco, the agricultural town of Corcoran, and Hanford. Next is Fresno, the artsy “Raisin Capital of the World,” followed by Madera, Merced, Turlock-Denair station in the quiet rural town of Denair, and Modesto, before the split in the culturally rich Stockton. The shorter branch heads to Lodi and then Sacramento. The Bay Area branch continues toward Antioch, A.K.A. “Gateway to Delta” (closest station to Pittsburgh), and then Martinez, Richmond, the historic Emeryville, and finally Oakland.
Amtrak San Joaquins’ schedule caters to both commuters and leisure travelers, with six daily round trips between Bakersfield and Stockton—five continuing to Oakland and one to Sacramento. As for the bus transfer schedules, Merced station has seven daily round-trips to Yosemite via the YARTS bus. Then, Amtrak’s Route 7 bus has two daily departures from Martinez to Napa. But there is only one daily trip from Hanford to Paso Robles and onwards (afternoon) and a return trip during the morning, which means you’ll have to book an overnight stay should you decide to take this wine-side trip.
Amtrak San Joaquins Ticket Prices
Amtrak San Joaquins Train in Bakersfield, California
Richard Thornton/Shutterstock
Ticket prices for Amtrak San Joaquins range from $15 to $100, depending on the length of the journey. The full one-way journey from Bakersfield to Sacramento can go as low as $48, with $71 being the average price. But for the Oakland branch, the average one-way cost is $45, and typically ranges from $36 to $50. Discounts of up to 50% are available for various types of travelers (e.g., children, seniors, etc.), including frequent passengers.
These prices are a lot cheaper and more flexible than Amtrak Vacations’ popular California Wine Country by Rail, a nine-day wine trip on the Coast Starlight, generally starting at $2000. It takes you on an upscale wine tour of the more famous Paso Robles and Napa Valley. While that’s certainly a bucket-list wine trip, San Joaquins’ wine destinations offer a less touristy, more affordable, historic, and family-run experience. It’s a gateway to undiscovered experimental blends.
California
Shutterstock
Population
39.35 Million ( 2020)
Founded Date
September 9, 1850
The Best Time To Go On An Amtrak San Joaquins Wine Trip
San Joaquin Valley, California
Patricia Elaine Thomas/Shutterstock
The best time to go on a wine trip via Amtrak San Joaquins is from summer through early fall, when the California wine country is at its peak. It’s the perfect time to explore the vineyards and participate in immersive activities or festivals like the annual Holiday Spirit Weekend in Madera Wine Trails. Summer is the busiest time in the region, although it’s nothing compared to the crowds of Napa Valley. Just book your Amtrak tickets in advance, as fares tend to surge during the summer. For fewer crowds and a more budget-friendly trip, spring is also a nice time to go. Many tasting rooms are open, the weather is perfect to check out the downtown wine scenes in Lodi and Modesto, and it’s the season of crisp white wines and rosés.
Winters could be cozy and romantic, with some exclusive-feeling tastings due to reduced tourists and openings, or maybe wine nights by the fireplace. You can also get better deals on accommodations and Amtrak fares. Whichever season you visit San Joaquins’ wine stops, you’re guaranteed a unique and authentic wine experience that you just won’t find in Napa Valley or Pasa Robles.
Dining and Cooking