Major city · United States
Davis, CaliforniaDavis
Give Davis one night, two if you bike: it is a flat, walkable college town 20 min from Sacramento, not a sightseeing base.
Davis is a university town of about 66,000 people in Yolo County, on Interstate 80 between the Bay Area and Sacramento. The UC Davis campus and downtown sit side by side, so you can walk both in a couple of hours. Bikes outnumber almost everything, the food is student-priced, and the town works best as a one-night stop on an Amtrak or I-80 run rather than a destination in itself.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (inland heat, 35 °C (95 °F)+ days)avoid Jul–Aug (inland heat, 95 °F (35 °C)+ days)
- Airports
- Sacramento International (SMF) · Oakland (OAK) · San Francisco International (SFO)
- Nights
- 1–2
About Davis, California
Davis is a city in Yolo County, in California's Sacramento Valley. It is best known for the University of California, Davis, whose campus sits alongside the downtown area; both can be crossed on foot in a couple of hours. Interstate 80 links Davis with the Bay Area and Sacramento, and the city has the highest number of bikes per person of any in the U.S., with bike paths and flat ground making cycling the usual way around. Trains stop at a station built in 1914, within walking distance of campus and downtown. The downtown is youthful, with bars, coffee shops and restaurants serving the college crowd.
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
See
What is worth your time in Davis, California.
- Bohart Museum of Entomology — A campus museum at 455 Crocker Ln, open Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, with weekend events listed on its website.
- UC Davis California Raptor Center — An educational facility that rehabilitates injured and orphaned birds of prey from surrounding counties, with large displays that let visitors see the birds up close.
- UC Davis Arboretum — A 100-acre tract along the Old North Channel of Putah Creek on campus, holding plants from Mediterranean and South African species to smaller North Coast redwoods, and a popular spot for walking, jogging, biking or studying.
- US Bicycling Hall of Fame — A privately run museum at 303 3rd St, open Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings, with historic bicycles, cycling memorabilia and topical exhibits.
- Toad Tunnel — A much-discussed piece of civil engineering in southeast Davis, built to help local toads cross an Interstate 80 overpass.
Do
- Walk or bike between the UC Davis campus and downtown, which run alongside each other.
- Attend a performance at the Mondavi Center on campus, which hosts music, theatre and puppetry year round.
- Shop for locally grown, largely organic produce at the Davis Farmers Market in Central Park on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
- Join the free events on Picnic Day in late April, or the three-day Whole Earth Festival on Mother's Day Weekend.
Eat and drink
Specialities of this place.
- Dos Coyotes Border Cafe — A popular cafe at 1411 W. Covell Blvd serving south-western style food, with inventive specials such as corn quesadillas and large salads; it started in Davis and now has several Sacramento-area locations.
- Tres Hermanes — A Mexican restaurant at 805 2nd St, across from the train station, serving food and margaritas.
- Osteria Fasulo — An Italian restaurant in the Village Homes neighborhood, outside downtown.
Customs
- Davis has the highest number of bikes per capita of any U.S. city, and cycling is the preferred way around for most students and locals.
- Downtown is very pedestrian friendly and has a youthful character, with bars, coffee shops and restaurants popular with the college crowd.
- Public art, including sculptures, mosaics, paintings and stenciled designs, is found all over town.
Events
- Picnic Day — The largest student-run event in the United States, with over 150 free events, most on campus, including dog races, food tastings, exotic animal shows, the Battle of the Bands and a student fashion show.late April
- Whole Earth Festival — A three-day celebration of counterculture, art, politics, sustainability and music on the UC Davis quad.Mother's Day Weekend
- Picnic in the Park — The Wednesday evening Farmers Market becomes this event, with restaurant stands, live music and other activities for a range of ages.March through September
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Davis, California911 ▾
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Davis, California, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyDavis is a low-crime college town and safe to walk at night in the centre.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckSMF Sacramento International (About a 30-min drive; Yolobus route 42 runs to downtown Davis for a few dollars (check the current timetable).).
- Getting aroundWalk or bike.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$4–6
- Sit-down mealSit-down dinner, one main$18–32
- BeerDraught beer in a downtown bar$7–9
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)5 km (3.1 mi) taxi or rideshare3.1 mi (5 km) taxi or rideshare$12–18
- Budget bedHostel or shared-room bed, a night, per personUS$45
- Mid-range bedDowntown hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$170
- High-end bedDowntown hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$280
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$60 · Mid US$110 · High US$200
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- SMF Sacramento International (About a 30-min drive; Yolobus route 42 runs to downtown Davis for a few dollars (check the current timetable).) · OAK Oakland (Amtrak Capitol Corridor connects the Bay Area to Davis; useful if you combine both.) · SFO San Francisco International (BART to Richmond, then Amtrak to Davis; Richmond station is unstaffed, so buy on board.)
Map of Davis, California
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
- Davis, California
- Basic guide
Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps
Guides nearby
- Dixon, California · 14 km straight line
- Woodland · 14 km straight line
- West Sacramento · 17 km straight line
- Winters · 20 km straight line
- Sacramento · 22 km straight line
- Vacaville · 31 km straight line
- McClellan Park · 32 km straight line
- Elk Grove · 34 km straight line
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Feb
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Mar
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Jun
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Aug
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
not flagged
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Dec
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Best: Mar–May, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)), coolest Jan (3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C) low), wettest Jan (10 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Davis, California: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
Feb
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
9 rd
Mar
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
8 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
5 rd
May
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
3 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
1 rd
Jul
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
0 rd
Aug
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
0 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
1 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
3 rd
Nov
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
7 rd
Dec
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
10 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walk or bike. Downtown and campus are adjacent and flat, and the city has one of the highest rates of cycling per person in the US. Unitrans buses run frequently; a single ride costs about $1 for the public (free for undergraduates). Driving is slow in the centre because of bikes and pedestrians.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Sacramento
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Amtrak Capitol Corridor from Davis station, about 20 min
State Capitol, Old Sacramento and the railroad museum; easy half day.
Woodland, California
goDoor to door: About 40 min
Yolobus from downtown Davis, about 20–25 min
Historic main street and a quieter county seat; pairs well with a Davis morning.
Winters
cautionDoor to door: About 40 min
Car via I-80 and CA-128, about 30 min
Small farm town with a few tasting rooms; thin without a car.
San Francisco
overnightDoor to door: 2.5–3 h
Amtrak Capitol Corridor to Emeryville, then a connecting bus, about 2 h 30 min total
Too far for a comfortable return day; sleep in the city instead.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Downtown Davis
Hotels within walking distance of campus, the train station and most restaurants; best for one night without a car.
Richards Blvd / Mace Blvd exits
Highway-side hotel clusters with free parking; you need a car or bus to reach downtown.
On campus (Hyatt Place UC Davis)
Directly across from the Mondavi Center; convenient for campus visits and events.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $100–170 excl. bed
- High
- $170+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Downtown hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$170 | US$170 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$110 | US$220 |
| Yolobus SMF airport to downtown, one way2 × US$2 · check | US$4 |
| Amtrak Capitol Corridor Davis to Sacramento, one way2 × US$12 · check | US$24 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15 | US$30 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$45 |
| Trip total≈ US$247 per person per day, bed included | US$493 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; sales tax added at checkout. Flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $4–6 |
| Counter-service lunch (Thai, Mexican, Indian) | $12–20 |
| Sit-down dinner, one main | $18–32 |
| Draught beer in a downtown bar | $7–9 |
| Unitrans single ride | $1 (check) |
| 5 km taxi or rideshare | $12–18 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Summer afternoons inland regularly pass 35 °C (95 °F): plan campus walking for the morning.Summer afternoons inland regularly pass 95 °F (35 °C): plan campus walking for the morning.
- Picnic Day in late April and Whole Earth Festival on Mother's Day weekend fill every hotel: book weeks ahead.
- Some campus attractions (Bohart Museum, Raptor Center) keep limited hours: check before you go.
- Amtrak trains stop at Davis station on 2nd Street; the station is unstaffed at times, so have your ticket ready.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
Pocket card
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Davis, CaliforniaDavis
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
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To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassy
No embassies in Davis; consulates-general are in San Francisco, and embassies in Washington, DC.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- SMF airport to downtown Davis, Yolobus 42: a few dollars, about 30–40 min (check)
- Amtrak Davis to Sacramento: about $12 one way, 20 min (check)
- Amtrak Bay Area to Davis, round trip: about $50 (check)
Say or show
- Where is the train station? — Where is the train station?
- Is this seat taken? — Is this seat taken?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- How much is it? — How much is it?
Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Davis, California. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (inland heat, 35 °C+ days) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for SMF: Yolobus 42 timings, taxi and rideshare fallback, late-arrival rung.
- Walking clusters with anchors: downtown and 2nd Street, UC Davis core, arboretum and Putah Creek, Richards Blvd hotels.
- Place pages with verified hours (Bohart Museum, US Bicycling Hall of Fame, Raptor Center, Mondavi Center) and eat pages with last orders.
- Event fixtures for Picnic Day and Whole Earth Festival so hotel pricing and crowding are flagged in advance.
Sources
- officialUC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden
- officialUnitrans
- officialYolobus
- officialAmtrak — Davis station
- officialMondavi Center
- secondaryWikivoyage: Davis (California), revision 5121910 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Ask about Davis, California
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