Your guide to experiencing fall in the country
Coffee - Pumpkins - Wine - Farm Stand - Antiques - RedwoodsFall in Inland Mendocino County
🍂 Fall in Inland Mendocino County
Your guide to experiencing fall in the country
Looking for a fall day trip that feels like a true escape from the city?
Head north from Sonoma County and discover Inland Mendocino County, where small towns, vineyards, farm stands, pumpkin patches, local shops and beautiful fall colors make the perfect country getaway.
From Hopland to Ukiah, Redwood Valley to Willits, there is plenty to explore. Make it a day trip from Santa Rosa or stay for the weekend and slow down a little.
🍁 FALL ROAD TRIP AT A GLANCE
Hopland → Wine, food + shopping
Ukiah → Downtown, fall colors + farmers market
Farm Stands → Local produce, flowers + seasonal treats
Redwood Valley → Coffee, farm animals, pumpkins + wine
Willits → Skunk Train + redwoods
Stay Overnight → Redwood Valley + Ukiah
Here are a few of our favorite ways to experience fall in Inland Mendocino County.
🍷 Start in Hopland
Driving north from Sonoma County? Hopland is your first stop in Inland Mendocino County.
This charming wine country town is filled with locally owned restaurants, adorable coffee shops, boutiques, antiques and places to stay — plus a whole lineup of local wineries.
Spend the morning wandering through town, grab a coffee, shop a little and then settle in for some wine tasting.
A few Hopland-area wineries to explore include:
Nelson Family Vineyards • Campovida • Jaxon Keys • Brutocao • Graziano • Saracina • McNab Ridge • Dancing Crow and many more.
Whether you’re looking for a leisurely lunch, a glass of wine or a little shopping, Hopland is an easy way to start your fall country adventure. Local favorite food stops include Golden Pig & Bluebird Cafe!
🍂 Wander Downtown Ukiah
Continue north into Downtown Ukiah, where fall is beautiful and looks like a scene out of Gilmore Girls.
Take a walk through downtown and enjoy the changing leaves, locally owned shops and restaurants. This is a great place to slow down, grab lunch and wander for a while.
A few things to add to your list:
- 🛍️ Browse local boutiques
- 🍽️ Grab lunch or coffee at a locally owned restaurant
- 📚 Visit Mendocino Book Company
- 🍂 Enjoy the beautiful fall trees and changing leaves
- 🚶 Take a leisurely walk around downtown
Ukiah is a great place to experience a little of the local community before continuing your country adventure.
🥕 Shop the Fall Harvest at a Famers Market
Fall is farmers market and farm stand season, and there are plenty of opportunities to bring a little bit of the country home with you.
Saturday Farmers Market — Downtown Ukiah
Spend Saturday morning at the Ukiah Farmers Market and browse the local fall harvest.
Look for:
- 🍎 Local produce
- 🌻 Flowers
- 🥕 Seasonal fruits and vegetables
- 🥖 Local food and treats
Grab something delicious and keep exploring!
Sunday Farmers Market — Redwood Valley
If you’re visiting on Sunday, stop by the Redwood Valley Farmers Market at Lions Park.
It’s a relaxed way to spend a Sunday morning while supporting local farmers, growers and makers.
🧺 Stop at a Local Farm Stand
One of the best parts of a fall drive through Inland Mendocino County?
Stopping wherever you see a farm stand.
The Ukiah Valley and surrounding countryside are filled with small farms and local growers, and fall is the perfect time to slow down, see what’s in season and bring a little bit of the country home with you.
Look for seasonal produce, flowers, baked goods, farm-made treats and other local finds. Availability changes with the season, which is part of the fun.
A few local stops to look for along the way include:
🌻 Knead a Nibble
A fun local stop to add to your fall country drive. Pick up delicious local sourdough and enjoy one of the little local discoveries that makes exploring the valley so much fun.
🌿 Plant Mercantile
For the plant lovers, add Plant Mercantile to your list. It’s another great place to slow down and browse while you’re exploring the local area.
🥕 North Howell Creek Farm
Look for seasonal farm offerings and locally grown goods from this small local farm.
🍰 Little Sweet Thing
Add a little something sweet to your country road trip and support another local small business along the way.
Our advice? Don’t plan every stop too tightly. Leave a little room to pull over, explore a farm stand, buy something you didn’t know you needed and keep driving.
That’s part of experiencing fall in the country. 🍂
🎃 Pick a Pumpkin at Pirate Pete’s
Looking for some classic fall fun?
Pirate Pete’s Pumpkin Patch in Ukiah is a great stop for families looking to add a little pumpkin-patch fun to their fall day.
Make a morning of downtown Ukiah, grab lunch, explore the local shops and then head over to the pumpkin patch.
It’s an easy way to add a little more fall magic to your day.
🍷 Next Stop: Redwood Valley
Just north of Ukiah, you’ll find Redwood Valley, home to vineyards, family farms and plenty of country charm.
And this is where we’d recommend slowing down for a while.
☕ Stop at Testa Coffee & Wine
Start your Redwood Valley stop at Testa Coffee & Wine.
Grab a coffee and pastry, browse Testa Antiques next door and take a little time to explore.
Traveling with kids?
Add the Testa Ranch Walk to your day and take a walk through the family ranch to meet the animals that call the farm home.
It’s an easy way to experience a little piece of farm life while you’re here.
📍 9001 N State St, Redwood Valley
🎃 Stop at Jack & Noel’s Pumpkin Patch
Just up the road from Testa, you’ll find Jack & Noel’s Pumpkin Patch.
It’s an easy addition to your Redwood Valley day, especially for families.
Opening Weekend: October 3–4
Open through October 31
Hours: 10 AM–6 PM
Pick out a pumpkin, enjoy some fall fun and then continue exploring Redwood Valley.
🍷 Go Wine Tasting in Redwood Valley
Fall is one of the most beautiful times to visit wine country.
The vineyards are changing, harvest is underway and the valley feels especially alive.
Redwood Valley is home to several wonderful local wineries, including:
Testa Vineyards • Barra of Mendocino • Frey Vineyards • Cesar Toxqui
Make a few stops, enjoy the scenery and take your time.
That’s what country wine tasting is all about.
🚂 Keep Going North to Willits
Want to make your fall adventure even bigger?
Continue north to Willits and hop aboard the historic Skunk Train.
Fall is a beautiful time to ride through the redwoods, and there are seasonal experiences that make the trip especially fun.
🎃 Pumpkin Express
Looking for a classic fall family experience?
The Pumpkin Express departs from Willits and combines a train ride with plenty of fall fun.
These popular seasonal rides can sell out, so check the current schedule and availability before you go.
🍷 Highball Express
Looking for something for the grown-ups?
The Highball Express is a redwood rail cruise featuring Mendocino beer, wine and spirits.
It’s a memorable way to experience the redwoods — and another reason to turn your fall day trip into a weekend.
🍂 Plan Around a Fall Event
Sometimes the best way to experience the area is to plan your trip around one of the local fall events.
🎃 Ukiah Country PumpkinFest
October 17–18, 2026
Head downtown for a full weekend of fall fun, including food, children’s activities, rides, Scarecrow City and more.
🎃 Testa Harvest Fest
October 31 • 9 AM–2 PM
Come celebrate Halloween and harvest season at Testa with family, farm animals and plenty of fall fun.
🍷 Taste of Redwood Valley
November 21 • 11 AM–5 PM
Come back for the holiday edition of Taste of Redwood Valley and explore participating wineries and local businesses throughout the valley.
🛏️ Make It a Weekend
Why rush home?
There are plenty of ways to turn your fall day trip into a relaxing weekend in Inland Mendocino County.
Coyote Valley Wyndham Garden
Stay right in Redwood Valley and use it as your home base for exploring the valley, Ukiah and beyond.
Local Vacation Rentals
There are several beautiful vacation rentals throughout the area, including two Testa vacation rentals for those looking for a country getaway.
🚐 Stay at Testa with Harvest Hosts
Traveling by RV?
Testa Vineyards also welcomes RV travelers through Harvest Hosts.
Spend the night surrounded by the vineyard and wake up in the country.
🍁 Come Experience Fall in the Country
You don’t have to drive for hours to find a beautiful fall getaway.
From Hopland to Ukiah, Redwood Valley to Willits, Inland Mendocino County is full of small-town charm, local wine, farm stands, pumpkin patches, changing leaves, redwood forests and places to slow down.
Whether you’re coming from Santa Rosa, Sonoma County or the greater North Bay, make a day of it — or stay for the weekend.
We look forward to seeing you in the country this fall. 🍂