Windsor, CA Area Guide

Long before Windsor had a name in English, the area was home to the Southern Pomo people, whose name for the site roughly translates to 'blackbird field.' The 1855 naming came from an English Pony Express rider who saw the rolling, oak-dotted hills and was reminded of the grounds surrounding Windsor Castle in England.

The town's story took a dramatic turn during World War II, when the U.S. Army Air Forces built a training base in southern Windsor, the same site that would later become Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport. Windsor remained an unincorporated community for decades after the war, finally becoming an official town in 1992.

Dining in Windsor centers on the Town Green, where a cluster of locally owned spots draws regulars morning through evening. The scene spans Nepalese and Indian cooking, classic American diner fare, and bakery-cafe stops for fresh pastries and coffee. Beyond the downtown core, nearby wineries offer elaborate multi-course tasting menus built around estate-grown produce and award-winning pours.

Sunday mornings bring the Windsor Certified Farmers Market to the Town Green, where local growers sell seasonal produce directly to residents.

US-101 runs through Windsor just south of the Town Green, providing a direct corridor 9 miles south to Santa Rosa and 64 miles south to San Francisco. The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) commuter rail system has its nearest current station at Sonoma County Airport, about 4.4 miles away, with additional SMART stations accessible in Santa Rosa within 10 miles.

Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, just 3.4 miles from the Town Green, serves several major carriers and provides convenient regional air access. San Francisco International Airport is 65 miles south via US-101. Most residential and commercial streets feature well-paved sidewalks, and local roads are generally suited to cycling, reducing reliance on a car for shorter trips around town.

Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, roughly four miles from downtown, covers 850 acres of oak-shaded terrain with eight miles of hilly multi-use trails that deliver sweeping views of the surrounding vineyards and valley. The park welcomes dogs and draws trail runners, mountain bikers, and hikers throughout the year.

Riverfront Regional Park, about six miles out, spans more than 300 acres and features two lakes, redwood groves, looping paths, and a volleyball court. Steelhead Beach Regional Park and Wohler Bridge offer Russian River access for kayaking, swimming, and fishing within a 23-minute drive. Back in town, Windsor Town Green hosts summer concerts, movie nights, and seasonal events that keep the central greenspace lively year-round. The 18-hole Windsor Golf Course, open to the public, occupies the northern edge of town with fairway views framed by vineyard rows.

Rental rates in Windsor track notably below the California statewide average for comparable unit sizes. One-bedroom apartments average $1,927 per month, compared with a California average of $2,266. Two-bedroom units average $2,381 per month.

Everyday needs are well covered around the Town Green and its surrounding streets, Windsor's main commercial core. A Safeway at Lakewood Village Shopping Center handles grocery runs, while Bell Village Windsor, Lakewood Shopping Center, and Windsor Palms Plaza One are all within a short drive for a range of daily retail needs.

For broader shopping, Santa Rosa Plaza sits roughly 10 miles south and includes chain retail and the county's only Apple Store. On Sunday mornings, the Windsor Certified Farmers Market at the Town Green is the go-to spot for locally grown produce and artisan goods.

Windsor pairs a walkable, event-filled Town Green with immediate access to Sonoma wine country, 850 acres of hiking at Shiloh Ranch Regional Park, and Russian River recreation just minutes away.