Get Around Petaluma with a Free Shuttle + Convenient Bikeshare

If you’re on the fence about renting a car for your next trip to Petaluma, LumaGo might just tip the scales toward enjoying Petaluma without the added expense and carbon footprint of a rental car. LumaGo is a free, on-demand shuttle serving a good portion of central Petaluma. It works like popular rideshare programs with a free app. The minibus has wheelchair access, room for bikes, and friendly drivers. Need help planning that Petaluma trip without a car rental? Read on and then give us a call, if you still need assistance with trip ideas.

Plane, Train, and Shuttles

Green LumaGo shuttle, with bike racks on front, parked in parking lot's designated area.

Flying into Santa Rosa is the most convenient, hassle-free way to get to Petaluma, if you’re coming from southern California or out of state. From the airport, you can take the SMART Connect shuttle to the SMART train station. Through June 30, 2025, seniors and youth 0-18 ride SMART for free. Tickets may be purchased with the SMART app. Alternatively, you can purchase a reloadable Clipper card directly from Clipper or from a SMART kiosk on any of the platforms. SMART stops at the Petaluma Visitor’s Center in the Old Train Depot.

From the station, you can reserve a LumaGo pickup using the free LumaGo app to take you to any of the following hotels:

Courtyard by Marriott

Courtyard Petaluma Sonoma County offers modern comfort and convenience for business and leisure travelers. Guests can relax in spacious rooms and enjoy a meal and craft cocktails at The Bistro. The hotel features an outdoor pool and 24-hour fitness center.

Hampton Inn

The Hampton Inn Petaluma is conveniently located near Downtown Petaluma. Enjoy proximity to an abundance of stores, restaurants and breweries. The hotel is set in the historic Petaluma Silk Mill, originally built in 1892, and is designed to mimic the mills of New England. Their friendly staff is committed to ensuring every guest has a comfortable stay.

Hotel Petaluma

The historic Hotel Petaluma sits distinctly at 205 Kentucky Street, in the heart of downtown Petaluma, just steps away from boutique and antique shopping, bistros, and wine tasting rooms. Originally built in 1923, Hotel Petaluma features grand common areas and courtyards, event spaces, a cheese shop, Barber Cellars wine tasting room and The Shuckery restaurant.

Metro Hotel and Café

This small, eclectic self-serve-style boutique hotel exudes French charm. In fact, the Metro Hotel and Café has this quirky French circus vibe, with gnomes galore. Located near historic downtown, this award-winning hotel is ensconced in a restored 140-year-old building and offers standard queens and two-room suites.

Exploring Petaluma with LumaGo

Once you’re settled, you can hop on LumaGo to get to and from your chosen downtown destinations without worrying about gas, parking, or driving while intoxicated.

Several fixed pick-up locations include the Petaluma Arts Center lot near the Visitors Center (and SMART station), the Community Center, the Eastside Transit Center, and the Fairgrounds, but it will also pick you up at the nearest corner of your location within the service area. The app provides estimated pickup times, updates, and alerts, similar to other rideshare apps. Riders can also request a ride by calling 1-877-778-LUMA (5862).

Handicapped riders are transported to and from their exact location within the service area. LumaGo runs till 10 pm on weekends.

Learn more at city of petaluma’s LumaGo page

Restaurants and Attractions Accessible with LumaGo

There is so much to see and do right in downtown Petaluma, all within the LumaGo service area!

Highlights include:

Antique stores
Art galleries and Petaluma Art Center
Boutique shopping
Brewpubs
Cinemas
Ice cream shops
Live music venues
Petaluma Historical Library and Museum
Restaurants
Petaluma Skate Park
Petaluma Swim Center
Water recreation
Wine Tasting rooms
Annual and semi-annual festivals, events and fairs (Kentucky Street, Steamer Landing, Lucchesi and Walnut Parks, and Petaluma Fairgrounds)

Get there with pedal-power

White electric bikes in bike rack with Petaluma Train Depot in background

In addition to LumaGo, Petaluma has a bikeshare program. Redwood Bikeshare, a pilot program launched in Petaluma in October 2024, allows visitors and residents to unlock and pay by the minute for an electric bicycle to get around Petaluma. The bikes can be reserved at the SMART train station and any of these Redwood Bikeshare racks throughout Petaluma.

Redwood Bikeshare Rack Locations

Aqus Café (189 H St.)
Maria Dr. & Park Ln. (near little league field)
Oak St. & N. Water St.
Petaluma Community Center (at Lucchesi Park, 320 N McDowell Blvd)
Petaluma Historical Library & Museum (20 4th St.)
Petaluma Swim Center / Petaluma Regional Library (900 E. Washington St)
SMART station / Petaluma Visitors Center (220 Lakeville St.)
Walnut Park (4th St. & E St.)
Western Ave. & Howard St.
Western Ave. & Kentucky St.
More bike racks will be added.

Riders scan the QR code on the bike’s handlebars from the app, remove and secure the tether, and enjoy their ride within the service area, which extends from Santa Rosa to San Rafael. The bikes can be returned and locked at any Redwood Bikeshare rack.

learn more about Redwood Bikeshare

Ride, Pedal, or Float in Petaluma

With LumaGo and Redwood Bikeshare, getting around Petaluma without a car is a breeze! You can even get a different view of Petaluma from the river, on a watercraft from The Floathouse. However you get around, you are sure to find plenty to do and see in Petaluma. Make sure to get a Visitors Guide and sign up for Visitor Petaluma Visitors Newsletters to get inspired. You can also visit our apps page to get all your apps pre-loaded.

request a visitors guide