Located about 3 hours from Los Angeles and San Francisco, Paso Robles is the perfect weekend getaway. Spending two days in Paso Robles is the perfect amount of time to enjoy all of the sites and sample a few wineries. It is one of the best wine regions in the United States. There are also many cheap things to do in Paso Robles. Along the way to Paso Robles, there are several cute towns to stop in and gorgeous coastal views. It is a great addition to any California Road Trip!
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How to Get to Paso Robles
The closest major airports to Paso Robles are San Francisco, which is 192 miles away, or Los Angeles, which is 213 miles away. San Luis Obispo, about 30 miles away, has a very small regional airport. Your best bet is to fly into San Francisco or Los Angeles and drive from there. From San Francisco, take the 101 South and get off at 17th Street. From Los Angeles, take the 101 North and get off at Spring Street. If interested in taking a longer but more scenic route, you can take the 1 for a California Coast Road Trip.
Transportation around Paso Robles
In order to get around during your two days in Paso Robles, you will need a car. It is the quickest and most convenient way of getting around. If you are planning on visiting a lot of wineries, you may want to look into hiring a driver. The reception is not the best, so Lyft/Uber may be unreliable.
Where to Stay in Paso Robles
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Paso Robles hotels here!
Although it is convenient to stay near Downtown Paso Robles, many of the hotels downtown are pricey. If you want to stay in a hotel, opt to stay just north of Downtown.
These are some great options for hotels to stay at in Paso Robles
- Oaks Hotel (I have stayed here, and it’s fabulous)
- La Quinta Paso Robles
- Best Western Plus Black Oak
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites
- Courtyard by Marriott Paso Robles
- Hampton Inn & Suites Paso Robles
Another option is to stay at an Airbnb. Airbnbs are a nice option if you would like to cook for yourself. We have also stayed in an Airbnb below downtown. It was owned by an older couple, Sally and Patrick. They were so friendly and were very responsive anytime we needed something. The apartment was large and perfect for four people. There were two separate bedrooms, a spacious living room, and a small dining area with a fridge and microwave. Guests also have access to a fire pit and BBQ area.
Two Days in Paso Robles
Day 1 in Paso Robles
Go on a Hike
Cost: Free
Start off your two days in Paso Robles with a hike. There are several hikes in the area. The Salinas River Walk is a more mild stroll along the river. You can also opt for the Montebello Oaks Open Space Trail for a short hike. For the best hiking option, head to the Stadium Park Trailhead. Here there are several hiking trails around the area that offer gorgeous views of the surrounding area. The trails range from easy to difficult and are around 2 miles.
Olive Oil Sampling
Cost: Free
After hiking, the next fun thing to do during two days in Paso Robles is to head to sample some olive oils. Although Paso Robles may be known for their wine, they also produce quite a bit of olive oil. There are several farms in the area, and several wineries also produce olive oil. If you want to go on an actual olive farm tour, check out Kiler Ridge Olive Farm. They do tastings by appointment only.
If you want something more casual, stop by Olivas de Oro. This little shop gives you a sample of their olive oils and vinegar whenever you would like to drop by. Best of all, it is in Tin City, a great place for eating, breweries, and distilleries. Alta Cresta has a great online shop and olive oil recipes as well.
Wine Taste at Sculpterra
Cost: $10 for eight tastings
Hours: 10am-5pm
Wine Tasting is the most popular thing to do in Paso Robles. Paso Robles contains over 200 wineries, and there are so many amazing wines produced in the region. Check out this post to learn more about wine tasting in Paso Robles. The best part is that many of the wine tastings are very affordable!
Head to Sculpterra Winery for some wine tasting and a picnic lunch. A wine tasting here costs $10 to sample 8 wines, or you can opt to buy a bottle to have with your lunch. If you do not want to pack a picnic lunch, opt to grab lunch prior to visiting. After Sculpterra, opt to head to another winery or spend some time relaxing before dinner.
Eat Dinner at Basil Thai Restaurant
Cost: $$
If you love Thai food, Basil Thai is a must-visit place for dinner. Affordable and delicious, Basil Thai is located in downtown Paso Robles. Make sure to grab one of their milk teas with your meal. After dinner, grab a glass of wine at the Pony Club Wine Bar (which has a great happy hour) or take a stroll around the plethora of shops downtown. Make sure to grab some cookies from the Brown Butter Cookie Company. They are a Paso Robles staple!
Visit Sensorio
Cost: $35
Hours: 5pm-8:30pm
Tonight, head over to Sensorio: Paso Robles Field of Light. This art display by Bruce Munro opened in 2019. It contains over 58,000 fiber-optic stemmed solar-powered spheres in various colors across 15 acres of land. Ken and Bobbi Hunter, the owners of the Sensorio property, saw Bruce Munro’s artwork at an exhibit in Uluru, Australia, while on vacation. They thought an art display by him would be a spectacular addition to the Paso Robles area. This fully outdoor experience offers all guests the chance to experience great art while social distancing.
Day 2 in Paso Robles
After a busy day one, slow it down during your second day in Paso Robles.
Wine Taste at AmByth Estate
Cost: $40 for a tour, $20 for wine tasting
Hours: Weekends 9am-4pm by appointment only,
Tasting Room Hours: Fri-Sat: 12pm-6pm, Sun: 12pm-4pm, Mon: 12pm-6pm
Start your morning with a private tour and wine tasting at Ambyth Estate. Ambyth is a biodynamic and organic winery. Biodynamic wineries use certain farming techniques when creating their wines. They also do not use any extra chemicals in their winemaking process, so it is all-natural. Visitors will get the chance to walk the fields, visit the barrel room, and taste a variety of wines. Plan on spending at least an hour and a half when visiting AmByth Estate.
Eat Lunch at Jeffy’s Wine Country BBQ
Cost: $$
Hours: Thus-Mon: 11am-8pm, Closed Tues and Wed
Grab lunch at Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ. This place serves a variety of salads, sandwiches, and other BBQ items. They had an amazing pulled pork mac and cheese. They also have some shared options if you visit with a larger group. Around the area are several wine tasting rooms if you want to grab a glass after lunch.
Visit a Hot Spring
Cost: $7 and up
This afternoon, opt to head to another winery or relax in a hot spring. Franklin Hot Springs is a more laid-back and cheaper option for a hot spring. There is a swimming area as well as a hot tub area. Open from 8am-10pm, admission is $7, and you can stay however long you would like. If you are looking for something a little fancier, check out the River Oaks Hot Springs. They offer various spa packages, or you can opt for a one-hour session in the private mineral spas for $22 on the weekends. No matter what, a hot spring is always a relaxing choice.
More than Two Days in Paso Robles?
If you have more than two days in Paso Robles, make sure to check out these other attractions!
Eat at the Paso Market Walk
Cost: $$
The Paso Market Walk is a newer area which contains multiple restaurants and food options. Many of the places are family owned and offer a unique menu with flavors of the area. Sample some olive oil or grab an ice cream snack. There is a little something for people of all ages at the Paso Market Walk.
Visit a Museum
Cost: Free and up
Paso Robles has multiple museums, several of which cover the history of the area. It is one of the cheap things to do in Paso Robles. Families visiting the area should head to the Paso Robles Children’s Museum. Those interested in history need to visit the Paso Robles Pioneer Museum and the Paso Robles Historical Society. Art lovers will enjoy the Art Museum, while those interested in military history must visit the Estrella Warbirds Museum. No matter what your interests are, all of the museums are cute and will take a small amount of time to visit.
Visit a Brewery or Cidery
Cost: $5 and up
Beer lovers will enjoy the various breweries in the area, especially the Firestone Walker Brewing Company. Tin City offers several other brewery options to enjoy.
Visit a Distillery
Cost: $10 and up
Along with having a ton of wineries, Paso Robles also has many distilleries and a distillery trail you can follow. I had the opportunity to visit Krobar Craft Distillery. What I liked was the fact you could get a sample trio along with a cocktail to help mix it up a bit. If you bought a bottle, you got to keep your glass! Calwise is another popular distillery option. If you are interested in some mixers to make your cocktails, head over to Yes Cocktail Co. for supplies.
Go on a Wine Tour
Check out these listings for various wine tours of wine tasting in Paso Robles.
- Sightseeing by Sidecar
- Cass Winery Tour
- Sidecar Deluxe Wine Tour
- After-Hours Winery Tour
- Wineries Day Trip with Lunch
- Sidecar Premier Wine Tour
- All-Inclusive Wine Tasting
Final Thoughts About Two Days in Paso Robles
Paso Robles is the perfect weekend getaway. Two days in Paso Robles will give you the chance to sample a variety of wineries, eat at some local restaurants, and visit some of the local sites. This area is affordable and offers many cheap things to do in Paso Robles during a visit. Paso Robles is a great place to include on a Central California road trip.
37 thoughts on “10+ Fun and Cheap Things to Do During Two Days in Paso Robles”
Such a great guide! I will be sure to save this for a trip to Paso Robles in the future!
I never knew they made Olive oil there! This sounds like an awesome weekend trip. I love the winery tour!
Right!? It’s a pretty cool town.
I hope you can go soon!
I have been to both San Francisco and Los Angeles but haven’t really ventured too far out of the city. I feel a road trip coming on. This looks amazing. And some of those tastings are pretty well priced. I always think of this kind of thing as going to be expensive. I’m not a big wine fan which is probably why I haven’t really booked a wine country getaway yet, but there still seems plenty to do and I love the look of the area. That hike!
California has so many road trips! And Paso for sure has much more than wine.
Wow, all I can say is I really need to go out and explore more of the US! I’m from the northeast, so I’ve only been out west once. I visited San Diego and L.A., but these photos are making me think I need to explore more of California!
Oh yes you definitely need to spend more time in California! There is so much to see outside of the cities.
Sensorio looks so cool! That must have been a wonderful experience.
It was pretty neat! I did!
I love the 2 day guide! I have never heard of olive oil tastings but I love the idea!
Olive oil tastings are pretty fun! There are actually many different flavors and mixes!
The sensorio looks so cool! I think I’ve seen photos before but didn’t know it was in Paso! I live near LA, so this would be a perfect weekend trip!
Yes! It’s so easy to get to from LA!
I had never heard of Paso Robles before but it looks like a cool place to visit! I’ve never been to California and I’d love to visit California one time!
It’s an awesome little wine town!
Never heard of Paso Robles till I read this. I Will definitely be reading up more about this destination, it seems amazing!
If you love wine it’s definitely a great place to visit!
I lived in California for three years and never heard of this place! Looks like a great place to visit.
It’s a super fun place!
I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for close to 30 years and never got a chance to get to this wine area – which I am very sad about! I have tasted plenty of bottles coming from this region and think it is really good. I have to come out to SF for business now at least once a year so hope to make a weekend of it one of these times in the future and spend it in Paso Robles!
Oh man! You gotta get back to go down there someday!
I just went to Paso Robles last year and really liked it. We stayed in an little BnB on a Sheep Farm. And the SENSORIO Field of Light was sooooo cool! It’s a great a little town.
That’s awesome! I want to stay on the llama farm.
Paso Robles has certainly caught my attention! This is a great list of things to do. Sensorio sounds so cool, that must be quite the sight to see! Spending an afternoon at one of the distilleries followed by an evening at the Franklin Hot Springs sounds like a dream right now!
I loved Sensorio! It was pretty neat.
Gorgeous! I love the look of all that food, drinks and Sensorio! It’s funny though, those views look almost like you were in Europe! A new version of Europe with English menus. 😉
Haha it’s true! There are some pockets of European influence.
I have heard of Paso Robles, but never realized there was so much to do there and all of the wine and tasting places it offers! I feel like I’ve seen quite a few places in Cali, but every time I see a place like this I realize how much more there is to see 🙂
Right!? There is seriously so much to see in Cali!
I’d love to do this one day! I love that your itinerary isn’t just about the wine either, fab post 🙂
Thank you! So much to do there besides wine tasting (although that is my fav)
I still haven’t been up there, and we’ve lived in San Diego now for 6 years. Sounds like we need to go have some terrific wine times up there once we’re able!
Oh yes! You need to get up there!
I’ve been to many places in California, but never to Paso Robles. Our next 2021 trip is to CA, so maybe I will include a stop. It looks like a great day of wine and food.
Love that area! Will have to give your suggestions a try the next time I’m in that neck of the woods!
Make sure to visit Bovino! It’s a beautiful Estate winery set onto a hill in Templeton, which is just outside of Paso Robles. The views are breathtaking from the tasting room and patio. The food is fantastic and the wine…Amazing! We have visited this area every year for the last 5 years. It’s our favorite place! Don’t forget you are only 30 minutes from the beaches and there are several to see. Morrow Bay is a great beach town with shopping, restaurants and breweries, wildlife, etc. San Louis Obispo is 30 minutes away, and that airport is actually quite nice and convenient. Have fun in Paso! We always do!