Modesto is in California's San Joaquin Valley.

Understand

Modesto began in the mid to late 1800's as a stop along the railroad between Sacramento to Los Angeles. At the time, it was surrounded by sprawling farmlands. Over time, as the city grew, they began to build dams and canals throughout the neighboring foothills to help irrigate the farmland. After World War II, suburban areas expanded, and Modesto was no exception: by 1980 the city had 100,000 people, and by 2000 it had 200,000. The proximity to the bay area and relatively cheap real estate helped the city become a popular city for commuters to live in.

Today, Modesto is one of a few large cities in the San Joaquin valley, and is home to a unique blend of bay area and farming cultures.

Climate

Modesto
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       2.6     55 40       2.4     63 43       2     69 46       1     75 49       0.6     83 55       0.1     90 60       0     95 63       0     94 62       0.3     89 59       0.7     79 53       1.4     66 45       2     56 40 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches    Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       66     13 4       61     17 6       51     21 8       25     24 9       15     28 13       2.5     32 16       0     35 17       0     34 17       7.6     32 15       18     26 12       36     19 7       51     13 4 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Get in

By plane

• Modesto City–County Airport (MOD  ^IATA), 617 Airport Way, Modesto. Off of Mitchell Road near the Yosemite intersection, ☏ +1 209 577-5200, modairport@modestogov.com. Served by United Express from San Francisco. 

By train

• Amtrak, 1700 Held Dr, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Modesto is serviced several times a day by the San Joaquin line, which runs south to Bakersfield and north to either Sacramento or the Bay Area. 

By bus

• Greyhound, 1001 9th St. Ste. C, ☏ +1 209 526-4314. Station hours M-Su 9AM-1PM, 2:30PM-9PM. 

By car

Modesto is on California State Route 99, the major north-south arterial between Sacramento and Bakersfield.

Get around

By bus

• Modesto Area Express, 1001 9th St., ☏ +1 209 521-1274. M-F 6AM-7:45PM, S 7:45AM-7PM, Su 8:45AM-6PM. $1.25. 
• Stanislaus Regional Transit, toll-free: +1-800-262-1516. Customer service hours M-F 6:30AM-9PM, S 7AM-6:30PM. $1.50. 

See

• Lucas Plaza Statue (Intersection of Downey, 17th Street, McHenry Avenue, J Street and Needham Avenue). This bronze statue features two 1960s teens leaning on a car. It is a tribute to George Lucas, who grew up in Modesto. 
• McHenry Mansion & Museum (906 15th St.). A restored historical home built in 1883, offers free tours year-round. The Museum is across the street from the mansion. 

Do

• Sunshine Rafting Adventures, 17500 Sonora Rd., ☏ +1 209 848-4800. 7AM-8PM. Offering low cost float trips on the Stanislaus River out of Knights Ferry, CA for over 25 years. $17+. 
• Gallo Center For The Arts, 1000 I St., toll-free: +1-877-488-3380. 
• John Thurman Field, 601 Neece Dr., ☏ +1 209 572-4487. Home of the Modesto Nuts minor league baseball team — formerly known as the Modesto A's, they're just as exciting as when Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and Miguel Tejada played for them. $6-$12. 

Learn

• Community Business College, 3800 McHenry Ave (Take Hwy 99 to Standiford Ave, then right on McHenry), ☏ +1 209 529-3648. 8AM-5PM. Take a class for pleasure and learn a new skill. $37+. 
• Modesto Junior College, 435 College Ave, ☏ +1 209 575-6498. 8AM-5PM. One of the oldest community colleges in the state. Many buildings date back to the 1920's and 30's. Famous alumni include George Lucas and Jeremy Renner. 

Buy

• Modesto Certified Farmers Market, 16th St between H and I (downtown). May-Dec. Live music and a wide variety of vendors is worth the trip. 

Eat

Breakfast

• Velvet Grill and Creamery. Has one of the best breakfast specials Modesto has to offer. Their specialty is their French toast, which is made from fresh baked bread that is deep fried and served with a homemade cinnamon butter. 
• Old Mill Restaurant and Grill, 9th Street. A local favorite for breakfast. Biscuits and gravy.YUM! 

Lunch

• Brighter Side Sandwich Shop, 1125 K St. (13th and K), ☏ +1 209 524-7531. M-F 11AM-3:30PM. An odd little place in a converted gas station. Order through the left door, write it on a bag to-go or an index card to-stay. The service is great, the seating is plentiful, and the food is delicious. $. 

Dinner

• La Morenita, 3500 Coffee Rd. (Corner of Coffee and Sylvan), ☏ +1 209 522-5546. Great Mexican food, friendly staff and family friendly. $$. 
• El Rosal. Mexican Food. Voted the best Mexican burrito in the Modesto Bee several years running. 

Drink

• Fat Cat Music House and Lounge. Thirties-era show house, live entertainment, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night stand up comedy. Doors open at 6PM with live Jazz from 6PM-8PM, comedy begins at 8PM. 
• Serrano Social Club, 1030 J St., ☏ +1 209 522-1614. M-S 6AM-5PM. A staple of the Bay Area coffee scene. Has some interesting drinks involving wasabi and chili powder. $. 

Sleep

• Best Western Town House Lodge, 909 16th St, ☏ +1 209 524-7261, fax: +1 209 579-9546. 
• Courtyard Modesto, 1720 Sisk Rd, ☏ +1 209 577-3825, fax: +1 209 577-1717. 
• Days Inn, 1312 McHenry Ave, ☏ +1 209-527-1010. 
• Holiday Inn Express, 4100 Salida Blvd, ☏ +1 209 543-9000. 
• Motel 6, 1920 West Orangeburg Ave, ☏ +1 209 522-7271, fax: +1 209 578-0188. 
• SpringHill Suites Modesto, 1901 W Orangeburg Ave, ☏ +1 209 526-2157, fax: +1 209 526-2155. 
• Super 8 Motel Modesto, 4100 Salida Blvd. Hwy 99 At Pelandale, ☏ +1 209 543-9000. Mission-style architecture. 
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Modesto, 4300 Bangs Ave, ☏ +1 209-543-9009. 
• Days Inn Modesto, 1312 McHenry Ave, toll-free: +1-800-843-6633. 
• Howard Johnson Express Inn Modesto Ceres, 1672 Herndon Rd (From 99, Exit Hatch, turn east, right on Herndon Rd. Hotel on left), ☏ +1 209-537-4821. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Has free internet, breakfast, nationwide calls, and 8 Feet deep swimming pool. 
• La Quinta Inn & Suites Modesto Salida, 4909 SIsk Rd, Salida (From Hwy 99, Exit Kiernan Rd, turn East. Hotel on right), ☏ +1 209-579-8724. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 12PM. Has free internet, hot breakfast, and nationwide calls. Swimming pool, business center, and fitness room and coin laundry are on site. 
• Microtel Inn & Suites Modesto Ceres Turlock, 1760 Herndon Rd (From 99, Exit Hatch, turn east, right on Herndon Rd. Hotel on left), ☏ +1 209-538-6466. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11PM. Has free internet, breakfast, and nationwide calls. Swimming pool, business center, and fitness room and coin laundry are on site. $69. 
• Vagabond Inn Modesto, 1525 McHenry Ave, ☏ +1 209 521-6340, fax: +1 209 575-2015. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. 

Go next

Routes through Modesto

Sacramento ← Stockton ←	N  S	→ Merced → Fresno
END ←	W  E	→ Oakdale → Jct N S
Sacramento / Emeryville ← Stockton ←	N  S	→ Merced → Bakersfield