Travel Nurse Housing in Napa Valley, California: Complete Guide
Napa Valley is the premier wine region in America, a 30-mile valley in northern California lined with world-class wineries, Michelin-starred restaurants, and rolling vineyard hills. Travel nurses find moderate demand at Queen of the Valley Medical Center and a lifestyle defined by exceptional food and wine.
Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa is the primary hospital.
Whether you are heading to Napa Valley for your first travel nursing assignment or returning for another contract, this guide will help you navigate the housing market, understand what to expect from local costs, and find a neighborhood that fits your needs. Napa Valley has a lot to offer travel nurses, and a little planning goes a long way toward making your assignment a success.
Major Hospitals and Health Systems
Napa Valley is home to several major hospitals and health systems that consistently hire travel nurses across a wide range of specialties. Knowing which facilities are in the area helps you plan your housing search around commute times and gives you a sense of where demand is concentrated.
Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center — A community hospital in Napa with emergency, cardiac, and comprehensive medical services serving the Napa Valley.
Travel nurse demand in Napa Valley is generally moderate, with ED, med-surg, and telemetry being among the most frequently requested specialties. Contract availability tends to be strong year-round, though demand typically peaks during fall harvest season (August-November) and summer. If you are flexible on specialty or shift, you will have even more options to choose from in this market.
Best Neighborhoods for Travel Nurses
Choosing the right neighborhood is one of the most important decisions you will make during your Napa Valley assignment. Where you live affects your commute, your safety, your access to amenities, and ultimately your quality of life for the duration of your contract. Here are the top neighborhoods that travel nurses should consider when searching for housing in Napa Valley.
Downtown Napa
The revitalized downtown with restaurants, tasting rooms, and the Oxbow Public Market.
Pros: Walkable, dining, tasting rooms, Oxbow Market, close to hospital
Cons: Higher rents, tourist traffic, wine country prices
Napa South and American Canyon
More affordable areas south of downtown with newer development.
Pros: More affordable, newer housing, practical, highway access
Cons: Car-dependent, less scenic, farther from hospital, suburban
St. Helena and Yountville
Charming wine-country towns north of Napa with Michelin-starred restaurants.
Pros: Wine-country charm, world-class dining, beautiful scenery
Cons: Very expensive, limited housing, tourist traffic, small towns
When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Car required. Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail run the length of the valley. Traffic can be heavy on weekends. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Napa Valley through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.
Average Housing Costs
Housing costs in Napa Valley are in line with the national average. Here is a general overview of what you can expect to pay for rental housing in the area. Keep in mind that prices vary by neighborhood, season, and the specific amenities included with the unit.
- Studio apartment: $1,300 to $2,100 per month
- One-bedroom apartment: $1,600 to $2,600 per month
- Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $2,000 to $3,200 per month
Napa Valley is expensive due to wine tourism and California costs. Downtown Napa and American Canyon are the most practical options. Fall harvest season tightens the rental market.
Many travel nurses in Napa Valley find their housing through Furnished Finder , which connects healthcare travelers with landlords who specifically offer furnished, short-term rentals designed for assignment-length stays. It is one of the most widely used housing platforms in the travel nursing industry and an excellent starting point for your search. You can also explore local Facebook groups, Craigslist, and extended-stay hotels to compare your options and find the best fit for your budget and preferences.
GSA Stipend Rate
The General Services Administration publishes per diem rates that many travel nursing agencies use as a baseline for calculating housing and meals and incidentals stipends. The GSA rate for the Napa Valley, CA area varies by time of year, with higher rates typically applying during peak travel seasons and lower rates during off-peak months.
It is essential to check the current GSA per diem rate for your specific assignment dates and location, as rates are updated annually each October and can change significantly from year to year. You can look up the exact rate on the GSA website or ask your recruiter for the figures they are using to calculate your pay package. Keep in mind that your actual stipend may differ from the published GSA rate depending on your agency’s internal pay structure and policies.
Understanding how your stipend fits into your total compensation is key to evaluating any travel nursing contract. For help breaking down the numbers, use our pay calculator to compare packages side by side and see your estimated take-home pay after taxes, stipends, and deductions.
Housing Tips for Napa Valley
Every city has its own quirks and considerations when it comes to finding and securing travel nurse housing. Here are tips specific to Napa Valley that will help you avoid common pitfalls, stretch your housing stipend further, and settle in more quickly.
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California cost of living and taxes — High state income tax and housing costs. Stipend rates should reflect this.
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World-class food and wine — Over 400 wineries and some of the best restaurants in America are in the valley.
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Harvest season transforms the valley — August through November is harvest season with crush events, grape picking, and peak tourism.
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San Francisco is about an hour south — Bay Area amenities and additional hospitals are accessible for day trips.
For a comprehensive overview of the housing search process from start to finish, including how to spot scams and negotiate lease terms, check out our complete travel nurse housing guide. It covers everything you need to know regardless of which city you are heading to.
Cost of Living Overview
Napa Valley’s cost of living is well above average, driven by California housing costs and the premium wine-country location.
When budgeting for your Napa Valley assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and the Oxbow Public Market offer options. Many produce stands and farmers markets operate year-round. Tracking your spending during the first two weeks of your assignment will give you a realistic picture of your monthly costs and help you adjust your budget accordingly.
Things to Do on Days Off
One of the greatest perks of travel nursing is the opportunity to explore a new city on your days off. Napa Valley has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.
- Wine Tasting — Over 400 wineries in the valley, from iconic Napa names to boutique family producers.
- Oxbow Public Market — A gourmet marketplace in downtown Napa with local food vendors, oyster bars, and artisan shops.
- Hot Air Balloon Rides — Napa Valley is one of the premier hot-air ballooning destinations in the world, with dawn flights over the vineyards.
- Culinary Experiences — Michelin-starred restaurants including The French Laundry in Yountville, one of the finest restaurants on Earth.
Take full advantage of your time in Napa Valley. Exploring the local culture, trying restaurants you have never heard of, and visiting nearby attractions are what make travel nursing more than just a paycheck. Many travel nurses find that their days off are when they truly fall in love with a new city.
Final Thoughts
Napa Valley, California offers travel nurses America’s premier wine valley with over 400 wineries, Michelin-starred dining, hot-air balloon rides, and travel nursing at Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center in one of the most celebrated food and wine destinations in the world. With Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center and a well above average cost of living, it is a market well worth considering whether you are a first-time traveler or a seasoned veteran looking for your next destination.
Start your housing search as early as possible, ideally four to six weeks before your assignment start date. The best furnished rentals tend to go quickly, especially in popular neighborhoods near major hospitals. Furnished Finder is an excellent resource for finding travel nurse housing in Napa Valley, and joining local travel nurse social media groups can give you insider tips and real-time availability updates.
For more resources on finding and securing great travel nurse housing anywhere in the country, explore our complete housing guide. And when you are comparing pay packages for Napa Valley assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.
We wish you the best on your Napa Valley assignment. It is a great place to be a travel nurse.