Stockton (California) – Travel guide at Wikivoyage (2024)

Stockton is a city in the San Joaquin Valley in northern California.

Located on the San Joaquin Delta, Stockton is the world's most inland natural port and was previously a major port city. One of the larger cities along I-5 through the Central Valley, it is a convenient stop and offers a variety of restaurants and accommodations for road-trippers. There are several shopping centers and movie theaters and one art museum but few major attractions.

The poem "Casey at the Bat," about the losing baseball team, "the Mudville Nine" may be a reference to Stockton, which was referred to as Mudville in its earlier years.

Stockton is in central California between Interstate 5 and State Highway 99. Stockton is just north of Interstate 205. State Routes 26, 4 and 88 also intersect with Stockton.

• From the San Francisco Bay Area, take Interstate 580 to 205 east then merge north onto Interstate 5.
• From Reno and North Lake Tahoe, take Interstate 80 west to Sacramento and South on Interstate 5.
• From South Lake Tahoe, take US Route 50 west to Sacramento and then south on Interstate 5.
• From Redding and the Pacific Northwest, take Interstate 5 south.
• From the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California, take Interstate 5 or State Route 99 north.

• 1 Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK ^IATA). A small airport that is served only by Allegiant Air with flights from Las Vegas, Phoenix-Mesa (not the main Phoenix airport), and San Diego. It is also served by United Express with flights to Los Angeles. Larger airports with more connections are located in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area. Unfortunately, the Sacramento airport is on the far northwest side (about 60 miles), rather than between the two cities. Allow plenty of time during the morning and evening commute. Oakland is about 10 miles further. (updated Apr 2020)

Stockton is relatively well served by rail, by both commuter and intercity trains. The Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) makes four round trips between Stockton and San Jose on weekdays, with a schedule mainly geared towards commuters. Additionally, Amtrak runs its San Joaqin train between Bakersfield and Oakland/Sacramento via Stockton.

It's important to notice that there are two railway stations. ACE and Amtrak trains to and from Sacramento use the 2 Robert J. Cabral Station, located at 949 East Channel Street. The second station 3 San Joaquin Street station is at 735 S San Joaquin St and is used by Amtrak trains to and from Oakland.

Greyhound has a station here

Stockton offers regional transit throughout Stockton via the San Joaquin RTD Express buses and the Downtown Trolleys. The best option, however, is to travel by car.

Downtown Stockton has had many new additions including a new ball park (Stockton Ports), Stockton arena, Bob Hope Theater and other attractions. Stockton may not be a destination but it's not a bad place to stay at on your way somewhere else.

• 1 Port of Stockton. California's largest inland seaport just south of the crosstown highway. Be careful around the port area as the police are known to accost anyone looking around or taking photos.
• 2 Haggin Museum, 1201 N Pershing Ave (in Victory Park), ☏ +1 209-940-6300. closed M-Tu, open afternoons other days. Art and local history museum put on by the San Joaquin Pioneer and Historical Society that relates important points in Stockton's past and changing art exhibits. $8 or $7 for seniors and $5 for youth.

Stockton has some recreational opportunities available. Stockton is within a few hours' drive of the California Coast, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park and can serve as a rest or rendezvous point on the way to these locations. The community offers many local recreational opportunities such as professional and college sports teams, an ice rink, and the Delta, which provides thousands of miles of waterways for water skiing, sailing and other water activities. There are also many opportunities to enjoy local music, theater, dance troupes and other cultural activities throughout the year. Stockton has its own symphony and opera company and hosts the Asparagus Festival annually, celebrating the town's agricultural history. The San Joaquin Film Society also hosts a 10-day International Film Festival each year.

• Stockton Ports, 404 West Fremont St, ☏ +1 209 644-1900. Minor League Baseball team that is the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, playing at 1 Banner Island Ballpark. $10–$15.
• Stockton Kings, 248 W. Fremont St, ☏ +1 209-373-1400. Basketball team in the NBA G League serving as the farm team for the Sacramento Kings. The team plays and has its home office at 2 Stockton Arena.
• Pacific Tigers, Long Theatre, 1042 Dave Brubeck Way (box office), ☏ +1 209 946-2474. M–F, 9–4. University of the Pacific sports, competing in seven men's and 12 women's NCAA Division I sports, mostly as members of the West Coast Conference. Since the Tigers haven't had a football team for nearly 25 years, the most popular sports are men's basketball and baseball. Prices vary by sport.

If travelling to Stockton with children, be sure to visit:

• Children's Museum of Stockton, 402 W. Weber (near the downtown waterfront, two blocks west of Center Street), ☏ +1 209 465-4386. $7 per person, under one free.
• 3 Pixie Woods, in Louis Park (take Monte Diablo exit and go west to Occidental, turn left at Shimizu, parking lot is on the right — look for the rainbow gates), ☏ +1 209 937-8206. Stockton's own fairyland for the "young in age and the young at heart". In the movie This is Spinal Tap, Pixie Woods was the venue for a performance whose billboard proclaimed "Puppet Show and Spinal Tap.".

Stockton is home to University of the Pacific and Delta College, a part of the California Community College system as well as an extension branch of CSU Stanislaus.

Sherwood and Weberstown mall have the best shopping in Stockton. Pacific Avenue's section south of Country Club Blvd., an urban revival area dubbed "Miracle Mile," has specialty shops and hair styling businesses.

• 1 Sherwood Mall, 5308 Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 209-952-6277. (updated Nov 2020)
• 2 Weberstown Mall, 4950 Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 209-477-0245. (updated Nov 2020)

• 1 Bellavista Cucina Italiana, 110 N El Dorado St (next to the Stockton Hotel), ☏ +1 209-949-2104. Upscale Italian restaurant. The third floor terrace offers great views. (updated Dec 2018)
• 2 Manny's California Fresh, 1612 Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 209 463-6415.
• 3 DaVinci's Deli, 7925 Thornton Rd., ☏ +1 (209) 474-1156, fax: +1 209 474-2696, thornton@devincisdeli.com.
• 4 Shirasoni Japanese Sushi, 3249 W Hammer Ln, ☏ +1 209 473-2525.
• Sho Mi.
• El Senor Frog's.
• Tio Pepe's.
• Xochimilco.
• Misaki.
• Raw Sushi.
• Papapavlos.
• Dave Wong's.
• Gian's Deli.
• Cocoro Japanese Bistro & Sushi.
• Garlic Brothers.
• Bob's At The Marina.
• Cancun.
• Valley Brew.
• Duck Nook.
• Podesto's Market & Deli.
• Dynasty.
• Peking, 7555 Pacific Ave # 115, ☏ +1 209 957-0617.
• Yen Du, 702 Porter Ave # E, ☏ +1 209 951-3748.
• New Yen Ching, 6511 Pacific Ave, ☏ +1 209 957-0913.
• Matsuyama, 4755 Quail Lakes Dr #C, ☏ +1 209 952-0688. Good sushi and other Japanese food.
• Maria's Cafe, 120 E. Market St, ☏ +1 209 464-4135. Authentic Mexican food, in business since the early 90s. (updated Sep 2021)

There aren't many nightspots in Stockton. If you're going to a movie at the downtown movie center, immediately next door is a Japanese restaurant "Misaki" with a small but fun bar.

• 1 Courtyard Stockton, 3252 West March Ln, ☏ +1 209 472-9700, fax: +1 209 472-9722. (updated May 2017)
• Holiday Inn Express Stockton Southeast, 5045 Kingsley Rd, ☏ +1 209-774-9830. Whirlpool tubs, refrigerators and microwaves in rooms.
• Motel 6 Stockton - Charter Way West, 817 Navy Dr, ☏ +1 209 946-0923, fax: +1 209 464-3948.
• Motel 6 Stockton North, 6717 Plymouth Rd, ☏ +1 209 951-8120, fax: +1 209 474-3829.
• 2 Best Western Heritage Plus, 111 East March Ln, ☏ +1 209 474-3301.
• Residence Inn Stockton, 3240 March Ln, ☏ +1 209 472-9800, fax: +1 209 472-9888.
• 3 University Plaza Waterfront Hotel, 110 W Fremont St, ☏ +1 209-944-1140. Nice views over the waterfront. (updated May 2017)

Stockton is known to have a very high crime rate and often makes the "most dangerous" list in rankings for cities of its size. Common sense is helpful in determining whether an area is safe to explore on foot or not and the transition between relatively safe areas and relatively dangerous ones are often quite abrupt. It is strongly recommended to avoid most areas at night if you are on foot, with an exception for some large, well lit and heavily trafficked shopping centers. The area also has very high rates of car theft and has at times been called "the car theft capital of the world," so always lock your car and keep valuables out of sight. Its location on I-5 also means there is a substantial potential for drug trafficking through the city. Stockton has a bad reputation including gang violence and home to the nation's first school massacre. However, for the past few years, Stockton has worked very hard at improving its downtown area, as well as its reputation.

• Yosemite National Park - take Route 99 to Exit #242 and turn left. Take Route 120 all the way to Yosemite.
• San Francisco - take Interstate 5 South to Interstate 205 & 580 all the way to San Francisco.
• Sacramento - take Interstate 5 or Route 99 north.
• Fresno - take Route 99 south.

Routes through Stockton