We spent a day exploring Folsom. This quaint little town is near Sacramento, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in central California. Taking a walk through the Folsom Historic District is like taking a walk back in time to an era when the Gold Rush was in full swing and the main form of communication was the Pony Express. On the edge of town, you will find one of California’s oldest prisons, immortalised in song by Johnny Cash.
How to get to Folsom
Folsom is 20 miles north east of the Californian capital, Sacramento, just off the US-50. We drove to Folsom, stopping here en route from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco – it’s about half way between the two, so the ideal place to break the journey. There’s a large, free car park near the station at the bottom end of the Historic District.
Alternatively, the Sacramento Regional Transit District operates the Gold Line directly into the Historic Folsom Station from Sacramento. Trains run roughly every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes at weekends and off peak. Tickets cost about $3.
Getting around Folsom
The Historic District of Folsom is best explored on foot. From here, it’s 2 miles to the prison and another 2 miles to the lake (a round trip of around 7 miles). We opted to drive between these destinations, but there is a trail if you prefer to walk/cycle.
Where to Stay in Folsom
Accommodation in Folsom itself is somewhat limited and expensive. There are several hotels just outside town, close to either the US-50 or US-80. We opted to stay at the Motel 6 Sacramento, CA – North, 11 miles west of Folsom. I’ve stayed in nicer hotels. But if you’re just passing through, it’s conveniently located and the rooms are clean and comfortable. Note: You do need to pay a $100 deposit in cash upon check in.
Folsom in 1 Day Itinerary
| Day 1 | Drive to Folsom Folsom Historic District Folsom History Museum Wine Tasting at Crystal Basin Station Lunch at Riley’s on Sutter Rainbow Bridge Folsom State Prison Folsom Prison Museum Johnny Cash Trail Folsom Lake State Recreation Area Accommodation – Motel 6 Sacramento, CA – North |
Drive to Folsom
Today, we descend the Sierra Nevada and head for the outskirts of the Californian capital of Sacramento, where we are meeting a friend, who has offered to show us round the historic town of Folsom. It’s definitely a day for layering, as it’s minus 3 degrees as we depart Lake Tahoe and 17 degrees by the time we reach our destination two hours later, rising to 26 by mid afternoon.
Folsom Historic District
We meet our host who takes us on a walking tour of the old town, known as the Folsom Historic District. This runs along Sutter Street, where many of the buildings date from the 1850s. This area was once the hang out of gold prospectors and a stop on the Pony Express. Nowadays, the buildings mostly house touristy shops and restaurants.
Folsom History Museum
The Folsom History Museum tells the town’s history through a range of artifacts. It is housed in a former stable block, once forming part of the Pony Express.
The museum is open Thursday to Monday from 11 am until 4 pm. Adult entry costs $7 ($4 for concessions).
Folsom Depot
The Folsom Depot station dates back to 1856, when it was a stop on the state’s first passenger railway, the Sacramento Valley Railroad. Today, it houses the town’s Visitor Center, where you can obtain tourist information or purchase souvenirs.
Wine Tasting at Crystal Basin Station
A little way up Sutter Street, you will will find Crystal Basin Station. Here, can taste wines from the Crystal Basin Winery, which is situated some 30 miles east in Apple Hill in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
Wine tasting is available from Thursday to Monday. Tasting costs $20 per person, which is waived if you purchase a bottle of wine. As well as excellent traditonal wines, they sell some more exotic concoctions, such as Pommie (sparkling pomegranate infused wine). Or how about some Kougar Coolaid?!
Lunch at Riley’s on Sutter
There are plenty of restaurants to choose from along Sutter Street. Try Riley’s on Sutter, which offers American and Mexican dishes and great cocktails.
Rainbow Bridge
From downtown, you can take a drive across the Rainbow Bridge to Folsom State Prison. I was disappointed to find out that the bridge is so-called due its rainbow shaped concrete arches, not because it’s multi-coloured. Nonetheless, the century old bridge across the American River is a symbol of the town.
Folsom State Prison
Built in 1878, Folsom State Prison is California’s second oldest prison. Since that time, it has served as a maximum security facility and almost 100 prisoners have been executed here. It was made famous in a song by country singer Johnny Cash, entitled Folsom Prison Blues, which he composed in 1953 after watching a film about the prison. A decade later, Cash performed a series of live concerts at the prison.
Folsom Prison Museum
Members of the public can’t visit the prison, but adjacent to the site is the Folsom Prison Museum, where you can learn about the prison’s history and Cash’s concerts here. The museum is open from Saturday to Monday from 10 am until 4 pm. Entry costs $2.
Johnny Cash Trail
From here, you can access the Johnny Cash Trail. The 2.5 mile long trail runs between the Historic District, the prison and Folsom Lake. It connects various places connected with the singer’s life. There are plans to install public art along the route. As yet, there is only one installation, entitled Cash’s Pick No 1, which stands at the trailhead near the Rainbow Bridge.
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area
We round the day off with a visit to Folsom Lake State Recreation Area; a reservoir created by damming the American River, which flows down from the Sierra Nevada. It’s very pretty and we also spot plenty of wildlife, including ground squirrels and a coyote.
The park is open during daylight hours. Entry costs $10-$12 per vehicle, depending on your point of entry.
Accommodation – Motel 6 Sacramento, CA – North
Our accommodation for the night is the Motel 6 Sacramento, CA – North, just off the interstate a few miles out of town. It’s presumably in a less than salubrious area, as security is tight. But once we’re in, it’s a perfectly clean and comfortable motel.
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
- Trip taken: April 2022
- Updated: August 2026
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