Chico, CA

Travel Guide

Chico
Photo by Nicole And Michael
Photo by Nicole And Michael
Photo by Shannon Willitts
Photo by Nicole And Michael

This university town in Northern California is home to the magnificent Bidwell Park, craft beer breweries and a lively arts scene.

From outdoor recreation and wildlife to beer and the performing arts, Chico offers visitors a range of attractions. Chico is a lively university town in Northern California. It sits in the foothills of the mountains of the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada.

The glorious Bidwell Park is a major attraction of Chico. The park stretches from downtown Chico into Big Chico Creek Canyon and offers 86 miles (138 kilometers) of trails. Follow scenic walking trails, spot wildlife and swim in waterholes. Check out interesting rock formations, relax at picnic areas and play a round of golf. Get close to birds and reptiles at the Chico Creek Nature Center.

Learn about Chico’s founding father, John Bidwell, on a guided tour of Bidwell Mansion. Explore some of the 26 rooms of this architecturally impressive Victorian-style house. Spot historical landmarks and a picturesque rose garden while you stroll around the grounds of California State University. Afterward, discover the town’s natural heritage at the Gateway Science Museum.

Wander the oak-lined streets of downtown Chico to find boutiques, galleries, performing arts centers and myriad bars and restaurants. Check out the leafy City Plaza, which hosts free live music events and handicraft markets. Take a guided tour of the 19th-century Stansbury House. Watch a concert or theater show at the El Rey Theatre. Follow the history of Chico at the Chico Museum and see displays of antique yo-yos at the National Yo-Yo Museum.

Experience Chico’s beer-brewing culture at its microbreweries and beer gardens. Learn about the beer-making processes and then sample beers fresh from the tank at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Visit the brewery in the summer when it hosts Beer Camp, a festival that showcases over 100 regional brewers.

Chico is about a 90-minute drive north from Sacramento and easily accessible via trains and intercity buses. Chico is a bike-friendly city and also a comfortable destination to explore on foot. Rent a car and visit areas outside of the city. Enjoy fishing and watersports at Bidwell-Sacramento River State Park or go hiking in North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve.

Where to stay in Chico

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Downtown Chico

While Downtown Chico might not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park and National Yo-Yo Museum.

Downtown Chico
Oxford Suites Chico
Oxford Suites Chico
3 out of 5
2035 Business Ln, Chico, CA
$120 nightly
The price is $134 total per night from Jul 3 to Jul 4
$134 total
Jul 3 - Jul 4
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Chico. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,397 reviews)
"Nice breakfast"

Reviewed on Jun 28, 2025

Oxford Suites Chico
DoubleTree by Hilton Chico
DoubleTree by Hilton Chico
4 out of 5
685 Manzanita Ct, Chico, CA
$107 nightly
The price is $120 total per night from Jul 12 to Jul 13
$120 total
Jul 12 - Jul 13
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Chico. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,004 reviews)
"The bathrooms are very small"

Reviewed on Jun 26, 2025

DoubleTree by Hilton Chico
Quality Inn Chico
Quality Inn Chico
2.5 out of 5
715 Main Street, Chico, CA
$88 nightly
The price is $99 total per night from Jul 13 to Jul 14
$99 total
Jul 13 - Jul 14
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Chico. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,004 reviews)
"Very clean, and quiet place."

Reviewed on Jun 28, 2025

Quality Inn Chico
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
King Sized Beds, Large Outdoor and Indoor Space
King Sized Beds, Large Outdoor and Indoor Space
Chico
Stay at this vacation home in Chico. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Cinemark Tinseltown Chico 14 and Gateway Science ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (27 reviews)
Great Place
"Loved it"

Reviewed on Jun 3, 2025

King Sized Beds, Large Outdoor and Indoor Space
Quaint and peaceful Queen Room with private entrance and bathroom.
Quaint and peaceful Queen Room with private entrance and bathroom.
Chico
Stay at this vacation home in Chico. Enjoy laundry facilities, patios, and air conditioning. Popular attractions National Yo-Yo Museum and Bidwell Mansion State ...
Peaceful stay
"Such a wonderful place to stay. Very warm and inviting. Small creek behind home and song to sleep by frogs and crickets"

Reviewed on Apr 14, 2025

Quaint and peaceful Queen Room with private entrance and bathroom.
Downtown Historic Apartment with Modern Flair
Downtown Historic Apartment with Modern Flair
Chico
Stay at this apartment in Chico. Enjoy laundry facilities, an in-room coffeemaker, and in-room fireplaces. Popular attractions National Yo-Yo Museum and Bidwell ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (27 reviews)
Amazing Stay
"The unit was clean and well publicized. Very cozy and easy to access!"

Reviewed on Jun 19, 2025

Downtown Historic Apartment with Modern Flair
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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