Fresno

Fresno is in the San Joaquin Valley of California. The city has a population estimated at 530,000 and around 1 million live in the county (2019).

Understand

Many visitors find themselves stopping in Fresno on the way to Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, or other destinations in the Sierras. The Save Mart Center at California State University, Fresno ("Fresno State") has also played host to concerts featuring high-profile acts.

Fresno's most famous son is the writer William Saroyan, after whom a local theater is named. The city has a large Hmong community.

Climate
Fresno
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
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   Data from NOAA (1981-2010)
Metric conversion
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation+Snow totals in mm

Winter weather typically features highs around 60 °F (16 °C), and "extreme" lows in the low to mid 30s F, often with morning fog and sometimes frost. Rain fall is sparse and occurs exclusively in winter and early spring months. Most rain storms last less than 2 days and are often spread weeks apart. It is not uncommon to experience hail, however it is very rare to see snow fall on the valley floor. The few times it does snow, the snow rarely sticks over night. While winter temperatures can reach below freezing, most all storms feature "warm fronts" that more or less eliminate the chance for snow (mid to low 40s F is a typical "cold" rain storm).

Summer temperatures average in the mid-90s F. Days with high temperatures 110 °F (43 °C) or above are not uncommon. Humidity is only around 20% in the afternoon, though, making for a more bearable dry heat. The chance to find over 110° days commonly occurs beginning late July and continuing to mid August. During these days the low nighttime temperature will only get down to the mid 80s F. It is common for a heat wave to last two weeks.

Get in

By plane

🌍 Fresno/Yosemite International Airport (FAT  IATA formerly, "Fresno Air Terminal") (5.5 mi (8.9 km) northeast of downtown towards Clovis). This airport is accessed via N Peach Ave from CA-180 or E Clinton Ave from CA-168. It is the nearest commercial airport for year round commercial air service to Yosemite National Park and is the major airport serving the San Joaquin Valley in Central California and a crew base for SkyWest Airlines. (updated Apr 2020)

There are taxis, rideshare and hotel shuttles to bring you into town locally and long shuttles and buses for onward transport to Yosemite National Park, Hanford, Lenmore and Visalia. There are also car rental available from the airport which is the preferred method for greater flexibility in getting around. See this Link for a list of ground transport providers. The #26 bus connects the airport to downtown Fresno and the up north along N Palm Ave to Villaggio Mall while #39 bus goes west along Clinton to W Clinton and Brawey Ave in the west side of town, nowhere near downtown.

  • 🌍 Sierra Sky Park Airport, 7398 N Doolittle Dr, ☏ +1 559 436-2015. Facility is a privately owned, public-use airport situated in a residential neighborhood, forming a unique airpark. (updated Mar 2021)

By train

Amtrak serves Fresno with six trains a day via its San Joaquin route, running south to Bakersfield and north to either Sacramento or Oakland. 🌍 Fresno station is in a historic Santa Fe Passenger Depot at 2650 Tulare St.

By car

Almost everybody gets to Fresno by car. The drive to Fresno takes about 3 hours from San Francisco, 3½ hours from Los Angeles, and 5½ hours from San Diego. Coming from the southern Peninsula or South Bay, most people take U.S. Highway 101 to Gilroy, State Highway 152 over Pacheco Pass and through Los Banos, then State Highway 99 south to Fresno. From the northern Peninsula, one might take highway 92 over the San Mateo Bridge ($7 toll as of 2022), to 880 North, then 580 East to 205 East to 5 North to 120 East to 99 South. From Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 north and State Highway 99 north. Fresno is accessible from the southern Central Coast by State Highway 41, usually used with State Highway 46. Fresno is the largest city in the United States without an Interstate highway running through it, but 99 provides much of that function and is slated to be upgraded to Interstate status.

By bus

Greyhound has a terminal next to Amtrak in downtown Fresno. Exercise caution in this area at night.

  • Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS). Year-round. The YARTS shuttle travels on Highway 41 between Fresno and Wawona and Yosemite Valley, with stops at the Fresno Amtrak/Greyhound station, Fresno airport, CSU Fresno (Shaw & Barton), North Fresno (Howard & Fresno), and the Highway 145 Park & Ride. Ticket prices include park entry, and can be purchased from the shuttle driver. (updated Feb 2016)
  • Flixbus, runs service along the 99 corridor.
  • V-Line runs six times a day between Visalia, Fresno airport, the university, and downtown Fresno.
  • KART, runs twice a day, weekdays, to Hanford.
  • Fresno County Rural Transit, runs service out to the small communities in Fresno County. Schedules vary.

Get around

By car

As is typical in California Central Valley cities, a car is useful and often necessary to access most parts of town. Traffic congestion in Fresno is not as bad as larger places in California, but Shaw and Herndon avenues can get quite crowded, especially since there is no east-west freeway through the north side. CA-99 runs along the west side of the city, becoming semi-rural before exiting Fresno County on the northwest side of Fresno. CA-41 runs down the middle of the city. Until the late 1990s and early 2000s these were the only freeways in Fresno, but a surge in growth has spurred the development of the CA-180 and CA-168 freeways.

By bus

There is a modest bus system, Fresno Area Express (FAX), but a car would be advised. The city has a bus rapid transit line.

By bike

In 2011, Fresno became the first town or city in the Central Valley to earn a Bronze Medal Designation from the League of American Bicyclists, recognizing Fresno as a bicycle friendly community. The city is expanding its bike lanes further in an effort to improve bike access.

See
  • 🌍 Forestiere Underground Gardens, 5021 W Shaw Ave, ☏ +1 559-271-0734, . May-Oct 9AM-3PM. A complex of underground gardens and rooms built by Sicilian immigrant Baldasare Forestiere between 1906 and his death in 1946. Reservations are required and the tour lasts one hour. $23/adult, $21/concession, $12/child. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Fresno Chaffee Zoo, 894 W Belmont Ave, ☏ +1 559 498-5910, . 9AM-4PM. A zoo in Roeding Park near downtown that features many popular animal exhibits including the Winged Wonders Bird Show. $19.95/adult, $13.95/child. $3 cheaper for local residents. (updated May 2024)
  • 🌍 Fresno Art Museum, 2233 N First St, ☏ +1 559 441-4221. Th–F Noon–5PM, Sa-Su 10AM–5PM. The only modern art museum between Los Angeles and San Francisco. FAM's collection includes contemporary art, and a large collection of Mexican art from pre-Columbian times to the present. $10, youth $5. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Nonini Winery, 2640 N. Dickenson, ☏ +1 559-275-1936. Wine tasting and tours M-Sa 9AM to 4PM. Call ahead to schedule a tour. 
  • 🌍 Fresno Grizzlies, 1800 Tulare St, ☏ +1 559-320-4487. Low-A Minor League Baseball team affiliated with the Colorado Rockies. 🌍 Chukchansi Park is located downtown, built in 2002 for the team. From $7 to $44. 
  • 🌍 Fresno State Bulldogs, 1600 E. Bulldog Ln. (south entrance to Bulldog Stadium), ☏ +1 559-278-DOGS (3647). M-F 9AM-4:30PM (in person), 8AM-5PM (phone). Football game days, 10AM-halftime. The sports teams of Fresno State (formally California State University, Fresno), competing in a total of 20 sports (8 for men, 12 for women), with almost all teams in the Mountain West Conference. Football has traditionally been the highest-profile sport, with men's basketball a close second, but many other sports are nationally competitive, notably baseball and softball. Essentially all venues are on campus, most notably Bulldog Stadium (football) and the city's main indoor venue, Save Mart Center (basketball). 
  • 🌍 Fulton Mall, Fulton St. Traffic is being reintroduced to this formerly traffic-free six-block pedestrian mall. The mall features a large collection of public art and holds a spot on the California Register of Historical Places. Though the area does not have a robust retail or restaurant scene, it is home to Fresno Brewing Company (coffee and craft beers), Twee (artsy, hip, and often local home goods and gift items), and several other retail and dining outlets. (updated Oct 2016)
  • 🌍 Fresno FC (Fresno Soccer Team), 1800 Tulare Street, ☏ +1 559 320-2525. Fresno Football Club is the first professional soccer team in the San Joaquin Valley. It is a member of the United Soccer league (one division below Major League Soccer). Its first season was in March 2018 and it plays in Chuckchansi Parki in downtown Fresno. $17 to 77 USD. (updated Jul 2018)
  • 🌍 Old Fresno Water Tower. Built in 1894, this is one of the oldest buildings in Fresno. 
  • 🌍 Pacific Southwest Building. The highest building between Los Angeles and San Francisco completed in 1925. (updated Jun 2020)
  • 🌍 Woodward Park. (updated Jun 2020)
  • Meux Home Museum, 1007 R St, ☏ +1 559 233-8007. F-Su Noon-3PM. 16-room Victorian mansion available by tours that take 45min to an hour. $10/adult, $5/child. (updated Aug 2021)
  • Kearney Mansion Museum, 7160 W Kearney Blvd, ☏ +1 559 441-0862. Guided tours F/Sa/Su 1PM/2PM/3PM. This turn-of-the-20th century mansion was the ranch headquarters of Kearney’s Fruit Vale Estate. $10/adult, $8/concession. (updated Aug 2021)

Do
  • Rogue Festival. March. Modeled on the Canadian and North American Fringe Festivals, the Rogue showcases local and national artists, with dance, music, comedy, film, art, and theatre at venues around the Tower District. Performers come from around the state, and as far as Vancouver and London. 
  • Tower District Mardi Gras Parade. 
  • 🌍 Reel Pride. The sixth oldest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival in the country takes place every year in Fresno's Tower District. 
  • 🌍 Island Water Park, ☏ +1 559-426-8365. Water slide park open between June and mid-September. 
  • 🌍 Blackbeards Family Fun Center, 4055 N. Chestnut, ☏ +1 559-292-6386. Has batting cages, bumper boats, paintball, miniature golf, sprint cars, water slides and arcade games. 
  • 🌍 Tower Theatre. (updated Jun 2020)
  • Artists' Repertory Theatre. 
  • 🌍 Warnors Theatre. Spelled with an "o". The theatre used to be owned by Warner Bros., and the spelling was changed to avoid copyright infringement after it was sold. (updated Jun 2020)

Learn
  • 🌍 Fresno State University (California State University, Fresno). Noted for its agricultural programs, and many Fresno State students and faculty travel to developing nations on agricultural assistance programs. 
  • 🌍 Fresno City College. A 2-year community college. 
  • 🌍 Fresno Pacific University. An accredited private Christian university offering many bachelor's and master's degrees. It has satellite locations across Central California (Merced Regional Center, North Fresno Regional Center, Visalia Regional Center, Bakersfield Regional Center). 

Buy
  • 🌍 Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market, 5368 N. Chestnut Ave (corner of Chestnut and Barstow). As long as you're right in the middle of California's agricultural heartland, try the local produce. Fresno State's Farm Market sells the produce grown by the university's agriculture department, plus fresh cheese, ice cream and wine. Fresno State is one of a few universities in the United States with a wine-making program that can sell its products to the public. (updated Aug 2016)
  • 🌍 Sierra Nut House. If you're looking for a souvenir of the San Joaquin Valley, try the Sierra Nut House for dried fruit, nuts, jams & jellies, and coffees & teas. (updated Aug 2016)
  • 🌍 The Vineyard Farmer's Market (Shaw and Blackstone). Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. The largest and most extensive of the farmer's markets in the area. Open year round twice a week on Wednesday afternoons from 3-6PM and Saturdays 7AM till noon. During summer, there is also one in Old Town Clovis every Friday evening. 
  • 🌍 Riverpark Shopping Center, Corner of Blackstone Ave. and Nees Ave.. The most popular shopping center and hangout in the city of Fresno. Contains Edwards Movie Theatres, the famous Spicy J's Chinese restaurant, Lowes, Sam's Club, Barnes & Noble, Pier 1 Imports, Target, and many more stores. 

Eat

River Park Plaza contains many popular chain restaurants, including The Elephant Bar and Yoshino's Sushi House. For a large and diverse concentration of local establishments, head to the (Tower District). There are also many notable restaurants sprinkled elsewhere throughout the Fresno area.

  • 🌍 Ampersand Ice Cream, 1940 N Echo Ave, ☏ +1 559 264-8000. Family-owned ice cream parlor, with gourmet specials that rotate every month. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Campagnia, 1185 E. Champlain Dr, ☏ +1 559 433-3300. Upscale dining with great food and a nice bar. 
  • George's Shish Kebab, 2405 Capitol St #110, ☏ +1 559-264-9433. Armenian and Middle Eastern cuisine. 
  • 🌍 Hadramout, 4030 N Blackstone Ave (Tucked away between a Motel 6 and a used car dealership.), ☏ +1 559 228-9842. Traditional Yemeni restaurant. Bread and tea included with any order of food. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Huong Lan 9, 4965 N Fresno St, ☏ +1 559 221-8000. Authentic Vietnamese restaurant. Well-known for its sandwiches (bahn mi) and pho. Part of a local chain, this location is the most centrally-located in Fresno. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Irene's Cafe, 747 E Olive Ave (Tower District), ☏ +1 559 237-9919. A traditional coffee shop, known for its breakfast. 
  • 🌍 Max's Bistro & Bakery, 1784 W Bullard, ☏ +1 559 439-6900. French-inspired California cuisine. 
  • 🌍 Golden Grill, 7975 North Cedar Ave, ☏ +1 559-343-2964. Tu-Su 9:30AM-9PM. Syrian & Lebanese cuisine. 
  • 🌍 MOTO Delicatessen & Bodega, 1916 N Echo Ave, ☏ +1 559 412-2021. A small sandwich place, with sandwich ingredients available to buy as well. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Parma (Herndon & Marks), ☏ +1 559 432-3389. Italian food, with homemade pastas. 
  • 🌍 Red Apple Cafe, 488 W Herndon Ave (Enter parking lot from N Ingram Ave), ☏ +1 559 261-1505. A diner-style cafe serving breakfast and lunch, with some interesting specials. (updated Jul 2022)
  • 🌍 Tahoe Joe's, 7006 N. Cedar, ☏ +1 559 299-9740. Steakhouse that now has multiple locations in the state, but started in Fresno. 
  • 🌍 Taqueria Don Pepe, 4582 N. Blackstone, ☏ +1 559 224-1431. Look for the old style of KFC building. Fast food (but good) style Mexican fare. 

Drink

Night life in Fresno is great if you're in the right areas.

Gay bars

Sleep

Stay safe

Crime presents considerable concerns in Fresno. As a rule of thumb, travellers should exercise increased caution in parts of the city located south of Shaw Avenue.

Homeless people are known to congregate near the city's so-called Chinatown area, across the railroad tracks from Chukchansi Park. The area also suffers from a high crime rate. Caution should be exercised when visiting the area.

Avoid the southeastern part of the city at night due to high crime rates.

Unlike other parts of California, earthquakes of any magnitude are infrequent in Fresno and surrounding areas. If felt, the quakes tend to cause very little (if any) damage.

Connect

Cope
  • Woodward Park is a large grassy park on the north side of Fresno, on Friant Road. There is an entry fee of $5 per car,but if you get there early enough (usually before 7AM) there is no charge.
  • Roeding Park is another large park in southwest Fresno. It contains the Chaffee Zoo and small amusement parks Storyland and Playland. It has the same $5 entry fee.

Consulates

Go next

The adjacent town of Clovis has a small "old town" with numerous antique stores. The last weekend of April the town hosts the Clovis Rodeo.

Millerton Lake is about 20 miles northeast of Fresno on Friant Road. It's a popular site for fishing and waterskiing.

Many locals escape the summer heat at the lakes in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. These lakes have recreation areas, campgrounds, and bed and breakfasts:

  • Shaver Lake (with nearby Sierra Summit ski resort)
  • Huntington Lake
  • Bass Lake
  • Pine Flat Lake
Routes through Fresno
Sacramento ← Madera ←  N  S  → Selma → Bakersfield
Morro Bay ← Lemoore ←  S  N  → Coarsegold → Yosemite N.P.
END ← Jct N S ←  W  E  → Kings Canyon N.P. → END
Sacramento / Emeryville ← Madera ←  N  S  → Hanford → Bakersfield


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