California · United States
Modesto travel guide
Modesto is a city in California, United States, home to about 218,000 people.
- Best months
- March to May, October and November
- Nearest airport
- SCK34 km · Stockton Metropolitan Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/Los Angeles
- Language
- Carolinian, Chamorro, Hawaiian
About
About Modesto
Modesto is the county seat of and the largest city in Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,069 according to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, it is the 19th-most populous city in California.
Modesto began in the mid to late 1800s as a stop along the railroad between Sacramento and Los Angeles. At the time, it was surrounded by sprawling farmlands. Over time, as the city grew, they began to build dams and canals throughout the neighboring foothills to help irrigate the farmland. After World War II, suburban areas expanded, and Modesto was no exception: by 1980 the city had 100,000 people, and by 2000 it had 200,000. The proximity to the Bay Area and relatively cheap real estate helped the city become a popular city for commuters to live in.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Modesto
See
- Lucas Plaza Statue
- McHenry Mansion & Museum
- Great Valley Museum and Planetarium
- California's Oldest & Largest Walnut Tree
Do
- Boomers! Modesto
- Sunshine Rafting Adventures
- Jacob Myers Park
- Gallo Center For The Arts
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Modesto
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Modesto are March to May, October and November. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; January is the wettest, with about 80 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Modesto: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK), about 34 km from the city centre in a straight line; Merced Regional Macready Field (MCE, 60 km) and Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC, 89 km) are also within reach.
SCK · Stockton Metropolitan Airport
MCE · Merced Regional Macready Field
SJC · Mineta San Jose International Airport
Questions
Modesto: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Modesto?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Modesto are March to May, October and November. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; January is the wettest, with about 80 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Modesto?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK), about 34 km from the city centre in a straight line; Merced Regional Macready Field (MCE, 60 km) and Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC, 89 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Modesto?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Modesto
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.