Grass Valley is about 90 km northeast of Sacramento, reached most easily by car via Highway 49 or Interstate 80. The drive from Sacramento takes roughly an hour. Nevada City is five minutes away and the two towns are naturally explored together.
There is no commercial air service to Grass Valley. Sacramento International Airport is the nearest gateway. Gold Country Stage runs a bus service connecting Grass Valley with Auburn and Sacramento on weekday schedules, but frequency is limited — a car is strongly recommended for exploring the surrounding Gold Country.