where is strawberry california

Strawberry, California isn’t just one place – there are actually several communities in the state called Strawberry, but when people say “Strawberry, California” they most often mean small mountain or waterfront communities rather than a big city.

Main places called Strawberry, California

1. Strawberry in Tuolumne County (Hwy 108, Sierra Nevada)

• An unincorporated mountain community and census-designated place in Tuolumne County.
• Located along California State Route 108, about 30 miles east of Sonora and roughly 10 miles northeast of Long Barn in the central Sierra Nevada.
• It sits at over 5,000 feet in elevation near the South Fork of the Stanislaus River, close to Pinecrest Lake and Dodge Ridge ski area, so it’s popular for fishing, hiking, and mountain getaways.

If you’ve seen “Destination Strawberry California” travel videos or cabin rentals near Pinecrest Lake, they are usually talking about this Strawberry.

2. Strawberry in El Dorado County (along US 50)

• A small unincorporated community on the South Fork of the American River in El Dorado County.
• Located along U.S. Route 50 in the Sierra Nevada, a few miles southwest of Pyramid Peak. The old highway sign famously reads “population 50.”
• It became a resort stop in the 1850s and was a Pony Express station; the site is recognized as California Historical Landmark No. 707.

If you’re driving from Sacramento or the Bay Area to South Lake Tahoe on Highway 50, this is the Strawberry you pass through in the mountains.

3. Strawberry in Marin County (near San Francisco)

• An unincorporated waterfront community in Marin County, about 10 miles north of San Francisco.
• Located on a peninsula on the San Francisco Bay between Mill Valley and Tiburon.
• It’s a residential area with marinas, bay views, and local recreation facilities.

People looking for “Strawberry near San Francisco” or real estate in Strawberry are usually referring to this Bay Area community.

Which Strawberry do you mean?

When someone says “where is Strawberry, California?” they usually mean one of these, depending on context:

• Road-trip / cabins / Red Dead–style mountain town vibe → Tuolumne County on Highway 108.

• Tahoe drive, Highway 50 stop in the mountains → El Dorado County on the South Fork American River.

• Bay views and suburb near SF → Marin County peninsula by Mill Valley/Tiburon.

If you tell me whether you’re thinking of a mountain town, a Tahoe drive stop, or a San Francisco–area neighborhood, I can zero in on directions and nearby spots for that specific Strawberry.