About the Saranap Neighborhood

Saranap, nestled in an unincorporated pocket of Contra Costa County and bordered by Lafayette and Walnut Creek, comes as a surprise to many homebuyers. This diverse little hood is walking distance to trails and downtown Walnut Creek. Saranap is a happy blend of longtime residents who remember the days of walnut orchards and young families with kids running from house to house. If you’re looking for homes for sale in Saranap, you’ll quickly learn this place has a warm village vibe, where residents (a.k.a. Saranapans) take walks (yes, people actually walk in Saranap!), enjoy spontaneous socials, and host holiday block parties.

Neighborhood hot spots abound! Kids might love the easy access to 7-Eleven Slurpees, but there’s a lot more dining and shopping to discover: Florali, Wish, Dewing pool, Morucci’s Deli, and Pizza Olivia, to name a few places. Residents also are looking forward to walking to the proposed Saranap Village by Hall Equities Group.

Oh yeah, schools are great too! District lines divide up Saranap between the impressive Lafayette and Walnut Creek school districts.

The best part of this place is how much residents care about their 1 square mile and preserving its semi-rural integrity.

Where is Saranap?

Saranap is nestled between Lafayette and Walnut Creek in unincorporated Contra Costa County.

Saranap's ZIP code is 94595, which officially is addressed "Walnut Creek, CA" for snail mail delivery.

• Quick access to Highway 24 and I-680

• Just minutes to Lafayette BART and Walnut Creek BART

History of Saranap

The name “Saranap” is a tribute to the region’s early 20th century commuter rail system and Sarah Naphtaly, the railroad developer’s mother. The village station was located near the intersection of Tice Valley Boulevard and Olympic Way and was popular with locals as well as San Franciscans who used the train to escape the fog, commute to their summer homes, and attend the Walnut Festival.

Today, where the train depot once stood is the Saranap Filling Station, easy to spot because of its vintage gas pumps from the 1940s to '60s. But some things never change; Saranap is still home to those wanting more land, warmer weather, and laid-back eclectic charm.

Want to learn more about Saranap history? Read longtime resident Dorothy M. Ligda’s book, Saranap, Then and Now, published in 2006 by Pleasant Hill Press. It’s available at most Contra Costa Counties libraries and can be reserved online.