Explore El Sobrante, California, with this interactive street and satellite map.
This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.
This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for El Sobrante, California. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of California or beyond.
Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).
TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to El Sobrante.
Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.
Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.
| City | El Sobrante |
| State | California (CA) |
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Country | United States of America |
| Timezone | Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles) |
| Latitude | 33.872464 |
| Longitude | -117.462518 |
| Population | 14,039 |
| Density | 749.9 /km² |
| Incorporated | N/A |
| ZIP Codes | 94803, 94820, 92503 |
| Area Code | 510, 909 |
| County Seat | Martinez |
| School District | Alvord Unified School District |
El Sobrante occupies a landscape defined by golden, sun-drenched hills that shift in color as the seasons turn from verdant spring to brittle summer. It lies 1.9 miles south of Pinole, CA (from Pinole, CA: bearing 174°T), and is situated 9.0 miles south-southwest of Vallejo. Gentle slopes characterize the immediate terrain, while the distant, hazy silhouettes of the Coast Ranges provide a rugged backdrop against the horizon. The presence of the Sobrante Reservoir serves as a quiet anchor for the local ecology, reflecting the changing moods of the sky throughout the day. Only two miles of land separate El Sobrante from the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean, allowing a persistent, salt-tinged breeze to drift through the valleys. Garrity Creek carves a path through the earth nearby, feeding the thirsty soil and supporting the native vegetation that defines the character of the region.
Early settlement patterns in El Sobrante grew from the rhythms of ranching and agricultural expansion that once dominated these open spaces. Over time, the local economy transitioned away from its rural origins, evolving into a diverse residential base that supports a variety of small-scale commercial enterprises. Residents often look toward the nearby urban centers for industrial employment, yet they maintain a distinct local identity rooted in the history of the land. The proximity of La Moine Valley View Park provides an essential space for public recreation, anchoring the community in the natural environment. While economic tides fluctuate, the spirit of El Sobrante remains tied to its heritage as a place where the pace of life feels measured and deliberate.
Cultural life in El Sobrante finds expression in the eclectic mix of residents who appreciate the quietude and the proximity to the wider world. Notable landmarks like the serene waters of the Sobrante Reservoir draw those seeking a moment of reflection, while the nearby Peacock Gap Trail offers a challenging route for those who wish to explore the terrain. Musical legacy remains a part of the local lore, most famously through the association of the legendary rock musician Jerry Garcia, who spent formative years in the area. Community gatherings often center on the small parks and open spaces that define the neighborhood, fostering a sense of connection among neighbors. El Sobrante maintains a character that is unpretentious and grounded, favoring the simple beauty of the coastal fog rolling in over the hills at dusk.
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This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of El Sobrante, California. Coordinates: 33.872464, -117.462518. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.
Detailed location data for El Sobrante includes the ZIP code (94803, 94820, 92503), telephone area code (510, 909), county seat of Contra Costa County (Martinez), and school district assignment (Alvord Unified School District).
Search Maps opens a second, independent map. It searches OpenStreetMap for any US town, county or landmark by name; offers USGS topographic maps and USGS aerial imagery as base layers; overlays a labelled U.S. National Grid (USNG) so the map can be read like a printed topographic quad; measures distance and grid, true and magnetic bearings between any two points; and takes a single GPS fix reporting your position as a USNG grid reference and as latitude and longitude. Map tiles require cell coverage, but a GPS position does not, so the coordinates remain correct even where the map cannot load.
Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.
| Page generated | September 2026 |
| Location data | SimpleMaps US Cities Database; coordinates matched to USGS GNIS definitive data |
| Map layers | Google Maps; © OpenStreetMap contributors; USGS The National Map topographic and aerial imagery (public domain); magnetic declination from NOAA NCEI (World Magnetic Model) |
| Wikipedia validation | Article content matched to USGS GNIS coordinates via Wikipedia geosearch API. |