Car Rental in San Francisco, CA

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San Francisco Car Rental & Nearby Locations

  • Address:

    675 Post St

    Phone:

    (1) 415-929-2555

    Location Type:

    Corporate

    Hours of Operation:

    Sun - Sat 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Free pickup service available

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  • Address:

    821 Howard St

    Phone:

    (1) 415-227-4227

    Location Type:

    Corporate

    Hours of Operation:

    Sun 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM; Mon 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Tue - Wed 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Thu - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

    Free pickup service available

    Make a Reservation

  • Address:

    333 O'Farrell St

    Phone:

    (1) 415-292-4045

    Location Type:

    Corporate

    Hours of Operation:

    Sun 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM; Mon 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Tue - Wed 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Thu - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

    Make a Reservation

  • Address:

    500 Beach St - Ste 120

    Phone:

    (1) 415-441-4141

    Location Type:

    Corporate

    Hours of Operation:

    Sun 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM; Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

    Free pickup service available

    Make a Reservation

  • Address:

    5 Embarcadero Center

    Phone:

    (1) 415-395-4758

    Location Type:

    Corporate

    Hours of Operation:

    Sun 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM; Mon 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Tue - Wed 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Thu - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM

    Free pickup service available

    Make a Reservation

  • Address:

    780 McDonnell Rd

    Phone:

    (1) 650-877-6780

    Location Type:

    Corporate

    Hours of Operation:

    Sun - Sat open 24 hrs

    If flying in, the rental counter is within the terminal with a shuttle to the car lot.

    Keydrop Location

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Your Guide to Car Rental in San Francisco

 

Do you need a car rental in San Francisco?

Although many of San Francisco’s main attractions are fairly close to each other, the city also has many steep hills. You’ll want to rent a car in San Francisco to avoid hours of strenuous walking. In addition, rental cars are the most flexible way for visitors to travel beyond San Francisco to other cities and sites in the Bay Area. 

Does Avis offer car rental at the San Francisco airport?

Yes, you can get a car rental from Avis at the San Francisco International Airport. The AirTrain Blue Line at SFO runs all day, every day to transport passengers to and from the airport’s rental car center.

Essential San Francisco Driving Tips

There’s no need to feel intimidated about driving in San Francisco. The tips below will help you drive like a local in your San Francisco rental car and get anywhere you want to go in the City by the Bay. 

Major Roads and Highways

  • California State Route 1 runs north to south on the west side of San Francisco. 

  • U.S. Route 101 runs north to south on the east side of San Francisco.

  • I-280 runs roughly southwest to northeast along the south side of the city.

  • I-80 is the east-west route to and from Oakland and Berkeley.

Traffic and Parking

  • Watch for one-way streets in the most congested parts of downtown San Francisco.

  • Be prepared for stop-and-go traffic if you drive during the morning and evening rush hours, roughly 7 AM to 9 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM respectively.

  • Most parking spaces are metered with a two-hour limit. Luckily, you can pay with coin, card, or app at any meter.

  • If you park on a hill, remember to turn your tires and put the parking brake on before you leave your vehicle.

Business Travel in San Francisco

If you’re headed on a business trip to San Francisco, get ready to enjoy this exciting city. San Francisco has bustling piers, unique neighborhoods, and of course the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Our business traveler’s guide will help you make the most of your time off the clock when your business day comes to an end.

 

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Places to See and Things to Do in San Francisco

If you’re heading to San Francisco for a vacation, be prepared to enjoy beautiful beaches, walks along the pier, delicious food, and great shopping. Our travel guide can help you make the most of your trip and find comfortable accommodations ahead of time, no matter where your interests lie. Check out the things to do in San Francisco.

 

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Things To Do & San Francisco Attractions

San Francisco has something for everyone. Don’t miss out on these famous attractions the city by The Bay has to offer. 

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

The SFMOMA just got an exterior makeover, making it even more enticing to visit and enjoy the stunning modern art from around the world. Stroll through the ever-changing exhibits and make stops at the historical pieces housed at this famous museum.

Lombard Street

A tourist experience through and through, Lombard Street is a fun sightseeing spot you’ll want to see for yourself during your stay in San Francisco. The world’s windiest street really is remarkable, and the multi-million dollar homes on Lombard are also noteworthy.

Fisherman’s Wharf

Fisherman’s Wharf is where you’ll find San Francisco’s quintessential sea lions barking at the pedestrians, sourdough bread factory churning out delicious loaves, and all the fresh seafood your heart desires. Spend some time meandering the shops and restaurants for a relaxing afternoon.

San Francisco Travel FAQs

The closest giant redwoods to San Francisco are only about 16 miles away. You can find them in Muir Woods National Monument. In a rental car, it takes about 45 minutes to get there. Getting to Redwood National Park will take a lot longer. That destination is more than 300 miles north and more than five hours away.

Lombard Street is likely the most famous street in San Francisco. It’s known as the “most crooked street in America.” A visit to San Francisco isn’t complete for many visitors without driving the dramatic curves of Lombard Street. A smaller rental car is best for making those tiny hairpin turns.

By air, San Francisco is 347 miles from Los Angeles. The shortest route by road is a little over 380 miles. However, if you rent a car and want to take one of the most iconic drives in America, you can travel the Pacific Coast Highway. That drive is almost 450 miles.

The drive between Napa and San Francisco is about 50 miles, depending on your chosen route. Making this beautiful drive typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. You can get from the stunning Napa scenery to the great city quickly and conveniently in a rental car.

The best time of year to visit San Francisco is in the fall. This is the warmest time of year in San Francisco. Summers have a chill that surprises many visitors. Spring is also a good time to visit, as San Francisco is less rainy in spring than in other parts of northern California.