Car Hire at San Francisco Airport

Airport travel guide

Hire a car at San Francisco Airport! Then head to the city and drive over the famous Golden Gate Bridge. From there, go to Fort Mason and the Presidio—the views are beautiful, and there’s plenty to explore, from museums and a wildlife sanctuary to hiking trails and culture and history walks. Then eat at a seafood restaurant in Fisherman’s Wharf and tour turn-of-the-century ships at Hyde Street Pier. Check out the art scene and neighborhood bars in the Mission District and Bernal Heights and the panoramic views in Nob Hill.

The city’s surrounded by water, so how about some beach time? You can easily drive your rental to Ocean Beach, China Beach, or Baker Beach. Up for a museum? The M.H. de Young Memorial Museum exhibits contemporary and indigenous art, and everyone will enjoy the hands-on science fun at the Exploratorium. 

San Francisco’s a great destination, but the surrounding area has even more to offer. If you've hired your vehicle for a longer period, you can head south to Monterrey and even Los Angeles, explore inland California, or take a road trip to the Pacific Northwest. Picking up your car at San Francisco Airport and dropping it off at a different location is easy. Start planning your vacation today!

San Francisco Airport, first known as Mills Field Municipal Airport, was built in 1927 on a 150-acre cow pasture.

Top international routes

• Los Angeles
• New York City
• Seattle
• San Diego
• Las Vegas
• Denver
• Chicago
• Santa Ana
• Boston
• Portland

Main airlines

United Airlines, United Express, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines

Terminals

The four terminals (T1, T2, T3, and International) are all connected by AirTrain, with station departures every 4–5 minutes. It’s also possible to walk between terminals, although parts of T1 are currently under construction.

Location

The airport is 13 mi (21 km) from downtown San Francisco. Highway 101 is the main road connecting San Francisco Airport to the city.

Most popular types of hire car

• Small cars - starting at £51 per day
• Medium cars - starting at £51 per day
• Large cars - starting at £39 per day
• Premium cars - starting at £53 per day
• SUVs - starting at £41 per day
• People Carriers - starting at £64 per day

Car hire desks

All car hire offices are located in the separate Rental Cars Center (RCC) that can be reached by taking AirTrain Blue Line.

Services and facilities

You’ll find many bars, cafeterias, and restaurants, some serving Mexican and Asian food, as well as a number of duty-free outlets, stores, and gift shops. There are also ATMs, eight lounges, baby care facilities, a children’s play area, a medical clinic, a reading room, a yoga room, spa, reflection room for meditation, hydration station to refill water bottles, aquarium, airport museum, and permanent art exhibitions. You’ll find luggage storage and lockers at the Airport Travel Agency in the main hall of the International terminal. San Francisco Airport is fully equipped for passengers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest petrol station

Costco Gasoline, located at 451 Airport Boulevard, is on the way to the city. It can be reached in less than ten minutes and is open from 6:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on workdays, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on Sundays. There are many other gas stations near the airport.

Popular one-way hires

• Berkeley (25 miles / 40 km)
• San Jose (37 miles / 60 km)
• Los Angeles (376 miles / 605 km)
• Sacramento (99 miles / 159 km)
• Santa Rosa (68 miles / 109 km)
• Modesto (94 miles / 151 km)