Car Rental at San Diego Airport
Cheapest Car Rental Rates
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
Travel Information

Airport Car Rental
Get your rental car at San Diego Airport! Then head to the city to explore neighborhoods like Hillcrest, Balboa Park, and hilly seaside La Jolla. And drive to the Mission Valley—this is where the Spanish established their first settlement in California.
In Ocean Beach, enjoy excellent food and music and the laidback atmosphere. It’s the place for water sports too—scuba diving, surfing, kayaking. And make sure you drive to the San Diego Zoo where animals are free to roam large areas similar to their natural habitats. Up for something more active? Check out one of the rock climbing or hiking routes just outside the city.
San Diego’s a great destination, but the surrounding region has even more to offer. With a longer-term car rental you can drive up the coast to L.A. and San Francisco, head to Arizona, or cross the Mexican border to go to Tijuana and even farther south. Picking up your car at San Diego Airport and drop it off in a different city is easy. Start planning your adventure now!
San Diego Airport is also known as Lindbergh Field.
Top international routes
- San Francisco
- Denver
- Phoenix
- Seattle/Tacoma
- Las Vegas
- Atlanta
Main airlines
The three major domestic carriers all also serve the airport with each carrying a little over 10% of the airport’s traffic each. United’s busiest routes are to and from San Francisco and Denver, its West Coast and Rocky Region hubs. American’s busiest destinations from the airport are to Phoenix, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Chicago-O’Hare. Delta’s busiest routes include Seattle, its West Coast hub, and Las Vegas.
Alaska Airlines is the other major airline serving the airport. It flies to many destinations on the West Coast, to the Hawaiian Islands, and to Cabo in Mexico.
Terminals
Location
Most popular types of rental car
- Convertibles - from $57 per day
- Large cars - from $47 per day
- Medium cars - from $39 per day
- People Carriers/Vans - from $74 per day
- Premium cars - from $58 per day
- Small cars - from $38 per day
- SUVs - from $68 per day
Car rental desks
Mex, Nu, and Ace are not located in the facility. All of them are located just east of the airport off of Pacific Highway. Each provides a shuttle for its customers.
Services and facilities
Nearest gas station
For those returning cars to Mex, Nu, or Ace, then the same Mobil station is the best at which to full up no matter which direction you are coming from.
If traveling to the rental car facility via I-5 from either direction, a Shell station at the corner of India and Vine Streets is very convenient. From the south take exit 18B and from the north, 18A. The rental car facility is just a block away from the station and Vine Street will lead you to Kettner Blvd. from which you can turn right to reach the facility.
Popular one-way rentals
- Los Angeles (125 mi / 201 km)
- San Francisco (525 mi / 845 km)
- Las Vegas (334 mi / 537 km)
- Phoenix (358 mi / 576 km)
- Seattle (1,256 mi / 2,021 km)
- Palm Springs (142 mi / 228 mi)
Airport info
San Diego Airport (SAN)
- IATA: SAN
- Name: San Diego Airport (SAN)
- Size: Large Airport
- Phone: (619) 231 2100
Top 19 Locations near San Diego Airport
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Car Rental at San Diego Cross Border Xpress from $32.35 per day27.4 km / 17.0 miles away
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Car Rental at John Wayne Airport from $29.25 per day123.5 km / 76.8 miles away
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Car Rental at Palm Springs Airport from $29.25 per day137.1 km / 85.2 miles away
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Car Rental at Long Beach Airport from $29.25 per day151.4 km / 94.1 miles away
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Car Rental at Ontario Airport from $29.25 per day152.8 km / 94.9 miles away
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Car Rental Westchester from $54.26 per day176.6 km / 109.7 miles away
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Car Rental at Los Angeles Airport from $29.25 per day177.0 km / 110.0 miles away
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Car Rental at Burbank Airport from $29.25 per day197.1 km / 122.5 miles away
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Car Rental at Santa Barbara Airport from $29.25 per day311.0 km / 193.2 miles away
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Car Rental at Meadows Field Airport from $88.54 per day347.4 km / 215.9 miles away
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Car Rental at Fresno Airport from $29.25 per day506.5 km / 314.7 miles away
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Car Rental at Monterey Regional Airport from $29.25 per day605.2 km / 376.1 miles away
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Car Rental at San Jose Airport from $29.25 per day672.8 km / 418.0 miles away
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Car Rental at Oakland Airport from $29.25 per day719.7 km / 447.2 miles away
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Car Rental at San Francisco Airport from $29.25 per day720.3 km / 447.6 miles away
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Car Rental San Francisco South from $34.76 per day724.9 km / 450.4 miles away
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Car Rental at Sacramento International Airport from $29.25 per day773.8 km / 480.8 miles away
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Car Rental at Charles M. Schulz–Sonoma County Airport from $29.25 per day819.8 km / 509.4 miles away
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Car Rental at Arcata-Eureka Airport from $92.24 per day1104.6 km / 686.4 miles away
Map of Car Rental Locations
When are car rental prices cheapest at San Diego Airport?
What’s the most popular rental length at San Diego Airport?
Which is the busiest car rental month at San Diego Airport?
Most Popular Car Models of Rental Suppliers
Rental Agency | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
MEX RENT A CAR | Hyundai Accent | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
MEX RENT A CAR | Kia Rio | 4 | 3 | Medium cars |
FOX | Jeep Wrangler | 2 | 2 | SUVs |
MEX RENT A CAR | Kia Rio | 4 | 1 | Small cars |
MEX RENT A CAR | Hyundai Elantra | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
MEX RENT A CAR | Hyundai Creta | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
FOX | Kia Sportage | 5 | 4 | SUVs |
MEX RENT A CAR | VW Jetta | 4 | 2 | Large cars |
MEX RENT A CAR | Hyundai Tucson | 4 | 2 | SUVs |
MEX RENT A CAR | Kia Sedona | 4 | 4 | People Carriers/Vans |
FAQ
Top 17 Suppliers at San Diego Airport in 2021









