Car Rental - San Rafael

 

Rent a car in San Rafael and embrace the history of a city that is the seat of Marin County. San Rafael charms with its Spanish Mission and friendly stores and restaurants, all close to San Pablo and San Francisco Bays.

Collect your choice of car rental from our San Rafael HLE office on Francisco Blvd. East to make the most of your time in this picturesque city. Whether you’re in an SUV, cabriolet or sedan, you’ll have the West Coast as your playground, with iconic drives aplenty. Take a coastal crawl north for a bounty of beaches, or drive across the Golden Gate Bridge to sensational San Francisco.

Further afield you can head inland for Sacramento, northeast for famous forests or take a road trip to San Jose and the bright lights of Los Angeles and Hollywood. Renting a car makes it easier to get around San Rafael.

Reserve your San Rafael rental car with Hertz today to live the Californian dream. 

San Rafael Locations

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Map data ©2026 Google
Map data ©2026 Google

A Quick Guide to San Rafael

Mission San Rafael Arcangel

Mission San Rafael Arcangel

1104 Fifth Avenue, CA, 94901

Without the Catholic Mission, there is no San Rafael, as it was the construction of this building in 1817 which founded the town. Its history is revealing – it was originally used as a sanatorium for Native American people who contracted diseases imported by European settlers. Today’s Mission is a 1949 replica of the original, albeit one facing in a different direction.

Marin County Civic Center

Marin County Civic Center

3501 Civic Center, Peter Behr Drive, CA, 94903

Celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed this remarkable civic center as his very last commission, although he didn’t live to see its construction. Today, you can take a docent-led tour for context on this 1957 building, with its trademark roof and furniture also designed by Wright. Renting a car makes it easier to visit this San Rafael treat. 

China Camp State Park

China Camp State Park

101 Peacock Gap Trail, CA, 94901

To the northeast of San Rafael, this state park abuts the bay and combines places to picnic with hiking and biking trails. There’s history to be discovered too, as the China Camp Beach was once home to a late-19 century Chinese shrimp fishing village. You can discover more at the nearby museum.

Four Points by Sheraton San Rafael Marin County

1010 Northgate Drive, CA, 94903

Make the most of the Californian sunshine at this modern hotel with well-equipped rooms. The hot tub and outdoor heated pool are the perfect places to relax, and the location is handy for Marin County Civic Center and only three miles from Downtown with your San Rafael car rental.

Panama Hotel

4 Bayview Street, CA, 94901

The Panama is a B&B big on charm, with quirky rooms decorated with individual touches. You’ll have your own balcony or patio, too, so you can kick back al fresco and soak up some rays. There’s an on-site restaurant where you can enjoy live music as you dine, and you’re also close to Gerstle Park and the western end of the creek.

Marin Lodge

1735 Lincoln Avenue, CA, 94901

Located to the north of Boyd Memorial Park, just off Route 101, Marin Lodge is a cozy and welcoming base for your stay in San Rafael. Rooms come with a flat-screen TV, microwave, refrigerator and coffee machine, and the location means you can quickly take your San Rafael rental car up to the verdant forests of the north.

Sol Food

903 Lincoln Avenue, CA, 94901

Inside this vividly colored building at the heart of San Rafael, you can expect excellent Puerto Rican cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere. For casual diners, choose sandwiches like the chuleton –a pan-fried pork chop coupled with jack cheese and onions. Rotisserie chicken and sauteed prawns are also must-tries. 

Sunday Marin Farmers’ Market

3501 Civic Center Drive, CA, 94903

Go both local and global at this farmer’s market, which is held every Sunday at the Civic Center. You can browse brilliant produce from local farmers and producers, with a huge number of stalls running the gamut from cheese to vegetables, charcuterie to dim sum, and freshly baked bread to artisan crafts. Hop in a holiday car rental and bring your loved ones here for a local San Rafael treat. 

The State Room

1132 4 Street, CA, 94901

Visit the State Room for elevated comfort food. The burger is already brilliant, even without tempting sides such as pork belly or melted IPA onions. There are also imaginative wood-fired pizzas, fried chicken and one of the finest brunches in town.  Business car rentals make it easier to bring your San Rafael clients here. 

Driving In and Around San Rafael

  • Downtown San Rafael has plenty of on-street parking options for your San Rafael car rental, with meters on numerous streets. It’s charged at $1.50 per hour, with a maximum of two hours.
  • A Street Parking Garage (94901) is close to all the action and charges $1 per hour with a maximum charge of $10. It’s free to use on weekends.
  • C Street Parking Garage (94901) has the same charges as A Street and is only a couple of blocks from the Mission and Boyd Memorial Park.

 

  • US Route 101 (US 101) is the main highway serving San Rafael. It leads south to San Francisco, crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, while driving north with your Lansing car rental takes you to the majestic redwood forests of northern California.
  • Interstate 580 (I-580) has its western terminus in San Rafael and goes east across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge for East Bay before swinging south to Oakland.
  • Point San Pedro Road is a scenic shoreline drive that begins at the eastern end of 3 St. It passes the creek, marina and bay on the way out to McNears Beach County Park.

 

How to Get From San Rafael to San Francisco

The fastest route to bohemian San Francisco is via US 101, which is around a 30 to 40-minute drive south with your Lansing car rental:

  1. Leave San Rafael on US 101 South.
  2. After around 13 miles, go left for Presidio Parkway, which becomes Richardson Ave and then Lombard Street.
  3. Take a right on to Divisadero Street.
  4. After a mile, go left for Bush Street, then right on to Gough Street.
  5. Go left on Fell Street, and you’re at the heart of San Francisco.

 

How to Get From San Rafael to Berkeley

The lively city of Berkeley, home to the University of California, is a 20 to 30-minute drive from San Rafael with your business or holiday rental car. From US 101 South takes Exit 451B for I-580 East. You’ll cross the bay, then exit on to I-580 East / I-80 West for Oakland. Take Exit 11 for University Avenue, which leads into Berkeley.

 

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