Car Rental - Santa Maria

 

Rent a car in Santa Maria, California, for sunset drives through rolling vineyards and blissful Central Coast beach retreats. Santa Maria is known for its wineries and barbecue cuisine, but the city also has great access to vacation resorts on San Luis Obispo Bay.

We have a car rental pick-up location at the Central Coast Jet Center at Santa Maria Airport, around 10 minutes from both Downtown and the famous Cabrillo Highway (CA-1). It’s also just a half-hour or so north to San Luis Obispo and an hour to Santa Barbara.

Santa Maria’s great road links make it easy to start road trips to Los Angeles or see magnificent vistas on the way to San Francisco. Renting a car makes it easier to traverse Santa Maria.

We have rental cars for every purpose, including cabriolets for ocean drives and spacious sedans for family vacations.

Reserve your rental car with Hertz to get more from your Santa Maria getaway. 

Santa Maria Locations

A Quick Guide to Santa Maria

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes

Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes

1065 Guadalupe Street, CA, 93434

Explore a world of natural beauty, soft sands and cinematic sights at Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, 15 minutes from Santa Maria. This coastal delight is the largest remaining sand dune system south of San Francisco and it stretches for some 18 miles along the coast. Visit to learn about nature and uncover Hollywood history, including artifacts from the largest set in movie history.

Santa Maria Museum

Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum

705 South McClelland Street, CA, 93454

Pack up your rental car and bring the family to Santa Maria’s premier destination for inquisitive kids. There’s a Mission to Mars Rock Wall, a Walking Piano and a space for crafting too. The emphasis is on interactivity and hands-on learning.

Los Flores Ranch Park

Los Flores Ranch Park

6245 Dominion Road, CA, 93454

There are 1,778 acres of hiking trails, wildlife viewing spots and great routes for biking and horseback riding lie just south of Santa Maria. It’s a great place to escape from the everyday and you can even take a guided tour.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Santa Maria

2061 North, Roemer Court, CA, 93454

For comfortable stays with an indoor pool, spa and on-site gym, Fairfield Inn checks every box. Breakfast is free, the internet is fast and there’s even a plush patio with sun loungers so you can work on your tan. Renting a car means you’ll get to avoid Santa Maria’s public transport and ride freely.

Historic Santa Maria Inn

801 South Broadway, CA, 93454

The Historic Santa Maria Inn is a landmark which has been offering tranquility to celebrity guests since the Golden Age of Hollywood. It’s also a hotel with some modern features, including audio accessibility equipment. Check in to enjoy well-appointed rooms and bask in the Californian sunshine by the outdoor pool.

Kaleidoscope Inn & Gardens

130 East Dana Street, CA, 93444

Set just north of Santa Maria and a mere 20 minutes from the beach, Kaleidoscope Inn offers ounces of charm and a sprinkling of tradition. Rooms are decorated in unique styles – expect bright colors, exposed stone and old-style fireplaces.

Wander amid the garden’s lovely trees or sink into an armchair in the inn’s library-style lounge.

Shaw’s Famous Steak House

714 South Broadway, CA, 93454

If you’re looking to try traditional barbecue in Santa Maria, Shaw’s is a great place to visit. More than a dozen types of steak come fired in an oak pit barbecue, including the famous 20oz cowboy-cut rib eye. There’s also great seafood – broiled cod is a particular specialty.
Reserve a table to avoid waiting in line at this popular eatery.

The Garden Mediterranean

122 East Boone Street, CA, 93454

Careful presentation is part of the package at The Garden Mediterranean, but that doesn’t mean flavor is compromised. Sit inside or out on the patio as you dig into hummus and eggplant appetizers or indulge in hot kibbeh – seasoned bulgur wheat stuffed with spiced beef – before choosing between grilled meat kebabs and seasoned salmon. Drive your Santa Maria business colleagues here in a car rental and enjoy breaking bread with them.

Swiss Restaurant

516 North Broadway, CA, 93454

The long-established Swiss Restaurant has been serving rotisserie and grill bites since the 1950s. It’s another great place to try tender meats fired in the traditional red-oak way – plus, there’s coconut shrimp and Alaskan halibut.

Driving In and Around Santa Maria

  • 1554 South Broadway Parking (93454) is a great option for parking in southern Santa Maria. It’s located a few blocks from Minami Park and Santa Maria Fairpark.
  • Macy’s (93454) has a three-story parking garage which is open during store hours, moments from the Regal Edwards Santa Maria & RPX cinema and the city’s Natural History Museum.
  • 3223-3277 Airpark Drive (93455) offers street-level parking for your car rental close to Santa Maria Airport, the neighboring dog park and Santa Maria Country Club.

 

  • California State Route 135 (CA 135), also known as the Orcutt Expressway, is a western bypass of US 101 – which leads to the San Ynez Valley. CA 135 links Santa Maria Airport to Downtown. Hop in a car rental and enjoy the area in a sleek ride.
  • California State Route 1 (CA 1) heads south to Los Angeles and north to San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz and San Francisco.
  • Cuyama Highway (166) starts just north of Santa Maria and winds east into the mountains, connecting with the I-5 south of Bakersfield.

 

How to Get From Santa Maria to Los Angeles

It takes approximately two hours and 30 minutes to drive your rental car from Santa Maria to Los Angeles:

  1. Leave the Hertz car rental lot at Santa Maria Airport, turning right on to Skyway Drive.
  2. Cross straight over at the lights to join Lakeview Road.
  3. Turn left on to South Bradley Road, then keep right to join Santa Maria Way (US 101).
  4. Follow signs for Los Olivos, taking Exit 146 to join CA 154.
  5. At Santa Barbara, turn left on to US 101. Take Exit 2B towards downtown Los Angeles.

 

How to Get From Santa Maria to Pismo Beach

Pismo Beach is just a 20 minute or so drive from Santa Maria. Hop in your business or holiday rental car and just head north on US 101, then use Exit 191A to join Wadsworth Avenue – a road which connects downtown Pismo with Pismo Heights.