Car Rental - Eureka

 

Rent a car in Eureka to easily explore and enjoy California’s glittering Humboldt Bay area. Nestled along the shores of the North Coast region, Eureka offers plenty of pristine beaches, nature reserves and a variety of museums.

You’ll find our Eureka car rental pick-up location on B Street, just off US 101. Browse our varied selection online and we’ll have your chosen vehicle ready and waiting for when you arrive. Our large SUVs are spacious enough for the whole family to travel in comfort, while sedans allow you to drive away in style.

With car rental in Eureka, the wider North Coast is open for you to discover. California is a huge and varied state, with plenty of exciting road trip opportunities. Head along the bay to neighboring Arcata or drive north to Patrick’s Point and Big Lagoon.

Take US 254 south past Humboldt Redwoods State Park to reach Santa Rosa, Oakland and San Francisco. Reserve your car rental in Eureka with Hertz today.

Eureka Locations

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Map data ©2026
Map data ©2026

A Quick Guide to Eureka

Sequoia Park

Sequoia Park

3414 West Street, CA, 95503

Follow the many hiking and biking trails through 67 acres of redwood forest at Sequoia Park. Located next to the zoo, the park features fresh green meadows, two creeks for fishing and a pleasant duck pond. Kids can go wild at the playground and

families can relax at the picnic tables. Make sure to take some coins for the pretty wishing well. Rent a holiday car and bring your family here to experience this must-see in Eureka.

Clarke Historical Museum

Clarke Historical Museum

240 East Street, CA, 95501

Uncover the regional and cultural history of California’s North Coast. Clarke Historical Museum boasts an extensive collection of relics from across the region. Learn more about the heritage of the Wiyot tribe and the Blue Lake Rancheria in the Native American wing and how California’s Gold Rush boom brought new cultures to the region.

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge

1020 Ranch Road, Loleta, CA, 95551

Drive 20 minutes out of town via US 101 S to reach Humboldt Bay, a spectacular wetland refuge that draws in plenty of wildlife. Visit between fall and early spring for a chance to see 100,000 Aleutian geese flock to the area, with many gaggling by the visitor center. The refuge welcomes an additional 200 bird species that migrate along the Pacific Flyway for the winter. Renting a car in Eureka means you’re just minutes away from these spectacular views – and experiences you’ll never forget.

A Taste of Bim

613 3 Street, CA, 95501

Taste the Caribbean at this colorful eatery, run by Bajans. Try the fried shrimp with garlic butter sauce and classic jerk chicken, oxtail stew and curry goat. Take your rental car out for a drive to this popular spot in Eureka.

Humboldt Smokehouse

310 5 Street, CA, 95501

Carnivores will love this popular smokery. You’ll find an array of cuts listed on the menu, but there’s a particular focus on pork. The restaurant cures its own bacon and has a constant supply of barbecued hogs.

Brick & Fire

1630 F Street, CA, 95501

Tucked down a quaint street off East Wabash Avenue, Brick & Fire is known for its wood-fired delicacies. Be sure to sample the house-made Italian sausage pizza and the mouthwatering fire-roasted polenta lasagna, a great vegetarian option.

Best Western Plus Humboldt Bay Inn

232 West 5 Street, CA, 95501

This straightforward hotel has a modern design and offers guests everything they need for their visit. Sink into soft white sheets in a deluxe king-size bed after a few laps in the indoor pool and an unwinding trip to the on-site fitness center. Renting a car makes it easier to discover areas that may be hard to reach with Eureka’s public transport. No limits, the road is yours.

The Front Porch Inn

150 G Street, Arcata, 95521

Just a 15-minute drive around the bay to Arcata, this inn has been carefully built from reclaimed local redwood. Find serenity in an outdoor tub surrounded by fern walls, opt for treatments at the earth and cedar sauna and relax by the tranquil garden pond. Rooms are uniquely designed with nature in mind and feature small kitchenettes and bathrooms.

Carter House Inns

301 L Street, CA, 95501

Reserve elegant suites at the invitingly colorful and quirky Carter House. Lavish rooms feature whirlpool tubs and romantic fireplaces, as well as double-headed luxury walk-in showers. After a day exploring Eureka in your rental car, you can relax in front of a flat-screen TV while sipping on excellent coffee.

Driving In and Around Eureka

  • Eureka Main Library (95501) is reached from US 101 and offers plenty of parking spaces for those visiting the library and Henderson Park with a car rental in Eureka.
  • Bayshore Mall (95501) has more than 3,000 parking spaces for your Eureka rental car and is the perfect place to park before browsing the local stores.
  • On-street parking meters are available across Old Town at designated parking meter zones. Each meter has a limit on how long you can park your Eureka rental car, so make sure you double-check before heading out on foot.
  • US Route 101 (US 101) is Eureka’s major north-to-south running highway and connects the city to San Francisco and the wider North Coast region. Renting a car makes it easier to get around Eureka on this major US Route.
  • State Route 255 (SR 255) curves along the western shore of Humboldt Bay from Downton and continues to Arcata.
  • State Route 299 (SR 299) connects to US 101 from Arcata and extends east as a traffic artery road for Eureka.

How to Get from California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport to Eureka

It takes about 20 minutes to drive your holiday or business car rental from the airport in McKinleyville to Eureka:

  1. Take Airport Loop Road to Lycoming Avenue.
  2. Turn right onto Airport Road.
  3. Make a left to merge onto US 101 South.
  4. Continue straight for 5.5 miles.
  5. Turn right onto H Street to reach Eureka’s Old Town.

 

How to Get From Eureka to San Francisco

Enjoy a scenic five-hour rental car road trip from Eureka to San Francisco. Use 6 Street from the city to get on to US 101 South and keep left to continue straight for 200 miles. Then, turn right onto Divisadero Street and follow signs for San Francisco to drive into the city.  

 

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