Car Rental - Sunnyvale

 

Rent a car in Sunnyvale to discover a picture-perfect California city, located on iconic Route 101 and the historic El Camino Real, which connects 21 of the state’s Spanish missions. The city is also known for its leafy parks, excellent museums and proximity to Silicon Valley.

Our Sunnyvale car rental office is conveniently located on the El Camino Real itself, close to many of the city’s restaurants, stores, and amenities. Once you’ve picked up your rental, you can choose to explore locally, or drive to exciting destinations like San Francisco in the north or neighboring San Jose.

In our rental fleet, you’ll find the perfect rental car for your Sunnyvale getaway. We’ve got roomy SUVs and minivans for family vacations involving lots of luggage, as well as compact sedans for quick business trips.

Reserve your Sunnyvale car rental with Hertz online to kickstart your visit to the picturesque San Francisco Bay area.

Sunnyvale Locations

A Quick Guide to Sunnyvale

red roller coaster closeup

California’s Great America

4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA, 95054

Thrill-seekers can’t miss a trip to California’s Great American whilst in Sunnyvale. This amusement park offers over 40 rides and attractions, from family favorites like the Barney Oldfield Speedway to adrenalin-pumping rollercoasters like Delirium and Demon. There’s also a water park, South Bay Shores, ideal for cooling off on hot days. If you’re travelling from Sunnyvale by rental car, you’ll find plenty of parking at the Parkway.

baylands park

Baylands Park

999 East Caribbean Drive, CA, 94089

Stretch your legs in over 70 acres of idyllic parkland at Baylands Park. There’s a wide expanse of wetlands, which provides a haven for local wildlife and fantastic spotting opportunities. Spend an afternoon hiking the trails – you can access the San Francisco Bay Trail from here – or relaxing with a picnic.

heritage park sunnyvale

Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum

570 East Remington Drive, CA, 94087

The Martin Murphy family founded the city of Sunnyvale, and this museum is a replica of their original 1850s home. Discover how the house might have looked when the family lived there and explore rotating exhibits on topics ranging from the history of canneries to the development of Silicon Valley giants.

Courtyard by Marriott

660 West El Camino Real, CA, 94087

Located on El Camino Royale, this contemporary hotel is a convenient and comfortable choice for your trip to Sunnyvale. It also provides easy access to some of Silicon Valley’s biggest tech offices, with Google HQ just six miles away. Enjoy cozy rooms, an outdoor pool and welcoming Bistro.

The Grand Hotel

865 West El Camino Real, CA, 94087

At this polished hotel in Silicon Valley, you can kick back in sophisticated suites or spread out in one of the private villas. The spacious outdoor pool is the perfect place to cool down, while a complimentary continental breakfast every morning sets you up for the day.

Aloft

170 South Sunnyvale Avenue, CA, 94086

If you’re looking for laid-back luxury in Sunnyvale, look no further than the ultra-cool Aloft hotel. Located close to California’s Great America theme park, it also offers sleek rooms, a gourmet pantry serving up light snacks and beverages and Backyard, an atmospheric outdoor mingling area.

Dishdash

190 South Murphy Avenue, CA, 94086

Discover vibrant Middle Eastern fare crafted using age-old recipes at this bustling spot. Expect flavorsome spice blends and generous portions, with highlights on the menu including mansaf (succulent lamb cooked in creamy yogurt) and grilled fish fillet served with earthy basil and tahini.

Roberto’s Cantina

168 South Murphy Avenue, CA, 94086

This local Sunnyvale favorite is the place to go for authentic Mexican food, offering a bustling atmosphere in the Heritage District. The menu is peppered with crowd-pleasing options like shrimp tacos and beef burritos, as well as experimental dishes like roasted peppers filled with molten cheese.

Thai Spoons

909 West El Camino Real, CA 94087

This family-owned restaurant has been serving delicious and authentic Thai food since 1994. Choose from classic dishes like satay chicken, tom yum soup and Pad Thai, or opt for a rich and flavorful panang, red or green curry – served with vegetables, tofu or your choice of meat.

Driving In and Around Sunnyvale

  • Sunnyvale Public Parking (94086) offers underground parking in Downtown Sunnyvale, close to many of the city’s restaurants and stores. Perfect if you want to park up your rental car before hitting the streets of Sunnyvale.
  • Orange Parking Structure (94086) is a multi-story lot that has covered spaces, situated next to Redwood Square Park.
  • 245 S Sunnyvale Ave (94086) has 350 parking spaces available and can be found in the heart of Sunnyvale’s Heritage District.

 

  • US Route 101 (US-101) is one of the country’s most famous driving routes, stretching south to north from California to Washington. Take the 101 north from Sunnyvale in your rental car to head for San Francisco.
  • El Camino Real is a commemorative road running for 600 miles along the West Coast. It connects 21 of California’s Spanish missions as well as sub-missions, presidios and pueblos.
  • Interstate 280 (I-280) serves the San Francisco Bay area of California, skirting around the southern edge of Sunnyvale. Drive north-west on I-280 to reach San Francisco.

 

How to Get From Sunnyvale to San Francisco

It takes around an hour to drive the 47 miles north in your rental car from Sunnyvale to San Francisco.

  1. Take El Camino Real out of the city center.
  2. Use the right lane for CA-85 N and merge onto it.
  3. Make Exit 24B and merge onto US-101 N for 35 miles.
  4. Keep left at the fork to take US-101 N.
  5. Use the left-hand lane for Exit 434B.
  6. Take a right onto Market Street to arrive in San Francisco.

 

How to Get From Sunnyvale to San Jose

San Jose is just a 20-minute drive from Sunnyvale by car hire, 12 miles away. Take El Camino Real out of the city, then merge onto I-280 S. Follow until Exit 3A and use CA-87 N to arrive in the city.