Car Hire in South San Francisco Center

South San Francisco downtown is located 16 km south of San Francisco's downtown via US-101, directly south of San Francisco International Airport. With 1 rental company in the center, this is a practical option for those landing at SFO who want to avoid the city's expensive parking rates. South San Francisco is known as 'The Industrial City' and is the global center of biotechnology – Genentech was founded here in 1976.

The center is near Caltrain Station, which takes you to San Francisco in 20 minutes, and Bay Trail along the waterfront offers cycling and walking paths with views of San Francisco Bay. Pick up your car right after landing at SFO – it takes just 5 minutes via free airport shuttle to the terminal. Avoid driving into San Francisco if you're heading to Fisherman's Wharf – take Caltrain and save on parking costs of $40–60 per day.

Fill up with gas in South San Francisco – prices are noticeably lower than in San Francisco. How close is South San Francisco downtown to SFO Airport? SFO is approximately 3 km north and is reached in 5–8 minutes via US-101 or by free airport shuttle.

How long does it take to drive to Silicon Valley from here? To Palo Alto is approximately 30 km south via US-101, which takes 25–40 minutes depending on traffic. Is it possible to return the car at SFO terminal?

It depends on the rental company – check if they have drop-off at SFO, otherwise return is at the South San Francisco office.

We compare prices from all major providers at South San Francisco Center so you can see the total cost upfront - including insurance, fuel terms and any extras. Most bookings include free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup, giving you flexibility if your plans change.