United States · airport pick-up
Airport car rental in San Francisco
Pick up a rental car at San Francisco's airport terminals. Expedia Cars covers every major counter on arrivals — collect your key minutes after baggage claim, drop off at the same gate, no shuttle hassle.
- ✓On-airport counters at every San Francisco terminal
- ✓No off-site shuttles for the major brands
- ✓Flexible fare options shown per flight
- ✓One-way drop-off available · Powered by Expedia Cars
What first-timers get wrong in San Francisco
Summer is the cold season, with June and July fog holding the city near 15°C while September and October bring the warm clear weather everyone expects in August. Cable cars now cost $12 one way, or $18 for the Cable Car Plus day pass covering all Muni. Alcatraz and Muir Woods both need advance reservations. Never leave anything visible in a parked car.
What things cost in San Francisco
One cable car ride is $12, so the $18 Cable Car Plus pass repays itself on the second trip and covers Muni besides. Alcatraz starts near $48. Against those, the de Young is free monthly, the Cable Car Museum always, and walking the Golden Gate Bridge costs nothing. A Mission burrito stays among the best-value meals in any American city.
San Francisco with kids, realistically
The Exploratorium on Pier 15 is built entirely for hands and easily runs three hours. Cable cars delight children and cost $12 each way, which mounts fast across a family. Golden Gate Park absorbs a full day between the Japanese Tea Garden, the bison paddock, and the carousel. The hills are not decorative: a buggy on Nob Hill is a workout.
What to eat in San Francisco
The Mission burrito was invented here and is a specific object: foil-wrapped, rice inside, from La Taqueria or El Farolito around 24th Street. Dungeness crab season runs roughly November to June, so a July crab is not local. Sourdough owes its tang to wild yeast particular to this coast. The Ferry Building's Saturday market and Clement Street dim sum complete the list.
San Francisco after dark
Last call is 2am across California, so evenings begin early and stop abruptly. The Mission carries the densest bar strip along Valencia, SoMa takes the clubs, the Castro remains among the first recognised gay neighbourhoods anywhere, and North Beach keeps the surviving Beat-era bars. Muni thins badly after midnight, which makes rideshare the default way home.
When to go to San Francisco
| Best months for airport-cars | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| June | 19°C / 66°F | 0 days |
| July | 19°C / 66°F | 0 days |
| August | 20°C / 68°F | 0 days |
The month to avoid is December — around 13°C (55°F) with roughly 12 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: June is the sweet spot, December the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Layers — t-shirts under a light jacket or sweater, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.