San José Airport car rental comparison

Car Rental in San Jose Airport

Too often overlooked for San Francisco, San Jose benefits from a wide variety of exciting museums and galleries, and a location close to a number of natural parks. With easy access to the airport, you can arrive downtown with a rental car from San Jose Airport in a matter of minutes, as the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport – or SJC – is not far out. From there, you can explore the city's rich colonial history or take your cheap rental car from San Jose Airport on a road trip to Alum Rock Park, Mission Peak and beyond.

Main attractions in San Jose

San Jose’s most notorious attraction is Winchester Mystery House, an over-the-top Victorian mansion with labyrinthine hallways. Once the home to Sarah Winchester, heiress to William Winchester (of rifle fame), the home is wrapped in ghostly mystique. Several attractive museums and galleries can also be found around the city, including the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, San Jose Museum of Art and the MACLA (one of the premier spaces for young artists). No visit to San Jose would be complete without recognizing the area's boom in cutting-edge tech and start-up companies; you can visit the excellent Tech Museum of Innovation to get a glimpse into modern robotics and virtual reality.

San Jose also has a host of outdoor attractions, both in and outside of the city. For green spaces, the Plaza de Cesar Chavez is the city's oldest public area, named after the founder of United Farm Workers. Aside from the museums, the plaza also houses the must-see nineteenth-century Cathedral Basilica of St Joseph. There's also the very charming Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park. The city is close to county and state parks in almost every direction, all of which can easily be reached with rental cars from San Jose Airport.

If you’re into antiques, you can rent a car from San Jose Airport and head to Alameda near Oakland. Home to the large Alameda Antiques Faire, the area is awash with retro kitsch and inspiring antique furniture.

Where to eat in San Jose

San Jose has a healthy variety of dining options, including first-rate Japanese and Mexican restaurants. The former can be found in the historical Japantown area (on Jackson Street), offering everything from quick bento picnics and filling ramen to fresh sushi and lively izakaya grills. San Jose also has a Michelin-starred eatery, Adega, a fine Portuguese restaurant, which you should book in advance. What’s more, being so close to San Francisco Bay, San Jose Airport car rentals can easily take you to fine seafood and fish restaurants with the freshest catch on the coast. 

Activities for children in San Jose

San Jose has its fair share of child-friendly activities. The engaging History Park, an open-air museum recreating the city’s historical buildings, is perfect for little ones to explore. There’s also a zoo nearby, Happy Hollow, making for an excellent combined day out. The Children's Discovery Museum is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, offering a wealth of playgrounds and interactive activities to keep under-tens busy. There are also countless excursions in the Bay Area with a cheap car rental from San Jose Airport, including California's Great America amusement park and the Aquarium by the Bay in San Francisco.

How do you book a rental car in San Jose?

HAPPYCAR can help you find the best car rental in San Jose Airport by comparing all available vehicles on your travel dates. Just type in your travel details for a full round-up of rates, including the cheapest car rental in San Jose Airport. You can book cheap car rentals throughout the United States with HAPPYCAR, including cheap car rentals at New Orleans Airport MSY, cheap car rentals at Dallas Airport DAL and cheap car rentals in Atlanta.

How far is the airport from San Jose?

San Jose International Airport (also known as the Norman Y. Mineta Airport) is conveniently located just 4.5 miles from downtown San Jose. With such good road connections, a car hire from San Jose Airport gives you great access to travel throughout California’s Bay Area.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel your rental up to 48 hours before picking up your vehicle with HAPPYCAR. To cancel, simply get in touch with the helpful support team via email.

What is the speed limit in San Jose?

San Jose's speed limits are 65 mph on highways, 25 mph within the city and in residential areas, and 15 mph is smaller alleys or near schools.

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