Great value rentals from the United States’ most trusted RV hire providers
For the ultimate Californian road trip, start by booking an RV rental in San Francisco Airport so you can start your adventure right away. VroomVroomVroom can help you find an affordable vehicle by comparing motorhome and campervan hire deals from the country’s leading suppliers. Whether you require a small camper or a large RV, you can easily find it in our list.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major international airport, located near San Francisco, California. Acting as a gateway to Europe and Asia, the airport started its operation in 1927. Today, the airport is ranked among the world’s top thirty busiest airports. In addition, the airport is the second busiest airport in California, following the Los Angeles airport. Originally, the airport was called Mills Field Municipal Airport, but was renamed to its present name in 1931. When SFO started its operations, it was only used only for Pan American airways. However, when Oakland International Airport was used by military, large-scale domestic airlines started operating from SFO.
SFO is modernized to create spacious boarding areas, with natural lights and it offers cool views to passengers. In addition, the airport is leading the industry in getting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) status for airport structures. SFO was the first big airport in the US to achieve 100 percent fully automated and integrated baggage screening. This helped with efficient operations and with reducing passenger screening wait times. Bearing several awards, SFO has been the leader in setting industry standards. Having multiple facilities for shopping and dining, as well as accessible ground transportation, parking, and much more, passengers at the SFO airport have a pleasant experience.
San Francisco RV Resort, located at 700 Palmetto Avenue in Pacifica, is about 15-20 minutes away from the airport. The RV resort is in the close vicinity of many San Francisco attractions. With 162 sites, the place offers amazing Pacific Ocean sunset views. This motorhome rental park also offers multiple amenities, such as Wi-Fi, laundry, a heated pool, a hot tub, showers, restrooms, a clubhouse, and much more. With the support of knowledgeable staff, visitors can plan their San Francisco trip in a motorhome rental and make the stay at this resort comfortable and enjoyable.
Golden Gate Trailer Park, residing at 2000 Redwood Highway in Greenbrae, is about 30 miles from the airport. Located close to highway 101, the park is a few miles away from the famous Golden Gate Bridge. Multiple clean, full hookup sites are available for campers on overnight or extended stays. The park offers multiple amenities, such as showers, laundry, Wi-Fi, multiple recreational services, and much more. The San Francisco ferry and wine country drive is also just a few miles away from this park.
Coyote Valley RV Resort, located at 9750 Monterey Road in San Jose, is about an hour drive from the airport. With 127 deluxe sites, the resort offers multiple amenities, including free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, a clubhouse, an entertainment center, laundry, a pool, and much more. This motorhome rental park also offers special deals all year round.
Fair Park RV, located in Alameda County Fairgrounds at 4501 Pleasanton Ave (Pleasanton), is an ideal base camp to explore San Francisco. The Park has a gated community and multiple full service sites. With amenities such as clean bathrooms, showers, laundry, recreational facilities, and more, this campervan rental park is ideal for any San Francisco tourists, with or without pets.
San Francisco Bay, located about 15 minutes from the airport, is surrounded by San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. The water that enters the bay from the Pacific Ocean is called golden gate. Visitors can hike or bike along the shore, paddle, and sail on top of its surface, watch birds, and even explore its multiple wetlands.
Golden Gate Bridge, located about 24 miles from the SFO San Francisco airport, is one of the most famous attractions to visit when in San Francisco. This suspension bridge connects San Francisco to California’s northern counties. Named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a wonder of the modern world, this bridge is one of the most recognized symbols of San Francisco throughout the world.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, located at 2868 Mission Street in San Francisco, was setup to reflect the tradition and culture of the Latino community. Multiple performances and classes throughout the year make this place one of the most active places to obtain more experience with the Latino community. Other important museums that can be visited when in SFO are the Asian Art Museum, African American Art and Cultural Center, Cable Car Museum, and the Cartoon Art Museum.
On hiring an RV at San Francisco Airport
Unlike when hiring a rental car, people tend to book an RV a bit further in advance, and there are a few reasons for this.
When you’re hiring an RV, you’re not simply hiring something with four wheels to buzz around a city for a few days, instead you’re hiring a vehicle that you could well be living in for days, weeks, or even months. As such, people tend to have far more specific needs — some may require a certain number of berths, perhaps an onboard kitchen, or more comfortable living space. All this means that doing your research to find the right RV for you can pay off handsomely — but it also means that supply is more limited. When supply is limited, it is a good idea to book as far in advance as possible so that you know that the RV you need will be waiting for you when you arrive.
With this in mind, while it isn’t unusual for people to book a hire car the day before they need it, with RVs, people often book their vehicle months in advance. So our advice to you is if you’re planning to rent an RV, start researching today, and when you find the right RV for you, book it!
One more point, another way RV rentals differ from regular cars, is that bookings are not instant. Once you make an RV booking it will need to be approved by the provider. Yet another reason not to leave your RV rental until you’re sitting in the airport boarding lounge.
If you’re new to RVs and not sure where to start, please give our RV rental information page a read as it explains many of the basics you’ll need to know to make an informed decision.
We could start off by telling you that a typical customer hiring an RV at San Francisco Airport tends to look at RVs with two or four berths (including a toilet and shower). This isn’t really all that helpful though, as they type of RV you should hire at San Francisco Airport depends very much on the type of RV you — rather than a typical customer — needs. Consider the following questions:
How big is your travel group? What is your budget? What facilities do you need — or not need? Where are you planning to go? How long for? Knowing the answers to these questions — and plenty more — is the best way to make sure the RV you hire at San Francisco Airport is the right one for you.
Solo travellers or couples might find a compact RV to be more than enough, while families — especially those with young kids — or larger groups might prefer a more spacious motorhome with multiple sleeping areas.
Next, consider the facilities you need and the facilities you want. These might sound the same, but they are very different! Basic RVs often include a bed and simple cooking gear, while more luxurious options feature kitchens, bathrooms, and comfortable bedding. For example, if you’re planning on camping, perhaps paying the extra for comfortable beds isn’t really necessary, but if you’re not even packing a tent, then the extra expense required to get more comfortable beds might be a smart choice.
Where you’re going also matters. If you’re planning to just potter around San Francisco Airport and its immediate surrounds, then you could probably get away with a standard RV. That said, if you’re planning to drive from San Francisco Airport to New Orleans — or Denver — something more spacious would be a sound investment.
Think about your budget, as RVs vary in cost depending on size, amenities, and rental duration, and while shortening the length of your trip might bring different options within your budget, spending more to get a bigger van may mean you’ll spend even less on hotels. Either way, do the math!
In conclusion, when you’re booking an RV for pickup from San Francisco Airport, it pays to be honest when considering what you need versus what you want, along with what fits with your budget and overall travel plans. It’s the best way to maximise your chance of getting the perfect RV for you.
For most rental RV providers, the minimum age to rent an RV is the same as for car rentals — 21 years of age. Depending on the RV rental supplier, those under 21 may only be able to rent certain vehicles. Double check with the RV rental provider to see what their specific requirements are.
In most cases, you won’t need to present a special type of licence to rent an RV — you’ll only be asked to present your standard and valid full driving licence. Keep in mind that a probationary, learner permit, or provisional licence are not accepted for RV hire. If your licence is in a language other than English, you’ll need to provide an International Driving Permit in conjunction with your valid licence. If you’re unsure as to whether your licence will be accepted, you should contact your prospective RV provider prior to booking.
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