Find cheap car rental deals in Santa Clara, California

Santa Clara is one of the many booming cities in California’s Silicon Valley region. The lively city is packed with things to do. Make sure that the Triton Museum of Art and the Intel Museum are on your itinerary when in the city. Santa Clara also offers a family theme park, several sleek shopping destinations, and pockets of pleasant parkland.

Silicon Valley is easiest to explore with your own vehicle. Rent a car through Orbitz to navigate Santa Clara before driving out to other dream destinations in the region. Iconic bridges, trendy towns, and beautiful beaches await anyone exploring the area.

Santa Clara and beyond: From bay to beach

Santa Clara is just one of several cities in the Bay Area, each with something to recommend it. We’ve chosen three destinations near the city that you should visit in your rental car.

San Jose

Santa Clara’s neighbor is a constant delight. Start your journey in its Downtown region, where the historic buildings house terrific attractions such as the Tech Museum of Innovation, the Children’s Discovery Museum, and the Center for the Performing Arts. Outside of Downtown, you’ll find the unusual Winchester Mystery House, and the headquarters of the secretive Rosicrucian Order.

Journey time: Around 10 minutes

Distance: Approximately 5 miles

Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a constantly cheerful city by the edge of the Pacific Ocean, just a short trip away from Santa Clara. The boardwalk here is one of the highlights, with vintage-style fairground rides on the edge of a bustling beach. Head down to the waterfront for kayaking and paddleboarding expeditions or, in season, whale-watching trips to spot migrating gray whales.

Journey time: Around 40 minutes

Distance: Approximately 30 miles

San Francisco

San Francisco is the kind of city that changes character depending on which neighborhood you’re visiting. Fisherman’s Wharf is a bustling, colorful tourist trap, while Russian Hill promises fine buildings and winding streets. Head to Chinatown for street food and rebellious bookstores, or visit Haight-Ashbury for counterculture history and hippies. ’Frisco is a famously inclusive city, but LGBTQ+ visitors will particularly enjoy hanging out in The Mission and The Castro.

Journey time: Around one hour

Distance: Approximately 45 miles