San Rafael travel guide
San Rafael Tourism | San Rafael Guide
You're Going to Love San Rafael
With a population of 57,713, San Rafael is a must-see destination in California, United States. San Rafael deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.
Where to Eat in San Rafael
If you’re looking for affordable options, The Panama Hotel Restaurant (4 Bayview Street) and Vin Antico (881 Fourth St) are great picks.
When to visit San Rafael
Looking for warm weather? Then head to San Rafael in July, when the average temperature is 68 °F, and the highest can go up to 80.6 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 41 °F, with an average temperature of 48.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in January, when precipitation is around 8.2″. In contrast, July is usually the driest month of the year in San Rafael, with an average rainfall of 0″.
How to Get to San Rafael
Plane
Although San Rafael doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Oakland Airport (OAK), which is located 25 miles from San Rafael. Oakland Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from Spirit Airlines, Southwest, Alaska Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to San Rafael departs from Ontario and takes around 1h 20m.
Train
Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to San Rafael. The train journey from San Rafael to Los Angeles takes 0h 38m and costs around $16 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Santa Clara, expect to pay about $18 for a 1h 01m trip. The train station in San Rafael is called San Rafael, and is located 0.5 miles from the city center.
Car
Another option to get to San Rafael is to pick up a car rental from San Francisco, which is about 14 miles from San Rafael. You’ll find branches of Kyte and Sixt, among others, in San Francisco.
Bus
You can travel by bus to San Rafael using FlixBus or Greyhound. From Fresno, the bus ride to San Rafael takes 265 miles and will cost you around $34. From Los Angeles, the ticket costs about $81 for a journey of 425 miles.
Airlines serving San Rafael
Where to stay in San Rafael
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Extended Stay America Suites - San Rafael - Francisco Blvd East and SureStay Hotel by Best Western San Rafael.
Where to stay in popular areas of San Rafael
Most booked hotels in San Rafael
Renting a car in San Rafael
Renting a car in San Rafael costs $65 per day, on average, or $130 if you want to rent if for 2 days.
It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 7% cheaper than airport locations in San Rafael.
Expect to pay $3.90 per gallon in San Rafael (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $46.79 and $62.38. The most frequently booked car type in San Rafael is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact rental cars (Hyundai Ioniq or similar) are, on average, 65% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in San Rafael
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$42/day
Pickup truck
5 Adults, 3 Bags
$58/day