Using services from Riverside car rentals, you can improve your tourist experience by driving to nearby Chino Hills State Park, situated around 26.7 miles from the city of Riverside, where you can appreciate migrating wildlife and lovely botanical sceneries. When traveling for business or preferring to stay within the town, getting a service from car rentals in Riverside allows you to easily access various tourist attractions, such as Mount Rubidoux.
You can get to Riverside via the Ontario International Airport (ONT), which conveniently sits about 20 miles from the city. It has a Rental Car Center with multiple services offered, including Avis, Budget, Hertz, Alamo, Dollar Rent-A-Car, Thrifty, and Enterprise. You can move from the passenger terminal to these providers for car rentals in Riverside using the shuttles that operate every 5-20min. Its pick-up and drop-off points for Terminals 2 and 4 are found at the Terminal islands, while you can get the shuttle in front of the building when coming via the International Arrivals Facility.
State Route 60, Interstate 215, and State Route 91 are three major freeways that merge with numerous roads and streets for convenient transportation within and outside the city. Pay attention to winter weather, because the city experiences snow, hail, and rain. It is advisable to carry a flashlight and a supply kit in case of emergencies since the cold and wet conditions create black ice, increasing the risk of accidents.
Riverside has a morning rush hour from around 6am to 8:30am, with the peak congestion from about 7am to 7:30am. In the evening, traffic usually is from 5pm to 8pm. The freeways can be heavily congested, such as the State Route 91, which almost resembles a parking lot when moving between Corona and Riverside. If you have urgent business, such as catching a flight, leave some hours earlier and safely pass the extra time at or near the airport to avoid significant traffic delays.
If you use a train to travel to Riverside, California, you will arrive at the Riverside-Downtown Train Station. While no car rental offices operate in the terminal, you can still rent a car quickly. Companies such as Hertz, Budget, Enterprise, and Avis provide a pick-up and drop-off service. These cheap car rentals in Riverside usually pick you up at the expansive parking lot in the train station. If you can't order a car and need to get an office, the closest car rental offices to the train station are along the Riverside Freeway in locations like Riverside Junction.
Riverside holds several annual events that call for road closures and temporary congestion in the downtown area. For example, A Salute to Veterans Parade Downtown Riverside, a festival that honors former and active veterans, takes place in April. It features traffic on Brockton Avenue and 14th Street. In October, Ghost Walk Riverside is responsible for the closure of Main Street. Consequently, traffic builds up in the downtown area. In November, Riverside hosts the Riverside Festival of Lights. With an audience of over 70,000 people, the event renders several roads inaccessible. These include Main Street and Mission Inn Avenue.
Acquiring a vehicle from the cheap car rentals in Riverside makes it easy to explore the numerous in and around the city. Consider driving to San Bernardino to learn about America's rich fast-food history in the Original McDonald's Site and Museum. It takes about 15min to travel from Riverside to San Bernardino. You can also drive for about 50min to cover the approximate 40mile distance from Riverside to Anaheim. In Anaheim, enjoy you're a walk through the Disney California Adventure Park or let young ones have fun in the children's playground located on site. Alternatively, you can get to Los Angeles, about 55 miles away, after a 1h 15min drive. The city is a powerhouse of tourist attractions with sites like Universal Studios Hollywood and Petersen Automotive Museum.
Book your rental car in Riverside at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Intermediate rental cars in Riverside are around 55% cheaper than other car types, on average
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FAQs about renting a car in Riverside
What type of car is recommended for driving in Riverside?
The populous city has many parking lots and well-developed infrastructure, allowing for flexibility when choosing a car. You can utilize a compact vehicle or opt for an SUV without restrictions, making it ideal when traveling as a group with family or colleagues.
What’s the speed limit in Riverside?
In an alley, a railroad crossing with an obstructed view, and uncontrolled intersections with obstructed views, limit your speed to 15mph. When driving in a business district, school zone, residential district, or passing by a senior citizen facility, the restriction is around 25mph. The speed limit set on a two-lane undivided highway is usually 55mph. Other major highways have speed limits ranging between 65mph and 70mph, restricting the lower speed to particular vehicles, such as a trailer bus, school bus, and motor truck towing another car or having three or more axles.
Where are the best places to park in Riverside?
Riverside offers many parking spaces within the city, enhancing your convenience when using a car rental. If you want to park your car for the day, check out the Mission Inn Garage on Orange Street, it charges around $17 per day. Despite being a bit pricey, its nearness to several restaurants and the Riverside Downtown Farmers Market makes it more comfortable to visit and shop. You can get affordable rates using the ParkRiverside operated Republic Parking Garages, which include different lots around the downtown area, charging around $8 daily with the first 90min free.
How much is gas price in Riverside?
The average gas price in Riverside is C$ 4.88 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 58 and C$ 78, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Riverside?
Intermediate (Nissan Rogue or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Riverside.
Which car rental companies are at Los Angeles airport (LAX)?
How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in Riverside?
An Intermediate car rental in Riverside costs C$ 48 per day, on average.
How much does a Compact car rental cost in Riverside?
A Compact car rental in Riverside costs C$ 49 per day, on average.
How much does a Full Size car rental cost in Riverside?
A Full Size car rental in Riverside costs C$ 59 per day, on average.
Does Riverside have toll roads?
While most Riverside roads are toll-free, you may find some express roadways that charge an affordable fee. On I-15, there are two tolled lanes between Route 60 and Route 91.
Are there HOV lanes in Riverside?
If you decide to use your Riverside car rentals vehicle for carpooling, check out the numerous HOV lanes throughout the city. Most of these pathways are on I-15. It is easy to find the HOV lanes, as they are marked with a broken white line. The carpool lanes may be open to other vehicles during off-peak hours.
Created a vehicle reservation not only once but 3xs to only get calls later and find out there were no vehicles available.
8.0 Very good
Erin, Dec 2020
Cons:
Wiper fluid did not dispense.
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2020
Pros:
They did not have any cars they could give me. They said it was all sold out without helping me find an alternative.
Cons:
Be more helpful in finding solutions for customer instead of just saying we don’t have the vehicle, too bad, we can’t help you...
2.0 Poor
Anonymous, Sep 2020
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
The Carr rental place decided to close early on Friday so I wasn't able to get my car rental. Had to end up calling Enterprise who sent me to another location that had NO CARS. I ended up having to drive to an airport location and ended up paying more.
2.0 Poor
Keegan, Aug 2020
Pros:
The staff weren’t helpful at all. The location my reservation was booked was closed due to covid. There wasn’t anybody I could reach by phone. There was a sign on the door saying to go to another location. By the time I arrived, and waiting in line, they said they booked me as a no show. Again, no phone answers, poor customer service, when I asked for help with other locations that can get my rental, they told me to google it.
Cons:
Every single aspect of that experience could have been better.
The worst ever wanted a five hundred dollar deposit after I returned the car and wanted to renew it. There was always surprise charges.. I will never go to Hertz Rent-A-Car again, and I will always let people know to go elsewhere.
10.0 Wonderful
Anonymous, Dec 2021
Employees in Riverside helped me set up the Bluetooth connection to my phone. They were so helpful and nice!!
4.0 Mediocre
Anonymous, Apr 2021
Pros:
The guy was pretty stuck up. Like he had better things to do besides helping me.
Cons:
My car SHOULD have been ready. But I had to wait about 35 minutes to leave the parking lot
2.8 Poor
martin, Oct 2020
Pros:
Nothing
Cons:
Impolite office staff, tied up on the phone and when free would not help immediately. There were NO cars available!
8.0 Very good
Jane, Jun 2020
Pros:
Car was promptly available. Staff friendly.
Cons:
There was no hanger for clothes which I thought was strange - had to lay them on the back seat eliminating any area for extras.
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