Santa Maria Airport Car Rental
The Santa Maria Airport (SMX) is a neat, easy-to-reach airport that serves the Central Coast of California. Located at 3249 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria, California, it is easily accessible from US-101 from both North and South directions. The terminal building is open from 4:30 am. To 12 midnight. The airport serves small jets, props and helicopters, both commercial and private. Hangar rentals are available if you have your own plane or aircraft. Skywest/United Airlines and Allegiant Airlines (below) serve the Santa Maria Airport.
The Santa Maria has four car rental companies situated at the facility. Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz each offer their services at the Santa Maria. When leaving the Santa Maria in your rented vehicle, you will turn right on Skyway Drive and travel for for a little over one-half mile, until you arrive at Highway 135. Turn left onto 135 (Orcutt Road) and travel North until you reach the Santa Maria City center. When returning your rental car, you will essentially reverse the directions. This means traveling South on Orcutt (Highway 135) until you turn right on Skyway Drive (watch for green signs planted next to the road). We generally recommend filling up your rental car with fuel before turning back on Skyway. There are several gas stations and restaurants on Orcutt headed South towards the airport. Below is a picture of downtown Santa Maria, circa 1939. Notice the 14¢ Gasoline!!
As far as hotels near the airport, you have options. There is a Radisson on Skyway Drive, less than 1/2 mile from the airport. It receives fairly positive ratings, but may be a little more expensive than others a little further away from the airport. However, many others dot the 135 Highway heading North into town. These include the Rodeway, maybe the best value. The Rodeway is about 2 miles in a rental car, from the airport, right off of 135. The Rodeway sits on the left-hand side of the road. Watch for the big blue sign in the parking lot. The hotel is an older 1970's style facility with a fairly recent remodel. Most customers report a pretty clean place to stay, at a really great price. Off-season prices actually start in the low $40 range and move up from there. Amenities include Cable TV, High-Speed internet, Microwave and refrigerator, and a coffee maker.
One restaurant within the airport is the Pepper Garcia’s. Many report very good Mexican food with generous portions, served by a friendly staff. They also have coloring books for the kids (or you, if you like to color) You can watch the planes take off and land while dining in Pepper Garcia’s. Children and adults both enjoy this.
Not within the airport, but just a short distance away is a park called Waller Park. It is a beautiful park with lots of swings, acres of evergreen trees, several ponds and BBQ pits. It is a great place for picnics, feeding the ducks, jogging, and watching the hawks. There are pony rides on Saturday and Sunday!
Most folks traveling into the Santa Maria Airport have the town of Santa Maria in mind. However, some folks are taking their rental car, and traveling to a nearby town. For those folks, we have compiled a list of those towns, and the driving distances needed to get to them. These distances are from the airport and are only estimates.
San Luis Obispo, CA 38 Miles.
Grover Beach, CA 26 Miles.
Pismo Beach, CA 26 Miles.
Vandenberg AFB, CA 15 Miles
Arroyo Grande, CA 23 Miles.
Bakersfield, CA 134 Miles.
Atascadero, CA 55 Miles.
Compact cars, standard cars, economy cars, full size, SUV's, convertibles, and minivans are all generally available at the airport - except when they are out of stock. We generally recommend that you reserve your rental car at the Santa Maria as soon as you know the dates. You can always change the terms later. While you're at it, pick up a car seat or add an additional driver for your trip. When running your booking request with Eurocar Rental, you will find these options available. Thanks for shopping with us and we hope you enjoy your Santa Maria rental car experience!!
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Santa Maria Airport Basics.....
The Santa Maria Airport (SMX) is a neat, easy-to-reach airport that serves the Central Coast of California. Located at 3249 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria, California, it is easily accessible from US-101 from both North and South directions. The terminal building is open from 4:30 am. To 12 midnight. The airport serves small jets, props and helicopters, both commercial and private. Hangar rentals are available if you have your own plane or aircraft. Skywest/United Airlines and Allegiant Airlines (below) serve the Santa Maria Airport.
Santa Maria Airport Car Rental.....
The Santa Maria has four car rental companies situated at the facility. Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Hertz each offer their services at the Santa Maria. When leaving the Santa Maria in your rented vehicle, you will turn right on Skyway Drive and travel for for a little over one-half mile, until you arrive at Highway 135. Turn left onto 135 (Orcutt Road) and travel North until you reach the Santa Maria City center. When returning your rental car, you will essentially reverse the directions. This means traveling South on Orcutt (Highway 135) until you turn right on Skyway Drive (watch for green signs planted next to the road). We generally recommend filling up your rental car with fuel before turning back on Skyway. There are several gas stations and restaurants on Orcutt headed South towards the airport. Below is a picture of downtown Santa Maria, circa 1939. Notice the 14¢ Gasoline!!
Santa Maria Airport Hotels.....
As far as hotels near the airport, you have options. There is a Radisson on Skyway Drive, less than 1/2 mile from the airport. It receives fairly positive ratings, but may be a little more expensive than others a little further away from the airport. However, many others dot the 135 Highway heading North into town. These include the Rodeway, maybe the best value. The Rodeway is about 2 miles in a rental car, from the airport, right off of 135. The Rodeway sits on the left-hand side of the road. Watch for the big blue sign in the parking lot. The hotel is an older 1970's style facility with a fairly recent remodel. Most customers report a pretty clean place to stay, at a really great price. Off-season prices actually start in the low $40 range and move up from there. Amenities include Cable TV, High-Speed internet, Microwave and refrigerator, and a coffee maker.
Santa Maria Airport Amenities.....
One restaurant within the airport is the Pepper Garcia’s. Many report very good Mexican food with generous portions, served by a friendly staff. They also have coloring books for the kids (or you, if you like to color) You can watch the planes take off and land while dining in Pepper Garcia’s. Children and adults both enjoy this.
Not within the airport, but just a short distance away is a park called Waller Park. It is a beautiful park with lots of swings, acres of evergreen trees, several ponds and BBQ pits. It is a great place for picnics, feeding the ducks, jogging, and watching the hawks. There are pony rides on Saturday and Sunday!
Speaking of picnics, you can get your fixin’s for the picnic at the local grocery store, Spencer’s Market, right down the way a bit from the airport. This is a very healthy walk – or you can drive south on Skyway Drive. You will arrive at a stop light. Continue on when safe and proceed to Spencer’s Market to your left and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, snacks, etc. They have a good selection of groceries, a small deli and great cuts of meat with a butcher on-site. They provide the small hometown service that is not always so common these days.
Car Rental Driving Distance.....
Most folks traveling into the Santa Maria Airport have the town of Santa Maria in mind. However, some folks are taking their rental car, and traveling to a nearby town. For those folks, we have compiled a list of those towns, and the driving distances needed to get to them. These distances are from the airport and are only estimates.
San Luis Obispo, CA 38 Miles.
Grover Beach, CA 26 Miles.
Pismo Beach, CA 26 Miles.
Vandenberg AFB, CA 15 Miles
Arroyo Grande, CA 23 Miles.
Bakersfield, CA 134 Miles.
Atascadero, CA 55 Miles.
Types of Car Rental Vehicles Available.....
Compact cars, standard cars, economy cars, full size, SUV's, convertibles, and minivans are all generally available at the airport - except when they are out of stock. We generally recommend that you reserve your rental car at the Santa Maria as soon as you know the dates. You can always change the terms later. While you're at it, pick up a car seat or add an additional driver for your trip. When running your booking request with Eurocar Rental, you will find these options available. Thanks for shopping with us and we hope you enjoy your Santa Maria rental car experience!!