Car Rental Oxnard, CA

If you're already in Oxnard, you can rent from local Enterprise, Hertz or Budget locations. They are convenient and usually have lower rates than airport rentals. If you're flying in, Santa Barbara Airport is closer than LAX (about 45 miles/72 km northwest) but has fewer flights. LAX gives you the most flight and rental choices but you'll have a longer drive (about 60 miles/97 km) to Oxnard.

Yes, we highly recommend renting a car. While you can walk to beaches and harbors from nearby places to stay, you'll need to drive to most attractions, restaurants and shopping areas. The city has limited public transit, and a rental car gives you the freedom to explore coastal towns, visit Channel Islands Harbor and take day trips around Ventura County.

Most visitors find a midsize car works well. It gives you enough space for beach gear and is easy to park. If you plan to carry surfboards, boogie boards or a lot of beach equipment, you should consider an SUV. Many people enjoy convertibles for the scenic coastal drives along Pacific Coast Highway, but they have less secure storage for your beach gear.

Many Oxnard beaches have free or low-cost parking lots. Oxnard Beach Park now charges a small fee (about $5–$8 per car) on weekends and holidays. You can still find free street or lot parking at places like Silver Strand and Hollywood Beach. Parking spots can fill up quickly on summer weekends and holidays, so try to arrive before 11 AM to get a good spot. Some neighborhoods near the beaches require parking permits, so make sure you read the signs carefully.

No, you can only get to the Channel Islands by boat or plane. However, you'll need a car to reach Channel Islands Harbor, which is where the boats for the islands leave from. Island Packers is the main company that offers trips to the islands. You can park your car securely at the harbor while you visit the islands.

For amazing ocean views, you can drive the Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) in either direction from Oxnard. If you go southeast, you'll pass through Point Mugu State Park and Malibu. If you drive northwest, you'll get to Ventura and then Santa Barbara. Another beautiful drive is Highway 33 north to Ojai. This road winds through the pretty Ventura River Valley and offers mountain views.

Oxnard is a great home base for exploring Southern California. You're about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of Los Angeles (1–1.5 hours) and 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Santa Barbara (45–60 minutes). You can also drive 35 miles (56 km) northwest to Malibu (about 45 minutes) and 50 miles (80 km) northwest to Santa Monica (around 1 hour). Just remember that traffic can make these trips much longer, especially during rush hours.

You should watch out for slow-moving farm vehicles on the roads around the city, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. From May to July, the morning coastal fog can make it hard to see, so be sure to turn on your headlights when you need to.