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Road Genius makes it easy to find great rental car offers in Redding, California. Compare prices and make bookings in one place. Choose from cars at Redding Municipal Airport or downtown branches and head straight to Lassen Volcanic National Park, Shasta Lake or Mount Shasta. Stock is limited during busy seasons, so reserve early to lock in low rates and the vehicle you need.
| Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) | • Convenient for air travelers • Major providers (Hertz, Enterprise, Avis) • Direct vehicle access (no shuttle needed) • Easy highway connections |
• Limited flight options into RDD • Higher rates than in-town locations • Smaller selection of vehicles • Limited hours based on flight schedules |
| Redding City Locations | • Multiple providers available • Often lower rates than airport • Enterprise, Hertz, Budget locations • Some offer pickup service |
• Limited business hours (most 8am-5pm) • Most closed Sundays • Smaller fleets than major cities • Transportation needed to reach location |
| Sacramento Airport | • Largest selection in region • Competitive rates • All major rental companies • 24/7 operation |
• 160 miles (257 km) from Redding (2.5-hour drive) • Airport fees and surcharges • Return trip planning needed |
On average, car rentals in Redding cost around $64 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals starting at $48 per day.
Compare RDD vs. in-town counters: city branches often beat the airport by 10-20 %, and Enterprise will pick you up in Redding for free so you can skip the cab fare.
Watch the calendar: prices spike during Kool April Nites, the Rodeo and summer school breaks. Lock in 3-4 weeks out for those dates, but you can gamble on 1-2 weeks before arrival in quiet winter months.
Stretch to a weekly rate: in Redding a 6-day rental can cost more than a 7-day "weekly" booking, so tweak your dates in the search box and see if the price drops.
Plan your pickup city: Sacramento Airport (2.5 hrs south) has massive fleets and sometimes undercuts Redding, but add up the fuel, time and any one-way drop fee before committing.
Parking Options:
| Type | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Redding | Time-limited, generally free outside posted hours | • Two- to three-hour limits in business district • Parking garage on California Street • Free evenings and weekends • Market Street Promenade has dedicated lots |
| Shopping Centers | Usually free | • Plenty of spaces at Mt. Shasta Mall • Shopping centers throughout city offer ample spaces • No major restrictions at commercial areas |
| Sundial Bridge/Turtle Bay | Usually free | • Large lot at Turtle Bay Exploration Park • Can fill during special events • Extra spaces at Sacramento River Trail access points |
| State/National Parks | Entrance fee required | • Lassen Volcanic National Park vehicle entrance fee • Whiskeytown National Recreation Area vehicle entrance fee • Annual passes available for frequent visitors |
| Shasta Lake Marinas | Parking fees may apply | • Day-use spaces at most marinas • Some boat ramps require a fee • Overnight spaces available for boaters |
Important Local Driving Rules:
Get a car to get to:
Lassen Volcanic National Park – Bumpass Hell, Manzanita Lake
Mount Shasta – trailheads, ski park
Shasta Lake – marinas, Shasta Dam
Whiskeytown Lake – beaches, waterfall trails
Do I need a 4WD or AWD vehicle to visit the national parks near Redding?
In the summer and early fall (June–October), you can use a regular 2WD car to visit both Lassen Volcanic National Park and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area on the main park roads. But for winter and spring trips to Lassen (November–May), we recommend an AWD/4WD vehicle because you'll often find snow and ice. Keep in mind that park rangers usually close the main Lassen Park Road to through traffic from around November until late May. In years with heavy snow, the road might stay closed until July. This means in winter you can only get to the areas near each park entrance. You might also want a vehicle with higher clearance for some unpaved forest service roads all year.
What's the best time of year to rent a car and explore the Redding area?
The best times to visit are late spring (May–June) and early fall (September–October). The weather is mild and there are not as many people. In the summer (July–August), you can drive on all the mountain roads, but it gets very hot in Redding (over 100 °F/38 °C). In the winter, you can enjoy snow activities, but you'll need experience driving in the snow and a car that can handle mountain roads.
Can I drive from Redding to both Mount Shasta and Lassen Volcanic National Park in one day?
Yes, but you would have a very full day and not much time to spend at each park. Mount Shasta is about an hour north of Redding and Lassen is about 1 to 1.5 hours east. You'll have a better time if you focus on one area per day. You could also stay overnight in Mt. Shasta City or Chester to split up the trip. If you travel in winter or early spring, remember that park rangers close Lassen's main road to through traffic, which can make your drive much longer.
Are there any roads I should avoid or be particularly cautious on?
You should be careful on CA-299 west of Redding on the way to Weaverville. The road is very winding and has sharp curves and steep drop-offs. The Lassen Park Road (CA-89) in the national park also goes through high mountain passes. It can be a tough drive in bad weather. Both are beautiful drives, but you need to be careful, especially if you're not comfortable on mountain roads.
How difficult is it to find parking at popular attractions?
You can usually find plenty of parking in the Redding area, especially when you compare it to bigger cities. The parking lot for the Sundial Bridge can fill up during special events. Popular trailheads in Lassen National Park, like Bumpass Hell, might be full by midday on summer weekends. However, most attractions have enough parking, especially if you get there before 10 am.
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