Car hire in Sanford - Gateway to Central Florida

Conveniently located midway between Orlando and Daytona Beach in central Florida, the enchanting city of Sanford is one of America's lesser-known tourism gems. Home to many beautifully-preserved 19th-century buildings, it sits very comfortably on the shores of Lake Monroe right at the top of St Johns River, offering plenty of cruise activities and watersport options to visitors.

Blessed with a warm year-round climate, Sanford is a pleasant city and the seat of Florida’s Seminole County. Besides its pristine waterfront area which stretches for miles, it boasts a plethora of possibilities for buying unusual antiques and collectibles in small family-run boutiques and many fine-dining options in peaceful lakeside restaurants, all in very close proximity to the city's famous downtown Magnolia Square.

Despite being a provincial city, Sanford is packed with first-rate attractions providing the potential for several days of exciting sightseeing opportunities. The main draws are the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, one of the best in the whole of the USA, and the excellent Museum of Seminole County History which tells the story of the Sanford area's unique heritage.

Besides having all the fun of exploring this beautiful city at your disposal, with a car hire in Sanford you have the nearby city of Orlando and all its world-renowned tourist attractions to enjoy, as well as the magnificent beaches of Florida's sun-baked Atlantic coast not too far away. And you won't want to miss the chance to visit the Kennedy Space Center just an hour's drive from the centre of Sanford.

Founded in 1954, Auto Europe is one of the world's leading car hire companies with more than 24,000 pick-up and drop-off locations in over 180 different destinations, including Sanford in the heart of Florida. We work with all the top car rental suppliers which enables us to offer the cheapest prices and widest range of vehicles on the market.

If you need any help with your reservation, please call our rental specialists on +44 123 3225 114 who will be happy to get you the best deal and give you general advice on getting around central Florida by car. Please consult our USA Driving Guide for more advice on road rules, speed limits, driving distances, etc. in Florida and the rest of the country.

How is the traffic in Sanford?

You'll have no problem getting around this part of central Florida with a car hire in Sanford. The city is well planned and the road system nicely structured to help people getting around, either by car or local public transport. One of the quickest approaches to the centre is along the main Interstate 4 thoroughfare, with State Road 417 (Central Florida Greeneway) another popular route into Downtown. As Sanford is so close to some of America's most popular theme parks, most notably Walt Disney World, you can expect more traffic during the school holidays, especially in the morning and late afternoon when the attractions are opening and closing, respectively.

Where can I park my car hire in Sanford?

There's plenty of free, long-term parking available all over the city centre, which is known locally as Historic Downtown Sanford. One of the best places to park your cheap car hire in Sanford in Downtown is Courthouse Parking on the north-western corner of Commercial Avenue and Palmetto Street. Other options include the public car park on 1st Street and Palmetto which also has spaces for drivers of limited mobility. You might also want to consider parking on Seminole Boulevard along the RiverWalk which is two short blocks from all the downtown tourist attractions.

Sanford Airport

Sanford Airport (offically known as Orlando Sanford International Airport) is one of two airports serving theOrlando area. It is located approximately 45 minutes from many of the area’s theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando. The airport has two terminals - Terminal A and Terminal B - which are connected to each other. Passengers who rent a car in Sanford can pick up their vehicle at the dedicated car hire centre located close to the main terminal.

Sanford Airport (SFB)
Telephone: +1 407 585 4000
Address: 1200 Red Cleveland Blvd, Sanford, Florida 32773, USA
Website: flysfb.com

What to do in Sanford

Rich in history and culture, central Florida has warm, sunny weather right through the year, so there's great potential for a fun-filled holiday with your car rental in Sanford. The city has dozens of top tourist sights to enjoy, plus its close proximity (less than an hour's drive) to some of the world's largest and most popular theme parks in Orlando gives it lots of added appeal for families visiting the area.

• Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens: This 116-acre animal sanctuary and arboretum close to the city centre is home to over 500 animals representing 205 species, along with a wide array of exotic flora. The zoo comprises several different attractions such the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground Water Park, the ZOOm Air Adventure Park (which offers an aerial adventure course), the Barnyard Buddies Children’s Zoo and lots of other exciting prospects for young visitors.


• Museum of Seminole County History: Dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Seminole County, this excellent museum located in the heart of Sanford features a vast collection of photographs, documents, maps, artifacts and various exhibits portraying the heritage of the local Seminole Native American people.


• Historic Downtown Sanford: The city's beating heart is known as Historic Downtown Sanford, an area that's famous around the world for its award-winning restaurants, craft breweries, gastro-pubs, boutique-style shops, international events, large-scale street festivals, concerts, plays, art galleries and a spectacular marina where cruise operators cater for locals and tourists alike right through the year.


• Fort Mellon Park: Spread out along the waterfront of Lake Monro, Fort Mellon Park offers a wide variety of amenities for people of all ages. Besides a relaxing walk along the Sanford Riverwalk, the park's main attractions include a children's playground, barbecue cooking facilities, tennis and basketball courts, sports equipment to hire and plenty of toilet facilities.


• Goldsboro Historical Museum: Founded in 1891 by Mr William Clark, the Goldsboro Historical Museum depicts the life and history of the Goldsboro community of Sanford. Located on the Historic Goldsboro Boulevard, the museum was the second all-black township in the United States and houses an array of exhibits that showcase the residents, businesses, churches, schools and general stores in Goldsboro, which became a thriving community at the turn of the last century.

Best day trips with my car rental in Sanford

Besides being a fascinating place to visit, the city is also a highly popular gateway to the many attractions to be found in Orlando and other key destinations in central Florida. With a car hire in Sanford you can quickly drive to many of the USA'a top theme parks and return the same day. Numerous attractions await you in the Sanford region, from which we have compiled a short-list of the most interesting places;

Jeanine Taylor Folk Art

Jeanine Taylor Folk Art is a locally-owned gallery that focuses on contemporary folk art. Located in the charming historic district of Downtown Sanford, native Floridian Jeanine Taylor established the gallery in 1997 to preserve Florida’s rich artistic culture. The gallery showcases works by local folk artists like Theresa Disney, Missionary Mary Proctor, Butch Anthony, Ruby C. Williams, John "Cornbread" Anderson and Purvis Young. The Jeanine Taylor Folk Art hosts a variety of rotating exhibitions and special events throughout the year.

Lower Wekiva River State Preserve

Covering more than 20,000 acres, the Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park is a nature park and extensive wildlife habitat incorporating the St Johns and Wekiva rivers. Forming a corridor to the Ocala National Forest bordering the St Johns River, the park is home to numerous species, including alligators, river otters, black bears, sandhill cranes and wood storks. The park also offers a great variety of recreational activities, such as hiking, horse-back riding, camping, fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

Black Bear Wilderness Area

The Black Bear Wilderness Area spans some 1,600 acres of prime terrain in the north-western areas of Seminole County. Featuring an interesting array of wetland habitats in the St John River's floodplain, the area incorportates Wet Prairies, Cypress Swamps and Hydric Hammock where many rare species live, including Florida black bears, American alligators, river otters, swallow-tailed kites and white-tailed deer. There's also a trail system that follows a series of historic levees with boardwalks running over the wetlands along the St John River.

Walt Disney World

Opened in 1971, Walt Disney World Resort is the mother of all theme parks and arguably still the crème de la crème of America's many large entertainment complexes. Spread across 40 square-miles, the park comprises four different attractions, namely Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom), in addition to two great water parks (Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon). It's the ultimate day out for families, especially young children who will remember meeting Mickey Mouse as much as going on any of the rides!

How to get around Sanford

The city is very accessible by car; the Interstate 4 (I-4) starts at Dayton Beach to the east and runs through Sanford and Orlando towards Tampa in the south-west. State Road 46 runs east to west along Florida’s midlands, cutting north of Sanford Airport and through downtown Sanford to join the I-4 to the west. Route 17 cuts through Sanford’s historic centre and heads north-west towards Central Florida Zoo and south to Orlando.

Located near the intersection of State Road 46 and Airport Boulevard, the Sanford SunRail Station lies a short distance from Sanford city centre and from there visitors can take advantage of a free trolley service to the city centre every week from noon Monday to Friday, as well as regular Lynx bus connections to many of the nearby restaurants and tourist attractions. Sanford Train Station is the southern terminus of the Amtrak Auto Train service which originates at Lorton in Virginia (just south of Washington DC).

Please note that there are no public bus lines currently serving Sanford Airport and that the closest bus-stop is about 3 kilometres (2 miles) away from the airport, so it's best to use a taxi or Uber to get there. The airport has several transfer options, including the popular Orlando Sanford Airport Shuttle, Orlando Sun Transportation and Super Shuttle. Sanford Airport is just a 10-minute drive from the city and is easily reached with a low-cost car hire in Sanford.

Useful links

Sanford Tourist Info