Numerous ways for Californians to get to their day-trip destination

Sacramento-area residents have a wealth of options for day trips – Sierra Nevada hikes, wine country visits and Gold Rush-era adventures among them – and there’s no shortage of ways to get there.

Affordable weekend car rentals in Sacramento are numerous, according to various travel websites such as Priceline and Expedia.

Compact cars can be had for as little as $19 a day, and “premium cars,” such as a nicely equipped Nissan Maxima or Chevrolet Impala sedan, are available for less than $100, according to recently advertised prices.

Vehicle-rental prices vary among airport rental operations and those operating at remote sites throughout the area. Those reserving rental cars should ask in advance about fees beyond the advertised per-day rental price.

Hertz at 1025 16th St. in Sacramento recently was offering a daily rental rate as low at $74 a day for a Dodge Caravan minivan or similar vehicle.

Convertibles, which generally are more expensive to insure, have a higher rental cost, anywhere from $150 to $175 a day at Sacramento International Airport. A full-size van typically goes for $300 a day and up. By comparison, a gas-electric Toyota Prius hybrid sedan can be had for as low as $55 to $60 a day from multiple rental-car companies operating in Sacramento.

Also, area limo companies offer various rates for specific destinations around the Sacramento area. These hourly/daily prices can vary by company and by the number of travelers.

How about Amtrak? Say you want to head to Napa from Sacramento. Recent one-way rates for a reserved coach seat started as low as $32. A primo “Superliner Roomette” – including meals, climate control and two reclining seats that can convert to beds – was recently listed at $112 for the Sacramento-to-Napa run, with a transfer in Martinez.

Amtrak recently listed a one-way run from Sacramento to San Francisco’s financial district for as low as $23, with a premium room going for $109, with connecting bus service in nearby Emeryville.

El Monte RV Rentals’ Sacramento office at 4100 Florin Perkins Road offers a long weekend rate as low as $387 for a cab-over-style recreation vehicle; a top-grade slide-out motor home will run you $807 for a Friday pickup and Monday return. Some RVs have limited availability.

An extensive list of day-trip options can be found online at daytrippen.com/category/northern-california/sacramento-day-trips. More options can be found at the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau site, visitsacramento.com.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Numerous ways for Californians to get to their day-trip destination."