Get your bags, exit arrivals at Oakland, CA Airport (OAK-Oakland Intl.), and pick up your rental car. Which one you hop into depends on where you’ll be going. If you’ll be primarily driving in downtown Oakland, around 7 miles from the terminal, go for something small. A compact car with good handling will suit those busy city streets. But with loads of things to see, like the beautiful sandy shores of the region, you may want to add some pit stops. A larger vehicle, like a full-size car or an SUV, will make longer road trips a joy.