When it comes to renting a car for their summer getaway, travelers can expect to pay more or less depending on their destination.
Cheapcarrental.com recently compared rental car rates at 100 U.S. airports for the period from June to August 2024, revealing an average daily rate of $82.50, which is up 3 percent compared to 2023.
Among the most expensive cities to rent a vehicle are Baltimore and Boston, where rates are up 46 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Nonetheless, those cities are still cheaper than Anchorage, where arrivals to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport can expect to pay an average of $187 per day.
Montana's Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is also quite pricey, ranking second with an average daily rate of $165.
The Most Expensive US Cities for Summer Car Rentals
- Anchorage, Alaska (ANC) — $187
- Bozeman, Montana (BZN) — $165
- Baltimore, Maryland (BWI) — $134
- Portland, Maine (PWM) — $129
- Spokane, Washington (GEG) — $122
- Albany, New York (ALB) — $115
- Little Rock, Arkansas (LIT) — $113
- Boston, Massachusetts (BOS) — $110
- Chicago, Illinois (ORD) — $110
- Syracuse, New York (SYR) — $107
A long line of customers at the BWI Marshall Airport Rental Car Facility. (photo by Patrick Clarke)
Rental car customers can expect far more affordable rates in Texas, Central California and South Florida.
Palm Beach International Airport is the cheapest of the 100 airports analyzed with an average daily rate of just $43, while Fort Lauderdale and Miami check in with rates of $50 and $51, respectively.
In the Lone Star State, Austin, San Antonio and Dallas each boast daily rental car rates below $60. The same goes for Sacramento and Fresno, California.
The Most Affordable US Cities for Summer Car Rentals
- Raleigh, North Carolina (RDU) — $58
- Austin, Texas (AUS) — $58
- Sarasota, Florida (SRQ) — $58
- Tulsa, Oklahoma (TUL) — $58
- Fresno, California (FAT) — $58
- San Antonio, Texas (SAT) — $54
- Kahului, Hawaii (OGG) — $53
- Sacramento, California (SMF) — $52
- Miami, Florida (MIA) — $51
- Dallas, Texas (DAL) — $50
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL) — $50
- Palm Beach, Florida (PBI) — $43
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