Car Rental at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport

Airport travel guide

Sprawling, developed, and cultured, Phoenix is, for many, one of the most interesting cities in the United States. Its desert location makes the city experience serious heat every summer, but is also responsible for the unique nature that surrounds it. These are three of the most interesting places to visit in and around Phoenix:

• State Capitol. Older than the state of Arizona itself, the Capitol is one of the most interesting places in Phoenix. As many branches of the state government have moved to the more recently constructed buildings that now make up the capitol complex, the original building has been turned into the Capitol Museum. Exhibits include various objects significant to the state's history, as well as a surviving fragment of the USS Arizona which was sunk in the Pearl Harbor attack.
• Phoenix Art Museum. The largest in the Southwest U.S., PhxArt will be a delight to visit for any art and culture lover. Works on display include creations by world-famous classical masters such as Picasso, Monet, and O’Keeffe, but there are also exhibitions of Asian and Latin American Art. The museum is on North Central Avenue, near a number of other famous landmarks of the city. Visit its official website to learn more.
• Nature. It’s not exactly a short trip to the Grand Canyon — the drive from Phoenix can take a full four hours —– but for many tourists, visiting this landmark is a quintessential part of their Arizona experience. However, if you don’t have enough time to travel to the state’s north, there are a number of places to enjoy nature that are closer to Phoenix, namely, McDowell Mountain Regional Park, Sonoran Desert Preserve, Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Tonto National Forest, and Estrella Mountain Regional Park — all of these can be reached in one hour or less.

Top international routes

• Denver
• Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Seattle/Tacoma
• Minneapolis/St. Paul
• Dallas/Fort Worth
• Mexico City, Mexico

Main airlines

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Eagle, and Frontier Airlines

Terminals

The three terminals are Terminal 2, Terminal 3, also known as John S. McCain III Terminal, and Terminal 4, also known as Barry M. Goldwater Terminal. There is no Terminal 1. The PHX Sky Train provides a free shuttle service between all terminals and the car rental center.

Location

Phoenix Airport is about 3 miles (4.8 km) from downtown Phoenix. Sky Harbor Boulevard, Papago Freeway, and Washington Street are the main roads connecting the airport to the city.

Most popular types of rental car

• Vans - from $76 per day
• Medium cars - from $40 per day
• Large cars - from $43 per day
• Small cars - from $40 per day
• Premium cars - from $62 per day
• SUVs - from $47 per day
• Convertibles - from $90 per day

Car rental desks

Most are in the Rental Car Center (RCC), which can be reached from the airport by taking the PHX Sky Train from any terminal. It is located across the interstate from the airport, so be sure to keep this in mind when returning your car - give yourself enough time to turn in your car and take the train into the airport. The ride is about 10 minutes. In addition to serving its main function, RCC also houses an art gallery.

Services and facilities

You’ll find restaurants, bars, cafés, and pizzerias, as well as many shops, including duty-free outlets in T4. There are also several ATMs, a currency exchange in T4, three nearby hotels, baby changing facilities, a children’s play area, mobile device charging tables, read and return bookstores, a first aid service, a spa, a museum, an art gallery, and an interfaith prayer room. Phoenix Airport is well equipped for travelers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest gas station

There is a Shell station on Buckeye Rd. a block away from the Rental Car Center, but its prices are around $1 more per gallon than other stations in the area. It may be useful if you fill up earlier and only top off at it. The Circle K on Washington Street is a good option with prices usually around $1 less per gallon than the Shell station.

If approaching the airport along I-10 from either direction, you can exit onto N 24th Street, where you'll find two stations on the way to the Rental Car Center.

If approaching along I-17 from the north, use exit 196 to reach a different Shell station.

Popular one-way rentals

• Los Angeles (376 mi / 605 km)
• Las Vegas (301 mi / 484 km)
• San Francisco (756 mi / 1,217 km)
• Tuscon (111 mi / 178 km)
• Palm Springs (272 mi / 438 km)
• Tulsa (1,060 mi / 1,706 km)