Car Rental at Orlando Airport

Airport travel guide

Get your rental car at Orlando Airport! Then drive to downtown Orlando, park your car, and take a stroll through the beautiful 50-acre Leu Gardens. Next, check out the city’s art scene at the CityArts Factory and visit the Orange County Regional History Center to learn more about the local history.

Of course, no trip to Orlando would be complete without going to Disney World—it offers enough fun and excitement to keep everyone busy for the day, but save time for SeaWorld too. Back in Orlando, check out the dining scene and enjoy some classic American food and cuisine from places like Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, too.

Orlando’s a great destination, but the surrounding region has even more to offer, so why not get a longer-term rental? You can drive to Miami, explore the rest of Florida, or venture all the way to Atlanta or New Orleans. You can even pick up your car at Orlando Airport and drop it off in a different city. Start planning your adventure today!

If you get tired of the theme parks and want to enjoy a beach or discover Florida’s nature, here are a few options for you to explore:

• Cocoa Beach: One of the closest beaches, Cocoa is only an hour away from Orlando along a straight shot to the east. Aside from taking in the sun on the gorgeous beach, you can visit the largest surf shop in the world, Ron Jon’s Surf Shop, and then hit the waves. It is also near Cape Canaveral, so you can go before or after visiting Kenedy Space Center.
• Canaveral National Seashore: To experience a slice of paradise, the Canaveral National Seashore is the place to go. Just a little further from Orlando, it is a pristine shoreline just waiting for you. It’s also the perfect place to watch rockets launch from Kenedy Space Center. Keep in mind that it takes a little longer to reach than the Space Center itself as you have to make a bit of a circle.
• Daytona Beach: Famous for the Daytona 500, Daytona Beach is a great place to go even when there isn’t a race. Perhaps the most unique experience it offers is the ability to drive and park right on the beach. The city is well-known for its party atmosphere, and may, therefore, not be the best destination if you seek a peaceful day at the beach. But if you want to enjoy life in a lively manner, you shouldn’t miss Daytona.
• Ocala National Forest. A place of several records, Ocala is the oldest national park east of Mississippi and also the location of the vastest sand pine forest in the world. More importantly, it’s a hiking paradise made up of highlands marshes, lakes, and springs, and home to an amazing variety of flora and fauna species. Ocala is some 75 miles (121 km) north of Orlando and can be reached in about 1 hour and 20 minutes by car.
• Tampa. The largest and also the most visited place on the West Coast of Florida, Tampa is only a 90 minute drive from Orlando. A popular holiday destination, it often serves as a hub for exploring the beautiful Gulf Beaches to the south of it, but also boasts quite a few attractions and landmarks inside the city itself, not least the busy Channel District with its Aquarium, as well as the interactive, family-friendly Museum of Science and Industry.

Top international routes

• New York City
• Atlanta
• Chicago
• San Juan
• Philadelphia
• Dallas
• Charlotte
• Washington
• Baltimore
• Toronto

Main airlines

Southwest Airlines carries the most passengers at MCO. It flies to many destinations across the United States. Delta Air Lines provides many connections every day to Atlanta, its major hub. American Airlines has many connections per day to its hub Miami International. The low-cost carriers JetBlue and Spirit round out the most popular airlines serving Orlando International. There are also many international flights provided by many different airlines.

Terminals

The two passenger terminals (A and B) are in the same building, Terminal A on the north side and Terminal B on the south side. Terminal A is connected to Airsides 1 and 2, and Terminal B is connected to Airsides 3 and 4. South Airport Intermodal Terminal is currently under construction.

Location

Orlando Airport is 6 miles (10 km) southeast of downtown Orlando and roughly 20 miles (32km) from Disney World.

Note that the most direct way to reach the Disney World or Universal Orlando areas from the airport is the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway (or, alternatively, the Central Florida GreeneWay in the case of Disney World). Both of these are toll roads.

Be aware that although it is possible to pay the toll with cash for many toll roads in the Orlando area, most low-cost rental companies have a toll sticker placed in their cars that can neither be removed nor turned off. These stickers will register an electronic toll payment even if you use one of the cash lanes. If you were to decline purchasing the rental company’s toll package, you would receive hefty fines for this. The alternative is to avoid the toll roads though this will usually add time to your trip.

Most popular types of rental car

• Medium cars - from $11 per day
• Small cars - from $11 per day
• Large cars - from $11 per day
• SUVs - from $17 per day
• Premium cars - from $41 per day
• Vans - from $19 per day
• Convertibles - from $24 per day
• Station wagons - from $33 per day

Car rental desks

The rental desks for those companies that have on-airport locations can be found on the Ground Transportation Level on both sides of the Terminal (A and B).

The other rental companies all provide free shuttles to their locations. Be sure to leave more time both for picking up the car and dropping it off if renting from one of these companies.

All rental companies in Orlando offer car seats for an additional daily fee. Be aware that though you may reserve one at the time of booking, it's not guaranteed. Very rarely, some suppliers may run out of car seats.

Services and facilities

You’ll find countless shops, bars, and restaurants. There are also lounges, an airport hotel, a lost and found office, ATMs, and a pet relief area. The airport is friendly to travelers with reduced mobility. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest gas station

While there are gas stations next to Orlando Airport, they’re known for charging very high prices. So it’s a better idea to fill up your tank at one of the many gas stations within the city of Orlando or at any station not close to the airport.

If you are seeking to return your rental car with a full tank of fuel, DO NOT stop at either of the gas stations closest to the airport, Suncoast Energys or Sun Gas. If you fill up at either station, you will pay at least twice the normal price. The Wawa, 7-11, and Mobil stations one or two blocks north offer competitive prices. These stations all work for both renters returning cars to on-airport locations and those returning cars to most off-airport locations.

Ace, Green Motion, and Routes are all located on Narcossee Road. At the exit from the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway, there is a 7-Eleven on the south side of the highway. There is also a 7-Eleven at the intersection of Narcossee Road and Lee Vista Blvd. north of the rental locations. Avoid the BP station north of the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway as its prices are significantly higher.

Popular one-way rentals

• Miami (232 miles / 373 km)
• Tampa (87 miles / 140 km)
• Fort Lauderdale (208 miles / 335 km)
• Cape Canaveral (46 miles / 74 km)
• Sarasota (133 miles / 214 km)
• St. Petersburg (108 miles / 174 km)