Car Rental at Raleigh Durham Airport

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Raleigh–Durham International Airport, Raleigh, USA - North Carolina
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Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
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700+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Rental Rates

Intermediate
Mazda 3 or similar
Mazda 3
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Thrifty
$51.51 per day
Compact
Ford Focus or similar
Ford Focus
  • 5
  • 2
  • 3
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Dollar
$52.56 per day
Standard
Volkswagen Jetta or similar
Volkswagen Jetta
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$60.37 per day
Economy
Kia Rio or similar
Kia Rio
  • 5
  • 1
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Avis
$64.19 per day

Most Popular Car Rental Deals

Full-size
Chevrolet Malibu or similar
Chevrolet Malibu
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Enterprise
$65.54 per day
Premium
Nissan Maxima or similar
Nissan Maxima
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
National
$72.91 per day
Luxury
Chrysler 300 or similar
Chrysler 300
  • 5
  • 2
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Budget
$95.27 per day
Premium Elite SUV
Audi Q5 or similar
Audi Q5
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Alamo
$94.39 per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 8:53 AM on 12/1/24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
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Travel Information

Languages
English
Currency
USD
Drive on
Right-hand side
Country code
+1
Average car rental price
$70 per day
Average car rental length
7 days
Speed limit within town
56 km/h or 35 mph
Speed limit out of town
88 - 112 km/h or 55 - 70 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.08%
Rating
10.0 / 10
Average gas price
$0.88 per liter or $3.33 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$0.79 per liter or $2.99 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.00 per liter or $3.79 per gallon
Raleigh Durham Airport

Airport travel guide

Located in the Research Triangle, Raleigh–Durham Airport serves a metropolitan area home to more than two million people. Located in the central part of North Carolina, the region also has plenty for a visitor to explore. These are three of its most interesting attractions:

  • Raleigh. The capital of North Carolina, Raleigh is also known as one of the state’s most popular cities to visit. A sophisticated destination, it is known for its cultural institutions including the Museum of Natural Sciences and N.C. Museum of Art, as well as well-preserved heritage areas. The city center is just a 20-minute drive southeast of the airport.
  • Durham. Home to Duke University and its stunning Gothic campus, Durham is also one of the main cultural hubs of this part of the country, punching way above its weight when it comes to arts and entertainment. Historically known as a center of the tobacco industry, it also has several attractions dedicated to that legacy. The city is only a 20-minute drive northwest of Raleigh–Durham Airport.
  • Hanging Rock State Park. One of the most beautiful nature areas in North Carolina, the Hanging Rock is about a two-hour drive northeast of Raleigh, near the cities of Greensboro and Winston-Salem. Made up of craggy peaks, waterfalls, and many hiking trails, the park is home to unique wildlife species such as Wehrle’s salamander and peregrine falcons.

Top international routes

  • Atlanta
  • New York City
  • Charlotte
  • Orlando
  • Chicago
  • Miami
  • Washington
  • Boston

Main airlines

The airport used to be a hub for American Airlines. It is now a focus city for Delta Airlines and the low-cost airline Frontier. Delta provides connections to many cities on the East Coast along with Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. It also flies directly to Paris.

American Airlines is the second-busiest airline at the airport. Its routes include Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, and Phoenix in addition to a daily direct flight to London–Heathrow.

The low-cost airline Southwest, with its own terminal, also carries many passengers at RDU. It connects the Triangle area with many cities on the East Coast and in the Midwest.

Icelandair flew to RDU for the first time in May of 2022. The airline now provides flights to and from Reykavik (from where you can connect to other cities in Europe) from May to Octobetr.

Terminals

RDU has two terminals with a combined three concourses. The two terminals are connected by a shuttle bus and a moving walkway in the parking dek between them. But as they are separated, there is no way to move between the terminals after security.

Terminal 1 is used exclusively by Southwest Airlines. All other airlines can be found in Terminal 2. Alaska, Allegiant, Air Canada, Delta, Frontier, and United are in Concourse D and American Airlines and some Delta flights arrive and depart from Concourse C.

Location

Raleigh-Durham is located at the center of the Triangle almost equidistant from the three cities: 15 miles from downtown Raliegh, 15 miles from city center Durham, and 18 miles from Chapel Hill.

Due to the airport’s size and the availability of flights of low-cost airlines, it serves a wider area than just the Triangle. The airport is just an hour’s drive from Greensboro and Rocky Mount. Even the coast of North Carolina is within a reasonable drive. Willmington, the largest city on the coast is just two hours away via I-40.

Most popular types of rental car

  • Convertibles - from $101 per day
  • Large cars - from $51 per day
  • Medium cars - from $52 per day
  • Vans - from $95 per day
  • Premium cars - from $68 per day
  • Small cars - from $56 per day
  • SUVs - from $54 per day

Car rental desks

All of the rental companies serving the airport have rental offices on the airport’s property. They are, however, not located in the terminals. Renters must take a shuttle provided by their rental company outside of the baggage claim. All of the locations are very close, though, so the ride only takes a few minutes.

If arriving in Terminal 1, you must find Zone 5 outside of the baggage claim area. If arriving in Terminal2, you should find Zone 18.

When returning your car, you will have to drop the car off at the rental location where you picked it up and take the company’s shuttle back to whichever terminal you will be flying from.

Services and facilities

RDU is a modern, major airport with all of the facilities and services a traveler would expect of such and more.

Ther airport has many different services for passengers. These include free wifi throughout the terminals, power outlets near the gates, multiple ATMs, s currency exchange, though you are, as always, better off taking out money out of an ATM or bringing it from your home country.

There are multiple lounges, all in Terminal 2. There is an American Airlines Admirals Club, a Delta Air Lines Sky Club, and a United Club.

Finally, you won’t go hungry or thirsty at RDU. There are various dining options in both the before security and in the concourses. The options range from fast food to table-service restaurants. Coffee shops and bars are can also be found to quench your thirst.

Nearest gas station

Filling up your rental before returning it to RDU couldn’t be much easier. There are a BP station and Mobil station at the airport exit from I-40 (exit 284). If coming from the east, you have to turn left at the exit and cross the interstate to reach them. From these stations, the rental car returns are just a couple of minutes’ drive away. And unlike gas stations located near other airports, the prices at these stations are the same as many others in the area, if not a few cents less per gallon.

Popular one-way rentals

  • Greensboro (67 miles / 108 km)
  • Charlotte (157 miles / 253 km)
  • Fayetteville (79 miles / 127 km)
  • Washington, D.C. (271 miles / 436 km)
  • Norfolk (199 miles / 321 km)
  • Richmond (163 miles / 262 km)
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators.

Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Airport info

Rating
8.4
  • Getting to the airport 8.7
  • Check-in and departures 9.0
  • Terminal facilities 8.7
  • Wi-Fi 7.9
  • Restaurants and car rental services 7.9
  • Lounge 7.9

Raleigh Durham Airport

  • IATA: RDU
  • ICAO: KRDU
  • Name: Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU)
  • Distance from city: 9 miles / 14.5 km

Map of Car Rental Locations

When are car rental prices the lowest at Raleigh Durham Airport?

The cost of renting a car at Raleigh Durham Airport varies by season. The table and graph below can help you find the best time of year to save on a rental car.
Average rental costs per day at Raleigh Durham Airport
$39.28
January
$38.19
February
$50.09
March
$45.27
April
$39.15
May
$48.27
June
$51.14
July
$36.44
August
$41.78
September
$50.75
October
$41.67
November
$42.16
December
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car at Raleigh Durham Airport is August — when rental costs average $36.44 per day. This is 17% cheaper than the yearly average and 29% cheaper than renting a car in July (when prices average $51.14 per day).

This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.

For how long do renters keep their vehicles at Raleigh Durham Airport?

How long travelers keep their rental cars varies by the time of year: in April the average rental period is 9 days, while in January, the average rental period is only 4 days.
Average number of rental days at Raleigh Durham Airport
4
January
4
February
5
March
9
April
7
May
4
June
8
July
8
August
8
September
4
October
6
November
8
December

What is the most popular time of year to rent a car at Raleigh Durham Airport?

Based on how many users search for a car in at Raleigh Durham Airport, travelers are most likely to rent a car in November, while they are least likely to rent in in January.
Monthly searches at Raleigh Durham Airport by pick-up date relative to the average
17%
January
17%
February
26%
March
26%
April
26%
May
70%
June
148%
July
235%
August
139%
September
113%
October
330%
November
52%
December

Car rental information

Popular suppliers Dollar, Thrifty, Alamo, Hertz, National
Popular car categories Large cars, SUVs, Medium cars, Premium cars
Lowest price $51 per day
Cheapest supplier Thrifty

Most popular car models of rental suppliers

Rental Supplier Model Doors Luggage Type
Thrifty Mazda 3 5 3 Large cars
Thrifty Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Dollar Honda Civic 4 2 Large cars
Dollar Honda CR-V 5 3 SUVs
Thrifty Ford Focus 4 2 Medium cars
Thrifty Chevrolet Malibu 4 2 Large cars
Dollar Nissan Rogue 5 3 SUVs
Dollar Chevrolet Bolt 5 1 SUVs
Dollar Chevrolet Malibu 4 2 Large cars
Dollar Hyundai Accent 4 2 Medium cars

Our customers' reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.

Canada
Honda Civic
8/29/24
Attending a great online franchise convention. Loved it!

Car Rental Statistics

Highest-rated company
Thrifty
8.1 / 10
)
Lowest-rated company
Advantage
7.5 / 10
)
Total number of reviews
2
Total rental companies
9
Average daily price
$69.59
Lowest daily price
$51.51
Total cars available
368

Top 9 suppliers at Raleigh Durham Airport in 2024

Thrifty
Thrifty
Very good 8.1 / 6 reviews
+18772830898
1009 Rental Car Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA
$51 - $112
Working hours
Mon:05:00 - 23:59
Tue:05:00 - 23:59
Wed:05:00 - 23:59
Thu:05:00 - 23:59
Fri:05:00 - 23:59
Sat:05:00 - 23:59
Sun:05:00 - 23:59
Dollar
Average 7.8 / 9 reviews
8664342226
1009 Rental Car Drive
$52 - $112
Working hours
Mon:05:00 - 23:59
Tue:05:00 - 23:59
Wed:05:00 - 23:59
Thu:05:00 - 23:59
Fri:05:00 - 23:59
Sat:05:00 - 23:59
Sun:05:00 - 23:59
Alamo
Average 7.8 / 2 reviews
8443703980
1001 RENTAL CAR DR,
$59 - $168
Working hours
Mon:00:00 - 00:30
Tue:04:30 - 23:59
Wed:04:30 - 23:59
Thu:04:30 - 23:59
Fri:04:30 - 23:59
Sat:04:30 - 23:59
Sun:04:30 - 23:59
Budget
Budget
Average 7.8 / 0 reviews
+19198404781
1000 Rental Car Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560
$65 - $119
Working hours
Mon:04:00 - 01:00
Tue:04:00 - 01:00
Wed:04:00 - 01:00
Thu:04:00 - 01:00
Fri:04:00 - 01:00
Sat:04:00 - 01:00
Sun:04:00 - 01:00
Enterprise
Enterprise
Average 7.8 / 0 reviews
+18449420329
1008 Rental Car Dr, Raleigh, 27623
$62 - $217
Working hours
Mon:04:30 - 23:59
Tue:04:30 - 23:59
Wed:04:30 - 23:59
Thu:04:30 - 23:59
Fri:04:30 - 23:59
Sat:04:30 - 23:59
Sun:04:30 - 23:59
Hertz
Hertz
Average 7.7 / 1 review
+19198404875
1017 Rental Car Dr, Raleigh, NC 27623
$62 - $217
Working hours
Mon:05:00 - 23:59
Tue:05:00 - 23:59
Wed:05:00 - 23:59
Thu:05:00 - 23:59
Fri:05:00 - 23:59
Sat:05:00 - 23:59
Sun:05:00 - 23:59
Avis
Avis
Average 7.7 / 0 reviews
+19198404750
1016 Rental Car Dr, Morrisville, NC 27560
$62 - $120
Working hours
Mon:04:00 - 01:00
Tue:04:00 - 01:00
Wed:04:00 - 01:00
Thu:04:00 - 01:00
Fri:04:00 - 01:00
Sat:04:00 - 01:00
Sun:04:00 - 01:00
National
National
Average 7.6 / 0 reviews
+18443701075
1001 Rental Car Dr, Raleigh, NC 27623
$63 - $219
Working hours
Mon:00:00 - 00:30
Tue:04:30 - 23:59
Wed:04:30 - 23:59
Thu:04:30 - 23:59
Fri:04:30 - 23:59
Sat:04:30 - 23:59
Sun:04:30 - 23:59
Advantage
Advantage
Average 7.5 / 0 reviews
8007775500
1015 Trade Drive
$63 - $219
Working hours
Mon:05:00 - 23:59
Tue:05:00 - 23:59
Wed:05:00 - 23:59
Thu:05:00 - 23:59
Fri:05:00 - 23:59
Sat:05:00 - 23:59
Sun:05:00 - 23:59
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