Car Rental at Philadelphia International Airport

Airport travel guide

Occasionally rough around the edges, but equally charming and creative, the City of Brotherly Love is a truly modern metropolis. Its history is famous, and its parks and green areas are well celebrated, but Philly is equally a cultural hub – there’s plenty of innovation going on and always a new performance to catch. These are four of its best attractions:

• Independence National Historical Park. There are very few places of equal historical relevance as that of what’s often called America’s most historic square mile. A center of the American Revolution, it is where the Founding Fathers convened and drafted both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution — Independence Hall is a World Heritage site. The park is part of the Old City, where many other heritage landmarks can be found.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art. Open since 1876 and located in one of the most impressive buildings in the city, the PMoA is equally relevant for its collections. With about a quarter of a million exhibits and artworks on display, it houses everything from Ancient Egyptian and pre-Columbian art to works by some of the most important American and international authors of the last centuries. Visit the museum’s website to learn more.
• Fairmount Park. Not just the largest, Fairmount Park is also one of the most beloved green areas in Philadelphia by locals and visitors alike. Divided into two parts by the Schuylkill River, it features attractions like the Centennial Arboretum, the interactive Please Touch Museum, several famous statues, and landmark buildings like the Boelsen Cottage.
• Elfreth's Alley. Now more than 300 years old, Elfreth’s Alley’s existence was first documented in 1703, making it one of the most historical streets in all of the United States. A recognized national landmark, it is the home of many well-preserved and important buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The street can be found in the Old City area of Philadelphia, itself arguably one of the most interesting urban quarters in the country.

Top international routes

• Orlando
• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Boston
• Fort Lauderdale
• Charlotte
• Miami
• Dallas
• Detroit
• Raleigh–Durham

Main airlines

PHL is a hub for American Airlines and it is, therefore, the main airline at the airport with two entire terminals for its exclusive use. The airport serves as the main base for American flights in the Northeast and transatlantic flights.

American receives competition from other domestic airlines like Delta, and United, but its primary competitor is the low-cost airline Southwest. At the same time, Philadelphia is a focus city for Frontier Airlines. jetBlue and Spirit, two other low-cost airlines, also have flights from and to the airport.

Major international airlines at the airport include Air Canada, British Airways, Lufthansa, Icelandair, and Qatar Airlines.

Terminals

PHL has six terminals with a total of 126 gates. Terminal A is the international terminal. All non-precleared international flights arrive at this terminal. American Airlines also has some domestic flights in the terminal.

Terminals B and C, which are connected, are used exclusively by American Airlines.

Terminal D hosts the other major domestic airlines (Alaska, Delta, and United) along with Air Canada. It is connected to terminals B and C after security.

Terminal E is the low-cost terminal. This is where you will arrive if flying with Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, or Spirit.

Finally, Terminal F is the airport’s regional terminal and is home to American Eagle. The terminal is unique in that it has special jet bridges allowing passengers to board small regional planes without having to walk on the tarmac.

Location

Philadelphia International is located about 13 miles south of Center City, a drive that can take upwards of 30 minutes when traffic is heavy. As a major international airport, many fly into the airport with the goal of reaching nearby destinations. For instance, Wilmington, Deleware is just 20 miles south of the airport and Trenton, New Jersey is just 40 miles to the north

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $97 per day
• Medium cars - from $71 per day
• Large cars - from $71 per day
• SUVs - from $75 per day
• Premium cars - from $158 per day
• Vans - from $94 per day
• Convertibles - from $231 per day

Car rental desks

Unfortunately, the car rental desks at PHL are not inside nor across from the terminal. Each rental company provides its own shuttle for its customers. These shuttles pick up customers from the Commercial Road which can be reached by walking outside of the airport in the baggage claim area and crossing the car road.

Note that Thrifty and Sixt are located just outside the airport and the shuttles take a little more time to reach their rental locations.

Services and facilities

PHL is a modern, international 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 along with many charging points, pet relief areas, nursing areas for mothers, 17 ATMs, and currency exchanges, though you are, as always, better off taking out money out of an ATM or bringing it from your home country. The most unique service offered at PHL is the Minute Suites where you can book a room to work, relax, or sleep in by the hour. This is a great option if your flight is delayed or you arrive at the airport early. A Marriot Hotel can be found at the airport along with a few other hotels just outside of the airport’s territory that offer free shuttles. This is helpful if you need to return a rental the night before an early morning flight.

Lounges include four different American Airlines Admirals Clubs, British Airways Galleries Lounge in Terminal A, Delta Sky Club in Terminal d, and United Club between Terminals C and D. In addition to these, there is a USO lounge for members of the military and their families. You can find this lounge in Terminal A.

Finally, you won’t go hungry or thirsty at PHL. Various dining options can be found throughout all of the terminals. These range from fast-food chains to restaurants with table service. Coffee shops and bars are readily available in all terminals, too.

Nearest gas station

Which gas station at which it is best to fill up prior to returning your rental car at the airport depends on which direction you are coming from. If approaching from the north, a Wawa station on Bartram Ave. is probably your best bet for filling up before returning your rental. Unfortunately, exiting I-95 to reach it is difficult. You must exit as if you are going to the airport, but instead, take exit 12B to SR 291. If you don’t want to make this circle, you can pass the airport and stop at one of the stations mentioned below.

If approaching from the south, for instance from Wilmington, you should exit I-95 at exit 9A onto State Route 420 in Essington. You will almost immediately reach Route 291, Industrial Highway. If you turn right, there is a Sunoco Station. From there, you could return to I-95 or continue along Industrial Highway to the airport. Farther down Industrial Highway is a Valero station, though it is on the side of the road heading away from the airport, and a Pacific Pride Station, which though not a popular brand, is the most convenient station.

Top one-way drives

• New York City (104 miles / 167 km)
• Washington, D.C. (129 miles / 208 km)
• Baltimore (91 miles / 146 km)
• Jersey City (101 miles / 162 km)
• Allentown (72 miles / 116 km)
• Lancaster (90 miles / 145 km)