Car Hire at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
This information is correct as of July 2015
Whether you want to see the best that Phoenix has to offer, or are planning adventurous day trips in Arizona, you’ll find your holiday runs a lot smoother when you hire a car at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
Where to hire a car at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
The rental car centre is in its own building, across the freeway from the airport. There’s a shuttle bus every 5-10 minutes, which picks up customers from the arrival zone of each terminal. It’s recommended that you book your car hire at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in advance, as walk-up customers have a limited choice of vehicles.
There are 14 car hire companies at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport: Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Firefly, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Silvercar, Sixt and Thrifty.
Petrol stations near Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
Depending on your car rental agreement, you may need to hand your car back with a full tank.
There are plenty of petrol stations within a few minutes drive of the airport, although you will need to come off the main roads to reach them. If you’re coming from the city the most convenient petrol stations are on East Van Buren Street, East Washington Street, East Buckeye Road, and South 7th Avenue.
Driving around Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport
The I-10 motorway runs past the airport. This is the major highway serving the ‘Sun Belt’ from California to New Mexico. If you’re driving into Phoenix itself, you don’t need to get on the motorway. You can use the smaller local roads. Remember that traffic in America drives on the right. Your rental car might also have an automatic gear box, so it’s worth taking a few minutes to get used to the controls before leaving the parking lot.
Getting to your destination
Phoenix
The Southwest’s most populated city is a heady mix of towering skyscrapers, impressive sunsets, and plenty of cultural attractions.
It takes about 15 minutes to drive to downtown Phoenix. The capital of Arizona is very car friendly, with more than 25 thousand parking spaces. Metered parking is enforced every day from 8am until 10pm, and prices range from $1 to $1.50 (about 65-95p) per hour.
Scottsdale
The ‘Beverly Hills of the Desert’, Scottsdale is all about lush green golf courses and luxury hotels, swanky nightspots and independent art galleries.
It takes just under 20 minutes to drive to Scottsdale from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Parking is free in Downtown Scottsdale, although it is time limited. Some businesses offer valet parking to their customers (although you have to pay a fee for this service).
Sedona
The Red Rock scenery surrounding Sedona is nothing short of inspiring. That probably explains why the small town has nearly 100 art galleries, and a plethora of annual arts events. Boutique hotels, spas and wineries make it a great choice for a break.
Sedona is about two hours drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. There are some parking spaces along the main street on Highway 98A, and a large free car park behind the Chamber of Commerce. There’s also a two level car park behind Sinagua Place.
Prices subject to change
