Las Vegas Car Rentals: How to Save Money at the Airport and Strip

For affordable car rental in Las Vegas, I suggest visiting the McCarran Rent-A-Car Center near the airport. All major car rental companies are within 3.11 mi of the airport. Complimentary blue-and-white vans operate from the airport to the center at regular intervals, stopping at the airport public transportation stop.

You can calculate your rental price without obligation using the form below. It compares the prices of all major car rental companies in Las Vegas.

Car Rental Price in Las Vegas

Several factors contribute to the cost of car rental in Las Vegas:

⏳ Duration and Length of Rental

Rental prices are influenced by the demand for cars, which is highest during the summer months when the Las Vegas area typically sees the most tourists.

🗓️ Season of the Year

Based on my experience, I recommend booking your car 2 – 3 months before pick-up. This is usually when car rentals are cheapest.

🗺️ Car Rental Location

The relatively high competition among car rental companies at McCarran Airport tends to lower prices, so it’s worth considering this location over, for instance, the rental companies on the Strip.

🏎️ Category of Rental Car

Typically, the most affordable cars are smaller and/or less well-equipped. Midsize cars are approximately 15% more expensive by comparison, SUVs are 20% more, and convertibles are 65% more.

🔞 Driver’s Age

Almost all car rental companies charge drivers under 25 a surcharge of about $25 per day.

☂️ Insurance Included

The most affordable rentals include only compulsory liability insurance; additional insurance against damage or theft of the car is an extra cost. However, I recommend not skimping on this aspect and investing in the insurance.

🛰️ Extras

Extras such as a GPS navigation system, satellite radio, or child car seat can add up to tens of dollars per day to your bill.

Don’t rent a car from the first Las Vegas rental company you come across. Most likely, it won’t be the most affordable. Always compare prices among various rental car companies. For example, the RentalCars.com search engine automatically does this. Additionally, it guarantees customers the lowest price for their rental car.

The table below shows the prices of the cheapest car rentals in Las Vegas for reference. These prices are for 24 hours, and I found them for a car rented within three months of writing this article.

Economy	Middle	SUV	Convertible
from $47	from $37	from $54	from $59
Get a Quote	Get a Quote	Get a Quote	Get a Quote

Cheap Car Rentals in Las Vegas

Car rental companies in Las Vegas are concentrated in a dedicated area of the McCarran Rent-A-Car Center, situated in the desert off the highway leading to the airport. I had the opportunity to visit this location in September 2013; the lobby, with its expansive garages, strongly resembles an airport terminal. There are 13 rental car companies, each with their own counters: Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, E-Z Rent-A-Car, Enterprise, Firefly Car Rental, Hertz, National, Payless Car Rental, Thrifty, and Zipcar.

Car rental companies on the Strip tend to be smaller, more expensive, and are often associated with hotels. Dollar Rent-A-Car maintains kiosks at Treasure Island, the Luxor, and the MGM Grand. Hertz Rent-A-Car operates at Caesars Palace, Avis Car Rental serves the Bellagio, Mirage, Venetian/Palazzo, and Circus Circus, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car operates at the Encore, to name a few.

Tips for Road Trips Around Las Vegas

The Hoover Dam is 35 mi east of Caesars Palace, and a drive to it takes approximately 45 minutes without traffic. In the same direction lies the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a notably popular horseshoe-shaped observation deck with a glass floor. The Hualapai Indians constructed it to generate revenue and decrease their dependence on government subsidies. The site is 127 mi from Las Vegas, roughly a two-and-a-quarter-hour drive with minimal traffic.

The Grand Canyon National Park is an additional 124 mi further. It can be reached from Las Vegas via the northern route in about 4 hours 30 minutes. And with just a few more turns added to the 267 mi journey, you can also visit the national parks of Zion, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands.

Along the 584 mi route to San Francisco, you’ll encounter another set of national parks nearly roadside: Death Valley, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite.

If you’re planning a tour of the western USA, you’ll likely include the 261 mi drive to or from Los Angeles. Part of the journey can be taken on the legendary Route 66. Travelers who embark on the additional 62 mi detour can also explore Joshua Tree National Park, which is dominated by the distinctive short-leaved yuccas – for me, they’re a symbol of the western USA!