There's good news and bad news for air travelers renting a car this winter.
Firstly, new survey data from Cheapcarrental.com shows that average car rental rates this winter are down by more than 17 percent compared to the summer. However, seasonal pricing varies widely by destination, and the average daily rental rate across 100 U.S. airports is $62.25, up 1 percent from the same period last year.
To find out which airports will set you back the most and which will allow you to stretch your budget this winter, the team at Cheapcarrental.com compared rental car rates at 100 U.S. airports during the period from December 2025 to February 2026 to reveal which have the highest and lowest average daily rates this holiday season.
In terms of cost, Hawaii leads the way, as its airport rental cars become significantly pricier in the winter compared to summer. Destinations like Kona, Kahului and Lihue are among the most expensive for out-of-town drivers with average daily rates as high as $127. Meanwhile, a trio of California airports made the top 10 for average car rental costs.
Most Expensive US Airports for Car Rentals
- Kona, Hawaii (KOA) - $127
- Kahului, Hawaii (OGG) - $104
- Palm Springs, California (PSP) - $91
- Long Beach, California (LGP) - $90
- Madison, Wisconsin (MAD) - $83
- Boise, Idaho (BOI) - $81
- Lihue, Hawaii (LIH) - $79
- Burbank, California (BUR) - $79
- Louisville, Kentucky (SDF) - $77
- Phoenix, Arizona (PHX) - $76
- St. Louis, Missouri (STL) - $76
Airport car rental offices. (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
When it comes to the cheapest airports to score a set of wheels, the Pacific Northwest reigns supreme this winter. Places like Portland, Seattle and Bozeman, Montana, all boast average daily rates under $50.
Travelers will also be rewarded for venturing to Alaska during winter with affordable rates in Anchorage, where the average daily cost of a rental car is about $40.
Cheapest US Airports for Car Rentals
- Portland, Oregon (PDX) - $39
- Anchorage, Alaska (ANC) - $40
- Fayetteville, North Carolina (FAY) - $43
- Seattle, Washington (SEA) - $45
- Savannah, Georgia (SAV) - $45
- Albany, New York (ALB) - $46
- San Antonio, Texas (SAT) - $47
- Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ) - $48
- Bozeman, Montana (BZN) - $48
- Tampa, Florida (TPA) - $48
- Greenville, South Carolina (GSP) - $48
- Fresno, California (FAT) - $48
- Omaha, Nebraska (OMA) - $48
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
