Enterprise Car Hire
Portsmouth

Portsmouth International Airport is compact and easy to navigate, so finding your hire car is straightforward. After collecting your luggage at baggage reclaim, look for the prominent signs for Rental Cars or Ground Transportation. The Enterprise counter is located within the main terminal building, just a short walk from the arrivals area. You won’t need a shuttle or to navigate a complicated layout, ensuring a smooth and quick transition from your flight to your vehicle.

Given the small scale of Portsmouth International Airport, the process is generally efficient. A realistic timeframe is about 45 to 60 minutes from touchdown. This allows for disembarkation, a short walk to baggage reclaim, collecting luggage and completing the rental paperwork at the nearby Enterprise desk. Allowing time to fit child seats and settle the family in the car makes this buffer comfortable and unhurried.

After leaving the airport, a good option is the Pease Tradeport, which has several business parks with large, quiet car parks. For example, you can pull into the car park of a large office building or retail centre just a minute or two from the rental location. These areas are typically calm, especially outside weekday business hours, giving you ample space and time to adjust mirrors, set your navigation and secure car seats without the pressure of traffic.

For the most straightforward route, take International Drive out of the airport and follow signs for the Spaulding Turnpike (Route 16) South. Rather than tackling the more complex Portsmouth Traffic Circle immediately, take Exit 1 for Gosling Road. Turn left onto Gosling Road, which becomes Woodbury Avenue. Following Woodbury Avenue will take you directly toward the city centre with fewer complicated interchanges, offering a calmer introduction to the area.

Many downtown Portsmouth hotels have designated short-term loading zones directly outside their entrances. It’s a good idea to call your hotel in advance to confirm the best place to pull up. If your accommodation doesn’t have a dedicated zone, look for nearby commercial loading areas that are often available for brief stops. Aim to do this during off-peak hours if possible, as the historic streets can be quite narrow and busy.

The area immediately around Market Square has the most one-way streets, particularly roads like Daniel, Penhallow and Bow Street. The best strategy is to rely on a sat-nav app and trust its turn-by-turn directions. It also helps to have a co-pilot to assist with navigation. If you miss a turn, don’t worry; the downtown grid is small and circling a block usually gets you back on track quickly.

The Portsmouth Traffic Circle is a large multi-lane rotary that can feel intimidating at first. The key is to know which exit you need before you enter and get into the correct lane early. Traffic already in the circle has right of way, so you must yield before merging. Use your indicator to show your intended exit, which helps other drivers anticipate your movements. Going through it once with sat-nav guidance will greatly increase your confidence for future trips.

The Hanover Street Parking Garage is an excellent choice for drivers with larger vehicles or those who prefer more spacious circulation. It features wider drive lanes and parking bays compared with some of the city’s older structures. Its entrances and exits are well signposted and provide relatively straightforward access to main routes in and out of the centre. This garage is popular with visitors who want to park once and explore Market Square on foot.

The most effective strategy is to use one of the city’s main car parks, such as Hanover Street or Foundry Place Garage. By parking there for the day you are within easy walking distance of nearly all of downtown’s main attractions, including Market Square, Prescott Park and Strawbery Banke. This ‘park once’ approach saves you the hassle of searching for on-street parking repeatedly and allows for a more relaxed, immersive exploration of the town’s walkable streets.

Strawbery Banke Museum has its own dedicated visitor car park, which is the most convenient option. The entrance is on Hancock Street and is typically sufficient on most days. However, during special events or peak summer weekends this lot can fill. A reliable alternative is the nearby municipal lot on Marcy Street, next to Prescott Park, which is a very short and pleasant walk from the museum entrance.

A smart plan is to arrive early and park a little further away from the immediate park area. Consider using the Hanover Street Parking Garage, about a 10-minute walk from the park. This lets you enjoy a stroll through town before the event. After the show you’ll be walking away from the densest concentration of departing cars, and exiting the garage gives easier access to main roads, helping you bypass the worst of the local congestion.

The key to driving in pedestrian-heavy areas like Market Square and Ceres Street is to reduce speed significantly and maintain high awareness. Expect people to cross at any moment, at both marked and unmarked crossings. Leave extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead to allow for gentle, gradual stops. Adopting a patient, defensive driving mindset is essential for a stress-free experience for you and the pedestrians enjoying the city.

For a beautiful and easy coastal drive head south from Portsmouth on Route 1A through Rye and North Hampton. This route, also known as Ocean Boulevard, runs along the coast and features numerous designated pull-offs and scenic overlooks with ample parking. Spots like Wallis Sands State Beach and Rye Harbor State Park offer large lots where you can easily park to enjoy the view, especially during quieter sunrise and sunset hours.

The most practical approach is to visit the Kittery outlets on a weekday morning, ideally between 10:00 and noon. Traffic is typically lightest in that window. To avoid the busiest stretch of the I-95 bridge, consider taking the scenic Memorial Bridge from downtown Portsmouth directly into Kittery. Plan your return to Portsmouth before 15:00 to miss the afternoon commuter build-up on both Route 1 and the interstate.

The least frustrating parking strategy for Ogunquit, especially in summer, is to arrive early, before 10:00, to secure a spot in one of the large municipal lots. The main lots near the beach and Perkins Cove fill quickly. An alternative is to park in a peripheral lot along Route 1 and use the town’s trolley service to get to the beach and village. This avoids the most congested areas and the stress of circling for a space.

To avoid parking headaches in Kennebunkport’s Dock Square, plan to arrive early, ideally before 10:30, to find a space in one of the public lots. A good strategy is to park in a larger lot slightly outside the immediate centre and enjoy the short, scenic walk into town. During peak season consider visiting on a weekday rather than a weekend for a more relaxed experience. This lets you enjoy the heart of town without constant parking stress.

On a hot summer day expect significant traffic on Route 1A into Hampton Beach, especially from mid-morning onwards. To secure a space in the main state park lot or other desirable areas it’s highly recommended to arrive before 09:30. After that time car parks fill rapidly and you may spend considerable time in slow-moving traffic searching for a space. An early start is the best strategy for a hassle-free beach day.

For the smoothest drive to Portland plan to leave Portsmouth before 07:30 or after 09:30 on a weekday to avoid the morning commuter traffic on I-95. The drive is typically just under an hour without delays. For your return, aim to leave Portland before 15:30 or after 18:00 to miss the evening rush. This timing helps ensure you spend more time exploring and less time in traffic.

A common mistake when heading south to Massachusetts is accidentally taking the exit for Route 1 Bypass from the Portsmouth Traffic Circle instead of staying on I-95 South. Heading north to Maine, ensure your sat-nav is set for I-95 North, as it’s easy to be diverted onto local routes in Kittery just after the bridge. Paying close attention to the large overhead signs for I-95 at the traffic circle and just after crossing the Piscataqua River Bridge is key to staying on the correct route.

Concord, the state capital, is an excellent last major stop on your way to the White Mountains. It’s conveniently located on I-93 North, the primary route you’ll take from the Spaulding Turnpike. Concord offers numerous large supermarkets, petrol stations and restaurants right off the highway. Stocking up there ensures you have everything you need before continuing north into the more remote and scenic mountain areas where services are less frequent.

Mobile and GPS signals can become unreliable once you venture into more rural parts of New Hampshire, particularly in the White Mountains along the Kancamagus Highway (Route 112). Likewise, some coastal backroads in Maine can have spotty coverage. The best way to plan is to download offline maps of the area to your phone before you leave. This ensures your navigation continues to work even without a cellular connection.

In winter, major bridges such as the I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge and the Memorial Bridge can be prone to icing, particularly from overnight moisture and wind. Be cautious of them early in the morning before the sun warms the surfaces. Additionally, heavily shaded backroads through wooded areas away from the coast can retain ice and snow patches longer than sun-exposed roads. Always allow extra stopping distance in these conditions.

During peak autumn weekends expect a significant increase in both vehicle and pedestrian traffic in downtown Portsmouth. The city becomes a popular hub for visitors exploring the region’s fall foliage. This means parking, especially in the most convenient garages and on-street spots, fills much earlier in the day. Plan to arrive before mid-morning to secure a space and be prepared for slower-moving traffic on main roads as people take in the scenic views.

The safest and most convenient approach is to park once at your hotel or in a central public car park like Hanover Street. Portsmouth’s downtown is compact and walkable, allowing you to visit numerous restaurants and breweries on foot. For destinations a little further afield, ride-sharing services are widely available and provide a responsible way to travel between locations. This strategy lets everyone in your group relax and enjoy the experience safely.

A very convenient option is the Market Basket on Woodbury Avenue, which is on a direct route from the airport towards downtown Portsmouth. It’s a large supermarket with a wide selection and is easy to get in and out of. Another good choice is the Trader Joe’s in the Fox Run Mall area, just a few minutes from the airport. Both options let you stock up without going significantly out of your way.

The car park on Marcy Street, adjacent to Prescott Park, is an ideal choice for stroller access to the waterfront. From there you can easily roll onto the flat, paved paths that run through the park and along the Piscataqua River. This area provides pleasant views and a gentle, accessible walking experience. The Foundry Place Garage is also a good option, as it has lifts and connects to pavements leading to the waterfront with manageable inclines.

To reach seacoast beaches like Wallis Sands or Jenness Beach, the most straightforward route is to take Route 1 Bypass South from the Portsmouth Traffic Circle to Route 1A South (Ocean Boulevard). This is a main coastal road and avoids the narrow, winding residential streets a sat-nav shortcut might suggest. For parks such as Odiorne Point State Park, following signs for Route 1A also keeps you on well-maintained primary roads.

A practical plan is to use your hire car to explore Portsmouth and the surrounding New Hampshire and Maine seacoast areas. When you’re ready to visit Boston, drive to a commuter rail station in a nearby Massachusetts town like Newburyport or Beverly. Park at the station and take the train into Boston’s North Station to avoid the stress and expense of city driving and parking, giving you a much more enjoyable urban experience.

To have the best experience in Salem, especially during the busy autumn season, plan your visit for a weekday. Leave Portsmouth early enough to arrive in Salem before 10:00 to secure a spot in one of the main car parks before they fill. Driving down on a weekend in October is extremely challenging due to heavy traffic and limited parking. A weekday trip lets you enjoy the city’s attractions with far fewer crowds and logistical headaches.

Instead of attempting to drive in a convoy, it’s much easier to designate a clear, easy-to-find meeting point near the venue. Choose a landmark with a large car park, such as a supermarket or public park, a few minutes from the final destination. Have everyone drive there independently and then consolidate into fewer cars for the final leg. This removes the pressure of trying to stay together in traffic.

On a late-night arrival, take a few moments in the well-lit Enterprise car park to get comfortable before departing. Adjust your mirrors, connect your phone and input your destination into your sat-nav while still parked. The main roads leaving the airport, like the Spaulding Turnpike, are well lit and clearly signed. Driving at night often means less traffic, which can make the initial journey to your hotel calm and straightforward.

When returning your vehicle early, follow the main signs for Portsmouth International Airport from the Spaulding Turnpike. As you approach the terminal on International Drive, move into the left lane and look for signs for Rental Car Return. The entrance is clearly marked and will direct you into a dedicated lane leading to the drop-off area. The process is designed to be quick and intuitive, even in the pre-dawn hours.

A comfortable buffer for refuelling is to add an extra 15 to 20 minutes to your airport return plan. There are several petrol stations conveniently located on Route 33 (Greenland Road) and Woodbury Avenue, just a few minutes’ drive from the airport entrance. Using a map app to identify a station on your route the day before can save time. This extra window ensures you can refuel, handle any queues at the pump, and still arrive for your drop-off feeling relaxed.

To create an efficient coastal loop from Portsmouth it’s best to drive north along the coast and return via the highway. Start by driving from Portsmouth to York to see the Nubble Lighthouse. Continue north on the scenic Shore Road to Ogunquit for the Marginal Way, then proceed to Kennebunkport. For the return, take I-95 South directly from Kennebunkport back to Portsmouth. This route maximises time in the scenic towns and minimises redundant driving.

For a reliable lighthouse visit choose one with established public access and parking, such as the Cape Neddick "Nubble" Lighthouse in York, Maine. It has a dedicated viewing area with a sizable car park at Sohier Park. Another great option is Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, which has extensive parking at Fort Williams Park. Checking the lighthouse’s official website beforehand will confirm parking availability and any fees.

Drivers around Portsmouth are used to navigating rotaries and complex interchanges, so they may change lanes decisively. It’s important to be predictable: signal early and avoid last-second manoeuvres. When entering a rotary remember that traffic already inside has right of way. Maintaining a safe following distance is always good practice, as it gives you ample time to react to local driving patterns.

When using off-site hotel parking, ask about the garage’s hours of operation and whether you’ll have 24/7 access to your vehicle. Enquire about the procedure for re-entry after hours, as some garages lock pedestrian doors and require a key card or code. Also ask if you have in-and-out privileges, which allow you to leave and return multiple times without incurring extra charges each time you enter.

To avoid potential school zones and bus traffic, a reliable route is to take Middle Street out of downtown, which becomes the Route 1 Bypass South. Follow the bypass to the Portsmouth Traffic Circle and take the exit for the Spaulding Turnpike (Route 16) North. From there it’s a direct, well-signed drive to the airport exit. This route uses major thoroughfares, helping you bypass many of the smaller residential streets where school traffic is heaviest.

For a short weekend focused on downtown Portsmouth most travellers find it best to park the car on arrival and explore on foot. The historic centre, waterfront and most restaurants are easily walkable. However, the hire car provides flexibility for activities outside the city centre, such as visiting nearby beaches, driving to coastal towns in Maine or exploring regional breweries. The decision usually depends on whether your itinerary includes excursions beyond the immediate downtown core.