Avis Car Hire
Orlando

On arrival at Orlando International Airport (MCO), you will find the Avis car hire counters on the Ground Transportation Level, which is Level 1 of both Terminal A and Terminal B. After collecting your luggage from baggage reclaim on Level 2, simply take the escalator or lift down one floor. The hire counters are located directly in the main terminal building, and once you complete your paperwork, you will be directed to the adjacent multi-storey car park to pick up your vehicle.

The most efficient way to manage multiple suitcases is to use one of the airport’s luggage trolleys, which are readily available in the baggage reclaim area on Level 2. Once you have your bags, you can take a large lift down to Level 1, where the car hire counters are located. This avoids navigating escalators with heavy luggage. The Avis counter is just a short walk from the lifts, and you can take the trolley with you all the way to the car park to load your vehicle.

After clearing immigration and customs, you will exit into the main terminal building on Level 3. From there, follow the prominent overhead signs for Ground Transportation and Car Hire. You will need to take a lift or escalator down to Level 1. The Avis counters are located on this level on both the A-side and B-side of the terminal, making them easy to find regardless of where you exit from the customs area.

A great meeting point is the main atrium on Level 3 of the terminal, between the A and B sides, near the large food court. This area is spacious, has seating, and is easy to find from any arrivals gate before you head down to baggage reclaim. Once your whole party has gathered, you can proceed together to baggage reclaim on Level 2 and then down to the Avis counter on Level 1 to pick up your shared hire car.

During peak arrival times, such as a weekend afternoon, it’s sensible to allow around 60 to 90 minutes from the moment your plane lands to when you drive away. This accounts for taxiing to the gate, disembarking, walking to baggage reclaim, waiting for your luggage, and processing your hire at the counter. The walk to the car park and finding your car is usually quick, but the earlier steps can take time when the airport is busy.

While the counter queues are often shorter late at night, locating your specific vehicle in a large, dimly lit car park can sometimes take a few extra minutes. In addition, with fewer airport staff around, getting your bearings and following the exit signs can feel a bit slower. It’s a good idea to double-check your assigned bay number and take a moment to adjust your mirrors and sat nav before you set off.

The best place to get organised is right at your allocated parking bay in the hire car garage. After loading your luggage into the boot, pull the car forward just slightly out of the space to give yourself more room on the sides. This lets you fit car seats and settle the kids without blocking the main driving lanes. The garages are well lit and generally have enough space between rows to do this comfortably.

To head towards Walt Disney World, follow the airport exit signs for the South Exit, which will lead you to SR-417 (Central Florida GreeneWay) or SR-528 West (Beachline Expressway). For the most direct route, take SR-528 West. Stay in the middle or left lanes and follow signs for I-4 West towards Tampa. Once on I-4 West, the exits for Walt Disney World are clearly signed and begin in about 10–15 miles.

The most straightforward route is to take the airport’s South Exit to SR-528 West (Beachline Expressway). Continue on SR-528 for about 10 miles and then merge on to I-4 East towards Orlando. The exits for International Drive and Universal Orlando Resort are very clearly signed shortly after you join I-4. This route uses major motorways with clear signage, making it less confusing than navigating side roads.

To avoid the heaviest I-4 traffic, use the airport’s South Exit to get on to SR-417 South (Central Florida GreeneWay). This is a toll road that typically has much lighter traffic than I-4. You can take SR-417 South to Exit 6 for International Drive or Exit 3 for Osceola Parkway, both of which provide easy access to the Lake Buena Vista area. This route is often quicker and less stressful during peak travel times.

For a direct trip to downtown Orlando, take the airport’s North Exit to SR-528 West. After a short distance, take the exit for SR-436 North (Semoran Blvd). From SR-436, follow signs for SR-408 East-West Expressway (a toll road). Taking SR-408 West leads you directly into the heart of downtown with clearly signed exits for key streets, allowing you to bypass the tourist-heavy I-4 corridor entirely.

The section of I-4 between Disney Springs (Exit 67) and Universal Orlando (Exit 75) is often the most challenging for first-time visitors. It has multiple lanes, frequent merging traffic from major attractions, and complex interchanges like the one at Sand Lake Road. Stay alert, as tourists often make sudden lane changes when they spot their exit, so keeping a safe following distance is key.

A popular alternative to I-4 is SR-417 (Central Florida GreeneWay), a toll road that runs parallel to I-4 and is almost always less congested. From MCO, you can take SR-417 South to reach the Disney and Lake Buena Vista areas. For travel between attractions, surface roads like International Drive, Apopka-Vineland Road, and Turkey Lake Road can be useful for shorter trips, though they have traffic lights and can be slow during peak hours.

The main routes from MCO, SR-528 and SR-417, are both toll roads that offer a quicker, less congested drive. Be aware that toll plazas and electronic toll gantries often appear very soon after you join an on-ramp, with little advance warning. This is especially true on the ramps connecting the airport to the expressways. Having a plan for tolls makes the drive much smoother and helps you focus on navigation.

The biggest surprises on these expressways are the high traffic speeds and the frequency of exit-only lanes on the right. Pay close attention to overhead signs to avoid being forced to exit unexpectedly. Also, these roads have long, open stretches, so be mindful of your speed and the flow of local traffic, which can be faster than many visitors are used to.

A simple plan is to take the airport’s North Exit towards SR-436 North (Semoran Blvd). Within a mile or two, you’ll find several large supermarkets and shopping centres with easy-access car parks. Afterwards, you can easily rejoin SR-436 and follow signs to SR-528 or SR-417 towards the tourist areas without having to loop back through the main airport entrance.

Disney Springs and Universal CityWalk are excellent options because they offer large, convenient parking garages and a wide variety of restaurants and shops. You can leave your luggage secured in the boot of your hire car and comfortably walk around for a few hours. Another great choice is The Florida Mall, which is a short drive from the airport and provides a climate-controlled environment to pass the time.

Most Disney resorts have designated short-term parking bays, often for 15–30 minutes, located very close to the main entrance. The best strategy is to bypass the crowded drop-off lane and park in one of these bays first. This lets you unload your luggage and check in without pressure. Once you have your room key, you can move your car to the main self-parking area for the rest of your stay.

Hotels in the Universal Orlando area commonly use multi-storey parking garages that can feel tight, especially in a larger vehicle such as a full-size SUV or people carrier. Expect tight turns on the ramps between levels and relatively narrow bays. It helps to drive slowly, watch for support pillars, and consider reversing into a bay if it will make exiting easier later.

The most efficient way to park-hop by car is to drive directly from one theme park car park to the next. For example, driving between EPCOT and Hollywood Studios takes only about 10 minutes, which is often faster than waiting for resort transport. To reduce traffic, try to move between parks during non-peak times, such as mid-afternoon, rather than right at park opening or closing.

When you drive to Magic Kingdom, you don’t park at the park itself but at the Transportation and Ticket Centre (TTC). From your parking bay, you’ll take a tram to the main TTC building. From there, you must take either the monorail or a ferry boat across Seven Seas Lagoon to reach the park’s main entrance. Allow at least 30–45 minutes for the whole process from parking to walking through the gates.

For a smooth EPCOT rope-drop arrival, aim to reach the parking toll plazas about 60 minutes before the park’s official opening time. This gives you time to get through the booths before the biggest rush, find a parking bay relatively close to the main entrance, and walk to security with minimal delays. Arriving later often means getting stuck in a long line of cars on the approach roads.

Arriving at Hollywood Studios by car on a busy morning requires an early start, as it’s one of the most popular parks for rope drop. Traffic queues often begin on the main access road, World Drive, well before you reach the parking toll booths. To minimise waiting, aim to be in that line at least 60 to 75 minutes before the scheduled opening, especially at weekends or during holidays.

While arriving 45–60 minutes before opening is essential for rope drop, the easiest driving conditions for Animal Kingdom are often in the late morning, around 10:30. By then, the initial morning rush has eased, approach-road traffic has cleared, and you can drive straight to the toll plaza and park without significant delays. This is a good option if you prefer a more relaxed start.

The simplest way to park at Disney Springs is to use one of the two main parking garages: Orange Garage or Lime Garage. Both use smart technology with digital signs at the entrance and on each level showing how many spaces are available. By following these signs, you can go straight to a level with open spaces, saving a lot of time compared with circling aimlessly.

The easiest approach is to use a GPS app on your phone, such as Google Maps or Waze, and enter your exact destination (for example, "Contemporary Resort" or "EPCOT Parking"). The internal road network is fully mapped and these apps provide live directions. Disney’s road signage is also excellent; follow the large purple and red signs that clearly point to theme parks, water parks, and resort areas.

The most direct route is to take SR-528 East, also known as the Beachline Expressway, for the entire journey. It’s a straight drive of about 45–50 miles from the MCO area. As you get closer to the coast, you’ll cross several large bridges and causeways, which can be scenic but are often windy. Be prepared for crosswinds, especially in a larger vehicle.

For a low-stress Cocoa Beach day trip, plan to leave the Orlando area no later than 9:00 am, especially at weekends. This helps you get ahead of peak beach-bound traffic that builds mid-morning on SR-528 East. Arriving before 10:00 am gives you a much better chance of finding convenient parking near popular spots like Cocoa Beach Pier before car parks fill up.

A day trip to Daytona Beach is very realistic and easy to manage. The drive from Orlando is typically just over an hour each way via I-4 East. If you leave in the morning, you’ll have plenty of time to find parking, enjoy the beach, visit Daytona International Speedway, and grab a meal. You can head back to Orlando in the late afternoon and arrive well before dark.

Allow about 45 to 60 minutes for the drive on SR-528 East without stops. It’s wise to add an extra 30 minutes as a buffer for potential traffic, especially if travelling at the weekend. If you need a quick stop for supplies, do it in the Orlando area shortly after leaving the airport, as options become much more limited as you get closer to the port.

The most common habit that surprises visitors is other drivers making abrupt, multi-lane changes at the last second to catch a theme-park exit on I-4. Be ready for sudden braking and always leave plenty of space to the vehicle in front. Also, traffic in merge lanes often moves very quickly, so be assertive but careful when joining the motorway.

The interchange linking I-4 and SR-408 near downtown Orlando is notoriously complex, with multiple left-hand exits and lanes that split unexpectedly. Another tricky spot is the junction of SR-528, SR-417, and the Florida Turnpike near the airport, which involves a web of high-speed flyover ramps. Using a GPS and reviewing your route in advance can help you anticipate the correct lane.

A mid-size saloon or a compact SUV is often the most manageable choice for a typical Orlando holiday. These categories balance passenger and luggage space with easy manoeuvrability. They fit comfortably in standard theme-park spaces and are far easier to handle through the tight corners of multi-storey hotel garages than a larger van or SUV.

Before leaving the garage, it’s important to do a test fit of all your gear. Make sure your pushchair fits comfortably in the boot along with your luggage, as some larger models can be surprisingly bulky. Fit your car seats to ensure they install properly and still leave passengers sitting comfortably. Confirming everything fits before you set off prevents a frustrating re-pack at the roadside later.

A common issue is underestimating the overall volume of luggage, especially bulky items like coolers. Many groups find a standard SUV’s cargo area fills faster than expected, forcing bags into the passenger cabin, which can be uncomfortable and unsafe. For groups of four or more with lots of luggage, upgrading to a people carrier or a large three-row SUV is often a practical necessity.

Orlando’s afternoon thunderstorms can bring sudden, torrential downpours that drastically reduce visibility. Expect major roads like I-4 and SR-417 to slow immediately as drivers become more cautious. Right-hand lanes and low-lying sections of local roads are prone to temporary flooding, so stay in the centre or left lanes where possible and never drive through standing water.

There are several conveniently located petrol stations on Semoran Blvd (SR-436), accessible from the airport’s North Exit. Another excellent option is the cluster of stations on McCoy Road, just west of the airport. Both are only a few minutes’ drive from the hire car return entrance, making them ideal for a quick, low-stress final fill before your flight.

As you approach the airport, stay in the middle or left lanes and watch the large overhead signs closely. Follow the specific signs for "Rental Car Return". These direct you to a dedicated entrance for the hire car garages, separate from the main loops for passenger arrivals and departures. Following these signs carefully helps you avoid getting stuck in terminal traffic.

For a smooth early-morning departure, plan to arrive at a petrol station near the airport about 2.5 hours before your flight. Allow 10–15 minutes to refuel. The return process usually takes about 10 minutes, followed by a 5–10 minute walk or shuttle ride to the terminal. This leaves a full two hours to check in, clear security, and walk to your gate.

The most efficient sequence is to follow signs for "Departures" first, drop off your passengers and all luggage at the airline kerb, then continue driving. Once they’re on their way, you can follow airport road signs to loop back around. On your second approach, follow the signs specifically for "Rental Car Return" to go straight to the garage without passengers or bags.