Car Rental
Harrisburg

A rental car is strongly recommended if you plan to visit places beyond a single hotel area, like Hershey, Gettysburg, or the Pennsylvania State Capitol, without relying on ride-shares. If your trip is strictly one-site (e.g., a conference with shuttles), you can skip it, but you’ll have less flexibility. For most visitors to the Harrisburg region, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—MDT is well positioned for easy day trips to popular nearby spots like Hershey and Gettysburg, which are much simpler with your own vehicle. Without a car, stacking ride-shares for multiple stops can get expensive and time-consuming. For day-trip travelers, renting a car is worth it.

Downtown is doable without a car for a short stay if you’re comfortable using garages, meters, and occasional rideshares. But a car quickly becomes useful for anything outside the downtown core, including suburban dining, parks, and day trips. For most visitors, renting a car is optional but often beneficial.

There is a public bus option (RabbitTransit Route 7) and it can connect you to nearby areas, but service is limited (including no Sunday service stated). If you need reliable mobility across the region or have a tight schedule, a car is far easier. For most travelers, renting a car is beneficial.

Rideshare works, but you must meet drivers on the 3rd floor of the parking garage in the designated pickup zone—curbside pickup isn’t allowed. If you’ll take multiple trips around the region, a rental car is typically more convenient than repeated rideshare pickups. For regional exploring, renting a car is beneficial.

Ground transportation is centralized in the Transportation Center on the 1st floor of the parking garage, connected to the terminal by a climate-controlled Skybridge. That setup is designed to make rental pickup straightforward without going outside for long. For a smooth start to a driving-based trip, renting a car is beneficial.

MDT is connected to major routes (including I‑83 and I‑283), so getting into Harrisburg and out toward nearby towns is generally simple. The main challenge is timing around rush hours rather than confusing roads. Overall, renting a car is beneficial.

Expect heavier traffic during early morning (about 5am–8am) and afternoon/evening commute windows (about 2pm–6pm), with typical metro rush hours also noted around 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM. Plan drives to the airport and cross-town trips outside those windows when possible. With basic planning, renting a car is still beneficial.

Yes—early morning is a known peak arrival period, and having your own car can be more predictable than waiting on a rideshare pickup. It also lets you control when you leave and where you park. For early flights, renting a car is beneficial.

Parking is usually manageable, but downtown and the State Capitol area often require planning for garages or metered street parking with time limits and payment rules. If you’re comfortable using garages/meters, a car is practical. For most visitors, renting a car is beneficial.

MDT has a cell phone waiting lot where drivers can wait up to 30 minutes for free before heading to the terminal area. It’s a good alternative to circling or paying to park while you wait. For airport pickups, renting a car is optional but convenient.

Yes, but your vehicle must remain attended—unattended vehicles can be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Use it as a short wait zone, then drive to meet your arriving passenger when they call. For coordinated pickups, renting a car is convenient and beneficial.

The garage connects to the terminal via covered walkways/elevators and a climate-controlled skybridge, which helps with luggage and bad weather. That makes airport access fairly smooth compared with remote lots. For airport convenience, renting a car is beneficial.

The garage is closest for quick terminal access, while the long-term lot is about a mile away and uses complimentary shuttles that run about every 15 minutes. If you’re tight on time, the garage is usually easier; if you’re cost-focused, the long-term lot can be better. Either way, renting a car is still beneficial for regional mobility.

Shuttles run about every 15 minutes and the lot is roughly a mile from the terminal, so you should add buffer time for the wait and transfer. This matters most for early flights or peak traffic windows. If you value time flexibility, renting a car is beneficial.

Starting Dec. 1, 2025, the garage’s 4th floor closes for winter, which can reduce capacity, and limited availability may be more noticeable on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you’re traveling in winter, build in extra time or consider alternate parking. For winter travel with plans beyond the airport, renting a car is still beneficial.

The garage clearance height is 7′8″, so very tall vehicles may not fit. If you’re expecting an oversize vehicle, you may need to make arrangements with the parking office. For most travelers, renting a standard car or midsize SUV is beneficial.

Yes—Hershey-area trips are commonly done by car from MDT, and driving gives you flexibility for timing, dining, and multiple stops in one day. It also reduces reliance on rideshares for return trips. For Hershey visits, renting a car is beneficial.

Lancaster is a common nearby drive from MDT, and having a car makes it easy to explore beyond a single drop-off point. That’s especially helpful if you’re visiting multiple spots in a day. For Lancaster trips, renting a car is beneficial.

It’s much simpler with a car because you can control your schedule and avoid stitching together limited transit options. If Gettysburg is a key part of your trip, a rental reduces friction and travel time. For Gettysburg day trips, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—these are typical nearby drives from MDT, and a car makes them quick and direct compared with coordinating rideshares or limited public transit. It’s also easier to do multiple towns in one trip. For these side trips, renting a car is beneficial.

It can be busy, and you’ll likely use garages or metered street parking with posted rules and time limits. If you’re comfortable paying and watching time limits, it’s manageable. For Capitol-area visits plus regional exploring, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes, toll roads are nearby, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so toll handling can affect your trip costs and convenience. Decide your toll strategy before you hit a toll route to avoid surprises. Even with tolls, renting a car is beneficial for regional flexibility.

Most driving is straightforward thanks to clear highway access, but traffic can build during commute peaks. If you avoid the busiest windows, it’s typically an easy area to drive. Overall, renting a car is beneficial.

For most trips, a standard sedan or compact works well for highways, city streets, and garage parking. If you’re traveling in winter or expect snow/ice, an AWD vehicle can add confidence. In general, renting a car is beneficial.

Winter conditions can bring snow and ice, and AWD can be helpful for traction and peace of mind on regional drives. If you’ll mostly stay in-town and can wait out storms, you can stick with a standard car. For winter road flexibility, renting a car is beneficial.

If you’re traveling with kids, luggage, and doing day trips (like Hershey), extra space can make the trip easier and reduce the need for multiple vehicles. Just keep garage clearance in mind if you plan to park at MDT. For family itineraries, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—MDT’s highway access makes it a practical launch point for a loop through nearby cities and attractions without backtracking. It’s often faster than relying on point-to-point rideshares between towns. For road-trip style travel, renting a car is beneficial.

If your hotel provides a shuttle and your plans are limited to one area, you can usually skip the rental and use rideshare as needed. If you want a quick side trip (like Hershey) or have a packed schedule, a car is still useful. For a one-night stay, renting a car is optional.

Amtrak stations are reachable from the airport area by bus, taxi, or rideshare, so rail can cover longer intercity segments. But a car is still the easiest way to move around the Harrisburg region and reach nearby towns between train trips. For mixed rail + regional exploring, renting a car is beneficial.

Hotel shuttles can work for a hotel-only stay, but you typically need to call the hotel to arrange pickup and confirm hours and any fees. If you want freedom to explore beyond the hotel zone, a shuttle-only plan can feel limiting. For anything beyond basic airport-hotel travel, renting a car is beneficial.

Because rideshare pickups happen on the 3rd floor of the parking garage (not curbside), pickups can take longer and require more walking with luggage. If you expect multiple rides, that friction adds up compared with having your own vehicle. For convenience across multiple trips, renting a car is beneficial.

Doing multiple stops is much easier with a car, since public transit options are limited and rideshare costs can add up quickly. A rental lets you combine places like Harrisburg + Hershey or Harrisburg + Lancaster in one day. For multi-stop days, renting a car is beneficial.

Plan on using garages or metered street parking and following posted time limits and payment rules. If you’re comfortable paying to park in urban areas, it’s manageable and gives you freedom to explore beyond downtown. For a balanced city-and-region trip, renting a car is beneficial.

Access is generally straightforward via major highways and clearly signed airport routes, but traffic peaks can slow the final approach. Build extra time during morning and afternoon rush windows. With basic planning, renting a car is beneficial.

A car can still be the most efficient way to reach regional destinations, but you should expect busier roads at peak times and plan parking ahead when demand is high. The flexibility of leaving earlier or later can help you avoid worst congestion. Even during peak periods, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—the garage connects directly to the terminal via covered walkways and a skybridge, which is convenient for quick in-and-out visits. For brief waits, the cell phone lot is a useful alternative if you stay with your vehicle. For short airport errands, renting a car is optional but convenient.

Try to schedule airport runs and cross-town drives outside the common peak windows (roughly 5–8am and 2–6pm, with typical rush around 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM). Shifting your departure even 30–60 minutes can make trips smoother. With smart timing, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—airport-area lodging can feel spread out, and without a car you may rely heavily on rideshare or limited transit for meals and errands. A car also makes it easy to turn spare time into a quick trip to nearby towns. For airport-area stays, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—highway access is strong, regional attractions are commonly reached by car, and airport facilities are set up to support drivers with centralized ground transportation and connected parking. The main drawbacks are rush-hour traffic and downtown parking rules, which are manageable with planning. Overall, renting a car is beneficial.