Hertz Car Rental
Philadelphia

If you’re mainly staying in central Philadelphia and planning a city-focused trip, a car is usually more hassle than help because you’ll spend time and money dealing with parking. A rental car becomes most valuable if you’re planning day trips or staying outside the city core. For most downtown stays, renting a car is optional, not necessary.

Philadelphia can be very doable without a car if your plans are concentrated in the city and you prefer not to worry about parking and traffic. Many visitors find it easier to use other transportation in the city and only rent for specific out-of-town days. For a city-only itinerary, a rental car is generally unnecessary.

A rental is most useful when you’re planning road trips or multi-stop days beyond downtown—like the Jersey Shore/Atlantic City, Lancaster County, or heading toward NYC on I-95. It’s also a big help if you want door-to-door flexibility with luggage or family gear. For regional exploring from Philadelphia, renting a car is beneficial.

If you’re staying in a walkable part of the city and mostly visiting nearby neighborhoods, a car often adds stress due to parking searches and extra fees. You’ll also lose time moving the car and finding legal parking. For a mostly in-city trip, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

Picking up at PHL is convenient if you plan to drive out of the area right away or want to avoid a second trip to get a car later. If you’ll spend your first days staying put in the city, waiting can help you avoid paying for parking while the car sits. For city-first trips, renting later is often the better choice.

PHL is about 7 miles from downtown, so the drive is relatively short under normal conditions. The bigger factor is traffic timing and your parking plan once you arrive. For quick airport-to-city access alone, renting a car is optional.

At PHL, you typically take a shuttle from the terminal area (commonly from baggage claim areas like Zone 2) to the airport’s rental car facility. That shuttle step adds a few minutes and is important to factor into your arrival plans. If you want maximum convenience, renting is still beneficial—but plan for the shuttle.

Plan extra buffer for refueling, finding the return entrance, and taking the shuttle back to the terminals. Airport officials commonly advise arriving 2 hours before domestic flights and 3 hours before international flights, and returning a car can add time—especially on busy days. If you’re on a tight schedule, renting a car is less convenient.

After-hours return can work, but you’ll generally lock the car and drop the keys, and the vehicle may be checked in the next business day. That means you should take photos and remove all belongings because responsibility may continue until it’s checked in. For very early departures, renting is still beneficial, but only if you’re comfortable with after-hours procedures.

The airport area is heavily trafficked and can feel hectic, especially during peak travel hours and holiday rush. Having a clear route and return plan helps reduce stress. If you’re only driving a short city stay, renting is optional.

Major holiday periods can bring heavier road congestion, so a car can be either a help (flexibility) or a burden (traffic and parking delays). Around Thanksgiving, traffic is often worst on Tuesday/Wednesday afternoons before the holiday and Sunday for return travel. For holiday travel with regional driving plans, renting is beneficial—but expect slower trips.

Traffic is commonly heaviest Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving and again on Sunday when many travelers return. Leaving earlier in the day usually reduces delays compared with afternoon departures. If your schedule matches peak congestion, renting is still optional unless you truly need the car.

Yes—suburban visits often involve multiple stops and limited convenient alternatives, and a car makes those trips straightforward. It also helps if you’re carrying gifts, luggage, or traveling with kids. For suburban family trips, renting a car is beneficial.

A car is especially useful for multi-stop days where you don’t want to coordinate schedules, transfers, or multiple rideshares. It’s also more comfortable when traveling with luggage, strollers, or a group. For multi-stop itineraries, renting a car is beneficial.

In many popular areas, parking can be the biggest headache—expect to budget time for finding a legal spot or using paid garages. If your hotel doesn’t include parking, costs and inconvenience can add up quickly. For a central-city stay without guaranteed parking, renting a car is often unnecessary.

A smaller car is generally easier to maneuver and park, especially if you’ll be spending time in denser parts of the city. It also makes garage parking less stressful and can be more efficient for quick errands. For city driving, a compact car is usually the best choice and renting is optional.

A larger vehicle can be more comfortable for families and luggage, but it can be harder and more expensive to park in busy areas. If most of your driving is outside the city or you need the space, it can be worth it. For city-heavy trips, renting a bigger vehicle is usually not necessary.

Philadelphia’s location makes it a common starting point for regional driving, and many travelers use PHL to begin road trips across the Northeast corridor. The key is planning for tolls and traffic so the drive doesn’t become a time sink. For multi-state or regional plans, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—many U.S. toll roads and bridges are now cashless, so you should assume toll charges can happen without a booth to pay at. Decide ahead of time how you’ll handle tolls to avoid surprises later. If you expect highway driving, renting is beneficial but plan for tolls.

For a quick weekend focused on city neighborhoods, a rental car often sits parked and becomes an extra cost and inconvenience. It’s usually smarter to go car-free unless you have a specific out-of-town plan. For a city-only weekend, renting a car is generally unnecessary.

If your meetings are spread across suburbs or multiple office parks, a car can be the most reliable way to keep your schedule. If everything is concentrated in the city center, parking time can hurt productivity. For suburban business travel, renting is beneficial; for downtown-only, it’s optional.

Paid hotel parking can quickly erase the value of having a car if you’re not driving daily. If you only need a vehicle for one day trip, consider renting only for that day rather than the whole stay. With expensive parking and limited driving plans, renting is usually unnecessary.

Airport rental counters can get busy, and lines may happen on peak arrival waves. Building a small time cushion helps, especially if you have plans immediately after landing. For tight schedules, renting a car is helpful only if you truly need the flexibility.

Plan your return route in advance, leave time to refuel, and budget for the shuttle ride back to the terminals. If you’re traveling on holiday weekends, add even more buffer to avoid stress. For early and smooth departures, renting is beneficial only if you need the car during the trip.

Yes—refueling close to the airport is a common way to avoid extra refueling charges and reduce last-minute detours. The simplest approach is to plan a final gas stop as part of your return route. If you’re comfortable managing refueling time, renting remains beneficial.

It can be, mainly because city traffic patterns and parking rules can feel unforgiving when you don’t know the area. If your trip doesn’t require driving, avoiding a car can make the visit feel easier. For first-time, city-focused trips, renting is often unnecessary.

A car can simplify family logistics by letting you move on your own schedule without coordinating multiple transfers. It’s especially helpful when you’re hauling strollers, luggage, and snacks, or planning day trips. For families doing more than a downtown-only stay, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—a car can be more comfortable than juggling bags across multiple steps, especially if your lodging is outside central Philadelphia. Just remember the shuttle to the rental facility is part of the airport pickup process. For heavy luggage and non-downtown stays, renting is beneficial.

Yes—day trips are one of the strongest reasons to rent because you control timing and can reach areas that are inconvenient without a car. A vehicle also helps if you want to combine multiple stops in one loop. For day-trip-focused travel, renting a car is beneficial.

Many travelers save money and hassle by staying car-free in the city and renting only for the days they’re leaving town. That approach reduces parking costs and eliminates the daily burden of storing the car. For most mixed itineraries, renting only on the needed days is the best choice.

Aim to drive earlier in the day when possible, and avoid known peak holiday congestion windows like Tuesday/Wednesday afternoons before Thanksgiving and Sunday return traffic. Building buffer time matters more than trying to “beat” traffic by a few minutes. If you can’t avoid peak times, renting a car is optional unless you need it.

Yes, and that can surprise visitors who expect to pay tolls at a booth. You’ll want a plan for toll payments so you don’t end up with unexpected billing and administrative fees later. If you’ll be doing highway driving, renting is beneficial—but toll planning is essential.

Returning at PHL is straightforward if you follow airport signs for rental car return, but it does add the shuttle step back to the terminal. Downtown returns can be convenient if you’re staying in the city until the last minute, but they may come with city driving and parking challenges. For flight-day simplicity, renting from and returning to PHL is usually beneficial.

Late arrivals can mean fewer staff and longer processing if multiple flights land at once, and you’ll still need to get to the rental facility via shuttle. If arriving very late, having a backup plan for first-night transportation can reduce stress. For late-night arrivals without immediate driving needs, renting is optional.

For nightlife-focused plans, driving and parking can be a burden, and you may prefer not to manage the car at all in the evenings. A rental car makes more sense if you’re also doing daytime regional trips. For nightlife-centered stays, renting a car is usually unnecessary.

If you’re staying near the airport, a car can be very useful because you’re outside the most walkable tourist core and may be traveling to different parts of the region. It helps you avoid repeated transportation costs for longer trips. For airport-area lodging, renting a car is beneficial.

Leave earlier than you think you need to, refuel before you get close to the airport, and assume there could be a small wait for shuttles during peaks. Busy holiday travel days can compound small delays into missed timing. For peak travel periods, renting is beneficial only if you build in extra time.

An EV can work well if you’re comfortable planning charging stops and you won’t be cutting it close on return-day timing. EV range varies with weather and driving conditions, so you’ll want a buffer rather than a tight plan. For travelers who want minimal planning, renting a gas car is usually the better choice.

Picking up at PHL is convenient for starting a trip immediately after landing, especially if you’re heading out of the city the same day. If you’re spending time in Philadelphia first, picking up later can reduce parking costs while you’re not driving. For road trips that start right away, renting at PHL is beneficial.

If your plan is mostly Philadelphia neighborhoods and you don’t have guaranteed parking, skip the car and rent only if a specific day trip demands it. If you’re staying outside the city or exploring the region with multiple stops, a car will save time and add flexibility. Overall, renting is beneficial for regional travel and optional for city-only stays.