National Car Rental
Harrisburg

A rental car is helpful if you plan to visit places outside downtown Harrisburg—especially Hershey, Carlisle, York, or Lancaster—on your own schedule. If you’re staying downtown for a short trip and won’t leave the city core, you can often manage with rideshare and the CAT Route 7 bus. Overall, renting a car is beneficial for most visitors using MDT as a base for regional exploring.

You can reach downtown via public transit (CAT Route 7) or rideshare, so a car isn’t required just to get into the city. But once you want to do multiple stops or visit surrounding towns, relying on rideshare can feel limiting and add up in cost. For flexibility beyond a single destination, renting a car is the better choice.

Hershey is a straightforward drive from MDT, and having your own car makes it easier to move between attractions and hotels without waiting on limited transit options. Rideshare can work for a single transfer, but day-to-day trips become less convenient. For a Hershey-focused trip, renting a car is usually beneficial.

For a quick trip with meetings or plans concentrated in one area, rideshare plus a single airport transfer can be enough. A car becomes more valuable when you have a packed itinerary with multiple stops across the region. For a short, city-focused stay, a rental is optional.

Downtown Harrisburg is accessible from MDT by public transit (CAT Route 7) or rideshare, so you’re not forced to rent just to reach the city. The bigger factor is what you want to do after you arrive—regional drives are much easier with a car. If you plan to leave downtown at all, renting a car is beneficial.

MDT has rental facilities on the lower level of the terminal, making pickup straightforward right after landing. If you’re arriving by air and plan to drive immediately, airport pickup saves time and extra transfers. For most flyers, renting at MDT is the most convenient option.

At MDT, rental facilities are located on the lower level of the terminal building near arrivals/baggage claim and ground transportation access. This setup is designed for quick transitions from baggage claim to your vehicle. For arriving travelers, renting at MDT is convenient and practical.

The drive from MDT to the Hershey area is commonly around 20–30 minutes, making it an easy hop for hotels and attractions. That short drive is a big reason many visitors choose to rent instead of coordinating multiple rides. For Hershey plans, renting a car is beneficial.

Common, easy drives from the MDT/Harrisburg area include Hershey, Carlisle, York, Lancaster, and Hummelstown. These trips are much simpler when you can leave on your own schedule and make stops along the way. For day trips, renting a car is strongly recommended.

Camp Hill is more car-oriented, with hotels and shopping clustered along Carlisle Pike and near major highways, so many errands are typically done by car or rideshare. You can walk to some dining and basics depending on where you stay, but you’ll likely still need rides for convenience. For staying in Camp Hill, renting a car is usually beneficial.

Downtown can work without a car for a short stay if your plans are concentrated and you’re comfortable using rideshare or a bus connection from the airport. But regional attractions and many suburban hotel areas are more car-oriented. For downtown-only trips, renting is optional.

Rideshare is a solid alternative for a simple airport-to-hotel transfer, and it’s noted as smoother during off-peak hours. If you’ll take multiple trips per day or visit surrounding towns, renting often becomes more convenient and cost-effective. For anything beyond basic transfers, renting a car is beneficial.

CAT Route 7 is a budget-friendly way to get between the airport and downtown, so you can skip a rental if you’re staying central and traveling light. However, public transit is less helpful for reaching suburbs and nearby destinations like Hershey on your schedule. For broader exploring, renting a car is beneficial.

Rush-hour congestion is commonly worst around 7–9 am and 4–6 pm, which can make drives slower and parking more frustrating at your destination. Planning drives outside those windows can make the region feel much easier. Even with rush hour, renting a car is still beneficial if you have multiple stops.

The area is oriented around major highways and straightforward suburban roads, which tends to make navigation manageable for visitors. The main challenge is timing around rush hours and knowing where to park at popular stops. Overall, driving here is generally easy, so renting a car is beneficial.

MDT uses curbside areas that are restricted to active loading and unloading only, so you should not plan to wait unattended at the curb. If you need to wait, the free Cell Phone Waiting Area is designed for that purpose. With the right approach, renting a car at MDT is convenient.

It’s a free waiting lot for up to one hour, meant for drivers to wait until passengers are ready before going curbside. This helps you avoid curbside restrictions and reduce stress during pickup or meetups. If you’re coordinating travelers and luggage, renting a car can still be convenient with this setup.

No—curbside is restricted to active loading and unloading only, and drivers must stay with the vehicle. The better move is to wait in the Cell Phone Waiting Area and go curbside only when your group is ready. With this strategy, renting a car remains a practical choice.

A standard sedan or compact is usually a great fit for typical roads, errands, and parking in the region. If you expect heavier traffic or tighter parking, smaller vehicles can be easier to manage. For most travelers, renting a compact or midsize car is beneficial.

Winter can bring snow and ice in this region, which can make driving less forgiving—especially early mornings and after storms. If you’re visiting during winter months and plan to drive frequently, AWD can add confidence. For winter travel with multiple drives, renting a car (ideally with AWD) is beneficial.

Summer heat makes reliable air conditioning important, especially if you’ll be doing day trips or sitting in traffic. Most modern rentals handle this well, so you can prioritize size and comfort based on your group. For summer exploring, renting a car is beneficial.

Carlisle is a common regional drive, but getting there without a car typically means coordinating rides and limiting spontaneity. A rental makes it easy to go on your own schedule and add stops. For Carlisle visits, renting a car is recommended.

York is reachable by road with a well-developed network (including I-83 and U.S. Route 30), which favors driving. Without a car, you’ll likely spend more time and money stitching together rides. For York plans, renting a car is beneficial.

Lancaster is commonly mentioned as a practical drive from MDT, making it a reasonable add-on to a Harrisburg-area itinerary. A rental car gives you the freedom to time the trip and explore at your own pace. For a Lancaster side trip, renting a car is beneficial.

Yes—many hotels cluster near major routes like I-83, PA-581, and the PA Turnpike, which are designed for quick driving access rather than walking. That setup makes a rental car especially convenient for meals, errands, and regional visits. If your hotel is highway-adjacent, renting a car is beneficial.

Families often benefit from a rental because it simplifies car seats, luggage, and timing—especially when moving between hotels and attractions. It also reduces the hassle of repeated rideshare pickups during busy times. For families visiting the area, renting a car is usually beneficial.

Yes—this region is built for road trips between nearby towns, and having your own vehicle makes multi-stop days realistic. Without a car, you’ll spend more time coordinating rides and waiting. For a multi-town itinerary, renting a car is strongly recommended.

During the common rush windows (7–9 am and 4–6 pm), congestion can slow trips and make arrivals less predictable. If you can, schedule airport runs and day trips outside those times. Even with rush hour, renting a car is still beneficial for flexibility.

It can be smooth if you follow the airport’s flow: use the Cell Phone Waiting Area until the traveler has their bags, then go curbside for active loading only. This avoids curbside restrictions and reduces circling. With that plan, using a rental car at MDT is convenient.

Busy event weekends can tighten availability and push lodging farther from attractions, which often means more driving. A rental helps you stay flexible if you end up in Hummelstown or Harrisburg-area suburbs and need daily transport. For peak weekends, renting a car is beneficial.

If you’re only doing an airport-to-downtown transfer and staying in one walkable area, you can use the CAT Route 7 bus or rideshare instead. A car becomes unnecessary when your itinerary has minimal movement and no day trips. For a single-area stay, renting a car is optional.

MDT is often highlighted as a practical pickup point with multiple major rental brands and typically broader selection than smaller locations. That can make it easier to find larger vehicles for group travel or hauling gear. If you need a bigger vehicle, renting at MDT is beneficial.

Major routes are straightforward, but some secondary roads can be narrower, winding, or hilly, which you’ll notice more in larger vehicles. Driving cautiously and allowing extra time makes it manageable. For visiting these areas, renting a car is beneficial if you’re comfortable with typical regional roads.

If your itinerary includes more parking and short hops, a smaller car can be easier to maneuver and park, especially during busier periods. Larger vehicles can still work, but they add hassle without much benefit for simple city driving. For primarily urban errands, renting a compact or midsize is the better choice.

Having a car can make early departures easier because you’re not relying on bus schedules or waiting for a rideshare pickup. Planning your route and arrival time ahead is still smart, but the logistics are usually straightforward. For early flights, renting a car is beneficial.

Group your driving into blocks and avoid the typical congestion windows (7–9 am and 4–6 pm) when possible. Use MDT’s waiting area rules when coordinating pickups to avoid curbside stress. With basic planning, renting a car is beneficial and low-friction.

A shuttle can replace the airport transfer, but it doesn’t solve getting around the region once you’re settled—especially for Hershey and other nearby towns. If you plan to do more than hotel-based downtime, a rental still adds flexibility. With regional plans, renting a car is beneficial even if you have a shuttle.

Yes—many practical dining and shopping clusters are set up for driving, particularly around major roads like Carlisle Pike in Camp Hill. Without a car, you’ll either walk longer distances or rely on repeated rideshares. For suburban errands, renting a car is beneficial.

Parking demand can get busy during peak travel times at the airport, and popular destinations can be more crowded during events and weekends. Arriving earlier and choosing smaller vehicles can reduce parking friction. Even with occasional parking hassle, renting a car is still beneficial for most itineraries.

If your trip includes Hershey, Carlisle, York, Lancaster, or suburban hotel areas, renting a car will make your itinerary smoother and more flexible. If you’ll stay downtown Harrisburg and make only a couple of trips, rideshare and the CAT Route 7 bus can cover you. For most visitors using MDT as a regional base, renting a car is beneficial.