Information if you want to rent a car in Phoenix
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Distance from Phoenix city centre |
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Rent a car in Phoenix
Where to rent a car in Phoenix
There’s more to this desert capital than meets the eye! Arizona’s capital city is best explored with a rental car and preferably one with air conditioning if you’re visiting in July or August - seriously you’ll thank us later. This “Valley of the Sun” enjoys 300 days of sun a year! When planning your vacation in Phoenix, make sure you head on over to a car search engine to check out what kind of rental car deals are on offer. Liligo.com compares hundreds of sights in seconds, making that part of your trip-planning a complete breeze.
The airport is the easiest place to pick up your car rental. You’ll find a dozen rental companies when your flight to Phoenix lands at Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Fox, Firefly and Advantage. There are also plenty of rental companies in downtown Phoenix, many of which offer flexibility in case you’d rather pick up your rent a car downtown and drop it off at the airport or vice versa.
Driving in Phoenix: what you need to know
Phoenix is super car-friendly and you won’t have any trouble getting around on four wheels here. A rental will come in handy if you want to leave the metro area and explore some of Arizona’s stunning landscapes and nearby national parks - which should be on your itinerary for sure. City roads are laid out like a grid, with most roads numbered based on their distance from downtown.
Parking is also really easy here. Most hotels will have complimentary parking lots for guests but it’s a good idea to call ahead in case this isn’t specified on the hotel’s website. Freeways are the best way to get around the city, but if you’re driving during rush hour, you can expect a traffic jam or two on your way so try to avoid driving at those peak times.
Road trips from Phoenix: what to see and do
Sedona
Set your GPS to Sedona and start driving north out of Phoenix. This gorgeous Arizona city is just 120 miles away and is right in the heart of the Red Rock Hills. The mountain scenery in these parts will take your breath away. Sedona is a cultural haven too, with plenty of festivals that attract visitors from across the country, including the Arts Festival, the Jazz Fest and the Sedona International Film Festival.
Montezuma Castle National Monument
If you want a little dose of history while on vacation in Phoenix, drive out to the Montezuma Castle National Monument. It’s located near Camp Verde and is a cave dwelling that was lived in by pre-Columbian Sinagua people around the year 700 AD! The place is an impressive five stories tall and took, not surprisingly, around 500 years to build. They call it a castle but it’s more like a really, really old high-rise apartment building!
San Diego
This Californian city is a great side-trip from Phoenix. It’s a 5-hour drive away but is totally worth it for the sights. Check out the world-famous San Diego Zoo before heading to a beach along the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla or Mission Bay. Looking for a great spot to surf? The waves at Black’s and Swami’s won’t disappoint.
