Car Rental in Boise, Idaho
Boise is a great city to visit to experience a cultural environment of the Pacific Northwest while exploring the mountains of the Rocky Mountain chain. The city is full of great eateries and cultural activities, while also being surrounded by some pretty spectacular landscapes. Make the most of your visit to Boise, Idaho by staying independently mobile via rental car. Here is a brief guide to finding the cheapest rental cars in Boise, Idaho.
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Boise rental cars are available in 3 locations throughout the city, at the Boise Airport, downtown, and in Boise West. Boise car hire typically starts at around $45 a day for short-term rental car contracts. This rate drops to just over $30 a day when you extend your rental period to ten days or more.
How to Find Cheap Car Rental in Boise
The cheapest location at which to rent a car throughout the city of Boise, Idaho is the Boise Airport. The Boise Airport (BOI) is conveniently located just 4 miles south of city center and hosts over 6 rental car companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, and Thrifty. Particularly because these rental car companies are in competition with one another at the airport location, they tend to offer cheaper prices than in other locations throughout the city.
Renting a car at the Boise Airport is easy. Car rental agencies are located on the first floor of the main terminal, so head there after your flight arrives. You will then pick up your rental car itself outside on the west side of baggage claim. To return your rental car to the Boise Airport, follow signs to “Rental Cars” once you turn onto West Airport Way.
The busiest tourist season in Boise is typically the summer, so you can expect rental car rates to rise by at least $10 a day in July and August. If you can visit the area in June or September, you’ll likely find that the weather is pretty good and that the prices of rental cars, accommodation, and tourist attractions are slightly lower.
Tips for Driving Your Rental Car in Boise
With the wide roads that are typical for rural western cities, driving in Boise is not just a joy, it’s a must. Here are some tips for rules and regulations in Boise to ease your self-drive tour throughout the city and beyond.
Rush hour in Boise, Idaho:
- Boise is a rapidly growing city, so rush hour has become a problem in the past few years. To avoid adding extra minutes to your travel time, try to avoid driving your rental car in Boise between 7 and 8:30 in the morning and 5 and 6 in the evening.
Parking your rental car in downtown Boise:
- The price of on-street parking varies dramatically, depending on where you park in downtown Boise. In zones 1 and 2, you have to pay for parking Monday through Friday from 8 am to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 5pm. Each of these on-street parking spots have a 2 hour time limit. Parking costs between $3.25 and $5 for the full 2 hours.
- On-street parking in zone 3 is less expensive, at around $3 for a full 4 hours. 4 hours is the time limit. You only have to pay for parking between 8 am and 6 pm Monday through Friday in zone 3.
- Press the button on the meter to receive the first 20 minutes free at all on-street parking meetings throughout Boise!
- If you are planning on leaving your rental car for a full day in downtown Boise, take advantage of frequent parking garages. You can park for free for the first hour in all PARKBOI parking garages.
There are no toll roads in the state of Idaho.
Where to Go Next: Day Trips in Your Boise Rental Car
While Boise will certainly keep you busy, it would be a shame not to explore the incredible natural sights of Boise’s surroundings in your Boise rental car. Here are a couple suggestions for road trips to take during your visit to Boise:
- Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. While Craters of the Moon is a fairly long drive from Boise—about 3 and a half hours to the east (175 miles)—it’s definitely worth visiting! This dormant lava field is a landscape like none other. Consider making this a pitstop on your trip to Yellowstone National Park, which is located just under 400 miles east of Boise itself.
- Bogus Basin. Whether you visit Boise in the summer or the winter, Bogus Basin is a great outdoors area to visit. Even though Bogus Basin is located just 20 miles north of Boise, it’s a longer drive—about 40 minutes in normal weather conditions—due to the numerous switchbacks and winding roads.
