Tips when renting a car at Guadalajara International Airport (GDL)
- Note that prices rise during peak travel times, such as winter snowbird season, large corporate conventions, and major festive events like the International Mariachi and Charrería Festival and Fiestas de Octubre. Book early!
- In Jalisco and Nayarit, you will need a valid passport, an official Mexico entry permit (Forma Migratoria Multiple, or FMM), a valid driver’s license, Mexican Personal Liability Insurance, a driver who’s at least age 25, and a valid credit card to obtain a rental car. Though it’s not always required, you may also want to obtain an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) to keep alongside your license.
- You will find many rental car offices at and around the airport, particularly on site near the central passenger terminal.
- While you can find many more rental car offices across the region, make sure you know where you’re going if you plan to pick up a rental car farther away from the airport. If in doubt, you can save yourself time and peace of mind by picking it up at the airport.
- Planning to drive out of state and/or use any toll roads? Ask your rental agency how they handle any charges.
- Pick the right car for your journey. Smaller cars will be more efficient on Guadalajara’s city streets, while SUVs or all-wheel-drive vehicles are more suitable for trips outside the metro region, especially if you’re planning road trips into the mountains and/or out to the coast.
- Inspect the car and take photos at pickup and drop-off.
- While Guadalajara is generally safe, foreign embassies typically recommend against driving at night on highways out of town as a general safety precaution.
Why Rent a Car at Guadalajara International Airport (GDL)
Once off the plane (and past Mexican Customs), visitors will find designated passenger pick-up areas outside the passenger terminal, a stop to catch local buses, and the nearby cluster of rental car offices.
Since the airport connects pretty seamlessly to Federal Highway 44 and the Anillo Periférico Manuel Gómez Morin beltway (or ring road), you can store your luggage in the trunk and start driving wherever you want to go. It’s ideal for travellers with children, on a tight schedule, or planning to visit multiple destinations. While Guadalajara has its own mass transit system full of local buses and trains, you may have trouble travelling to other areas car-free. Beyond other popular destinations like Tequila and Puerto Vallarta, train and bus services can be even more sparse. Having your own car lets you reach more places with ease.
Driving from Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) – Getting Started
As noted earlier, GDL sits by Federal Highway 44 and the Anillo Periférico Manuel Gómez Morin beltway, and these make it easier to drive into the urban core and to other parts of Jalisco. Depending on traffic, you should be able to reach the Centro Histórico in about 40-90 minutes, Tlaquepaque in about 30-55 minutes, Ajijic in about 35-60 minutes, and 1.5-3 hours to Tequila.
Whichever route you take, budget yourself plenty of time to get there, as Guadalajara metro area traffic can get severely heavy at times.
Common routes include:
- Centro Histórico – About 40-90 minutes via Federal Highway 44 north and local city streets
- Tlaquepaque – About 25-55 minutes via Highway 44 north
- Ajijic/Lake Chapala – About 35-60 minutes via Highways 44 and 23 south
- Tequila – 1.5-3 hours via Highway 44 south, the Macrolibramiento west, and the 15D autopista west
- Punta Mita/Sayulita – 3.5-6 hours via Highway 44 north, the 15D autopista west, the 70D autopista west, and the 200D autopista south
- Puerto Vallarta – 4-7 hours via Highway 44 north, the 15D autopista west, the 70D autopista west, and the 200D autopista south
Inclement weather and heavy traffic can affect travel times, so use GPS or your favorite navigation app for real-time updates and road conditions. If you’re driving into rural areas, cell service can be limited, so save and download directions before you start driving. And, as noted earlier, you may want to stick to daylight hours when driving long distances, especially if you’re heading out to less touristy areas far from the city.
Explore Guadalajara and More of Mexico from GDL
In Guadalajara and its suburbs, you can discover vibrant multicultural neighbourhoods, incredible and delectable cuisine, exciting festivals and community celebrations, and ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once you venture beyond the city, there’s plenty more of Jalisco to discover, including the tranquil beauty of Lake Chapala, the tasty treasures of Tequila, and the balmy beaches of Puerto Vallarta.
In and around Guadalajara:
- Centro Histórico – For some five centuries, Guadalajara’s urban heart has beat strong with its grand plazas, striking monuments like the Catedral de Guadalajara and the Palacio de Gobierno, and charming local boutiques
- Colonia Americana – To the west of Centro is Guadalajara’s boho-chic neighbourhood full of affordable food carts, adventurous sit-down restaurants, and popping nightclubs
- Zapopan – Perhaps Guadalajara’s fanciest neighbourhood, this district west of Centro is the place to go for reputable art museums and galleries, as well as the 18th century Basílica de Zapopan that still draws pilgrims today,
- Tlaquepaque – This fashion-forward artists’ village is not only fun for souvenir and gift shopping (expect everything from pottery to papier-mâché), but also unique street performances and snazzy restaurants
- Bosque La Primavera – Escape the concrete jungle, explore this 30,000+ hectare forest formed by ancient volcanic eruptions, and experience prime conditions for fruitful birdwatching
Recommended day trips and scenic routes:
- Ajijic – Located on the scenic north shore of Lake Chapala, this town enjoys pleasant weather year-round, and it’s a traveller-friendly town that makes it easy to experience another side of Mexico with its local artisan vendors and vibrant, worldly culinary scene
- Tequila – Anyone who loves the eponymous alcoholic beverage should venture here with a designated driver to see this perennially festive town where the agave is grown and how the tequila is made
- Puerto Vallarta – Yes, this is a popular beach town amongst international tourists, yet it’s still a town with a vibrant historic core, authentic local art and cuisine, and a thriving urban core with a whole lot of LGBTQ-friendly hotels and nightclubs
- Punta Mita and Sayulita – Over the years, the Riviera Nayarit has grown into a haven for luxury travellers seeking top-tier beach resorts at Punta Mita, but there’s another side of this region, one with more laid-back villages like Sayulita, San Pancho, and Lo de Marcos full of casual taquerias and great surfing beaches
