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Boulder car rentals

Driver's age: 26-65

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Cheap car rentals in Boulder

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KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Boulder

  • Boulder truly is a city for cars and visitors are highly recommended to rent a vehicle during their time in the city. This is especially the case if you plan on taking in any of the natural scenery around Boulder, such as the Flatirons. The Flatirons are one Boulder’s most iconic sights and are just a 2-mile or 8-minute drive from the city center, but they are only accessible via personal vehicle.
  • Chances are good that step one of your itinerary is to pick up your rental car upon arriving in Boulder. For travelers with flights landing at Denver International Airport, you can reach the rental car facilities via the airport’s rental shuttle, which picks passengers up from outside of Jeppesen Terminal on Level 5 at Island 4.
  • One thing to keep in mind when visiting Boulder is that the mountains during winter are often full of snow. Visitors of the area should keep that in mind when planning itineraries, as a sudden snowfall can often lead the roads to get bogged down in the early morning before the snow plows have had a chance to clear them. In the case of snowy mountain roads, just make sure to drive carefully and be aware that it will take your car longer than normal to slow down.
  • Rush hour traffic in Boulder, while not as severe as neighboring Denver, is still worth avoiding if possible. Congestion picks up during the morning rush hour from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., then starts back up in the afternoon at around 4:00 p.m. and slows down again at about 7:00 p.m. I-25 is one of the major congestion culprits in Boulder and those who do not want to get caught up in traffic should avoid it during rush hour.
  • The outskirts of Boulder have narrow mountain roads, so the law requires vehicles traveling downhill to yield to those traveling uphill. Never drink and drive cheap car rentals in Boulder, as it is illegal. The BAC of adults is 0.08%, 0.02% for drivers below 21 years, and 0.04% for commercial drivers. It is also illegal to wear earbuds or headphones while operating a vehicle. Keep smartphones aside while driving to avoid distractions that can jeopardize the safety of others on the road. If you need to make an urgent call or send urgent texts, pull aside on the road at an appropriate location and do so. Ensure all occupants in your vehicle have fastened safety belts before you take off.
  • The drive from the Denver International Airport car rental center to Boulder takes about 45min and covers about 40 miles using the Colorado E470 N route. From the airport, join the New Castle Street Road onto Pena Boulevard. Turn onto Colorado E470 N and follow it to the Northwest Parkway and Denver Boulder Turnpike. Turn onto Colorado Avenue, follow it to Folsom Street, Arapahoe Avenue, and join onto 19th Street leading to Boulder. The Denver Boulder Turnpike route increases your travel duration to about 55min.
  • Grab 4×4 Boulder car rentals and embark on scenic drives across any terrain. 4×4 rentals best handle the 55 miles of road winding through some of Colorado’s mountain terrain to the Peak to Peak Scenic Drive. The drive from Boulder to these national forest lands takes about 1h 30min. Moreover, you can take a 1h drive to the Rocky Mountain National Park via Highway 36. The Eldorado Canyon State Park is about 20min away by car via Highway 93. Highway 72 takes you to the picturesque Coal Creek Canyon from Highway 93. Head south on Highway 93 for about 40min to the Flatirons Vista Trailhead.
  • Book your rental car in Boulder at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Oversize rental cars in Boulder are around 188% more expensive than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in Boulder

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Boulder?

    Like most cities in the U.S., Boulder is blessed with wide roads and large parking spaces. Fortunately for drivers who prefer large vehicles, this means they will have no problem renting even the largest of cars. However, if you plan on embarking on any road trips or would like to be mindful of your carbon footprint, it may be worth renting a smaller vehicle that is more fuel efficient.

  • What’s the speed limit in Boulder?

    Residential areas in Boulder feature speed limits of 20 to 35 mph, while urban roads feature speed limits of 35 to 55 mph. Rural roads, on the other hand, range from 55 to 65 mph. Interstates and highways in Boulder have speed limits of up to 75 mph.

  • Where are the best places to park in Boulder?

    Streetside parallel parking should basically suit your needs for most parts of Boulder, including the downtown area. Additionally, the majority of businesses such as restaurants and shopping centers will have ample parking available for customers. For paid parking such as in garages or private lots, the average cost is around $1.25 per hour for the first three hours and rates variably go up from there.

  • How much is gas price in Boulder?

    The average gas price in Boulder is C$ 4.77 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 57 and C$ 76, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular rental car in Boulder?

    Oversize (Chevrolet Tahoe or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Boulder.

  • Which car rental companies are at Denver Intl airport (DEN)?

    Car rental companies onsite at Denver Intl airport include Routes Car & Truck Rentals, NU Car, Dollar, Avis, Hertz, Fox, Sixt, Budget, Thrifty and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

  • Which car rental companies will pick you up at Denver Intl airport (DEN)?

    Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Denver Intl airport to off-airport locations include Dollar, Avis, Hertz, Fox, Sixt, Budget, Thrifty, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Europcar and Airport Van.

  • How can I find car rentals near me in Boulder?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • How much does an Oversize car rental cost in Boulder?

    An Oversize car rental in Boulder costs C$ 287 per day, on average.

  • How much does an Intermediate car rental cost in Boulder?

    An Intermediate car rental in Boulder costs C$ 83 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Standard car rental cost in Boulder?

    A Standard car rental in Boulder costs C$ 68 per day, on average.

  • Which is the best place to rent a vehicle in Boulder?

    If flying in, Denver International Airport is the most convenient rental location. However, downtown Boulder also has a rental car center that offers cheap car rentals in Boulder. SIXT and Enterprise offer a wide fleet of vehicles for rent. The former is along Baseline Road Suite, while the latter is along Mapleton Avenue. Budget also has a rental counter on Meadows Shopping Center.

  • Are there toll roads in Boulder?

    Yes, Boulder car rentals will pay tolls on the I-25, one of the US 36 Express Lanes connecting the city to Denver. Go-Pass Tag or Express Toll electronic payments are accepted. Moreover, the route from DEN airport to Boulder has three toll roads: Northwest Parkway, Colorado E470 N, and Boulder/Ft. Collins Road.

Boulder car rental reviews and directory 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.1

Very good

Read 4 reviews

Cleanliness

8.3

Comfort

7.8

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.0

Value for money

7.0

3 locations in Boulder

Show locations

Locations in Boulder

2745 Mapleton Ave

+1 303 448 9979

Monday07:30 - 17:30
Tuesday07:30 - 17:30
Wednesday07:30 - 17:30
Thursday07:30 - 17:30
Friday07:30 - 17:30
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

4850 Valmont Rd

+1 303 448 9974

Monday00:00 - 00:00
Tuesday00:00 - 00:00
Wednesday00:00 - 00:00
Thursday00:00 - 00:00
Friday00:00 - 00:00
Saturday00:00 - 00:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

5472 Arapahoe Ave

+1 303 449 9466

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Feb 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff here are always conscientious about mask wearing, pick-up and drop-off are quick and easy with minimal interactions.

8.8 Very good

Anonymous, Jul 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Drop off was super easy and I got an even better car than I expected.

Cons:

The all fees including the deposit should have been included in my reservation details. The location I was originally supposed to pick the car up from was closed and I only found a bit before I was supposed to pick the car up.

6.0 Okay

Anonymous, Dec 2019

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff member Sarah was very nice.

Cons:

The initial car had a broken windshield washer, and I was told there were no other cars available. After a call and a couple of trips back to the car rental place, they were able to find another car. It would have been unsafe to drive a car without a functioning windshield washer especially on snowy roads in Colorado.

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Mar 2022

KAYAK
They never provided a car after accepting the reservation. Very bad service

1 out of 2

Avis

6.7

Okay

Read 6 reviews

Cleanliness

6.4

Comfort

7.1

Pick-up/Drop-off

7.1

Value for money

6.2

2 locations in Boulder

Show locations

Locations in Boulder

2480 49th Street

+1 303 245 0033

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday08:00 - 14:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

4800 Baseline Road Suite D109a

+1 303 499 1136

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday08:00 - 14:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

Reviews

8.0 Very good

Paul, Oct 2024

Passenger Van

KAYAK
All was great

2.0 Poor

Kelby, Oct 2024

Standard

KAYAK
unfriendly and weird staff, refused to rent me a car that I had reserved and gave me no reason as to why. The attendant just said “i can’t rent you a car today.” Completely ruined my vacation plans.

2.8 Poor

Letícia, Jun 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

Everything

4.0 Mediocre

Anonymous, Jun 2022

KAYAK
The smell of Marijuana coming from the shop was very strong. One of the employees was talking about taking the rental cars racing every weekend. The did not accept debit cards one week, when they had the previous week. When I showed up for my vehicle, they had sent it out with another customer and had to myself and my 3 kids in a much smaller vehicle and then charged me for the larger vehicle. Will not be returning.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Jun 2022

KAYAK
I will recommend avis to my friends

8.0 Very good

Randy, Apr 2022

KAYAK
Was just more expensive than I expected.

1 out of 2

Hertz

6.4

Okay

Read 15 reviews

Cleanliness

6.6

Comfort

6.9

Pick-up/Drop-off

6.2

Value for money

6.8

One location in Boulder

Show locations

Locations in Boulder

2515 N. 49th Street

+1 303 443 9122

Monday08:00 - 14:00
Tuesday08:00 - 14:00
Wednesday08:00 - 14:00
Thursday08:00 - 14:00
Friday08:00 - 14:00

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Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Rebecca, Aug 2024

Compact

KAYAK
Excellent overall experience

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Dec 2021

KAYAK
Never even rented the car. One of the employees in the store was extremely rude. Not impressed.

10.0 Wonderful

Jonathan, Dec 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Karen Edwards is outstanding! She’s worth more than whatever you’re paying her. She’s ready for much bigger responsibilities!

Cons:

All was fine!

10.0 Wonderful

marcel, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Very friendly staff

3.6 Poor

Anonymous, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

The staff was friendly just understaffed not enough help. Your employee had to attempt to clean cars, rent cars, fill cars with gas at another location. How can hertz justify one employee to do all those jobs and not be able to attend to customers in a timely manner. The car had just returned from Florida wasn’t cleaned to covid standards. There was dry dirt prints on the seats from a dog being in the vehicle. Wasn’t wiped down properly. If you have covid standards then they are not being met! This employee is doing the best he can with all these jobs and hats put on him. I don’t fault your employee I fault hertz corporate rent a car for the sub standards. I don’t know about the higher ups but when I spend $353.00 of my money to rent your car I expect a clean car the outside had bug kill in the hood and windshield. I am disappointed in this transaction and hope you take this into account how you handle your rental business in the future!

Cons:

The car could have been cleaned inside and out that isn’t a far fetched expectation.

8.0 Very good

Anonymous, Dec 2019

KAYAK

Cons:

Weird to just leave car at the airport with no official check in. But apart from that all v easy

1 out of 5

Budget

4.0

Mediocre

Read 8 reviews

Cleanliness

3.7

Comfort

4.6

Pick-up/Drop-off

4.4

Value for money

3.3

2 locations in Boulder

Show locations

Locations in Boulder

2480 49th Street

+1 303 245 6097

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday08:00 - 14:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

4800 Baseline Road Suite D109a

+1 303 444 9054

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday08:00 - 14:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Sep 2024

Standard SUV

KAYAK
I was able to make an appointment to pick up my rental on a Saturday at 2pm. I arrived to find out the office closes at 2pm. The agent told me I was out of luck, made no effort to help remedy the situation, offered no assistance whatsoever; even told me that his system shuts off at 2, while he was finishing checking out a previous customer while it was getting close to 2:10. When I called budget, the customer service rep didn’t help search much of the surrounding areas for another location with the same vehicle, so I ended up having to go to the Denver airport rental office, effectively adding four hours to my rental pickup, and adding cost to the reservation, which the Budget rep refused to waive.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2024

Standard SUV

KAYAK
Car mostly clean, broken window switch I had to notify agent about. Friendly agent and fast service.

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Feb 2024

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
I left my jacket and went back to pick it up the next day and the gunnison budget team informed me they didn’t clean the car and rented it out again so my jacket is lost wherever the next driver took it.

8.0 Very good

Anonymous, Apr 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

Easy rental and return. Had the vehicle that we wanted/needed. Vehicle was clean and in good condition.

Cons:

There were no issues.

2.0 Poor

Aubrey, Jun 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Nothing. Representative was extremely rude on both pick up and drop off. High pressure sales tactics for extra insurance, add ons and lied about the available vehicles. Wanted to charge me extra for " the only available car" being above the tier I paid for.

Cons:

Absolutely everything! Rude service.

2.0 Poor

Kristen, Aug 2023

Convertible

KAYAK
Got a call the morning of the rental to say our appointment was canceled. Not acceptable at all and got offered a $20 coupon for having to take a $100 uber to another rental location. Will not be using Budget.

1 out of 3

Sixt

7.4

Good

One location in Boulder

Show locations

Locations in Boulder

4770 Baseline Rd Suite 200

+1 954 860 4396

Monday09:00 - 12:00
Tuesday09:00 - 12:00
Wednesday09:00 - 12:00
Thursday09:00 - 12:00
Friday09:00 - 12:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

No reviews available

Dollar

5.8

Fair

One location in Boulder

Show locations

Locations in Boulder

2515 N. 49th Street

+1 303 443 9122

Monday08:00 - 14:00
Tuesday08:00 - 14:00
Wednesday08:00 - 14:00
Thursday08:00 - 14:00
Friday08:00 - 14:00

Filters

No reviews available

Thrifty

5.0

Fair

One location in Boulder

Locations in Boulder

2515 49th Street

+1 303 443 9122

Monday08:00 - 14:00
Tuesday08:00 - 14:00
Wednesday08:00 - 14:00
Thursday08:00 - 14:00
Friday08:00 - 14:00

Filters

No reviews available

Silvercar

10.0

Wonderful

Best rated

One location in Boulder

Locations in Boulder

1799 Exposition Dr

+1 855 359 2227

Monday08:30 - 17:30
Tuesday08:30 - 17:30
Wednesday08:30 - 17:30
Thursday08:30 - 17:30
Friday08:30 - 17:30
Saturday08:00 - 14:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

No reviews available

1215 travellers who rented a car in Boulder gave the car agency they used an average rating of 6.4

Car rental locations in or near Boulder

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Good to know

Most popular car type

Oversize

When to book a rental car in Boulder

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches

Everything you need to know for your car rental in Boulder

Boulder car rental information

Pick-up locationBoulder
Car types
Rental locations12
Airport locations0

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