Dayton car rentals
Search hundreds of rental car sites at once for car rental deals in Dayton
Save up to 44%Compare multiple travel sites with one search.
Free to useThere are no hidden charges or fees.
Filter your dealsFilter by car type, brand and more. Instantly customize your results.
Book with flexibilityUse our "free cancellation" filter for maximum flexibility at no extra cost.
Cheap car rentals in Dayton
KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Dayton
- Depending on your point of origin, you will most likely arrive in the city from Dayton airport or other airports that serve Dayton, such as Columbus, Cincinnati, or Kentucky airport. Reserving a cheap car rental in Dayton from the airport ensures a hustle-free transfer to your hotel. However, if you haven’t made any arrangements with an airport car hire company, you can do so in one of the 12 off-site Dayton car rentals in and around the city center. There is an Enterprise Rent-A-Car agency on 500 N Main Street, an Avis on 33 E 1st Street, and a Budget car rental location along 1323 Wilmington Avenue.
- Dayton is home to a vast collection of aircraft displays from the 1900s era exhibited at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The city also hosts numerous annual festivals from June to September like the hot-air balloon festival, the three-day Celtic carnival, the strawberries harvest celebration and many more. If you want to participate in the city’s eclectic holidays, staying within walking distance of the festivities will be best. Having a cheap car rental in Dayton at your disposal is ideal; however, it will be near impossible to drive through streets full of people attending the annual festivals.
- As the “Birthplace of Aviation,” Dayton boasts numerous historic and archaeological sites, diverse neighborhoods, a thriving art and culture scene, and more. While Dayton is among the most walkable cities in the U.S., there are attraction sights within driving distance of Dayton that are a must-see. About 30 minutes from Dayton is the famous Yellow Springs, whose 25 miles of trails are worth exploring. If you’re up for the idea of mining for gemstones and fossils, you can take an hour’s drive to the 35-acre Ohio Caverns or visit an 800-year-old SunWatch Indian village and archaeological park at 2301 W. River Road.
- Dayton is like the majority of cities in the U.S. in that it was designed for automobiles. Public transportation in the city is severely lacking, especially during evenings and on weekends. If you want to make the most out of your time in the city, it is highly recommended that you rent a vehicle. For instance, if you would like to visit the National Museum of the US Air Force, it is just an 11-minute drive from downtown Dayton. However, on public transport, it would take up to 30 minutes to get there.
- For travelers looking to pick up a rental car after landing at Dayton International Airport, you can find the rental car desk in the airport’s Baggage Claim Area.
- Though most don’t associate Dayton with wintery weather, it certainly has its fair share of snowstorms in the winter. Travelers visiting the city in winter should make sure to keep the rough weather in mind when planning any itineraries, especially if you aren’t from a snowy climate. However, with a bit of planning and caution, the snow is no hazard and it may even add a nice touch to your trip.
- Rush hour traffic is a mixed bag in Dayton, especially if you plan on heading to Cincinnati or other neighboring cities. Morning rush hour traffic can start as early as 6:30 a.m. some mornings and slows down by around 9:00 a.m. on a typical day. The afternoon and evening peak usually goes from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Book your rental car in Dayton at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
- Economy rental cars in Dayton are around 27% cheaper than other car types, on average
Dayton car rental experiences: the best tips from KAYAK users
FAQs about renting a car in Dayton
What type of car is recommended for driving in Dayton?
Like most cities in the U.S., Dayton is perfectly suited for all sizes of vehicles. In fact, larger cars are some of the most popular vehicles on the road in Dayton. As such, visitors looking to rent a vehicle during their time in the city are recommended to choose their vehicle with their group in mind. This is partly because the city’s streets really are large enough to accomodate any vehicle so whether you choose a minivan, coupe, or anything in between, the vehicle will have no problems on the road in Dayton.
What’s the speed limit in Dayton?
On the bottom end, Dayton’s speed limits start out as low as 25 to 30 mph in residential areas. From there, they range from 30 to 50 mph on urban roads and roads in built-up areas. In rural areas, though, the speed limit goes from 45 to 70 mph, while on highways and interstates the speed limit is 70 mph.
Where are the best places to park in Dayton?
If you heading downtown, the best option for parking, aside from parking at the actual businesses themselves, is to park at one of the many garages. There are plenty of parking garages and private parking lots in Dayton and many are conveniently located right by points of interest. Parking rates typically start as low as $3 per hour and go up to $10 in the most popular garages.
How much is gas price in Dayton?
The average gas price in Dayton is C$ 5.27 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 63 and C$ 84, depending on the car size.
What is the most popular rental car in Dayton?
Economy (Kia Rio or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Dayton.
How can I find car rentals near me in Dayton?
Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.
How much does an Economy car rental cost in Dayton?
An Economy car rental in Dayton costs C$ 67 per day, on average.
How much does a Premium car rental cost in Dayton?
A Premium car rental in Dayton costs C$ 92 per day, on average.
What is the distance from the airport to downtown Dayton?
Once you pick up a Dayton car rental at the airport’s baggage claim area, you will drive a 20.2km distance, which takes approximately 16-minutes depending on traffic conditions.
Do I need to drive in winter wheels in Dayton?
While Dayton is known for experiencing snowstorms, you don’t necessarily require snow tires, but you can confirm with rental companies if they provide them for extreme weather situations. You will still need an ice scraper to scrape off the windows of your Dayton car rental if you park outside.
Dayton car rental reviews and directory
Budget
7.2
Good
39 reviewsCleanliness
7.3
Comfort
7.6
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.1
Value for money
7.3
2 locations in Dayton
Locations in Dayton
1323 Wilmington Avenue
+1 937 294 8238
33 East 1st Street
+1 937 220 9206
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Dec. 2023
2.0 Poor
Oct. 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Sep. 2022
10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
Friendly well organized and knowledgeable staff! Knew the vehicle well enough to give a crash course so I didn’t need the manual lolCons:
I have no complaints great customer service and all around people2.0 Poor
Mar. 2021
Pros:
Wow, ballsy to ask about my experience when you took my reservation but failed to provide me a car.Cons:
See above6.0 Okay
Dec. 2020
Pros:
Quick and easy process at drop off and pick up. Rented a Yukon and it was great!Cons:
Was not cleaned well if at all and smelled like smoke.Hertz
8.5
Very good
4 reviewsCleanliness
8.7
Comfort
8.7
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.3
Value for money
8.2
2 locations in Dayton
Locations in Dayton
3789 Terminal Dr.
+1 937 898 5806
8012 Mcewen Rd
+1 937 438 0175
Filters
No reviews available
Avis
7.9
Good
8 reviewsCleanliness
8.4
Comfort
8.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
8.4
Value for money
7.7
2 locations in Dayton
Locations in Dayton
1323 Wilmington Avenue
+1 937 294 5129
33 East 1st Street
+1 937 222 6705
Filters
Reviews
10.0 Wonderful
Apr. 2021
Pros:
Staff was super helpful, and really helped make the experience worthwhile.10.0 Wonderful
Jun. 2023
10.0 Wonderful
Dec. 2022
4.0 Mediocre
Jul. 2022
1.9 Poor
Sep. 2021
Thrifty
7.9
Good
9 reviewsCleanliness
7.7
Comfort
7.4
Pick-up/Drop-off
7.9
Value for money
6.8
One location in Dayton
Locations in Dayton
3789 Terminal Drive
+1 937 898 5806
Filters
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Nov. 2020
Pros:
The staff was terrible. As I was walking up to rent the vehicle they locked the door, looked at me, and left.Cons:
The customer service. I was treated much better at Alamo where I ended up having to rent from because I was not able to get my rental when I needed it from Thrifty.6.8 Okay
Sep. 2020
Pros:
Thrifty staff member was very pleasant and helpful. Vehicle was very clean and ready to go.Cons:
If you rental agencies would offer something besides those cheap Chrysler products. I realize they practically give them to you (how else could they get rid of them), but they are very uncomfortable and noisy. Luckily I only need a van once in a great while. And thankfully you have better quality vehicles to rent when I need a sedan or coupe.10.0 Wonderful
Feb. 2020
Pros:
Everything went very smooth. I really appreciated it9.2 Wonderful
Jan. 2020
Cons:
When the strip would not work on my credit card, the agent said it was impossible to enter it manually! Luckily I had another car, but NOT the one that I wished to use! Gotta be a better way!2.0 Poor
Dec. 2019
Cons:
The car smelt like weed and it was never cleaned out. The windows were filthy.10.0 Wonderful
Jul. 2024
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
6.6
Okay
10 reviewsCleanliness
6.7
Comfort
6.9
Pick-up/Drop-off
6.9
Value for money
6.7
4 locations in Dayton
Locations in Dayton
3 Mackoil Ave
+1 937 252 7798
455 Miamisburg-centerville Rd
+1 937 291 6370
4806 N Main St
+1 937 274 4477
500 N Main St
+1 937 228 4555
Filters
Show reviews that mention
Reviews
2.0 Poor
Jun. 2024
10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
The staff were very friendly and professional!10.0 Wonderful
May 2021
Pros:
The staff were very friendly and professional!8.0 Very good
Feb. 2021
Pros:
Friendly staff. Nice carCons:
A friendly call if they find your property left in a vehicle instead of just trashing it.2.0 Poor
Sep. 2020
Pros:
Location was convenient.Cons:
Service. It was terrible. Staff never called back about availability of a car. No reply. Nada. Zip.6.4 Okay
Sep. 2020
Pros:
The staff is great, very nice people. There was some candy between the seat and console and a stick of old spice deodorant ( I guess a 90 year old man rented the car before me because who the hell uses old spice anymore!!!) Anyway one of the candy came out in thew floor board and I ended up stepping on it and crushing into the carpet which was a real pain to clean up but I did get it cleaned.Cons:
Honestly the car could have been a little less expensive, almost $700 for a month is pretty high and as long as you are charging that much I mean would it be too much to ask for the car to actually be clean?Dollar
7.0
Good
4 reviewsOne location in Dayton
Locations in Dayton
3789 Terminal Drive
+1 937 898 5806
Filters
Reviews
8.0 Very good
Dec. 2020
Pros:
Pick-up area was easy to find, and overall the staff I interacted with were professional and friendly.Cons:
The signage about which drop-off area to use was apparently incorrect, which made things confusing and tiring after my trip.7.6 Good
Mar. 2020
Cons:
It would have been helpful to have the drop off procedures for when an attendant wasn't present explained during the pickup.Car rental locations in or near Dayton
Good to know
Most popular car type | Economy |
|---|