With a rental car you can drive from Rochester, NY to numerous attractions such as the Strong Museum and Seabreeze Amusement Park. Nearby cities including Buffalo, Geneva, and even Toronto, Canada can be easily reached by car. In less than two hours you can also drive to Niagara Falls, a hot tourist spot in both the United States and Canada.
Renting a car at Rochester International Airport is a necessity because the bus routes are limited in and around the city. Extremely convenient, its rental car station is right by the baggage claim, making it fast and easy for you to pick up both your luggage and car within minutes. Several rental car agencies are stationed here including Enterprise, Hertz, and Budget.
There is an inner loop that goes around the downtown area and connects to popular local sights like the sports arenas or museums. There is also an outer-loop that connects to state routes I-390 and I-590. Overall, driving around Rochester is pretty smooth and there is not a lot of traffic. However, in the winter months traffic can slow down because of snow and ice.
There is a rush hour in Rochester but it is minimal. The inner-loop, although it makes getting around town easier, can get a little congested during peak hours. This includes weekday mornings from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and in the evenings from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. So just plan to add 10 to 20 minutes to your drive if traveling during these hours.
25% of our users found rental cars in Rochester for C$ 72 or less
Book your rental car in Rochester at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Intermediate rental cars in Rochester are around 68% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about renting a car in Rochester
Some car rental companies in Rochester which have updated their car rental health and safety policies due to COVID-19 to make sure vehicles are clean and disinfected include Alamo, Hertz and Budget
On average a rental car in Rochester costs C$ 83 per day.
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car rental companies in Rochester are Enterprise (8.5, 140 reviews), Alamo (8.5, 102 reviews), and Hertz (7.9, 200 reviews).
The average gas price in Rochester is C$ 1.12 per litre over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between C$ 13 and C$ 18, depending on the car size.
Premium (Ford F-150 or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Rochester.
Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Greater Rochester Intl airport to off-airport locations include Alamo, Hertz, Budget, Enterprise and Avis.
A Premium car rental in Rochester costs C$ 90 per day, on average.
A Supplier choice car rental in Rochester costs C$ 92 per day, on average.
A Full-size car rental in Rochester costs C$ 105 per day, on average.
In Rochester, cars are most frequently rented at Hertz 1200 Brooks Avenue (5 km from city centre ).
On average a rental car in Rochester costs C$ 579 per week (C$ 83 per day).
On average a rental car in Rochester costs C$ 2,480 per month (C$ 83 per day).
Any rental car will suffice for your drive around Rochester. However, if you’re visiting here in the winter, you’ll definitely want a car with front-wheel or four-wheel drive because of the risk of snow and ice. Additionally, ensure that the car has good snow tires and winterized windshield wiper blades to prevent snow and ice buildup.
On residential streets throughout Rochester, the speed limit is 30 mph. When traveling on main streets, you can increase your speed to a maximum of 55 mph. On highways that service Rochester, such as 104 or Interstate 490, motorists can go as fast as 65 mph.
Gas prices in Rochester are at about $2.70/gallon right now. This is a little lower than both the state of New York and the average for the rest of the United States. Gas prices in Rochester tend to cost more during the holidays, especially over Memorial Day, Labor Day, and 4th of July weekends.
There are many places to park in downtown Rochester, including city-operated parking lots and garages. They are quite reasonably priced; you can park in many of these lots for as low as $1 to $6/day. Parking is also convenient around Frontier Field and the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial. Park and walk around downtown to visit its boutiques and shops.