Charlotte Douglas works well as a base if you want city landmarks, food districts, sports venues, lake routes, and easy North Carolina day trips in one plan.
Start with uptown
Head toward Uptown for museums, restaurants, Romare Bearden Park, Bank of America Stadium, or the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Park once, then walk between nearby stops.
Follow the neighbourhoods
Use the car for South End, NoDa, Plaza Midwood, Dilworth, or Elizabeth. Group nearby stops together so you are not crossing the city repeatedly.
Add a Carolina drive
With a rental car, you can head toward Lake Norman, the US National Whitewater Center, Davidson, Concord, or Asheville. Start early if your route uses I-85 or I-77 during peak hours.
What cars can I hire at Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
The right vehicle for Charlotte depends on your plans. A smaller car can make city parking easier, while extra space may suit families, business travellers, luggage, or longer drives across the Carolinas.
Vehicle availability can vary by location, booking date, and travel period.
- Compact and economy cars: A good choice for lighter luggage, quick city drives, Uptown parking, and short stays around Charlotte’s central districts.
- Sedans: Suitable for solo travellers, couples, and business visitors driving between CLT, Uptown, SouthPark, Ballantyne, and nearby office areas.
- SUVs: Useful for families, shopping stops, event days, Blue Ridge routes, and longer drives across North Carolina or South Carolina.
- MPVs: A comfortable option for small groups carrying passengers, luggage, conference items, or day-trip essentials.
- Vans: Better suited to larger families, group travel, sports gear, or itineraries with multiple suitcases.
- Premium vehicles: A comfort-focused option for business travel, city stays, special occasions, or longer highway journeys.
Electric car rental at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
A Hertz electric car rental at Charlotte Douglas International Airport can be a smart option if you want a smoother, cleaner start to your Carolina trip.
Hertz EV rentals work well for airport pickups, business travel, city stays, and planned drives around Charlotte, giving you the freedom of a rental car with a lower-emission driving experience.
Value added services (VAS) – Enhance your rental experience
Optional extras offered by Hertz can help you prepare for the journey across Charlotte right from the airport.
Available VAS products include:
- SuperCover: Adds an extra layer of protection for selected rental situations, which may reduce certain costs if eligible damage, theft, or accident-related issues occur.
- Theft Protection (TP): Helps limit your financial responsibility if the rental vehicle is stolen during the hire period.
- Infant seats: A travel add-on for babies who need rear-facing seating during airport transfers or longer drives.
- Child seats: Designed for younger children who still need their own secured seat during the journey.
- Booster seat: Helps older children sit higher so the vehicle seat belt fits more safely.
- Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): Reduces your responsibility for eligible vehicle damage, subject to local rental terms and exclusions.
Explore places within 30 miles of Charlotte Douglas International Airport
NASCAR Hall of Fame
- 8 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (approx)
- 1,000 parking spaces available nearby (approx)
- 8 EV charging points available nearby (approx)
- Open Wednesday to Monday, 10 AM to 5 PM (approx)
NASCAR Hall of Fame celebrates stock car racing through historic cars, racing exhibits, interactive simulators, driver stories, Hall of Honor displays, theatre experiences, and motorsport memorabilia.
Discovery Place Science and Uptown Charlotte
- 8 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (approx)
- 1,380 parking spaces available nearby (approx)
- 1 EV charging points available nearby (approx)
- Open Monday to Thursday (opening hours vary)
Discovery Place Science features hands-on science exhibits, live demonstrations, lab spaces, aquariums, an indoor rainforest, IMAX experiences, and interactive displays for children and adults.
U.S. National Whitewater Center
- 7 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport (approx)
- 1,500 parking spaces available nearby (approx)
- 1 EV charging points available nearby (approx)
- Open year-round, with activity hours varying by date and programme
U.S. National Whitewater Center is an outdoor recreation complex with whitewater rafting, kayaking, climbing, ziplining, mountain biking, trail running, live events, wooded areas, and riverside spaces.
FAQs
1. Can I get a car rental from Hertz directly at Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
Yes. Hertz pickup is located in CLT’s Rental Car Facility inside the Hourly Deck. After baggage claim, follow the Rental Cars signs through the Lower Level Walkway to the Level 2 lobby.
2. Does Hertz offer one-way car rentals from Charlotte Douglas International Airport?
Yes, one-way rentals may be available from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Select your preferred return branch while booking so the drop-off location, availability, and any one-way fee are confirmed upfront.
3. Is it possible to modify or cancel my Charlotte Douglas International Airport reservation?
Yes. Many Hertz bookings can be modified or cancelled before pickup. Changes to your pickup time, rental dates, vehicle category, rental length, or return branch may affect the final price.
4. What are the requirements to get a car hire at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport branch?
The main driver should bring a valid driving licence, passport or accepted photo ID for identification, and an approved payment card in their own name for the security deposit. If the licence is not in English, they should also carry an International Driving Permit along with their original national licence.
5. Can I return my car to a different location than specified in my contract?
Yes, but update this with Hertz before drop-off. This helps confirm the new return branch, any one-way charges, and the correct rental agreement details before you return the vehicle.
