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Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Hertz Logo
Opening hours

Mon-Sun 5:00AM-12:00AM
Address
1017 Rental Car Drive, 27623

Telephone: (919) 840-4875

Rental Qualifications and Requirements

Hertz car rental in Raleigh Durham International Airport

Raleigh Durham International Airport is a useful pickup point for travellers heading into the wider Triangle region. With a Hertz car hire at Raleigh Durham International Airport, you can move between city stays, university visits, business districts, family stops, and wider North Carolina routes with more control over your schedule.

For Australian travellers, a rental car is especially helpful because Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill, and nearby areas are spread across connected roads rather than one compact centre. Before setting off, check your route, particularly during commuter hours or if your journey may involve tolled sections.

With your Hertz car rental at Raleigh Durham International Airport, you can reach several popular routes and places:

  • Downtown Raleigh is around 14 to 15 miles away
  • Downtown Durham is around 13 to 14 miles away
  • Research Triangle Park is around 5 miles away
  • North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is around 14 miles away
  • Museum of Life and Science is around 15 miles away

Driving in and around Raleigh Durham International airport

Raleigh Durham International Airport sits between Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and Chapel Hill, so a rental car is useful if your plans cover more than one part of the Triangle. I-40 is the main east-west route for Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, while I-540 helps with Research Triangle Park, North Raleigh, and wider suburban routes. Airport Boulevard and John Brantley Boulevard handle the final approach into the terminals.

Traffic is the detail to plan around. I-40 can slow during weekday peak hours, especially around Research Triangle Park, Cary, and routes into Raleigh or Durham. In Downtown Raleigh, Glenwood South, Downtown Durham, and Chapel Hill, garages or paid lots are often easier than searching for street parking.

A quick guide to Raleigh Durham and beyond

RDU works well as a base if you want city centres, university towns, food districts, museums, parks, and short North Carolina drives in one trip.

Choose your triangle corner

Head east for Raleigh’s museums, downtown restaurants, and greenways. Drive west for Durham’s food scene, Duke area, and the American Tobacco District. Go southwest for Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Keep research triangle routes flexible

Use the car for Cary, Morrisville, Research Triangle Park, or suburban hotel areas, where destinations are spread out and easier to manage by road.

Add a North Carolina day trip

With a rental car, you can head toward Jordan Lake, Hillsborough, Greensboro, Pinehurst, or the coast on a longer day. Start early if your route uses I-40 during peak hours.

What cars can I hire at Raleigh Durham International airport?

Vehicle availability can vary by booking date and travel period, but Hertz may offer options such as:

  • Compact and economy cars a good option for lighter bags, quick Triangle-area drives, hotel stays, and parking around Raleigh, Durham, or Cary.
  • Sedans suitable for solo travellers, couples, and business visitors driving between RDU, Research Triangle Park, downtown Raleigh, and downtown Durham.
  • SUVs useful for families, extra luggage, campus visits, shopping stops, Blue Ridge routes, and longer drives across North Carolina.
  • MPVs a comfortable choice for small groups carrying passengers, meeting bags, university 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, special occasions, university visits, or longer highway journeys.

Electric car rental at Raleigh Durham International airport

Choosing an electric car rental at Raleigh Durham International Airport can suit travellers heading into the Triangle for work, university visits, or relaxed North Carolina drives.

Hertz EV rentals offer a quieter, lower-emission way to move between Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and nearby areas while keeping the comfort and flexibility of your own vehicle from the airport.

Value added services (VAS) – Enhance your rental experience

Hertz optional extras can help you prepare for the journey across Raleigh before you leave the airport.

Available VAS products include:

  • Loss Damage Waiver: Helps protect you from certain out-of-pocket costs related to vehicle damage, theft, or accidents.
  • Liability Insurance Supplement: Helps protect you from eligible third-party liability arising from accidents or bodily injury during the rental period.
  • Infant seats: A helpful option for babies who need rear-facing seating from the airport to hotels, homes, or day-trip stops.
  • Child seats: Designed for younger children who still need a properly fitted travel seat during the hire period.
  • Booster seat: Supports older children who have outgrown a child seat but still need a better seat-belt position.
  • Personal Protection Package: Provides Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) and Personal Effects Coverage, which may offer accidental death benefits and limited medical expense benefits for you and, in some cases, passengers.

Explore places within 30 miles of Raleigh Durham International Airport

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

  • 14 miles from Raleigh Durham International Airport (approx)
  • 900 parking spaces available nearby (approx)
  • 9 EV charging ports nearby (approx)
  • Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM (approx)

North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences features natural history galleries, dinosaur displays, live animals, research exhibits, science displays, educational programmes, and collections focused on the natural world.

Museum of Life and Science

  • 15 miles from Raleigh Durham International Airport (approx)
  • 724 parking spaces available nearby (approx)
  • 4 EV charging ports nearby (approx)
  • Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM to 5 PM (approx)

Museum of Life and Science is an interactive science park with indoor exhibits, outdoor habitats, a butterfly conservatory, animal areas, play spaces, nature trails, and hands-on learning experiences for children and adults.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens

  • 18 miles from Raleigh Durham International Airport (approx)
  • 44 parking spaces available nearby (approx)
  • 2 EV charging ports nearby (approx)
  • Open daily, 8 AM to sunset (approx)

Sarah P. Duke Gardens is a public garden on Duke University’s campus, with landscaped plant collections, walking paths, seasonal blooms, water features, shaded areas, and themed garden spaces across a large green setting.

FAQs

1. Can I get a car rental from Hertz directly at Raleigh Durham International Airport?

Yes. Hertz pickup is available from RDU’s rental car area. After landing, head to the rental car shuttle stop: Zone 4 at Terminal 1 or Zone 5 at Terminal 2, then take the shuttle to collect your vehicle.

2. Does Hertz offer one-way car rentals from Raleigh Durham International Airport?

Yes, you can usually book a one-way rental from RDU to another Hertz location. Choose your return branch while reserving so the drop-off location, availability, and any one-way fee are confirmed before you travel.

3. Is it possible to modify or cancel my Raleigh Durham International Airport reservation?

Yes. Many Hertz reservations can be changed or cancelled before pickup through your booking details. Keep in mind that changing the date, pickup time, vehicle group, rental length, or return location may update the final price.

4. What are the requirements to get a car hire at the Raleigh Durham International Airport branch?

The main driver should bring a valid driving licence, passport or accepted photo ID for identification, and an eligible 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 confirm the change with Hertz before drop-off. Updating the return location in advance helps make sure the new branch, return time, and any one-way charges are recorded correctly.