At 15 miles from St.Louis, St.Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) is a busy airport with over 250 daily departures to domestic and international destinations. St Louis’s other airport (BLV), exclusively services domestic flights.
A plane prepares for take-off at St Louis International Airport (Photo: redlegsfan21 via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)
For those visitors looking to rent a car, the agencies can be found in the lower level of Terminal 1 between exit doors 12 and 17. A free shuttle service is provided by all rental car companies to off-airport facilities.
To determine which rental companies offer the best options across our three categories (Most Affordable, Best for Luxury, Best for Minivans), TravelMag.com have carefully conducted research into all of the agencies at STL airport across several dates. Our findings are as follows.
MOST AFFORDABLE: ENTERPRISE
Out of the seven car rental agencies operating out of STL, we found Enterprise to have the best selection of cheap cars. On our sample dates, they had vehicles like the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Versa at a very respectable $85 per day (during October). Other car rental agencies such as Thrifty have the Ford Focus at a similar price. At the end of the day, your final choice may be influenced by your preference of car. But with Enterprise, the feedback is almost universally positive. Apart from the usual plaudits handed out for quick turn arounds, this particular branch was singled out for for overall value for money and the condition and cleanliness of its vehicles. Open: Monday to Sunday; 6am – 12am.
BEST FOR LUXURY: NATIONAL
Known across the US for its reliable service and the condition and cleanliness of its cars, National doesn’t disappoint at STL. National has plenty of premium cars at STL, with a number of top-of-the range Nissans and a Chrysler 300 to choose from. Moreover, National’s prices compare favourably with the competition – expect to pay $150 per day (before taxes). For those looking to cruise Route 66 in style, they also rent out the convertible Ford Mustang and the American classic, the Dodge Challenger for under $200 per day. Open: Monday to Sunday; 4am – 12am.
BEST FOR MINIVANS: AVIS
There’s a good selection of vans at competitive prices across all the car rental companies meaning that renting minivans at STL airport is comparatively straightforward. On our sample dates, several agencies were renting out Dodge Caravans for around $120 per day, but Avis also offered a 7-seater Chevrolet Suburban and a similar sized Chrysler Pacifica at under $93 per day which dropped to $74 per day by paying in advance. There are always benefits for those who plan their trips in advance! Meanwhile, a 12-seater Ford Transit at $300 per day might seem a little steep, but once divided by the whole group, becomes a lot more affordable. Open: Monday to Sunday; 6am – 10pm.