Driving from ACK to Sconset or Madaket is under 30 minutes
Hertz at Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) sits right outside Terminal 1’s small arrivals hall, so you walk maybe 100–150 feet from baggage claim to the counter. This setup suits repeat visitors staying out by Surfside, Madaket, or Sconset who don’t want to juggle Wave bus timetables or call cabs every time they head to dinner. One TripAdvisor reviewer said having a Hertz car made Sconset dinners “a lot less of a hassle than juggling Wave timetables.”
Hours, location, and how the small operation works
The Hertz desk is on-site at ACK, typically keeping hours that line up with the day’s flight bank rather than a fixed 24-hour schedule, and several travelers warn the counter may close earlier than mainland locations. Cars are parked right by the terminal in a small on-airport lot, so pickup and dropoff stay quick, even in July. A forum poster summed it up: fast pickup and dropoff, but don’t expect a huge fleet or lots of choice in peak season.
Pricing, fleet quirks, and the island premium
Rates at Hertz ACK often run significantly higher than what you’d pay at Logan or Providence, and one TripAdvisor user flatly called island pricing “sticker shock.” Inventory leans small: a few compact and midsize cars, some SUVs, and occasional older models compared with big-city Hertz locations. If you’re set on a specific category like a full-size SUV for a group of 4–5, book early and treat the confirmation as “best effort,” not a lock on an exact model.
What regulars actually do with ACK rentals
Repeat visitors often rent a Hertz car for just 1–2 days, use it for a major Stop & Shop grocery run and a loop to more remote beaches, then return it and switch to bikes and The Wave bus for the rest of a 5–7 day stay. Others skip airport rentals completely for week-long trips and instead bring a car over on the Steamship Authority ferry, using Hertz at ACK mainly for quick 2–3 day fly-in weekends.
Watch out for sold-out dates and early closures
Regulars on TripAdvisor say July and August walk-up rentals at Hertz ACK are “risky,” with stock sometimes gone by midday on Saturdays and Sundays. A few posters also mention the desk closing earlier than expected on late evenings, especially if the last inbound flight cancels. If you land after 7–8 p.m., call ahead on the same day and confirm both your reservation and the exact closing time.
Step-by-step: using Hertz at ACK without drama
- 1. Reserve at least 4–6 weeks ahead for July or August arrivals, and choose a cancellable rate so you can adjust if ferry plans change.
- 2. Two days before your flight, call the ACK Hertz number from your confirmation email and confirm your arrival time and desk hours for that date.
- 3. After landing at Terminal 1, grab bags from the single baggage claim carousel and walk straight out to the rental counters, roughly a 1–2 minute walk.
- 4. At the desk, double-check fuel policy (prepay vs return full) and mileage limits, then ask where your exact car is parked in the on-airport lot.
- 5. Do a quick 3-minute walk-around: note any scratches or dings on the form or in photos on your phone before leaving the lot.
- 6. For Surfside or Sconset, plug your address into maps over airport Wi‑Fi before driving off, since cell coverage can dip on parts of the island.
- 7. On departure day, return the car at least 60 minutes before your flight, leave the key as instructed (desk or drop box), and walk the 100–150 feet back into Terminal 1 check-in.
One last tip: If the total for 5–7 days at Hertz hits a number that makes you blink, price out a 1–2 day rental instead, then plan to finish the week on bikes and The Wave bus; lots of regulars say that mix cuts their car bill in half.