Daily rentals start at the terminal-level counter in Terminal 1
National - Rick Husband runs its rental counter inside Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport’s Terminal 1, so you pick up paperwork right in the arrivals area instead of riding an off-site shuttle first. Hours typically match the first and last major flights of the day, roughly from early morning to late evening, but can tighten on weekends and holidays, so check your exact arrival time against their desk hours.
The National counter sits in the main terminal building near baggage claim, a short walk from carousels serving American Airlines and Southwest flights. That means you can land, grab your bag, and be at the counter in under 5 minutes if your flight arrives on time. Look for National’s green signage among the car rental desks that line the ground-floor public area.
Cars park on airport property just outside Terminal 1, usually in a dedicated rental lot within a few minutes’ walk of the counter doors. You’ll follow signs to the rental car area near the main parking lots that also serve short-term and long-term parking. Most reservations cover unlimited mileage inside Texas, which is useful if you’re driving out toward I-40 or US-287 for longer regional trips.
Pricing at National - Rick Husband swings a lot with demand, but mid-size cars often price in the $50–$80 per day range before taxes and airport fees. Adding extras like a GPS unit, additional driver, or child seat can easily tack on $10–$15 per item per day, and the airport concession fee pushes your total higher than what you might see off-airport. Booking a week-long rental typically drops the per-day cost compared with a 2- or 3-day booking.
National’s Emerald Club members usually skip the standard counter line and walk straight to the row of reserved vehicles, which can save 10–15 minutes during busy flight banks. If you’re not in the program, you’ll handle the driver’s license and credit card formalities at the desk, then a staff member points you to your exact stall number in the lot. Fuel options include prepaying for a full tank or refilling at one of the gas stations along Airport Blvd within 2–3 miles of the terminal.
Returning the car is straightforward: follow “Rental Car Return” signs on Airport Blvd back toward Terminal 1, then into National’s signed section of the shared return area. Plan to be back at the lot at least 60 minutes before a domestic departure to allow 5–10 minutes to check in the car, 5 minutes to walk to the terminal, and 30–40 minutes for check-in and TSA if you still need a boarding pass. One final tip: take a quick photo of the fuel gauge and odometer at return; it gives you backup if any fuel or mileage questions show up on your receipt later.