Five-minute walk from baggage claim to PBI’s car rentals
From the Main terminal at Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), the car rental center sits directly across the roadway from baggage claim, about a 3–5 minute walk once you exit doors 1–3 on the arrivals level. The facility is on-airport, so you don’t mess with shuttles or off-site vans after a long flight into PBI.
Most national brands operate at the PBI car rental center, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, and Thrifty, all sharing the same building opposite the Main terminal. Counters usually open around 6:00 a.m. and many run until at least 11:00 p.m., but smaller brands sometimes close earlier on Sundays, so check your exact desk hours before a late arrival.
To reach the car rental center from arrivals, follow the “Rental Cars” signs past baggage claim carousels 1–7, then exit curbside and use the marked pedestrian crosswalk to the multistory garage across the inner roadway. If you land late into PBI, expect 10–15 minutes from aircraft door to rental desk if you’re on a domestic flight and only checking one bag.
Returns use the same garage opposite the terminal, with “Rental Car Return” signs directing you up the ramp to the correct level, typically level 2 or 3 depending on the company. Fuel prices along Belvedere Road and Australian Avenue, both within 2–3 miles of PBI, usually run cheaper than the rental companies’ prepaid fuel options, which can add several dollars per gallon.
If you’re driving south on I-95 after pickup, plan 15–20 minutes from the PBI car rental exit to downtown West Palm Beach in normal traffic, and about 50–60 minutes to Fort Lauderdale via I-95 or the Turnpike. Toll roads like Florida’s Turnpike require a transponder or plate program; most PBI rental companies enroll their cars in a toll system that charges a daily fee plus actual tolls.
Tip: If you land during the 9:00–11:00 a.m. bank of flights, lock in your rental contract online in advance and head straight to the garage; PBI lines at the physical counters can stretch to 20–30 minutes when several Main terminal arrivals hit at once.