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Car hire at Houston Regional Airport - Visiting Texas in Style

Houston's oldest commercial airport, William P. Hobby International Airport (as it is officially known) is located very close to the city centre, just west of Interstate 45 (the Gulf Freeway). First opened as a private airfield in 1927, it was briefly named Howard Hughes Airport in honour of the Texas-born business magnate and pioneering aviator (its current name is a tribute to ex-governor and Houston Post newspaper owner, William P. Hobby). Catering for around 15 million passengers every year, it currently serves a hundred or so popular destinations operated by a selection of large-scale airlines, inluding Southwest, American Airlines, Frontier and Delta.

Affectionately known as the Bayou City, Houston is a vibrant cultural hub offering world-class food festivals, ground-breaking galleries and a stunning performing and visual arts scene happening all year round. Attractions like the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Menil Collection and the Houston Museum of Natural Science rank amongst the very best in America, while a day spent at the outstanding Space Center Houston (which incorporates the Johnson Space Center) is something you are likely to remember for the rest of your life!

A particular favourite for visitors who pick up their car hire from Houston Regional Airport is a day trip to Galveston, a lovely seaside resort with many fine beaches less than an hour's drive from Downtown. A little further beyond the city's limits lie the Sam Houston National Forest (the largest and most impressive in the whole of Texas) and the popular Anahuac Wildlife Refuge where you can get up close to alligators, bobcats, coyotes, snow geese and many more rare species. The more intrepid travellers visiting Houston can take to the road to see Dallas, one of the USA's greatest cities.

One of the industry's longest-established car hire companies, Auto Europe has been offering its many customers the cheapest deals for around seventy years. Through our state-of-the-art search engine, we can find you the best rates and widest choice of vehicles at Houston Regional Airport in just a few seconds. By working with the most renowned vehicle suppliers like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Europcar, Hertz, National and Sixt, no one can beat us for great value car hire in Houston and all other places in America.

If you have any questions about how to rent a car at Houston Regional Airport, please do not hesitate to contact our rental specialists for assistance and they will be more than happy to help you with your booking and find you the best deal. For added peace of mind, please take a look at the user ratings and comments posted by previous Auto Europe customers in the city on our Houston car hire reviews page. Check out our USA Driving Guide for more tips on getting around Houston and the rest of the USA by car.

Airport Information

Although William P. Hobby Airport lost a fair amount of its international traffic when Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) opened in the late 1960s, today it still remains a busy air transportation hub, particularly for domestic traffic but also to and from many overseas destinations. A number of heavyweight airlines are based at HOU, most notably American Airlines, Delta and Southwest, and annual passenger numbers have been regularly hitting the 15 million mark in recent years. Its location close to Houston city centre is a major plus, as well as its solid single-terminal design which serves travellers looking to embark and disembark quickly and easily.

Houston Regional Airport (HOU)
Address: 7800 Airport Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77061, USA
Telephone: +1 713 640 3000
Airlines operating at Houston Regional Airport: The list of the most important airlines operating at Houston Regional Airport currently includes Southwest, American Airlines, Delta, Sun Country, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant.

Where to pick up my car hire at Houston Regional Airport

Travellers looking to pick up their car rental at Houston Regional Airport need to catch the courtesy shuttle service that is provided by the airport authorities between the main passenger terminal and the dedicated rental car facilities situated close by. Around a dozen global vehicle providers operate at the airport, the majority of whom have their welcome desks in the baggage claim/arrivals area. When you arrive, just follow Ground Transportation signs and look for the Rental Car Shuttle signs where they depart from Curb Zone 1.

Car hire operating hours

	Avis at Houston Regional Airport Arrivals, Houston, USA 77061 +1 713 641 9300	Opening Hours: Daily 5am-midnight
	Budget at Houston Regional Airport Arrivals, Houston, USA77061 +1 800 218 7992	Opening Hours: Daily 5am-midnight
	Enterprise at Houston Regional Airport Arrivals Houston, USA 77061 +1 800 736 8222	Opening Hours: Daily 7am-10pm
	Hertz at Houston Regional Airport Arrivals Houston, USA 77061 +1 713 948 5300	Opening Hours: Daily 4am-1am
	Thrifty at Houston Regional Airport Arrivals Houston, USA 77061 +1 877 283 0898	Opening Hours: Daily 5.30am-1.30am

Terminals

Houston Regional Airport has a large, spacious single passenger terminal comprising two concourses (one for international and the other for domestic purposes), with a total of thirty gates. In early 2020, the terminal became the first in Texas to operate a full biometric entry and exit system for passengers arriving from overseas countries.

Airport Facilities

Being a very well-organised airport that's been in existence for almost a hundred years, HOU provides a wide variety of service-oriented amenities to enhance the travel experience. There are shops galore, with the PGA Tour Shop, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Southern Living and World Duty Free being just a few of the establishments to be found there, while passengers with time on their hands to relax and enjoy a meal cn choose from a number of outlets, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen, Pappasito’s Cantina and Wendy's. Pssengers can use free filling stations located throughout the airport to fill their water bottles, plus they can stay connected with HOU's free Wi-Fi Internet connection. The airport offers a private nursing room for travelling mothers and a number of ATMs are located throughout the airport, along with a popular shoe-shine service which is offered for a fee. The airport is also fully committed to providing an outstanding experience for travellers of reduced mobility and other disabilities. The Airport's interfaith chapels provide a place of comfort, meditation and worship for both the staff and passengers using Houston Regional Airport. Housed in the airport's original Art Deco terminal building, the excellent 1940 Air Terminal Museum offers passengers a fine portrayal of the impact aviation has made on Houston's history and economic development over many decades.

How to get to and from Houston Regional Airport

William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is located just over 11 miles south-east of downtown Houston, so travellers can pick up their car hire at Houston Regional Airport with the minimum of effort and start exploring the city and its environs without any delay. Approaching by car on the I-45, head south and take the Monroe Road exit before travelling west and turning right onto Airport Boulevard. If you are travelling north on the I-45, you must exit when you see the Airport Boulevard/College Avenue sign before turning left onto Airport Boulevard. Using public transport to pick up your cheap car rental at Houston Regional Airport is equally seamless; you can take METRO Bus 40 to and from Downtown or take a taxi from Curb Zone 2 outside Baggage Claim/Arrivals Level (note that all taxis picking up passengers from the airport are fully licenced).

Parking Tips

When you rent a car from Houston Regional Airport and start looking for someowhere to park in the city centre, the first thing to consider is that most of the on-street parking spaces in Downtown Houston are metered, although some are still free of charge. The good news is that the vast majority of metered parking spaces are free on Sundays and bank holidays. If you have problems finding a space, there are several very large car parks in the heart of the city centre, such as Theater District Parking which spans eighteen underground blocks and comprises 3,369 parking spaces (at street level it is situated below Jones Plaza, Bayou Place and Tranquillity Park). For the Museum of Fine Arts, try the above-ground garage at 1144 Binz Street, underground garage at 5101 Montrose Boulevard or the underground garage at 5500 Main Street. Houston Regional Airport offers multiple convenient parking option, all of which are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Facilities are first come, first served and include accessible spaces as well as EV charging spaces, with a shuttle bus service offered to and from the economy car parks.

Useful links

Houston Regional Airport