Survey
A Comparison of Car Rental Rates in the USA - Winter 2025 / 2026
December 18, 2025
The most expensive destinations to rent a car in the United States this winter are located in Hawaii, according to a survey by Cheapcarrental.com.
The survey compared rental car rates at 100 U.S. airports during the period from December 2025 to February 2026. With an average rate of $127 per day for the most affordable car, Kona Airport, located on Hawaii’s Big Island, emerged as the priciest destination.
Second most expensive is Kahului Airport, located on the island of Maui, where renters can expect to pay an average of $104. Palm Springs and Long Beach Airport follow in third and fourth position, with average rates of $91 and $90, respectively, for the most affordable car.
In total, across all 100 airports included in the survey, the average daily rental rate is $62.25 – up just 1% compared with last winter's rates.
Taking into account just the Christmas period (Dec 21-26), car rental rates average $84 per day – a figure that represents the annual peak. The most significant rate increases, compared to regular winter rates, are recorded at Kahului Airport (+148%), Lihue Airport (+187%), and San Juan Airport (+247%).
Compared with the summer, average car rental rates this winter are down by more than 17%. Seasonal pricing varies widely by destination. For example, Hawaiian locations are typically among the least expensive places to rent a car during the summer. By contrast, the two priciest summer destinations – Bozeman and Anchorage – rank among the least expensive in winter.
The following table compares car rental rates at 100 US destinations this winter. Prices shown reflect average rates for the most affordable rental car for the period December 1, 2025- February 28, 2026.
About the Methodology
Rates were established in late November, based on CarTrawler.com comparison technology. For each destination, the leading 10 car rental companies located at the airport terminal or the airport’s official rental center were identified. Rates include all taxes and fees.
For all of CheapCarRental's surveys, please click here
Press Contact:
Charlotte Smith: charlotte@cheapcarrental.com
December 18, 2025
The most expensive destinations to rent a car in the United States this winter are located in Hawaii, according to a survey by Cheapcarrental.com.
The survey compared rental car rates at 100 U.S. airports during the period from December 2025 to February 2026. With an average rate of $127 per day for the most affordable car, Kona Airport, located on Hawaii’s Big Island, emerged as the priciest destination.
Second most expensive is Kahului Airport, located on the island of Maui, where renters can expect to pay an average of $104. Palm Springs and Long Beach Airport follow in third and fourth position, with average rates of $91 and $90, respectively, for the most affordable car.
In total, across all 100 airports included in the survey, the average daily rental rate is $62.25 – up just 1% compared with last winter's rates.
Taking into account just the Christmas period (Dec 21-26), car rental rates average $84 per day – a figure that represents the annual peak. The most significant rate increases, compared to regular winter rates, are recorded at Kahului Airport (+148%), Lihue Airport (+187%), and San Juan Airport (+247%).
Compared with the summer, average car rental rates this winter are down by more than 17%. Seasonal pricing varies widely by destination. For example, Hawaiian locations are typically among the least expensive places to rent a car during the summer. By contrast, the two priciest summer destinations – Bozeman and Anchorage – rank among the least expensive in winter.
The following table compares car rental rates at 100 US destinations this winter. Prices shown reflect average rates for the most affordable rental car for the period December 1, 2025- February 28, 2026.
- 1. Kona (KOA) $127
- 2. Kahului (OGG) $104
- 3. Palm Springs (PSP) $91
- 4. Long Beach (LGP) $90
- 5. Madison (MAD) $83
- 6. Boise (BOI) $81
- 7. Lihue (LIH) $79
- 7. Burbank (BUR) $79
- 9. Louisville (SDF) $77
- 10. Phoenix (PHX) $76
- 10. St. Louis (STL) $76
- 12. Rochester (ROC) $75
- 12. St.Petersburg (PIE) $75
- 12. Oakland (OAK) $75
- 12. Pittsburgh (PIT) $75
- 12. Reno (RNO) $75
- 17. Little Rock (LIT) $74
- 17. Dallas (DFW) $74
- 17. New York City (LGA) $74
- 20. Newark (EWR) $73
- 21. Tucson (TUS) $72
- 21. San Francisco (SFO) $72
- 23. Los Angeles (LAX) $71
- 24. Detroit (DTW) $70
- 25. New York City (JFK) $69
- 25. Providence (PVD) $69
- 27. Syracuse (SYR) $68
- 27. Columbus (CMH) $68
- 27. Oklahoma City (OKC) $68
- 27. Wichita (ICT) $68
- 31. Hartford (BDL) $66
- 31. Washington (ISD) $66
- 31. Chicago (MDW) $66
- 34. Santa Ana (SNA) $65
- 34. Norfolk (ORF) $65
- 34. Salt Lake City (SLC) $65
- 37. Minneapolis (MSP) $64
- 38. Orlando (MCO) $64
- 39. Ontario (ONT) $64
- 40. San Jose (SJC) $64
- 41. Cincinnati (CVG) $63
- 41. Nashville (BNA) $63
- 43. Honolulu (HNL) $62
- 43. Chicago (ORD) $62
- 43. Raleigh (RDU) $62
- 43. Knoxville (TYS) $62
- 43. Memphis (MEM) $62
- 43. Cleveland (CLE) $62
- 43. Indianapolis (IND) $62
- 50. Sarasota (SRQ) $61
- 50. New Orleans (MSY) $61
- 50. Tulsa (TUL) $61
- 53. Des Moines (DSM) $60
- 53. Houston (HOU) $60
- 55. San Juan (SJU) $59
- 55. Denver (DEN) $59
- 55. Boston (BOS) $59
- 55. Baltimore (BWI) $59
- 55. Milwaukee (MKE) $59
- 55. Buffalo (BUF) $59
- 61. Miami (MIA) $58
- 61. Washington (DCA) $58
- 61. Charlotte (CLT) $58
- 64. Grand Rapids (GRR) $56
- 64. Richmond (RIC) $56
- 66. Atlanta (ATL) $55
- 66. Charleston (CHS) $55
- 66. Kansas City (MCI) $55
- 66. Houston (IAH) $55
- 70. Colorado Springs (COS) $54
- 70. Spokane (GEG) $54
- 70. El Paso (ELP) $54
- 70. Austin (AUS) $54
- 70. Sacramento (SMF) $54
- 75. Dallas (DAL) $53
- 76. F. Lauderdale (FLL) $52
- 76. Philadelphia (PHL) $52
- 76. San Diego (SAN) $52
- 79. Sanford (SFB) $51
- 79. Palm Beach (PBI) $51
- 79. Pensacola (PNS) $51
- 79. Fort Myers (RSW) $51
- 79. Jacksonville (JAX) $51
- 84. Portland (PWM) $50
- 84. Myrtle Beach (MYR) $50
- 86. Las Vegas (LAS) $49
- 86. Birmingham (BHM) $49
- 88. Albuquerque (ABQ) $48
- 88. Bozeman (BZN) $48
- 88. Tampa (TPA) $48
- 88. Greenville (GSP) $48
- 88. Fresno (FAT) $48
- 88. Omaha (OMA) $48
- 94. San Antonio (SAT) $47
- 95. Albany (ALB) $46
- 96. Savannah (SAV) $45
- 96. Seattle (SEA) $45
- 98. Fayetteville (FAY) $43
- 99. Anchorage (ANC) $40
- 100. Portland (PDX) $39
About the Methodology
Rates were established in late November, based on CarTrawler.com comparison technology. For each destination, the leading 10 car rental companies located at the airport terminal or the airport’s official rental center were identified. Rates include all taxes and fees.
For all of CheapCarRental's surveys, please click here
Press Contact:
Charlotte Smith: charlotte@cheapcarrental.com