Car Rental - McAllen


Rent a car in McAllen to discover the southern corner of Texas along the Mexican border.

When visiting McAllen, you’re surrounded by the lush greenery of the Rio Grande Valley and a plethora of working farms whose produce goes straight to outstanding local restaurants.

You’ll find our car rental pick-up location at McAllen International Airport, where you can choose the right vehicle for your trip. If you’re travelling with the whole family, a large SUV makes for a comfortable journey. For those on a romantic vacation, drive in style with a luxury sedan.

Here, you’re also close to many more of Texas’ exciting southern cities. Harlingen is just a 30-minute drive east if you’re renting a car from McAllen. Along the I-2, Corpus Christi is around two-and-a-half hours north. In the mood for a Texan road trip? San Antonio is one of the most attractive and visited cities in the state and can be reached in four hours.

Reserve your McAllen car rental at Hertz today.

McAllen Locations

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Map data ©2026 Google, INEGI
Map data ©2026 Google, INEGI

A Quick Guide to McAllen

Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle

Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle

400 N, Virgen de San Juan Boulevard, TX, 78589

Be dazzled at this Minor Basilica of the Catholic Church in San Juan, just a 10-minute drive in your rental car from downtown McAllen. The Basilica is a popular landmark in south Texas and welcomes more than a million visitors each year. Saunter across the surrounding lawns to admire the structure from a distance and step inside to discover ornate religious sculptures.

McAllen Nature Center

McAllen Nature Center

4101 West, US 83 BUS, TX, 8501

Follow more than two miles of hiking trails through 33 acres of palm and oak trees. Once a landscaped botanical garden, the reserve is now blooming with native plants. Join an open-air yoga or tai chi class, surrounded by fluttering butterflies and enjoy a picnic amid the flowers.

Veteran’s War Memorial of Texas

Veteran’s War Memorial of Texas

3129 Galveston Avenue, TX, 78501

This towering monument stands proudly in central McAllen, honoring more than a million US citizens who served their country honorably. The memorial is surrounded by five other war sites, including those for the world wars and Vietnam War. You’ll also find 160 granite panels on the site which detail the events of each war period.

Courtyard by Marriott McAllen Airport

2131 S 10th Street, TX, 78503

Just a five-minute drive from the airport in your holiday or business car rental, reserve a spacious room at this Marriott hotel for a modern stay in McAllen. Each room features a comfortable bed with crisp white linens, plus guests are free to use the indoor pool and hot tub at their leisure.

Embassy Suites by Hilton

800 Convention Center Boulevard, TX, 78501

With the Convention Center and Palms Crossing mall on your doorstep, Embassy Suites hotel offers easy access to the city with spacious rooms where you can unwind on an evening. The outdoor pool is edged with loungers for sunbathing and firepits light the rooftop bar at night. Order breakfast, lunch or dinner at Barry’s International, the on-site grill restaurant.

Casa De Palmas

101 N Main Street, TX, 78501

Spanish-style suites and a luxurious courtyard pool await at this 1918 mansion in the McAllen Art District, just a 7-minute drive in a rental car from McAllen Airport. The hotel offers free parking and 24-hour access to the gym. The hotel packs in the charm with features like the outside water fountain, while watching the sunrise from your private balcony sets you up perfectly for a day of exploring the local area.

Costa Messa

5248 N 10th Street, TX, 78504

Reserve a table at this lively and welcoming restaurant for authentic Mexican cuisine. Diners can feast on spicy fajitas and flavor-bomb meat-filled tacos while being serenaded by live music. The small kid’s menu is a great way to introduce your little ones to more subtly-spiced Mexican dishes.

Palenque Grill

La Plaza Mall, 2200 S 10th Street, TX, 78503

This family-run restaurant is big on ambience and enhances its Mexican menu with flashes of inspiration from elsewhere. Entree highlights include spicy Palenque ribs with a side of seasoned rice and tilapia fillets. Finish with sugary churros drizzled with caramel sauce.

Republic of the Rio Grande

1411 S 10th Street, TX, 78501

A romantic and beautifully decorated venue, this restaurant serves delicious Mexican-American fare. Sample avocado-stuffed chicken or fill up with the 8oz Texas filet served with creamy potatoes au gratin and grilled asparagus.

Driving In and Around McAllen

  • MFE-Long Term Parking (78503) is available at the airport, just off the I-2, for those exploring the Los Amigos and Country Club Condominiums areas.
  • McAllen Parking Garage (78501) is at the heart of downtown McAllen for you to conveniently park your car rental when touring the local landmarks like Archer Park.
  • On-street parking meters are dotted across Downtown and during the day, you can by coin or debit card.
  • Interstate 2 (I-2) is the major east-west highway in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas that travels through McAllen from Taylor Road.
  • US Route 83 (US 83) is an east-west artery road that runs south of Downtown.
  • Texas State Highway 336 (SH 336) connects Hidalgo to Edinburg by passing directly through McAllen.

How to Get From McAllen International Airport to Downtown

It takes around 10 minutes in your McAllen car rental to get from the airport to Downtown:

  1. From the rental car lot, head south on Bicentennial Boulevard.
  2. Use the middle lane to take a left at the 1st cross street and get on to Wichita Avenue.
  3. Keep right to continue on Bicentennial Boulevard.
  4. Turn right on to Jackson Avenue West.
  5. Turn left on to South 16th Street.
  6. Make a final right turn on to West US Business 83.

 

How to Get From McAllen to San Antonio

Hop in your rental car from McAllen and take a four-hour road trip to San Antonio, one of Texas’ most attractive cities and the home of The Alamo. Take the I-2 out of McAllen and follow the US 281 North to the I-37 North. Use Exit 140B to take E César E. Chávez Boulevard into San Antonio.

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