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Ithaca car rentals from $50/day

This price is the cheapest per day rate found by a KAYAK user in the last 48 hours by searching for a car rental in Ithaca with a pick-up date of 12/21 and drop-off date of 12/28. Fares are subject to change and may not be available at all agencies or on all dates of rental. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.

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Cheap car rentals in Ithaca

Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
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Mitsubishi Mirage car
Mitsubishi Mirage
or similar SMALL
2
2
2/4
$50/day
Nissan Versa car
Nissan Versa
or similar SMALL
4
2
2/4
$50/day
Toyota Corolla car
Toyota Corolla
or similar MEDIUM
5
3
2/4
$52/day
Class Full-size Car car
Class Full-size Car
or similar LARGE
5
2
4-5
$53/day
Chrysler Pacifica car
Chrysler Pacifica
or similar VAN
5
5
4-5
$74/day
Chevrolet Tahoe car
Chevrolet Tahoe
or similar SUV
5
2
4-5
$100/day
Audi A4 car
Audi A4
or similar LUXURY
5
5
4-5
$68/day
Audi Q3 car
Audi Q3
or similar SUV
5
5
4-5
$94/day
Class Special Car car
Class Special Car
or similar Category
5
5
2/4
$50/day
Jeep Cherokee car
Jeep Cherokee
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$64/day
Chevrolet Equinox car
Chevrolet Equinox
or similar SUV
5
3
4-5
$65/day
Best rates found by KAYAK users in the past 48 hours.

KAYAK’s top tips for renting a car in Ithaca

  • If you are looking into cheap car rentals in Ithaca, keep in mind that when Cornell University and Ithaca College have major events, car rental availability will run out quickly. Therefore, times of the year when you need to secure cheap car rentals in Ithaca well in advance are mid-August, which is Freshman Week, mid-October, which is homecoming, and mid-May, which is graduation.
  • Ithaca, New York is known for its gloomy weather. The sky is almost always gray, and it is very often raining, sleeting, or slushing down freezing rain. It can also be incredibly windy. Because of these weather conditions, it is important that when you secure a car through KAYAK from one of the Ithaca car rentals you drive with caution. Make sure that you know where the windshield wipers are and how to work them when you get into your rental car. Also, know where the headlights are in case you need to turn them on during the day in inclement weather. In the colder months, make sure you locate the defrost button before you drive off the rental car agency lot.
  • Ithaca is very much a college town, which means that many of the drivers on the road with you will be under the age of 22 and relatively inexperienced. So, once you secure your car from one of the cheap car rentals in Ithaca, make sure you drive with caution. Give a wide berth to cars turning on Ithaca’s narrow city streets, especially when the turn is uphill. Be prepared for impaired drivers from Thursday night (when weekend drinking traditionally starts at Cornell) thru Sunday. Stay well back from other drivers when the roads are slippery.
  • Traveling to a new city can be both exciting and unnerving at the same time. Having to deal with bus schedules or train timetables and fitting them into your itinerary can also present a challenge. You could make your trip easier by renting a car from Ithaca car rentals because modern rental cars come with high-tech navigational systems that’ll help you get exactly where you want to go. You'll have the flexibility and convenience to travel to places like the Northeast Classic Car Museum, about 65 miles away, or drop in at the Pleasant Valley Wine Co, 44 miles away, for some wine tasting, all at your own pace.
  • The Ithaca Tomkins Regional Airport has a designated car rental counter that you will find inside the baggage claim. The cars are located right outside, eliminating any need for airport shuttle transfers. This is the same area where you return the car once your trip is over. From the counter, you'll find several Ithaca car rentals, including Budget, Avis, Enterprise, Hertz, and National. You can book a car through KAYAK and pick it up at the airport at your convenience.
  • Jaywalking in Ithaca is quite notorious, to the point that the Ithaca police had considered having a jaywalking patrol. A lot of pedestrians ignore crosswalk signs, so be on the lookout to avoid accidents. Potholes are something else to watch out for on Ithaca roads. Roads like Spencer Street, Cayuga Street, Buffalo Street, Marshal Street, and many more, especially when you venture out to rural areas, can pose a challenge.
  • Morning rush hours in Ithaca spans from 7am-10am, with its heaviest around 9am. Sometimes it stretches to 11am before resuming regular traffic. Route 13 bears most of the congestion, so avoiding it during these times may save you a headache. Keep in mind that there are traffic cameras to catch any unlawful behavior.
  • 25% of our users found rental cars in Ithaca for $67 or less
  • Book your rental car in Ithaca at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
  • Off-airport rental car locations in Ithaca are around 11% more expensive than airport locations on average
  • Economy rental cars in Ithaca are around 22% cheaper than other car types, on average

FAQs about renting a car in Ithaca

  • What type of car is recommended for driving in Ithaca?

    When choosing a vehicle from car rentals in Ithaca, opt for a truck or a 4WD if you’d like to explore the wildlife and nature around Cayuga Lake, like Ithaca Falls and Hemlock Gorge. If you plan to go camping at the Robert H. Treman State Park, an SUV would be preferable. If you're here for business endeavors or want to go to places like Gola Osteria in Collegetown, consider renting a luxury car or convertible. You can pick a standard, full-size, or mid-size car depending on your capacity needs.

  • What’s the speed limit in Ithaca?

    The maximum speed limit allowed in Ithaca, along any highway or streets within the city, is 30mph. There's a speed limit of 15mph along highways, streets, or within several parks in the city, including Stewart Park, Cass Park, and the Newman Golf Course. Route 89 is exempted from this rule, along Cass Park. While driving through school zones in your rented vehicle, keep in mind that the speed limit is 15mph between 7am and 6pm. Right turns on red signals are prohibited.

  • Where are the best places to park in Ithaca?

    Ithaca offers easy parking options, whether in the streets or garages. On-street parking is enforced between 9am, and 6am Monday-Friday, and charges about $1.50 per hour for 2h, after which you must move the car. Free parking is allowed on the streets between 6pm and 9am and during weekends. If you download the Parkmobile App, you could pay with your smartphone and get a reminder about 15min before expiry. In downtown and Collegetown, you’ll find parking garages that charge $1 per hour. There are four garages conveniently located in Ithaca, all of which feature elevators and fully automated systems. These garages include Green Street Garage, Seneca Street Garage, Dryden Road Garage, and Cayuga Street Garage.

  • How much does it cost to rent a car in Ithaca?

    On average a rental car in Ithaca costs $78 per day. But prices differ between operators and you can save money through a price comparison of car rental deals from different agencies. The cheapest price for a car rental in Ithaca found in the last 2 weeks is $71.

  • What is the cheapest car rental company in Ithaca?

    In the past 72 hours, the cheapest rental cars were found at Enterprise Rent-A-Car ($50/day) and Hertz ($50/day). In the last 72 hours the cheapest rental car price was found at Enterprise Rent-A-Car 803 Cascadilla St 14850-3236 (1 miles from city center).

  • How much is gas price in Ithaca?

    The average gas price in Ithaca is $3.70 per gallon over the past 30 days. Filling up a gas tank costs between $44 and $59, depending on the car size.

  • What is the most popular rental car in Ithaca?

    Economy (Hyundai Kona or similar) is the most frequently booked rental car type in Ithaca.

  • Which car rental companies are at Tompkins County airport (ITH)?

    Car rental companies onsite at Tompkins County airport include Budget, Hertz and Avis.

  • Which car rental companies will pick you up at Tompkins County airport (ITH)?

    Car rental companies that offer shuttle or pick-up services from Tompkins County airport to off-airport locations include Budget, Hertz, and Avis.

  • How can I find car rentals near me in Ithaca?

    Take a look at our extensive car rental location map to find the best rental cars near you.

  • How much does an Economy car rental cost in Ithaca?

    An Economy car rental in Ithaca costs $81 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Standard car rental cost in Ithaca?

    A Standard car rental in Ithaca costs $105 per day, on average.

  • How much does a Premium car rental cost in Ithaca?

    A Premium car rental in Ithaca costs $104 per day, on average.

  • What is the most popular rental car location in Ithaca?

    In Ithaca, cars are most frequently rented at Enterprise Rent-A-Car 803 Cascadilla St (1 miles from city center).

  • How much does it cost to rent a car for a week in Ithaca?

    On average a rental car in Ithaca costs $544 per week ($78 per day).

  • How much does it cost to rent a car long term for a month in Ithaca?

    On average a rental car in Ithaca costs $2,331 per month ($78 per day).

  • Should I get insurance when renting a car in Ithaca?

    Most car rental providers in Ithaca offer insurance but the level of protection can differ substantially. If you're unsure whether to get extra protection for your car rental in Ithaca, check out KAYAK's car rental insurance guide.

  • How many car agencies are operating in Ithaca?

    KAYAK has deals for you to compare from 5 car rental agencies in Ithaca.

  • What do I need to know before booking a car rental in Ithaca?

    Finding the right price, understanding the add-ons and staying up to date with policy changes can be a challenge. That’s why KAYAK has produced the ultimate guide to renting a car to help you cut though the jargon and make the right choice for your rental car. Find tips and insights for how to book your rental, what car rental insurance you’ll need, how to deal with a car rental agency and what extra fees to expect (and avoid!).

  • Why should I use KAYAK to rent a car in Ithaca?

    KAYAK searches thousands of car rental agencies to provide you with offers from all car rental agencies operating in Ithaca so that you can compare car rental rates, reviews and pick-up and drop-off locations to find the best deal for you.

  • Are there many car rental companies in downtown Ithaca?

    Actually, no, there are not. One of the few cheap car rentals in Ithaca that you will find close to downtown Ithaca is Enterprise Rent-A-Car on Cascadilla Street. If you have trouble finding Ithaca car rentals, you can look for car rentals in Elmira to the southwest, in Johnson City to the southeast, or in Cortland to the northeast.

  • What are the parking rules for the streets of Ithaca?

    When you rent a car in Ithaca, it is important to know Ithaca’s particular parking rules. In Ithaca, you must move your vehicle at least once every 24h if it is parked on the street. The other parking rule you need to keep in mind is the even/odd rules. On even calendar days, you are allowed to park on the side of the street that has even address numbers, and on odd calendar days, you can park on the side of the street with odd address numbers.

Ithaca car rental reviews and directory 
All ratings and reviews are collected from KAYAK users with a verified car rental booking. Learn how KAYAK collects reviews.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car

8.6

Best rated

Cleanliness

9.0

Comfort

8.6

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.0

Value for money

9.0

3 locations in Ithaca

Show locations

Locations in Ithaca

2621 Corning Rd

+1 607 796 5300

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

803 Cascadilla St

+1 607 275 9000

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday10:00 - 14:00

991 State Route 13

+1 607 758 9000

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday00:00 - 00:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Aug 2024

Minivan

KAYAK
Best agents ever.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2024

Intermediate SUV

KAYAK
Great experience. Great car that road like a dream. Really made the trip great.

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Feb 2024

Pickup truck

KAYAK
They did nothing to help me

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Dec 2023

Intermediate

KAYAK
Staff was very helpful, polite and quick in getting me in to my rental car.

9.2 Wonderful

Anonymous, Sep 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Very friendly and competent staff at both pickup and drop off. Helpful under difficult circumstances.

Cons:

Initially we were told that no car was available despite our reservation, making me panic. Issue was resolved though.

4.0 Mediocre

Tuesday, Jun 2020

KAYAK

Cons:

The original car smelled of smoke. I asked to change the date of the rental and if that would also change my rental price. I was told no, but later they charged me more and unfortunately there was no way to dispute it since it was my word against theirs.

1 out of 3

Budget

8.6

Most popular

Cleanliness

9.1

Comfort

9.2

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.3

Value for money

8.1

One location in Ithaca

Show locations

Locations in Ithaca

1 Culligan Drive

+1 607 257 0441

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

Show reviews that mention

Reviews

8.0 Very good

Shannon W, May 2021

KAYAK

Cons:

Drop off

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, Oct 2020

KAYAK

Pros:

Staff was excellent

4.4 Mediocre

Michael, Dec 2019

KAYAK

Pros:

convenient drop off

Cons:

everything else

1 out of 1

Avis

Cleanliness

7.4

Comfort

7.4

Pick-up/Drop-off

8.0

Value for money

7.4

2 locations in Ithaca

Show locations

Locations in Ithaca

1 Culligan Drive

+1 607 257 0441

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

276 Sing Sing Road Suite 9

+1 607 739 5689

Monday07:00 - 18:00
Tuesday07:00 - 18:00
Wednesday07:00 - 18:00
Thursday07:00 - 18:00
Friday07:00 - 18:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday09:00 - 12:00

Filters

Reviews

10.0 Wonderful

Joe, Feb 2024

Intermediate

KAYAK
Excellent

10.0 Wonderful

Joseph, May 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

The staff was friendly, helpful and professional.

2.0 Poor

Michael, Aug 2023

Passenger van

KAYAK
The vehicle provided was fine, but not the one/size reserved. Rented an 11-passenger van months ahead (to transport a wedding party). Got the rental, and it was a 7-passenger Yukon Denali. The person at the counter said, "we never get 11 passenger vans here." The rental person was totally unhelpful. She said they usually call people in advance to warn them, but for some reason, they didn’t call us. She said they'd be glad to rent us a second Yukon (at full cost to US!). After we expressed our dissatisfaction, she said she could check Elmira or Syracuse and we could drive there to exchange it. After calling, no passenger vans were available. They charged us over $1900.00 for a week long rental that we couldn't even use for the wedding. We ended up getting an ACTUAL 11 person van from Enterprise and our Avis rental sat in the driveway all week. I will never recommend Avis to anyone!

10.0 Wonderful

Jenni, Mar 2023

Open air all terrain

KAYAK
Very friendly personnel, super quick service.

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, May 2022

KAYAK
They over booked car, never got it.

10.0 Wonderful

Anonymous, May 2022

KAYAK
Fast, easy, and comfortable~

1 out of 3

Hertz

Cheapest deal

Cleanliness

7.9

Comfort

7.3

Pick-up/Drop-off

7.9

Value for money

6.2

One location in Ithaca

Show locations

Locations in Ithaca

1 Culligan Drive

+1 607 257 8677

Monday08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday08:00 - 17:00
Thursday08:00 - 17:00
Friday08:00 - 17:00
Saturday09:00 - 12:00
Sunday10:00 - 14:00

Filters

Reviews

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Sep 2022

KAYAK
Everything was going perfectly but after dropping off the car I got charged with extra $30 and I was not sure where that was coming from. Probably never going to use KAYAK, other rentals might be bit expensive but at least they never charge you snikey extra money.

2.0 Poor

Anonymous, Jun 2021

KAYAK

Pros:

You idiots! The rental was cancelled 5 minutes after it was made. There was no rental event. Why don't you know that? You have no back-feed from Hertz to your system?? I got notices from you that my car was ready, which was totally wrong and made me have to contact Hertz again. So much for using cheapflights again.

Cons:

Cheapflights could have done their job and understood the situation.

1 out of 1

Easirent

4.6

Mediocre

2 locations in Ithaca

Show locations

Locations in Ithaca

Elmira/Corning Regional Airport

Opening times not available

Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

AutoEurope

No score available yet

One location in Ithaca

Show locations

Locations in Ithaca

Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport

Opening times not available

Filters

No reviews available

36 travelers who rented a car in Ithaca gave the car agency they used an average rating of 4.7

Car rental locations in or near Ithaca

Good to know

Most popular agency

Budget

Most popular car type

Economy

Average price

$78/day

Good deal

$67/day

When to book a rental car in Ithaca

Average daily price per month
Rental car prices as pick-up date approaches

Everything you need to know for your car rental in Ithaca

Ithaca car rental information

Pick-up locationIthaca
Car typesCompact, Economy, Full-size, Full-size SUV, Intermediate, Intermediate SUV, Luxury, Minivan, Premium SUV, Standard SUV, Supplier choice
Rental locations5
Airport locations4
Popular agenciesEnterprise Rent-A-Car, Hertz, Turo