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No booking fees. Free cancellation on most cars
Save by finding great deals and securing low price rentals
Compare car rental prices from leading companies in Butte, Montana with Road Genius. From affordable cars to luxury SUVs and minivans, you'll find vehicles at low prices in convenient locations. Grab your ride right at Bert Mooney Airport (BTM) or on Harrison Avenue and hit I-90 or I-15 to reach Yellowstone, Helena or Missoula without relying on scarce public transport. Book early during the Montana Folk Festival or winter snow season to secure AWD options and flexible one-way rentals.
Butte offers car rental options both at the airport and in the city, though the number of providers is smaller than at larger Montana destinations.
| Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Bert Mooney Airport (BTM) | • On-site counters inside terminal • Immediate car access after landing • Minimal wait times (small airport) • Simple rental process |
• Limited to 3 major brands • Fewer vehicle choices • Hours limited to flight arrival times • After-hours pickup requires pre-arrangement |
| City Location (Harrison Ave) | • May offer slightly lower rates • Enterprise offers pickup service |
• Requires transportation from airport • Limited to business hours • Requires advance booking |
On average, car rentals in Butte cost around $83 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals starting at $62 per day.
Compare airport vs. Harrison Ave pick-ups: city desks can be a few bucks cheaper but factor in the taxi ride and downtime. For short stays the on-airport counter often ends up cheaper overall.
Book early only for local peak events: St. Patrick's Day and the Montana Folk Festival drain Butte's small fleet fast. Outside those windows, watch rates and pounce when you see a dip.
Play with trip length: a "weekly" rate (5-7 days) can beat a 4-day total by 15-25%. Add or subtract a day in the search box to see if the price drops.
Shift pickup/return times to business hours: moving the booking an hour can avoid after-hours fees or key-box surcharges.
Refuel on Harrison Avenue before heading back to BTM: plenty of cheaper stations there, zero at the airport. Saves both per-gallon markup and any refueling fee.
Run a quick one-way quote if you're ending in Missoula, Bozeman or Yellowstone; sometimes the drop fee is less than the fuel and time to loop back.
Uptown Butte (Historic District):
Flat Area (Harrison Avenue):
Montana has high speed limits: 80 mph (129 km/h) on Interstate highways, 70 mph (113 km/h) on two-lane highways, 25–35 mph in towns
Mountain roads require extra caution, especially:
All occupants must wear seat belts
No toll roads in Montana
Winter driving (November–March): Butte gets heavy snowfall at its high elevation. Homestake Pass can be tough in winter storms and occasionally closes for short periods during blizzards.
Elevation factors: Butte sits at around 5,500 feet above sea level and surrounding mountain passes exceed 6,000 feet. Higher elevations mean earlier snowfall and later spring thaws than lower-elevation cities.
Historic district navigation: Uptown Butte has steep hills and a grid system that can be confusing for first-time visitors. Consider using GPS navigation.
A car lets you link Butte's mining heritage with the Rocky Mountain sights beyond the city.
Yellowstone National Park (West Entrance) – 3 hours via I-90 / US-287
Georgetown Lake – 40 minutes on MT-1
Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park – 1 hour east
Helena – 70 miles (113 km) north on I-15
What vehicle type is best for Butte, especially in winter?
For winter travel, we highly recommend an SUV or crossover that has AWD/4WD. Butte gets a lot of snow, has a high elevation and has steep streets in the historic district. In summer, you can use most types of vehicles, but an SUV gives you better ground clearance if you want to explore unpaved roads to recreation areas.
How does Butte's high elevation affect driving?
Butte is at about 5,500 feet. This can make your engine perform a little worse and use more gas. You might notice your rental car has less power when you're climbing hills. Also, the weather can change quickly at high elevations, and it can even snow in late spring or early fall.
Can I pick up a rental car in Butte and drop it off in another city?
Yes, you can rent a car one-way, but rental companies often charge a drop fee of about $50-$300 depending on how far you go. Because Butte has a small rental fleet, you might find fewer cars available for one-way trips, so you should book well in advance.
Are there any scenic drives directly from Butte?
Yes, you can take the Pintler Scenic Byway (MT-1), which starts just west of Butte near Anaconda and loops through Georgetown Lake and Philipsburg. On this beautiful drive, you'll see mountain views, lakes and historic towns. The drive to Ennis on MT-2 and MT-287 is also scenic, as it passes through mountain valleys.
What should I know about parking in Uptown Butte?
You can park for free for 2 hours throughout the historic district in Uptown Butte. The city enforces this limit during business hours. For longer visits, you can use one of the free public lots just outside the 2-hour zone. Streets can be steep, so use your parking brake and turn your wheels toward the curb when you park on hills.
Is it difficult to find a rental car at Butte Airport during special events?
Yes, rental cars at the airport can sell out completely during major events like St. Patrick's Day in March and the Montana Folk Festival in July. You should book your car at least 2-3 months in advance for these times.
How reliable is GPS navigation around Butte?
Your GPS will work well in Butte and on major highways. However, when you go into the surrounding mountains or more remote areas, you might find that cell service isn't reliable. We suggest you download offline maps if you plan to explore beyond the main roads.
What's the minimum age to rent a car in Butte?
Most companies require you to be at least 21 years old to rent a car. They also add a young driver surcharge of about $25-$30 per day for any driver under 25.
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