EN
No booking fees. Free cancellation on most cars
Save by finding great deals and securing low price rentals
Road Genius makes it easy to find great car rental deals in Decatur, Illinois. Compare prices and book in one place. Simple. Pick up a car at Decatur Airport or a downtown branch and hit US-51 in minutes for quick drives to Springfield, Champaign or Lake Decatur. We show live rates from Enterprise, Hertz and Avis/Budget so you can snag a low price before ADM business traffic and summer events push demand up.
| Location | Advantages | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Decatur Airport (DEC) |
|
|
| North Prospect Avenue |
|
|
| Downtown Decatur |
|
|
On average, car rentals in Decatur cost around $86 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals starting at $31 per day.
Compare airport vs. city pick-ups: Airport counters add roughly 10 percent in fees. If you're already in town, check Downtown or North Prospect branches for lower base rates and skip the airport surcharge.
Leverage weekend specials: Many Decatur locations drop prices Thursday afternoon through Monday. Shifting your pickup by a day can beat weekday business-traveler rates driven by ADM traffic.
Test the "weekly rate" trick: Rentals of 5–7 days often cost less than 4 separate daily rates. Run an extra-day quote in the search box and see if the total drops.
Watch the event calendar: Farm Progress Show or Decatur Celebration means fast sell-outs. For those peak weeks, lock in early and compare all three city/airport outlets to avoid last-minute markups.
Downtown parking: Combination of metered street spots, free time-limited spaces and public lots. Most meters enforce payment Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM. Several public lots offer free spots for 2-3 hours.
Shopping areas: Free spots available at Hickory Point Mall and North Prospect shopping corridor.
Attraction parking: The Children's Museum of Illinois, Scovill Zoo and Decatur Park District facilities offer free lots. Downtown attractions like the Transfer House and Central Park have nearby metered spots.
Local driving rules:
Speed limits:
Book a car rental to easily:
Springfield Lincoln sites – museums, memorials
Lake Decatur – shoreline parks
Scovill Zoo – wildlife exhibits
Children's Museum of Illinois – science exhibits
Arthur Amish Country – crafts, bakeries
Lake Shelbyville – beaches, trails
Is public transportation an alternative to renting a car in Decatur?
The Decatur Public Transit System (DPTS) runs a limited bus service in the city. However, the city designed the routes mainly for residents, not visitors, so the buses don't run very often or cover all areas. We highly recommend a rental car to explore easily or visit businesses.
What are the must-see attractions accessible by car in Decatur?
A rental car lets you easily get to Lake Decatur and its fun spots, Scovill Zoo, the Children's Museum of Illinois and the Hieronymus Mueller Museum. You can also use a car for day trips to nearby places like Arthur's Amish Country (about 30 miles southeast) and Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site (60 miles west).
How are the roads during winter months?
You can expect winter driving conditions from November through March. The city does a good job clearing snow from main roads, but you might face delays when it snows heavily. Crews may take longer to clear rural roads. You should consider an AWD vehicle if you visit during winter, especially if you plan to travel to areas outside the city.
Is it easy to find parking in downtown Decatur?
Yes, you can find plenty of parking in downtown Decatur, like metered street parking, free spots with time limits and public lots. The meters charge $0.25–$0.50 per hour, and you have to pay from Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. You can usually park for free downtown in the evenings and on weekends.
What's the best route to visit the Amish community in Arthur from Decatur?
You should take IL-121 southeast from Decatur to get to Arthur. The drive takes about 35 minutes. On the way, you'll pass through country areas and small towns that have Amish businesses. Remember, you'll share the road with horse-drawn buggies in and around Arthur, so be sure to drive carefully.
Are there any scenic drives near Decatur?
You can get nice views of the water if you drive on Lake Shore Drive around Lake Decatur. For a longer scenic drive, you can head southeast on IL-121 to Arthur and explore the country roads in Amish country. You can also find wooded drives and nature trails at Rock Springs Conservation Area, just west of the city.
Popular Countries
24/7 Support