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Find competitive rental car prices in Marion, Illinois with Road Genius. Check live rates for SUVs, compact cars, minivans and make reservations with no booking fees. Compare offers from Enterprise, Hertz and Avis at Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA) or downtown, then hit IL-13 or I-57 to reach Shawnee National Forest in minutes.
| Location | Advantages | Considerations |
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| Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA) |
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| Marion City Locations |
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| Carbondale (neighboring city) |
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Major rental providers in Marion include Enterprise, Hertz and Avis.
On average, car rentals in Marion cost around $81 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals starting at $47 per day.
Compare city vs airport pickup—city desks in Marion usually beat airport prices and avoid extra surcharges if you don't need to sync with a flight.
Check Carbondale inventory (15 mi/24 km west)—the university crowd means more cars and occasional weekend discounts worth the short drive.
Stretch or shrink your dates—weekly pricing often kicks in around the 4-day mark, so tweaking by a day can drop the total.
Book early for peak season (May-Oct), then keep tracking—grab a refundable deal before Shawnee tourists run stock low and re-book if rates slide.
Fill up on IL-13 before drop-off—gas is cheaper along the main strip than at the airport pumps.
Skip paid extras you won't use (GPS, toll programs)—southern Illinois has zero toll roads and phone navigation works fine on major routes.
City parking: Mix of free lots at shopping centers and street parking downtown. Most spots are free but may have time limits in busy downtown areas (usually 2 hours).
Shopping areas: Plenty of free parking at Illinois Star Centre Mall and other commercial districts along IL-13.
Attraction parking: Outdoor recreation areas like Crab Orchard Wildlife Refuge may require a permit for certain locations. Most Shawnee National Forest trailheads have free lots, though some popular sites charge a day-use fee.
Local driving rules:
Speed limits:
Rent a car so you can drive to:
Shawnee National Forest – trailheads, scenic byway
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge – lakes, wildlife viewing areas
Garden of the Gods – rock formations, observation point
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail – wineries, countryside
What type of vehicle is best for exploring Shawnee National Forest?
You can use a standard sedan to get to major spots like Garden of the Gods and Little Grand Canyon because most main forest roads are paved or well-kept gravel. If you're going to more remote areas or when it's wet, we recommend an SUV that sits higher off the ground. You'll rarely need four-wheel drive unless it has rained a lot or you plan to go off-road.
Is it possible to explore the region without a car?
Southern Illinois has very little public transportation. Only a few rural bus services operate, and they don't run often or go to the area's main attractions. Most visitors will need a rental car to get to outdoor spots, shopping areas and restaurants, since they are spread far apart.
What are the must-see attractions accessible from Marion?
If you have a rental car, you can easily reach the region's best spots. At Garden of the Gods (about 35 miles/56 km southeast), you can see spectacular rock formations and go hiking. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail connects 11 wineries through the beautiful countryside. You can also view wildlife at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, which is next to Marion. At Giant City State Park (about 25 miles/40 km southwest), you can explore unique rock formations and hiking trails.
How are the roads during different seasons?
In summer and fall, you'll find the roads are great for driving, but sometimes thunderstorms can flood low-lying areas. Winter doesn't usually bring much snow, but ice storms can make travel tricky. In the spring, heavy rains can cause some flooding near rivers. All year, you should know that rural roads can be rough, have small shoulders and you need to watch for wildlife crossing.
Can I take a rental car on the Cave-in-Rock Ferry?
Yes. You can take a rental car on the Cave-in-Rock Ferry, which crosses the Ohio River to Kentucky. The ferry is free, and it usually runs every day from early morning to evening. They stop running it when the water is high or there is ice. You will be crossing state lines, but all major rental companies let you drive their cars between states.
What's the best scenic drive near Marion?
For spectacular views, you should drive the Shawnee Hills National Scenic Byway, especially in October when the leaves change color. This route goes through the Shawnee National Forest, connecting cute small towns and taking you to wineries, orchards and natural spots. For a shorter trip, the road to Garden of the Gods (IL-34 south) is a beautiful drive and gets you to one of the area's most popular places.
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