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Finding a rental car in Portsmouth, New Hampshire is easy with Road Genius. Compare prices of vehicles from dozens of brands across New Hampshire with no booking fees. Pick up in downtown Portsmouth to skip airport surcharges and enjoy tax-free rates or choose Manchester MHT, Boston Logan or Portland PWM for bigger fleets and round-the-clock desks, then drive to the Seacoast, Kittery outlets and the White Mountains.
Portsmouth offers several rental options for convenient access to regional airports.
| Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth Local Rentals | • No airport fees or surcharges • No sales tax (NH advantage) • Convenient for downtown access • Personal service |
• Limited hours (often 8AM-5PM weekdays, shorter weekend hours) • Smaller selection • Advance reservations highly recommended |
| Manchester-Boston Regional (MHT) | • More vehicle options • No sales tax (NH) • 45 miles (72 km) from Portsmouth (about 50 minutes) |
• Requires drive to/from Portsmouth • Airport surcharges |
| Boston Logan Airport (BOS) | • Largest selection of vehicles and companies • 24/7 availability • International options |
• Higher costs (airport fees, MA sales tax) • 60 miles (97 km) from Portsmouth (about 1 hour) • Massachusetts 6.25% sales tax |
| Portland International (PWM) | • Good selection of vehicles • Less congested than Boston • 55 miles (89 km) from Portsmouth (about 1 hour) |
• Airport fees • Maine sales tax |
Enterprise Rent-A-Car: 1900 Woodbury Ave (near Portsmouth Traffic Circle)
Hertz: 2001 Woodbury Ave
On average, car rentals in Portsmouth (NH) cost around $80 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals starting at $26 per day.
Compare pickup spots: Price out downtown Portsmouth vs Manchester, Portland and Boston airports. Zero NH sales tax and no airport surcharges often make a Portsmouth pickup the cheapest.
Skip the airport if you can: Flying into BOS? The C&J bus to Portsmouth plus a local rental frequently costs less than paying MA sales tax and Logan's hefty fees.
Play with trip length: A 5-7 day "weekly" quote can be 15-20 % cheaper than four separate daily rates. Toggle dates in the search box to find the sweet spot.
Book timing by season, not habit: Lock in 3-4 weeks early for summer beach weeks and October foliage. For winter or early spring, keep checking—last-minute drops are common.
Bring your own gear: Phone GPS, portable booster seat and your personal E-ZPass beat daily charges for extras and toll programs.
Refuel away from I-95: Gas stations a mile off the highway or the Traffic Circle typically shave 20-40¢ per gallon, saving a quick few bucks before drop-off.
Portsmouth's historic downtown has limited spots with both metered areas and garages.
Downtown Portsmouth: Metered street spots (enforced 9AM-8PM, Mon-Sat) with 2-3 hour limits
Garages: Hanover Garage and Foundry Garage offer covered options. Hourly and daily rates apply
Free Options: Limited free spots at Parrott Ave lot (3-hour limit on weekdays)
Satellite Lots: Connect Place lot offers low-cost all-day spots with free weekend shuttle to downtown
Residential Areas: Many nearby streets require resident permits
Winter Restrictions: Snow emergency bans enforced when declared. Use garage spaces during snowstorms
Cell Phone Use: New Hampshire's hands-free law prohibits using handheld devices while driving
Seat Belts: Required for all passengers under 18; optional but recommended for adults
Downtown Navigation: Many narrow one-way streets and some pedestrian-only areas
Speed Limits: 25-30 MPH downtown, 55 MPH on highways approaching the city
Pedestrians: Portsmouth is very pedestrian active. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
Bicycles: Share the road with many cyclists, especially in warmer months
Is parking difficult in downtown Portsmouth? Finding a parking spot can be tough during busy seasons and on weekends. You should arrive early, consider parking in a garage or use the Connect Place satellite lot and its shuttle service to downtown.
Do I need AWD/4WD in Portsmouth during winter? While you don't absolutely need it for driving in town on plowed roads, you'll find AWD/4WD helpful, especially if you explore beyond the main highways or drive during snowstorms.
Are there any driving restrictions on the beaches? Yes, you cannot drive your car on New Hampshire beaches. You need to park in the official beach parking lots. State beaches will charge you a fee to park there during the summer.
How do the toll roads work around Portsmouth? You'll find toll roads all around Portsmouth. Most toll booths in New Hampshire and Maine accept E-ZPass. Some still have lanes where you can pay cash to a person. Others are now all-electronic and will mail a bill to cars that don't have a transponder, like the Dover plaza on the Spaulding Turnpike. A few toll points only charge for one direction of travel. If you plan to use toll roads often, you should get a rental car that includes toll coverage or bring your own E-ZPass.
Can I take a rental car from Portsmouth to Canada? Most major rental companies will let you drive to Canada, but you have to tell them when you rent the car. Make sure you have the right papers to cross the border and check if you need to buy extra insurance or pay a cross-border fee.
What's the best vehicle for exploring both city and coastal areas? A small SUV or crossover is a good choice. It will help you navigate Portsmouth's sometimes narrow streets and still has enough room for beach gear or shopping bags.
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