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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 car rental offers in Tempe, Arizona. Compare rates and make bookings in one place. Simple. Pick up a car downtown or near ASU to avoid airport surcharges. Rates are often about 30 percent lower than at PHX, and you're minutes from Loop 202 for drives to Phoenix, Scottsdale or Mesa.
Tempe offers several convenient car rental options:
| Location | Pros | Cons |
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| Near ASU/Downtown Tempe |
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| PHX Airport |
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| Tempe Town Lake/North Tempe |
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ASU Consideration: Rental companies near campus may have increased demand during university events (orientation, graduation and move-in). Book early if your visit coincides during these periods.
On average, car rentals in Tempe cost around $90 per day, with the lowest-priced rentals starting at $24 per day.
Skip the airport mark-ups: PHX airport adds about 30 % in extra taxes and fees. Grab the free Sky Train to the light rail, ride 10 min to Tempe, pick up a car there and pocket the difference.
Time your booking to the crowd: Spring training or ASU graduation? Lock in a car 4-6 weeks out. July heat wave? Cars sit idle and last-minute deals pop up.
Compare every neighborhood desk: Rates can differ between Downtown, Town Lake and the ASU strip. A two-mile rideshare can shave serious dollars off the daily price.
Think "weekly" after day 5: In Tempe a 5-7-day weekly rate often beats separate daily rates—do the math before you click.
Free or cheap parking exists: Tempe Marketplace, Arizona Mills and many hotel lots are free, while Mill Avenue meters run $2/hr. Plan your stops and skip garage fees.
Leverage your affiliations: AAA, AARP and even alumni IDs regularly unlock extra discounts at checkout—worth the 10-second code search.
Downtown Tempe/Mill Avenue: Metered spaces enforced Mon-Sat 8 am-10 pm
Payment Options: Meters accept coins, cards or Parkmobile app
Garages: Several public garages (City Hall, 5th Street, others)
ASU Campus: Visitor lots require payment; strict enforcement during school terms
Residential Areas: Many streets near ASU have residential permit requirements
University Traffic: Heavy congestion around campus during the school year, especially at semester start and end
Light Rail Crossings: Pay attention to signals at light rail crossings on Apache Blvd and Mill Ave
Rush Hour: Morning (7-9 am) and evening (4-6:30 pm) rush hours affect major roads
Event Traffic: ASU football games, graduation and special events create heavy congestion
A car lets you move beyond campus and reach highlights across Greater Phoenix.
Downtown Phoenix – museums, sports arenas
Papago Park & Desert Botanical Garden – trails, cactus gardens
Old Town Scottsdale – galleries, shops, nightlife
Phoenix Mountains Preserve – desert hikes, city views
What's the difference between renting at PHX Airport vs. in Tempe?
You can save about 25-30% if you rent in Tempe instead of at the airport. You'll avoid airport concession fees (11.1%), the Customer Facility Charge ($6.00 per day for up to eight days) and other airport taxes. However, you'll need to find a ride from the airport to the rental office, like a rideshare, taxi or light rail. The savings might not be much for short rentals, but you can save a lot on longer ones.
Is it necessary to have a car while staying in downtown Tempe?
If you plan to stay only in downtown Tempe and do things mostly around ASU and Mill Avenue, you might not need a car. The Valley Metro Light Rail connects downtown Tempe to central Phoenix and the Orbit bus system gives you free rides around Tempe. However, we highly recommend a rental car if you want to explore other areas or just want to stay cool in the extreme heat.
What's the best strategy for visiting ASU by car?
When you visit ASU, be prepared for limited and controlled parking. You can find visitor parking in several garages for about $3-4 per hour, and they have daily maximum charges. On weekdays and during special events, you should arrive early to get a parking spot. Apache Blvd and University Drive get very busy when classes are changing. We suggest you park once and walk to different places on campus instead of driving between them.
How far in advance should I book a rental car in Tempe?
Most of the time, booking 2-3 weeks ahead is enough. However, for busy times like spring training (February-March), ASU graduation (May and December) and move-in weekend (August), you should book 4-6 weeks in advance. During the summer (June-August), you can usually find a rental car even if you book closer to your trip.
Can I find one-way rentals from Tempe to other destinations?
You can usually get a one-way rental from Tempe to other places in the Phoenix area for a small drop fee or none at all. You can also rent a car one-way to places like Tucson, Flagstaff or other states. These rentals usually have a one-way fee from $50-300, which changes based on your destination and how busy it is.
Are there any parking regulations I should be aware of in Tempe?
Near ASU, many neighborhood streets require a parking permit to stop students from parking there. The city strictly enforces these rules, especially when school is in session. In Downtown Tempe/Mill Avenue, the city enforces metered parking Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It costs about $2 per hour. If you need to park for a long time, public garages are often cheaper than paying the meter.
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