Car Rental Temple, TX

For a medical visit, you should think about where you're staying compared to your appointments. If your hotel has a hospital shuttle, you might only need a rental car to get to and from the airport or for side trips. If you're staying longer or visiting multiple medical buildings, you should rent from a place near the medical centers. For example, Enterprise has an office near Scott & White. Some rental companies give discounts to medical visitors, so tell them why you're in town when you book.

Killeen–Fort Hood Regional Airport (GRK) is closer (about 30 miles / 48 km), but it has fewer flights. American Airlines provides most of them through Dallas–Fort Worth. Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is farther (about 65 miles / 105 km), but it has many more flights and they are often cheaper. If you fly into Austin, you'll find more rental car choices but you will have a longer drive to Temple. When you decide, you should look at your total travel time and costs, including rental rates and any one-way fees.

A standard sedan is good enough for most things you'll do in Temple, including medical visits. If you plan a trip to Belton Lake or if your family is coming along, you might be more comfortable in an SUV or minivan. The city keeps the roads in good shape and all major attractions have paved roads leading to them. You won't need four-wheel drive for what most visitors do.

For a normal visit, you should book your car two to three weeks early. If your visit is at the same time as Fort Hood graduation ceremonies, military deployments/returns or major medical conferences, it's a good idea to book three to four weeks ahead. This is because the rental companies in the area don't have a large number of cars.

There are no toll roads right around Temple. You can use all highways, including I-35, for free. If you travel south toward Austin, you might find toll roads like SH-130. It runs alongside I-35 east of the city and can be a faster route, but you have to pay to use it. Most rental cars have toll tags that charge the tolls to your credit card and add a service fee.

You can take a rental car on several popular day trips. Many people visit Waco (about 45 minutes) for Magnolia Market and the Dr Pepper Museum or Salado (about 15 minutes) for shopping and dining in a historic village. You can also drive to Austin (about 75 minutes) for the state capitol and city attractions, Georgetown (about 40 minutes) for its historic downtown square and Belton Lake (about 15 minutes) for outdoor fun.

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center and the VA Medical Center both have free parking in several lots and garages. While it can get crowded during busy times (9 a.m.–2 p.m. on weekdays), you can usually find a spot. At Baylor Scott & White, you should follow the color-coded system and the signs. It's a very large place with many buildings. Some clinics have their own parking areas.