Dropping Off in a Motorhome - DFW Airport

[youth4him]

I'm not entirely sure where to ask this, so here we go.

I need to pick up and drop off a rental car at DFW from our 38' MH for use in Dallas. We're going down to pick up the rig, so we won't have a dinghy set up.

Can anyone in Dallas or someone that's done this tell me if it's possible to drop off and pick up at the airport rental car center?

Obviously, they drive the buses in there, but I'm not sure how they have it blocked off or routed. Don't want to get in there and get stuck. I figure I can park a couple of blocks away if needed.

Thanks in advance!

[WILDEBILL308]

youth4him wrote:
Thanks all! I'll do some more checking today on possible car options for cars...including Love. We lived in DFW for a few years, but it's been 20 years, and we were out in the Garland/Mesquite area.

The RV park is in Grapevine, so I'll see what we can find. Enterprise was our first choice because of the "we'll pick you up" option, but the locations appear to be mostly at car dealerships, and every one that I checked was closed on Sunday.

I may be able to just get in on Sunday, and get the car picked up Monday morning at one of the locations, as was suggested.

Just a heads up have you talked to the RV park lately? I am assuming you are talking about The Vineyards campground. They were planning on getting part of the park opened on Memorial day but may be delayed because of the bad weather and flooding.I would definitely contact them to verify.
Bill

[youth4him]

Problem solved...updated my car reservations in Dallas to pick up in Grapevine at the Toyota dealership. I may have them pick me up, or just use the MH to run over there, it's like 10 minutes from the RV park.

[mowingman]

Yes, you can go to the rental car area in a MH with no clearance issues. However, the airport can be a pain to get to and a pain to get around in, if you are unfamiliar with the layout. I strongly urge you to do as BB TX suggested. Enterprise, to mention just one, has many locations all over the DFW area. There is no need to get into that mess at the airport.

[youth4him]

Thanks all! I'll do some more checking today on possible car options for cars...including Love. We lived in DFW for a few years, but it's been 20 years, and we were out in the Garland/Mesquite area.

The RV park is in Grapevine, so I'll see what we can find. Enterprise was our first choice because of the "we'll pick you up" option, but the locations appear to be mostly at car dealerships, and every one that I checked was closed on Sunday.

I may be able to just get in on Sunday, and get the car picked up Monday morning at one of the locations, as was suggested.

[tatest]

It has been a long time since I've been at DFW in a car, but don't assume you can get to any of the terminals because the buses can. Airport shuttle buses are built to the low clearances, motorhomes are not.

At DFW, it is going to depend on which rental car company. Most are off the airport premises. Many do not allow entrance by any private vehicles, so the closest you might get will be the security gate at the rental lot.

DFW is near Grapevine. It is not in Dallas, it is not in Fort Worth. Before someone decided to put the the airport out in the middle of nowhere, American Airlines used to fly from Dallas to Fort Worth. The only reason to go to DFW is to catch a flight, if you are going someplace that you can't get to from Love Field.

You don't need to go to DFW to rent a car in Dallas. There are rental companies around Love Field, downtown in Dallas, and in Fort Worth and Arlington, and probably some of the other large suburbs. Enterprise, in particular, has more than forty locations in Dallas and they will pick you up and drive you to their office. So your real problem is finding storage parking for your motorhome while you are running around Dallas in your rental car.

Stay away from the airports if you want a rental in Dallas. Especially stay away from DFW airport.

[2gypsies1]

Drive the motorhome to your RV park on Sunday and call Enterprise on Monday if you say they aren't open on Sunday.

[xctraveler]

Dang, there must be a rental agency away from the airport that is open on Sunday in the DFW area. Even Temecula CA has an Avis/Budget office open until noon on Sunday. That would be my first choice - we just used a one way rental to get to LAX for a flight out and one way return to Temecula returning the car on Memorial Day in Temecula. We were gone for a long time and parking would have cost us much more than the two rentals.

[SCVJeff]

IDman wrote:
There isn't any such thing as the "couple of blocks away" that you mentioned.

He beat me to it... That airport is 10 miles wide in all directions. Call the rental agency and talk to them DIRECT. Do NOT talk to the regional rental phone bank.

Or better... Call Enterprise. They will come get you in both directions if necessary

[youth4him]

I thought the same thing, and possibly true, but NO other options on a Sunday.

We are staying about 15 minutes from DFW in an RV park. I think the easiest and cheapest solution will be all Uber or Uber and DART.

Thanks for the great advice! No coaches at the airport!

[DrewE]

I agree with the others, rent at someplace other than the airport. Some airports charge rental car companies (and the rental car companies pass the charge on to you) an extra convenience fee or airport tax, so a rental car from some other rental place may be less costly as well as less hassle.

[WILDEBILL308]

youth4him wrote:
I wasn't very clear in my original post. We are buying the motorhome in Tulsa, driving to Dallas, and we need a vehicle in Dallas. So we need to pick up a vehicle at the rental center
at DFW airport, so we can get around while were in town, and we will return it before we drive the motorhome back to Montana.

Where are you staying in the area? I would call enterprise or use a rental agency near where you are staying. Let me know details so I can give you better advise. I live on the west side of the airport. You DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE YOUR NEW TO YOU MOTOR HOME INTO THE AIRPORT. Yes they have shuttle busses but they are the more compact short wheelbase busses.
Bill

[BB_TX]

youth4him wrote:
I wasn't very clear in my original post. We are buying the motorhome in Tulsa, driving to Dallas, and we need a vehicle in Dallas. So we need to pick up a vehicle at the rental center
at DFW airport, so we can get around while were in town, and we will return it before we drive the motorhome back to Montana.

Definitely look at alternate rental locations. The major rental companies have locations all over the area including all the DFW surburbs. Would be much less hassle than the airport.

Enterprise advertises they will bring the car to you. Where are you staying?

[2gypsies1]

youth4him wrote:
I wasn't very clear in my original post. We are buying the motorhome in Tulsa, driving to Dallas, and we need a vehicle in Dallas. So we need to pick up a vehicle at the rental center
at DFW airport, so we can get around while were in town, and we will return it before we drive the motorhome back to Montana.

There are other rental places in Texas other than the airport to pick up your car. I certainly wouldn't get in the airport congestion with the motorhome just to rent a car.

[youth4him]

I wasn't very clear in my original post. We are buying the motorhome in Tulsa, driving to Dallas, and we need a vehicle in Dallas. So we need to pick up a vehicle at the rental center
at DFW airport, so we can get around while were in town, and we will return it before we drive the motorhome back to Montana.