Budget Car Rental at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT): Navigating Your Options in PA

Budget Car Rental Photos

Budget Car Rental Introduce

For many Pennsylvanians, especially those traveling by air, securing a rental car directly from the airport is a common and often necessary step to continue their journey. Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) serves as a key travel hub for Central Pennsylvania, and Budget Car Rental, located conveniently within its premises, is one of the primary options available. While the convenience of an airport location is undeniable, understanding the nuances of renting from such a facility is crucial for a smooth experience.

This article will delve into the Budget Car Rental at 2 Terminal Dr, Middletown, PA, which serves Harrisburg International Airport. We will explore its location, general services, and importantly, draw attention to potential challenges and considerations highlighted by customer experiences, ensuring that local users are well-informed before making their rental decisions. The aim is to provide a factual and comprehensive overview, helping you navigate your car rental needs effectively.

Introduction / Overview

Budget Car Rental is a globally recognized brand that provides affordable and convenient vehicle rental services. The Budget location at 2 Terminal Dr, Middletown, PA 17057, USA, is specifically situated at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT). This prime location makes it a go-to choice for air travelers arriving in or departing from the Harrisburg region, offering direct access to a range of vehicles immediately upon landing.

However, as highlighted by recent customer experiences, this particular Budget location operates as a "privately owned Budget" (licensee) rather than a corporate office, which can lead to differences in policies, fees, and customer service protocols compared to corporate-owned branches. While Budget generally aims for a consistent brand experience, understanding this distinction is vital for customers. The reviews indicate that while the convenience of an airport pickup is a given, potential issues around undisclosed fees (especially for one-way rentals/relocation fees) and challenges in getting direct assistance from the local branch can arise. For Pennsylvanians planning their travels, being aware of these potential caveats is key to a stress-free rental.

Location and Accessibility

The Budget Car Rental is located directly at Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) at 2 Terminal Dr, Middletown, PA 17057, USA. This means the rental counter is typically found within the airport terminal itself, or very close by, providing seamless access for arriving passengers. The proximity to the gates allows travelers to quickly transition from their flight to their rental vehicle with minimal delay.

For those unfamiliar with airport rental procedures, navigating an airport car rental can be confusing. As one customer review pointed out, finding the exact location for pickup, even with GPS, can be challenging due to one-way systems and specific parking garage instructions. The review thoughtfully provides detailed directions for finding the spot: "follow your gps to the parking garage," then "follow the signs for rental car return (even if you’re picking up)," "park in a Budget car return spot," and then "walk over to the building in the back right of the parking garage or have someone drive you to the building." This detailed guidance is invaluable for local Pennsylvanians who may not "frequent airports" or have disabilities affecting mobility, as the review mentions. The facility is designed for high-volume airport traffic, which sometimes means a less personal experience than a neighborhood branch.

Services Offered

Standard Vehicle Rentals: Budget at MDT offers a wide range of vehicle classes, typically including economy, compact, mid-size, full-size cars, SUVs, and minivans. These vehicles are generally available for daily, weekly, or monthly rentals, catering to various travel needs.
Airport Convenience: Being located at a major international airport, the primary service is to provide immediate vehicle access for arriving passengers. This includes a rental counter within the terminal and a car lot a short walk away.
One-Way Rentals (with significant caveats): Budget, as a national brand, generally offers one-way rentals, allowing customers to pick up a car at one location and drop it off at another. However, as strongly highlighted by customer feedback, this specific licensee location may impose "astronomical" relocation fees (e.g., $2500 for a 2.5-hour drive to New Jersey) that differ significantly from corporate policies (which typically charge up to $300). It is crucial for renters considering a one-way trip to confirm these fees directly and in writing with this specific location *before* booking.
Optional Protection Products: Like most rental agencies, Budget offers various optional protection plans, such as Loss Damage Waiver (LDW), Supplemental Liability Protection (SLP), and Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). These are designed to reduce a renter's financial responsibility in case of damage, theft, or incidents. It's always advisable to check personal auto insurance and credit card benefits before purchasing these options.
Fueling Options: Renters usually have the choice to prepay for fuel, refuel the vehicle themselves before returning, or pay Budget to refuel it (often with a service charge).
Roadside Assistance: Standard Budget rentals typically include access to roadside assistance for common issues like flat tires or mechanical breakdowns, providing a safety net during the rental period.
Online Booking: Reservations can be made easily online through the Budget website, allowing customers to select their preferred vehicle type and rental period in advance.

Features / Highlights

Immediate Airport Access: The most significant highlight is its direct location at Harrisburg International Airport, providing unparalleled convenience for air travelers arriving at MDT.
Brand Recognition: As part of the Budget network, customers benefit from the familiarity and general reliability associated with a major car rental brand.
Vehicle Availability: Airport locations generally maintain a larger and more diverse fleet to accommodate high demand, increasing the likelihood of finding a suitable vehicle.
Potential for Misleading Fees (Cautionary Highlight): A significant cautionary highlight, based on customer reviews, is the alleged practice of not disclosing substantial "relocation fees" for one-way rentals at this specific licensee location. This is a critical point for potential renters to be aware of and proactively clarify, as these fees appear to be significantly higher than industry norms and corporate Budget policies.
Challenges with Customer Service (Cautionary Highlight): Customer reviews also highlight difficulties in reaching a local representative for assistance with unforeseen issues (like flight cancellations or confusing directions) and report unhelpful or "ridiculous" customer service, even to the point of inappropriate remarks. This suggests that direct, localized support may be challenging to obtain.
Navigation Complexity (Cautionary Highlight): For individuals unfamiliar with airport logistics or those with mobility challenges, navigating the pickup and return process within the parking garage system, especially with one-way routes, can be a source of significant stress and confusion, as detailed by a customer.

Contact Information

For reservations or general inquiries for Budget Car Rental at Harrisburg International Airport, you can use the following details:

Address: 2 Terminal Dr, Middletown, PA 17057, USA

Phone: (717) 948-3720

Mobile Phone: +1 717-948-3720

(Note: Based on customer feedback, it is highly recommended to clarify all fees, especially for one-way rentals, directly with this specific location and obtain written confirmation before finalizing your reservation.)

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals (with considerations)

For Pennsylvanians flying into or out of Harrisburg International Airport, Budget Car Rental at 2 Terminal Dr, Middletown, PA, offers the fundamental convenience of an on-site airport car rental service. Its suitability lies in providing immediate access to vehicles directly at the travel hub, which is essential for many commuters and travelers. This location, being within the airport, naturally integrates into air travel plans, making the transition from flight to road as quick as possible.

However, it is crucial for locals to approach this particular Budget branch with a heightened awareness of potential challenges. The distinction of it being a privately owned licensee means that its specific contracts and fees, particularly for one-way rentals, can diverge significantly from what a customer might expect from a corporate Budget location. As highlighted by severe customer experiences, "hidden, and astronomical" relocation fees and difficulties in reaching a responsive local contact can turn an ordinary rental into a highly stressful and expensive ordeal.

Therefore, while the accessibility of Budget at MDT is a clear benefit, Pennsylvanians are strongly advised to exercise caution: meticulously read all contract details, proactively inquire about all potential fees (especially for one-way drop-offs) *before* booking, and seek written confirmation of all terms. For those with mobility challenges, reviewing the provided navigational tips for the parking garage is also recommended. When fully informed and prepared, this Budget location can serve its purpose as an airport rental. However, potential users should be diligent in their due diligence to ensure a smooth and transparent experience, thus making it suitable for locals who are well-prepared to navigate its specific policies.

Budget Car Rental Details

Service options
Onsite services

Highlights
Active military discounts

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments

Budget Car Rental Location

Budget Car Rental

Pennsylvania Dauphin County Middletown Terminal Drive

2 Terminal Dr, Middletown, PA 17057, USA

Budget Car Rental Reviews

An average rating of ★3.7 from 294 user reviews.

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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

I am posting this to help other people avoid what I have experienced. I recently rented a car at Budget in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Apparently this budget is not a corporate office budget location although there’s no signage to show otherwise. This is a privately owned budget. Apparently they have different contracts and fees than a corporate Budget. They give you a contract like any normal budget except they don’t disclose or discuss that there’s a $2500 relocation fee if you drop your car off at a different location. They don’t disclose to you that they are private entity and that there are these additional fees. The corporate entity charges up to 300 dollars. My flight was canceled abruptly the morning of my flight so I had to relocate and go to a different airport to fly home. They do not provide a number or person to contact at the private budget office in Harrisburg so you just get the run around with someone from the corporate office that is completely useless and powerless because they can’t make changes to your rental because it is a private location.I dropped my car off in New Jersey, which is 2 1/2 hours away from their location and they charge me $2500. It’s not like I dropped it off in California. It would cost less than $2500 to drive it from California to their location. I’ve spoken to several people on the phone. They basically just said too bad. I feel like if you are a business that represents budget, it should be the same at any location. These fees are misleading, hidden, and astronomical. My flight was canceled and I had to find a last-minute flight. These issues are out of my control. There’s no number for you to call. There’s no person for you to talk to and the Customer Service at budget is absolutely ridiculous. If I could give them a -5 stars I would but as such they get a zero out of five stars. terrible!!! Do not rent from budget.
Jul 14, 2025 · Seth Wolff
We had a hell of a time finding this place. It may be easy for people who frequent airports, but my mom and I have never been on a plane let alone gotten a rental car from a place in an airport. The man who picked up the phone was the rudest person I ever spoke with. I understand he was likely stressed as he was busy but to sigh and say “Jesus Christ I can’t with this person” while still on the line is wildly inappropriate. I have never had such a stressful and confusing rental car pickup. Budget knows the area they work in, they should provide their employees with universal language of how to get to this place that they can include in your rental email or they can read off a script to customers who call. Then, on top of everything else, the number he gave us where our car was to be parked didn’t exist! So we had to walk all the way back to the rental facility to find where the car was parked. They should walk customers to the car and both confirm the status of the vehicle so there aren’t issues with cleaning fees on return. I have never had such a stressful and rude experience like this before. On top of this, I’m disabled and have a difficult time with mobility, so this was really the cherry on top to a stressful situation. Will 100% not be ever using this company again. If we didn’t absolutely need the vehicle due to the amount of people who were on the trip with us, we would’ve cancelled this reservation.If you are struggling to find this place:1: follow your gps to the parking garage2: follow the signs for rental car return (even if you’re picking up)3: park in a budget car return spot4: walk over to the building in the back right of the parking garage or have someone drive you to the building and have them idle waiting for you to check in.*note: everything is one way, so once you drive past something, you have to completely exit the parking garage, go around in a big circle and come back in. There is space for the rows to be two way - ridiculous that it is set up like this.
Jul 03, 2025 · Ashleigh Blackwell
Price was great, I always rent from here never a problem until now. When returned the car was told everything was good I got a email of my receipt then later that day got another email as well thanking me for renting with same receipt with rate everything was fine. Until following month on my CC statement was charged an additional $239 when I called no one knew why then the agent says I was charged a cleaning fee for cigarette smoke. I have never smoked a day in my 63 years of life to now be told I’m charged for smoking, the agent tells me a claim is being put in & I will hear back in 7-15 days. A full 3 weeks goes by now I’m being told was denied they tried to contact me but had no email which is not true because how was my receipt emailed to me for rental agreement and now the car reeked of weed. Again I do not and have never smoked anything in my 63 years and if the car reeked of weed when it was returned to the agent that took the keys it would have been charged on the receipt at the time of return. I would have and should have been received an email stating this not finding out I was charged falsely on my CC statement. I escalated this higher and still have not received a call back. Don’t have to worry I won’t be renting from here again.
Apr 23, 2025 · Jam U
They use to be my favorite go to rental spot, but after this experience I will never rent here again. I was charged falsely for an interior cleaning after returning a vehicle in excellent condition no smells but new car except the outside due to the snow salt, which was inspected by the return attendant that said everything was good got email receipt with total. Then following month my CC statement shows a different amount, when I called twice I was given 2 different stories and reasons for the fees. Now I’m being charged for something I know I for sure didn’t which was smoke nor did any type of drugs, I have never done neither and surely didn’t wait until I turned 64 to start. This place is the worse they need to check the workers the ones jumping in the cars speeding through the parking lot when people return that are smoking and stop trying to charge customers. I will never rent from here again I’ll take my chances with Hertz or Enterprise.
May 07, 2025 · Rhonda Babil
We rent from multiple car companies several times a year. This is the first and only time a rental company has tried to fraudulently charge us. We rented a car from Budget at PHL and drove it directly to this location due to a delayed flight. We were fine paying for the 1/4 tank of gas we used. It was 108 miles. They charged us for 5/8 of a tank - saying we used all but 3/8 to drive 108 miles. They had no one at the location to return the car to, so we used the key drop, which I assume is their tactic - if you aren’t there when they check the car in, they can lie about anything and charge whatever they want. Called six times. No answer. Left a voicemail, but will be reporting to my credit card company and to the Attorney Generals office for fraud. Incredibly dishonest way to try to get extra money out of people.UPDATE: it has been 48 hours since I left a voicemail with this location. Zero attempts to return my call. It has been 24 hours since I messaged to the Budget email address that was left as a reply to my review. Zero response. DO NOT RENT FROM THIS LOCATION. THEY ARE ARE CONDUCTING BUSINESS FRAUDULENTLY.SSCOND UPDATE: Called in again, after 48 hours of them refusing to return my call. Spoke to a supervisor at the Avis counter. He stated it was already corrected, which is a lie. Confirmed with AmEx that not refund request had been processed by the merchant. The supervisor then proceeded to tell me it was my fault for not giving them time to contact me - even though they never emailed me a new receipt (because it was never corrected) and never tried to call me for 48 hours. He then hung up on me. Very, very clear this location is trained to commit fraud on a regular basis. I encourage everyone to report them to the Attorney Generals office. I already did, but will be going in in person the end of this week to update them and provide them with a transcript of the call and copies of all emails (including the one I sent to the customer service email that replied to the post, but that has still not bothered to reply to me).
May 06, 2025 · Glenn Cermak