Barossa Valley
about 70 km north-east of Adelaide · about 1 hour from the airport to Tanunda by the direct route
South Australia's best-known wine region. The scenic route through the Adelaide Hills takes about 1.5 hours instead of the direct route.
Adelaide Airport car hire
All six rental companies at Adelaide Airport (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot and Sixt) have desks on the terminal's ground floor, right next to baggage claim, so there is no shuttle to find. The part people miss is the return: hire cars go back to the ground floor of the multi-level car park P1, about a 5-minute undercover walk from the terminal, not to the terminal kerb. Desk hours differ by company, so check yours before a late or early flight.
Updated
Adelaide Airport at a glance
- Airport code
- ADL
- Where the desks are
- Ground floor of the terminal, next to baggage claim
- Companies on the airport
- Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot, Sixt
- Where returns go
- Ground floor of car park P1, about a 5-minute undercover walk from the terminal
- Nearest fuel before returning
- United Petroleum, 1 Sir Richard Williams Avenue, about 500 m from the terminal
- Airport car rental team
- 1300 310 381 or carrental@adelaideairport.com.au
Compare cars at Adelaide Airport
Prices are shown in Australian dollars. Before you book, open the offer and check where that company's desk or depot is, the bond, and what the agreement says about the roads you plan to drive.
Preparing live car hire search
Picking up at Adelaide Airport
Six rental operators have counters in the terminal. Opening hours differ between brands, so the earliest and latest pick-up window depends on who you book with.
| Company | Where | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Avis | Desk in the terminalDesk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours Sun to Fri 6am to 11pm, Sat 6am to 10pm | Desk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours Sun to Fri 6am to 11pm, Sat 6am to 10pm |
| Budget | Desk in the terminalDesk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 6am to 11pm daily | Desk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 6am to 11pm daily |
| Europcar | Desk in the terminalDesk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 6:30am to 10:30pm daily | Desk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 6:30am to 10:30pm daily |
| Hertz | Desk in the terminalDesk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 6am to 11pm daily | Desk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 6am to 11pm daily |
| Redspot | Desk in the terminalDesk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 8am to 10:30pm daily | Desk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 8am to 10:30pm daily |
| Sixt | Desk in the terminalDesk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 6am to 11pm, with Saturday shown as 6am to 5pm | Desk on terminal ground floor. Listed hours 6am to 11pm, with Saturday shown as 6am to 5pm |
Collecting the car
- 1
Collect your bags on the terminal's ground floor. The rental desks are on the same level, right next to baggage claim.
- 2
Go to your company's counter (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot or Sixt) and sign the agreement there.
- 3
Check the desk hours above against your landing time. Redspot's counter opens at 8am and Europcar's at 6:30am, later than the others.
- 4
If you plan to take the car to Kangaroo Island, ask at the counter whether your agreement allows it on the ferry before you leave the desk (see the driving notes below).
Returning at Adelaide Airport
- 1
Follow the signs to the car rental return area on the ground floor of car park P1. It is a 5-minute undercover walk from the terminal, and trolleys are available for luggage.
- 2
Refuel first if your agreement needs a full tank. United Petroleum at 1 Sir Richard Williams Avenue is about 500 m from the terminal. Fuel and cleaning rules differ by company, so check yours.
- 3
Allow extra time for the drop-off before your recommended flight check-in time.
- 4
For an after-hours return, ask your rental company for its procedure in advance. For general car rental enquiries, the airport's car rental team is on 1300 310 381.
Drives from Adelaide Airport
Distances are approximate and measured along the road.
Hahndorf
less than 30 minutes from the city
Australia's oldest surviving German settlement, in the Adelaide Hills.
McLaren Vale
about 45 minutes south of Adelaide
Wine region south of Adelaide on the Fleurieu Peninsula, with over 90 cellar doors.
Victor Harbor
about 1 hour from Adelaide
Coastal town where a horse-drawn tram crosses the causeway to Granite Island.
Cape Jervis (Kangaroo Island ferry)
about 1.5 hours from Adelaide
SeaLink's ferry departs here for a crossing of about 45 minutes to Penneshaw. SeaLink asks you to arrive 30 minutes before departure to check in.
Guides for trips from Adelaide Airport
Adelaide Cruise Terminal Car HireCruise ships dock at Outer Harbor, 23 km from AdelaideAdelaide to Coober Pedy driveAdelaide to Coober Pedy is about 845 km on the sealed Stuart Highway, 8 to 10 hours of drivingAdelaide to Darwin driveAdelaide to Darwin is a long run on the sealed Stuart HighwayAdelaide to Kangaroo Island by carDrive Adelaide to Cape Jervis, then take the 45-minute vehicle ferry to PenneshawAdelaide to Perth drive across the NullarborAdelaide to Perth is about 2,700 km across the Nullarbor on the sealed Eyre HighwayAdelaide to Port Lincoln drive and Eyre Peninsula road tripDrive Adelaide to Port Lincoln via Port Augusta, Whyalla, Cowell and Tumby BayBarossa Valley day trip from Adelaide by carPlan a Barossa Valley day trip from Adelaide by car: direct or scenic approach, Tanunda walking break, Heritage Drive time and sober-driver choices.Day Trips from Adelaide by CarCompare Hahndorf, McLaren Vale, Barossa and Victor Harbor day trips from Adelaide by car, with drive times, Hahndorf parking and Mount Lofty carpark rules.Fleurieu Peninsula DriveDrive Adelaide via McLaren Vale to Victor Harbor and Port ElliotFlinders Ranges in a 2WD hire carA 2WD hire car can reach selected Ikara Flinders Ranges sites, but Brachina East needs high clearance and some tracks need 4WDOne-way car hire from AdelaideHow one-way car hire from Adelaide works: choose a different return city such as Melbourne, Darwin or Perth and check if a one-way fee applies to your quote.Adelaide to Mount Gambier drivePlan Adelaide to Mount Gambier via the Coorong, Kingston SE, Robe and Beachport
Driving around Adelaide Airport
Hire cars and the Kangaroo Island ferry
SeaLink lets you tick 'This is a hire car' when booking online, and you must say whether the car is electric or hybrid. Which rental companies permit their cars on the ferry varies, so confirm in your rental agreement before you book the crossing.
Speed limits
Unless signed otherwise, the default limit is 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside them. In a school zone the limit drops to 25 km/h whenever a child is on the road, footpath or median.
Flinders Ranges roads and closures
The Ikara-Flinders Ranges park is 454 km from Adelaide. Allow at least 3.5 hours just to reach Port Augusta. Aroona Valley Road and Bunyeroo Gorge Road have had closures after heavy rain; check current park alerts before setting off.
Wildlife at dawn and dusk
If you go on to Kangaroo Island, animals cross roads there, mostly at dawn and dusk. Plan long rural drives for daylight.
Adelaide Airport car hire questions
Rental terms differ by company. Where an answer depends on your agreement, we say so.
Which car hire companies are at Adelaide Airport?
Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Redspot and Sixt. All six have desks on the ground floor of the terminal, next to baggage claim.
Where do I return a rental car at Adelaide Airport?
Follow the rental return signs to the ground floor of car park P1. It is a 5-minute undercover walk from the terminal.
Where is the nearest petrol station to Adelaide Airport?
The airport points to United Petroleum at 1 Sir Richard Williams Avenue, about 500 m from the terminal. Check its hours if you are returning very early or late.
Can I take an Adelaide Airport hire car to Kangaroo Island?
SeaLink allows you to book a hire car on the Cape Jervis to Penneshaw ferry (tick 'This is a hire car', and declare EV or hybrid). Whether your rental company allows it is set by your rental agreement and varies by company, so check before you book the ferry. The alternative is to hire on the island; Budget and Hertz also operate on the island.
What time do the car hire desks open at Adelaide Airport?
Avis, Budget, Hertz and Sixt open at 6am, Europcar at 6:30am and Redspot at 8am. Closing times run from 10pm to 11pm on most days, but Avis closes at 10pm and Sixt at 5pm on Saturdays. Confirm your company's hours in the booking if you land early or late.
Do I need a shuttle to reach the car hire desks at Adelaide Airport?
No. All six airport rental companies have desks inside the terminal, next to baggage claim. Only the return is away from the terminal: cars go back to the ground floor of car park P1, about five minutes' covered walk.
Nearby and often combined
Adelaide cityCBD depots from North Terrace to Frome StreetKangaroo IslandHire on the island after the ferry or flightMelbourne Airport (Tullamarine)Tullamarine desks and the CityLink run inAlice Springs AirportRed Centre, West MacDonnells and UluruMount Gambier Regional AirportAirport pickup for the Limestone CoastPort Lincoln AirportPLO aerodrome reference point; airport pickup for southern Eyre PeninsulaSouth Australia car hireEvery South Australia pickup, road rules and seasonsCar hire in AustraliaLicences, tolls and where to fly in, state by state
Compare Adelaide Airport car hire
Search live prices in Australian dollars, then check the pickup point and conditions on the offer.