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Getting There · Port Canaveral

Where to Return a Rental Car Near Port Canaveral

We found no rental return at the cruise terminals themselves, so the drive ends a few miles short of the ship. Budget, Avis and the office Enterprise, Alamo and National share in Cape Canaveral take the car and run you to the pier for free; Hertz takes the car and leaves the last stretch to a taxi. The day you sail decides which of them is open.

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Shuttle to the ship, free
Budget · Avis · Enterprise group
Keys only, no shuttle
Hertz
Turn cruisers away
2 Enterprise branches
Shown closed Tue–Wed
Enterprise group
Checked Sept 24–27, 2026 against primary sourcesPrices dated where they can change16 sources cited
The handoff

A few miles out, and that’s where the drive ends

Where the keys go

Leave it at Budget on Astronaut Blvd, Avis on N Atlantic Ave, or the Mullet Rd office Enterprise, Alamo and National share — each says on its own page that it drives cruise passengers to the terminals for free.

Hours are the catch, not distance. Budget and Avis close at 3 PM on weekends.

The Mullet Rd office sends its last shuttle at 3 PM, and its page lists it closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The day you sail picks the office before the price does.

None of them has a counter we could find at the pier: Budget puts itself about 3 miles away, and Enterprise’s page says 4 miles in one place and “located in Terminal B” in another. The shuttle covers the rest, and Budget says its run “typically takes less than 10 minutes.”

The counters

Which counter gets the keys?

Four offices sit close enough to matter — three of them say they’ll carry you to the terminal. Where two pages for one office disagree, the cards give you both, not our guess.

Budget

Budget Port Canaveral Shuttle Service

8401 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral · 321-784-0634
Port shuttleCruise passengers only
HoursMon–Fri 8 AM–6 PM · Sat–Sun 8 AM–3 PM
ShuttleFree, both ways, cruise passengers only

“If you are dropping off a car rental before boarding the cruise, our shuttle can take you and your luggage to Port Canaveral.” The ride “typically takes less than 10 minutes.”

The only office page that spells out picking up at Budget MCO and dropping here before you board. Budget’s own pages put it “about 3 miles” and “1/2 mile south of Port Canaveral.”

Return during office hours. Budget doesn’t run shuttles to the airports.

Source: budget.com/en/locations/us/fl/port-canaveral/cc5 Checked Sept 27, 2026
Avis

Avis Port Canaveral Shuttle Service

6650 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral · 321-783-3643
Port shuttleCruise passengers only
HoursMon–Fri 8 AM–6 PM · Sat–Sun 8 AM–3 PM
ShuttleFree, both ways, cruise passengers only

“Our shuttle service includes transportation of all people in your group and any luggage.” After the cruise, “the shuttle will meet you at the pier.”

Its page says both “Drop Box Available” and “Drop Box NOT Available”, so plan to return inside office hours.

Return during office hours; a drop-box return leaves you responsible until the contract closes the next business day.

Source: avis.com/en/locations/nam/us/fl/port-canaveral/p3f Checked Sept 27, 2026
Enterprise · Alamo · National

Enterprise / Alamo / National Port Canaveral

710 Mullet Rd, Cape Canaveral · 321-866-0324
Port shuttleCruise passengers only
HoursSun, Mon, Thu–Sat 7 AM–4 PM · shown closed Tue and Wed
ShuttleFree, both ways, cruise passengers only, last run 3 PM

Enterprise: “complimentary shuttle service to and from the cruise terminals … every 25-30 minutes, starting early in the morning and ending at 3PM.”

One office behind three brands, and its pages disagree: “located in Terminal B” and “4 miles from Port Canaveral”; a shuttle every 25–30 minutes (Enterprise) or every 15 (Alamo). Enterprise’s Disney-cruise page says hours vary with the ship schedule. Call before you build a plan on it.

After hours, keys go in the drop box and you stay responsible for the car until they open.

Source: enterprise.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/fl/port-canaveral-07vc.html Checked Sept 27, 2026
Hertz

Hertz Cape Canaveral – Astronaut Blvd

8963 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral · 321-203-5590
No port shuttle
HoursEvery day 8 AM–3 PM
ShuttleNo port shuttle, per Hertz

Hertz’s own answer: “No, there isn’t a shuttle from Port Canaveral to the Hertz rental car location on Astronaut Boulevard.” It points you to taxis.

Fine for renting around the Cape. For dropping a car before the ship, budget a taxi or rideshare for the last few miles.

Hertz’s terms for another Florida office (Tallahassee) say after-hours return charges accrue until the office reopens; we couldn’t read this office’s own terms, so ask.

Source: hertz.com/us/en/location/unitedstates/florida/capecanaveral/mlbn04 Checked Sept 27, 2026
OfficeSaturdaySundayWeekdaysPort shuttleSource
Budget Port Canaveral Shuttle Service
8401 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral · 321-784-0634		8 AM–3 PM8 AM–3 PM8 AM–6 PMYes, freepage
Avis Port Canaveral Shuttle Service
6650 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral · 321-783-3643		8 AM–3 PM8 AM–3 PM8 AM–6 PMYes, freepage
Enterprise / Alamo / National Port Canaveral
710 Mullet Rd, Cape Canaveral · 321-866-0324		7 AM–4 PM7 AM–4 PM7 AM–4 PM; Tue–Wed closedYes, freepage
Hertz Cape Canaveral – Astronaut Blvd
8963 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral · 321-203-5590		8 AM–3 PM8 AM–3 PM8 AM–3 PMNopage

Each office’s hours exactly as its own page showed them on Sept 27, 2026. Checked Sept 27, 2026

Day and time

Test your sail day against their hours

Pick your sailing day and roughly when you’ll reach the lot — the hours below are each office’s own.

    Enterprise’s Disney-cruise page warns that the port office’s hours vary with ship schedules. Treat a yes for Mullet Rd as a reason to call, not a promise.

    Tuesday and Wednesday are the odd days out: with Mullet Rd shown closed, you’re down to Budget and Avis. Both keep weekday hours of 8 AM to 6 PM — room enough, provided you booked one of them.

    Out of hours

    A drop box ends the drive, not the rental

    CompanyWhat its terms say
    EnterpriseIts non-airport branches ask for returns during business hours. Drop the car after hours and it stays your responsibility until it’s checked in on the next business day.
    National (Port Canaveral page)“If returning after hours, park the car, lock the doors and put the keys in the drop box. Customers are responsible for condition of car until business opens.”
    Avis and Budget (Port Canaveral)Bring it back while the office is open. Use a drop box and you remain liable until the contract is closed on the next business day.
    Hertz (terms for its Tallahassee office)After-hours return charges keep accruing until the location reopens. We couldn’t read the Cape Canaveral office’s own terms, so ask the counter.

    Taken from each company’s terms or location page on Sept 27, 2026. Checked Sept 27, 2026

    On a cruise, “the next business day” can come while you’re already at sea — the car still on your name, its condition still your problem.

    Don’t count on the shuttle either. Enterprise says its shuttle runs during office hours, so plan to walk in while someone’s still behind the desk.

    Booking trap

    Same address, two listings

    Budget and Avis each list their Cape Canaveral address twice: one for cruise passengers, with the shuttle, and a regular one.

    Choose the drop-off by its name and street, not by typing “Cape Canaveral” and grabbing the first result. You want Budget Port Canaveral Shuttle Service, Avis Port Canaveral Shuttle Service, or the Enterprise brands’ office at 710 Mullet Rd.

    Book it
    Search one-ways from MCO to Cape CanaveralSet the drop-off to the Budget or Avis shuttle listing, or to Mullet Rd for Enterprise, Alamo or National.
    • Pick-up at MCO, drop-off by office name
    • Any one-way fee counted in the quoted total
    • No charge to cancel 48+ hours before pickup
    See one-way quotes
    Partner link. Seabound Journeys is a Discover Cars affiliate: if you book through our link we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It doesn’t change what we tell you, which comes from each company’s own published terms. How Discover Cars works, fees and all.
    Other ways

    When the clock won’t cooperate

    Hand the car back at MCO and ride the rest of the way — a shared shuttle or a taxi. The rides and their sail-day cut-offs are on the airports page.

    Or return the car on arrival day and sleep near the port — several Cape Canaveral hotels run their own shuttle to the ship. Cocoa Beach and the Cape the night before walks through it.

    Failing all that, there’s Hertz on Astronaut Blvd, open 8 to 3 every day.

    For the last few miles, Hertz itself says “there are plenty of taxis in the area” — we’d still line one up before handing over the keys.

    Skip these

    Closer to home, no use on sail day

    Enterprise has more Space Coast branches than the port one, and two say outright they don’t serve cruise passengers. Two more, Enterprise in Merritt Island and Hertz in Titusville, say nothing about cruises and list no port shuttle — no help before you board.

    OfficeAddressWhy notSource
    Enterprise Cocoa1750 W. King St., CocoaSays it “does not service cruise passengers”page
    Enterprise Titusville1030 S Hopkins Ave, TitusvilleSays it “does not service cruise passengers”page
    Enterprise Merritt Island1615 E Merritt Island CausewayNo port shuttle; closed Sundayspage
    Hertz Titusville3000 Cheney Hwy, TitusvilleNo port shuttle; closed Saturdays and Sundayspage
    Couldn’t confirm: Dollar and Thrifty list 6799 N Atlantic Ave, Cape Canaveral, but both sites blocked every check and a third-party listing marks it closed. Payless showed us no Space Coast page on its own site, and Sixt and Fox showed no office there. We also found no office from any brand in Cocoa Beach itself, and no rental return at the cruise terminals.
    FAQ

    Asked about Port Canaveral drop-offs

    Where do I return a rental car for a Port Canaveral cruise?

    Not at the terminals: we found no rental return there. Use one of the three Cape Canaveral offices that drive cruise passengers to the port, which are Budget at 8401 Astronaut Blvd, Avis at 6650 N Atlantic Ave, and the Enterprise, Alamo and National office at 710 Mullet Rd.

    Does Hertz have a shuttle to Port Canaveral?

    No. Asked about its Astronaut Blvd office in Cape Canaveral, Hertz answers that there isn’t a shuttle from Port Canaveral, and points you to a taxi instead.

    Is the Enterprise Port Canaveral office open on Tuesdays?

    Not according to its page, which shows Tuesday and Wednesday closed and 7 AM to 4 PM the rest of the week, with the last port shuttle at 3 PM. Enterprise’s Disney-cruise page says those hours shift with ship schedules, so ring 321-866-0324 before you count on it.

    Can I return a rental car after hours near Port Canaveral?

    Some offices have a drop box, though it won’t get you off the hook. Enterprise, National, Avis and Budget each say the car stays your responsibility until it’s checked in after they reopen, and Enterprise ties its shuttle to office hours, so don’t count on a shuttle once they’ve closed.

    Is there a rental car office in Cocoa Beach?

    Not that we could find, from any major brand. The nearest counters are a few miles north, in Cape Canaveral.

    In this rental guide

    More on renting around a Port Canaveral cruise

    All Port Canaveral rental carsShould you rent?From Orlando airport (MCO)Back to MCO after the cruiseOrlando before or afterDisney World and the portUniversal and the portCocoa Beach the night before
    Sources, read September 24–27, 2026:https://www.budget.com/en/locations/us/fl/port-canaveral/cc5https://www.avis.com/en/locations/nam/us/fl/port-canaveral/p3fhttps://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/fl/port-canaveral-07vc.htmlhttps://www.hertz.com/us/en/location/unitedstates/florida/capecanaveral/mlbn04https://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/fl/cocoa-0741.htmlhttps://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/fl/titusville-0713.htmlhttps://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/fl/merritt-island-072b.htmlhttps://www.hertz.com/us/en/location/unitedstates/florida/titusville/orle04https://www.portcanaveral.com/cruise/transportationhttps://www.enterprise.com/en/car-rental-faqs/us-reservations/location-closed.htmlhttps://www.nationalcar.com/en/car-rental-locations/us/fl/port-canaveral-07ne.htmlhttps://www.hertz.com/rentacar/reservation/reviewmodifycancel/templates/rentalTerms.jsp?KEYWORD=AFTER+HOURS&EOAG=TLHhttps://www.hertz.com/us/en/location/unitedstates/florida/capecanaveralhttps://www.budget.com/en/locations/us/fl/merritt-islandhttps://www.sixt.com/car-rental/usa/florida/https://www.enterprise.com/en/disney/cruise-car-rental.html

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