Renting a car in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is a spread-out college town in North Central Florida, home to the University of Florida, leafy neighborhoods and some of the best freshwater springs in the state. Buses cover the campus and the city center, but a car makes it far easier to reach the springs, state parks and nearby towns, and to get around on game days when the streets near campus fill up.
Pick-up options
Most visitors collect their car at Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), a small, easy airport northeast of the city where the rental counters are inside the terminal. If you are already in town, you can also pick up close to downtown Gainesville or near the University of Florida.
Which car to choose
Economy and compact cars are easy to park around campus and downtown. For families, gear for a day at the springs or a group heading to a game, a SUV or full-size car gives everyone more room. Planning a longer stay for a semester, an internship or a hospital visit? See long-term car rental.
Tips for driving in Gainesville
- Game days: expect heavy traffic and closed roads around Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on University of Florida home football weekends, and book early; cars sell out.
- Parking on campus: most UF lots need a permit on weekdays. Check the signs before you park.
- Highways: I-75 runs along the west side of the city and connects Gainesville with Ocala, Tampa and the I-10 towards Jacksonville and Tallahassee.
- Wildlife: watch for deer and other animals on rural roads at dawn and dusk, especially around Paynes Prairie.