Car Rental Orlando International Airport (MCO)

Orlando International Airport is one of the busiest in Florida, so as you’d expect it enjoys excellent road connections to the city and beyond.

To reach the main tourist strip, International Drive, you can take the Florida State Road 528 (FL-528), also known as the Martin Andersen Beachline Expressway, which is west of the airport. Alternatively, you can follow the FL-417, known as the Central Florida GreeneWay.

International Drive runs along the west of Orlando and is the gateway to its major theme parks, including Universal Orlando, with Walt Disney World not far away.

Downtown Orlando, home to Lake Eola Park, the Amway Center and many more attractions, is just a short drive from the airport via the Beachline Expressway and the FL-527. To reach Florida’s east coast, home to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center, it’s just an hour’s drive from the airport along the Beachline Expressway heading east.

Many of the major roads around Orlando have tolls, including the interstate highway 95, which runs all the way north to Jacksonville and Florida’s Turnpike, which leads southeast to Miami. Some toll booths will accept cash, while others only accept credit or debit cards.

It’s legal to overtake traffic on both sides in Florida. The speed limit on interstates is usually 70mph (112km/h) and on most four-lane highways this falls to 65mph (104km/h).

With its seemingly endless array of attractions, car rental in Orlando is a great way to make sure you fit in everything you want to see.

Family fun

Orlando is the undisputed theme park capital of the world. If you’re looking for fun days out, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Whether you’re travelling with kids or you’re just young at heart, Orlando has all you could need.

The most famous of all the attractions is Walt Disney World, a huge resort made up of several different parks. Highlights include Toy Story Land, as well as two water parks and the original Magic Kingdom, home to the iconic Cinderella castle and the Space Mountain rollercoaster.

Just a short drive away is Universal Orlando, where you can immerse yourself in the world of your favourite family films. Among its most popular attractions are the Despicable Me 4D Minion Mayhem ride and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where fans of all ages can experience the magic of Hogwarts castle.

Drive of a lifetime

Apart from Walt Disney World which is in the nearby Bay Lake area, many of Orlando’s most famous attractions can be found along International Drive.

You can’t fail to spot the ICON Orlando here – an observation wheel that towers over the skyline. A trip in one of its glass capsules offers spectacular views of the city and beyond.

Elsewhere on what’s known locally as I-Drive, you’ll find family-friendly adventure parks along with hundreds of stores and restaurants, including those at Pointe Orlando, a huge outdoor mall not far from the Orange County Convention Centre. I-Drive is also a popular spot for nightlife, boasting live music and entertainment after the sun goes down.

Parks and recreation

With a rental car you’ll be able to head away from the theme parks to discover some of the other best bits of Orlando. Just a short drive outside the city lies Winter Park, home to stylish boulevards and green outdoor spaces, along with some impressive museums including the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, housing an important collection of late 19^th and early 20^th century paintings.

Back in Downtown Orlando you’ll find Lake Eola Park, a peaceful haven surrounding the lake that gives it its name. You can admire the flower displays and grand fountain at its center, or even get out on the lake by hiring a swan boat. Skimming over the lake is a great way to enjoy views of the city skyline.

Having a blast

With an Orlando rental car it’s also easy to reach the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on the east coast of Florida. This is an unmissable day out for space fans of all ages, with highlights including the Space Shuttle Atlantis, suspended from the ceiling as if in flight.

Starting your trip with car rental at Orlando Airport opens up the possibility for all this and much more during your stay in sun-kissed Florida.