Car rental Midland

Midland lies close to the western end of Interstate 20 (I-20), a route running through Texas from east to west. It connects to the nearby city of Odessa to the west and Abilene to the east. Past Abilene, continue onward to Fort Worth and Dallas, exiting Texas at the border with Louisiana. You can also use I-20 to join I-10 towards El Paso, around four hours from Midland on the Mexican border.

For Austin, US-87 leads south towards the state capital around 500km away. To reach Big Bend National Park, it’s a drive of just over 350km south along I-20 and US-385. The city of San Antonio, home to the Alamo and other historic sites, is around 525km away along I-10 and TX-137.

Midland being a smaller city, it’s easy to get around in a rental car. I-20 runs through the heart, offering easy access to downtown attractions. Midland and the neighbouring city of Odessa are connected by the I-20 Business Loop, a 50km stretch of the interstate that also provides access to Midland International Air and Space Port.

Texas has similar driving rules to other parts of the US. The speed limit on rural freeways is usually 75mph (120km/h) but this falls as low as 55mph (89km/h) on some urban freeways. Like the rest of the US, drive on the right-hand side of the road. Passing on the left is legal when there is a dashed white or yellow line marking the lane boundaries. You should never pass another vehicle by crossing a solid line on the road.

Midland is known as the Tall City’ because of its famous downtown skyline, filled with buildings constructed during the time of oil and gas discoveries in the Permian Basin. It might traditionally be famous for oil, but spend some time here and you’ll uncover plenty of top attractions to explore. When you rent a car in Midland, you’ll also be able to head out of the city to explore destinations including Big Bend National Park.

Art and culture

Start your visit to Midland at the Museum of the Southwest, housed within the Turner Mansion. Founded in 1965 as a public centre for science, art and education, it includes a children’s museum, sculpture garden and planetarium. The Juliette and Fred Turner Jr Memorial Art Museum is also on this site, housing 11 galleries of art from across Texas and beyond.

Just a short drive away, you can learn more about Midland’s heritage at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum. This tells the story of the industry that’s played such an important role in the history of Texas. Don’t miss the mineral gallery - with rocks and gems from all over the globe - and the Abell Family Gallery, including 14 paintings that showcase the cultural history of the Permian Basin.

For culture fans, a visit to the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center is a treat. This state-of-the-art venue opened to the public in 2011 and hosts performances all year round, featuring everything from comedy to jazz.

Historic sights

At 1412 Ohio Avenue you’ll find one of the city’s most famous historic attractions - the George W Bush Childhood Home Museum. The Bush family lived here from 1951 to 1955. The house has been restored to reflect what it looked like during this time. Home to two presidents, two governors and a first lady, you can get a real insight into the life of the famous family in the 1950s.

Other historic buildings in Midland include the Brown-Dorsey Medallion Home. This is the city’s oldest surviving residential structure, and the only known example of Victorian residential architecture to be found anywhere in the city. It’s been restored to show what the home would have looked like when its original owners lived here - including pine floors, a wine cellar and elegant decorative touches.

Into the wild

With Midland car rental you’ll have easy access to Big Bend National Park. The park spans more than 800,000-acres, including parts of the Chihuahuan Desert and the entire Chisos Mountain Range. While impossible to see it all in one day, the Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive gives you the chance to view some of its most spectacular landscapes.

This route meanders along the western slopes, before taking you up to Sotol Vista, one of the best viewpoints anywhere in the park. It then runs parallel to the Rio Grande, past Castolon Historic District, which tells the story of the farming and ranching communities who once lived in the park.

You’ll finish up near the majestic Santa Elena Canyon, a spectacular natural monument that’s a highlight of any visit to Big Bend.

With a rental car from Hertz, you can explore all this and more during your time in Midland.