You can pick up a rental car at many U.S. airports on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, but holiday hours depend on the location. Some branches operate around the clock, while others shorten their schedules or close. After-hours returns may be available even when pickup is not.
Check the specific branch’s hours for your travel date rather than assuming its regular Thursday or Friday schedule applies. Closures can affect airport locations, too. Budget’s Paine Field airport branch in Washington lists Thanksgiving and Christmas Day closures for 2026.
SIXT’s San Francisco airport location lists public holiday operating hours, plus 24-hour returns. Airport and neighborhood branches also have different procedures. Enterprise, for example, says its airport locations allow after-hours returns, while customers must check whether a neighborhood branch offers that option.
An airport remaining open overnight does not establish an individual rental counter’s hours. Some airport branches operate 24 hours, including Avis, Budget and Hertz at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. National says most of its airport locations operate 24/7.
However, 24-hour return access does not necessarily mean round-the-clock pickup. Leff pointed to Avis at Peoria’s airport as an example: The location advertises round-the-clock drop-off while publishing limited counter hours. These are service categories, not guarantees for every branch or holiday.
Confirm the arrangements attached to your reservation. Include your airline and flight number when booking. Enterprise, National and Alamo say participating airport locations will remain open up to two hours past posted closing time for delayed customers who supplied valid flight information.
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