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Why rent a car in Baltimore?

Baltimore has always had something of a gritty image. It is an industrial city and has its working heart at the water’s edge. But in the past 20 years it has changed into a slick metropolis, with shiny new buildings, a modern harbour and trendy neighbourhoods.

Baltimore’s Inner Harbour was the nation’s leading shipbuilding site in the 18th century, although now it is often full of cruise ships thanks to its transformation into a tourist hotspot. Hotels, restaurants and shops are all here, along with the city’s visitors centre. For museums and galleries head for Mount Vernon, just south of downtown, and the Fell’s Point neighbourhood is a must for fresh seafood.

With car hire, Baltimore opens up and the whole of Chesapeake Bay is there to explore. Head to Annapolis, which is 40 minutes away by car. It is a city famous for sailing. Wander around the city dock and watch the Wednesday night sailboat races that run from April to September. Otherwise take the half-hour drive to the picturesque North Point state park for hiking trails and pretty views.

How to get to and around Baltimore?

Fly into Baltimore International Airport, which is 11 miles from the city centre, a drive of about 20 minutes. The car rental centre is 10 minutes from the terminals via a free shuttle bus. There is also a train that runs between the airport and the city centre, which takes about 40 minutes.

Hiring a car in Baltimore city centre

For a hire car in Baltimore city centre there are a number of choices and collection points are well spread out around the city. The I-83 is one of the main routes out of Baltimore, and Avis, Budget, Hertz and Enterprise are all based nearby.

What brands are available?

Alamo, Dollar and Thrifty are among the car hire brands on offer at Baltimore Airport. Hertz and National are also available.

Must-sees within an easy drive of Baltimore

So now you have your rental car in Baltimore, your adventure can begin. Drive 25 minutes west out to Columbia for the pretty Lake Kittamaqundi, which has walkways, hotels and restaurants on its shores. Wilde Lake, just north of Columbia, is also worth a visit if you like gentle walking trails.

For shopping head 10 miles north of Baltimore, a drive of 20 minutes on the I-83, to Towson. The town’s large shopping mall boasts masses of high street brands as well as restaurants and bars. There is also a large car park. You could also visit Bowie, a 35-minute drive of 30 miles from Baltimore. Lake Redington and Cash Lake are just north of Bowie and offer opportunities for fishing and wildlife trails. There are also pretty walking trails around the banks of the Patuxent river.

Tips and tricks for driving in Baltimore

The I-695 circles Baltimore and links the I-95 and the I-70. The city centre is busy, like all big cities, but there is ample parking here, and some of it is relatively inexpensive.

Ready to plan your Baltimore city break?

To start planning your trip to Baltimore and other parts of the US use the Expedia search tool to find the best deals on flights, car hire and hotels, as well as researching the best activities and attractions in the area.