One-way rental · AUS → DFW
Picking up at Austin-Bergstrom International and returning the car in Dallas? Here's whether the different drop-off works, what the one-way fee might add, where you return the car at DFW, and what to watch for on the 195-mile drive — so the return location doesn't eat your budget.
Search Austin pickup on Discover Cars →Central Texas one-way from Austin up to Dallas-Fort Worth, flying out of DFW. It's roughly 195 miles, about 3 to 3.5 hours via I-35, mainly on I-35 north through Waco.
Route heads-up: I-35 through Waco is a long-running construction and congestion zone, so build in extra time. Austin's MoPac and 183A express lanes and the Dallas-area tollways are all-electronic and passed through with a per-day fee.
At Dallas/Fort Worth International, drop-offs are at the consolidated Rental Car Center serving all brands (off-airport, about a 10-minute ride). To reach it you take the free Rental Car Center shuttle (runs 24/7, about every 8 minutes) from outside baggage claim at any terminal. Knowing this before you arrive helps you leave enough buffer for your flight — and confirm your brand actually has a return desk at DFW, since one-way returns must be booked to a participating location.
Local toll heads-up at DFW: North Texas toll roads (TollTag/NTTA) such as SH 121, the Dallas North Tollway and DFW's own toll exits are all-electronic; rentals add per-day toll-service fees.
One-way fees are set by the rental brand, not the airport, and they change — confirm with your supplier. Here's how the major brands handle a different drop-off:
| Company | One-way rentals | Drop-off fee | Cross-state | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Enterprise US one-way policy ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | May apply; varies by route & season | Yes | One-way rentals must be booked in advance. Returns within the same city can still trigger a drop charge, mileage charge, or a higher rate. |
| National National US one-way fees ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Often none airport-to-airport | Yes | Unlimited mileage on most U.S. and Canada one-ways; some specialty vehicles (large vans, large SUVs) have mileage limits. Certain one-way routes are not allowed. |
| Alamo Alamo one-way policy ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | May apply; varies by location | Yes | Book one-way rentals in advance. Same-city returns can still be charged, and certain one-way routes are not allowed. |
| Hertz Hertz US one-way rentals ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | No separate drop-off fee (US) | Yes | About 1,700 U.S. locations (airport and neighborhood). Free unlimited mileage on most rentals; SUVs, minivans and Prestige vehicles can be rented one-way. |
| Avis Avis one-way car rental FAQ ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Most locations: none | Yes | Book one-way rentals in advance. Driving out of state is allowed; review any fees during booking. Car type and availability vary by participating location. |
| Budget Budget one-way car rental ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | May apply; same metro usually free | Yes | One-way hire is available from most Budget locations; the price quoted online already includes any applicable one-way charge. |
| Sixt Sixt USA rental information ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Shown upfront; free on select FL/CA/NV routes | With conditions | U.S. one-way rentals are generally allowed between Sixt locations; international one-ways are not permitted, and driving outside permitted areas adds a per-mile fee. |
| Dollar Dollar general policies (one-way) ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Drop fee applies; varies | Yes | One-way rentals within the U.S. and within Canada vary by Dollar location and vehicle availability. Book in advance. |
| Thrifty Thrifty one-way car rental ↗ · checked Jun 2026 |
Yes | Drop fee applies; varies | Yes | One-way rentals within the U.S. and within Canada vary by Thrifty location and vehicle availability. Prices vary by location, date, length and car class. |
How we source this: each row links to the rental company's own published one-way / drop-off policy, with the month we last checked it. These policies change often and vary by route, location and vehicle class, so treat them as a guide and always confirm the current one-way fee and terms with your supplier before you book.
There's no single "one-way only" button on the big search engines, but on a comparison site like Discover Cars you can set the different drop-off in a couple of steps:
Arriving the night before your flight out of DFW? Compare hotels around Dallas:
Yes. Most major brands — including Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, Alamo and Sixt — allow you to pick up at Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) and return at Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), as long as you book the one-way in advance. Availability and the car classes offered vary by location, so reserve early.
It depends entirely on the brand, dates and vehicle. Some suppliers charge no separate drop-off fee on U.S. one-ways, while others add a one-time drop charge or a higher one-way rate that is disclosed when you book. The Austin to Dallas corridor is well served, so it is worth comparing a few suppliers on the drop fee, not just the daily rate.
At Dallas/Fort Worth International, the rental cars are at the consolidated Rental Car Center serving all brands (off-airport, about a 10-minute ride); to reach it you take the free Rental Car Center shuttle (runs 24/7, about every 8 minutes) from outside baggage claim at any terminal. Confirm your specific brand's drop-off location and hours before you travel.
I-35 through Waco is a long-running construction and congestion zone, so build in extra time. Austin's MoPac and 183A express lanes and the Dallas-area tollways are all-electronic and passed through with a per-day fee. Ask your rental company how it handles tolls so you are not surprised by add-on fees.
It is roughly 195 miles, about 3 to 3.5 hours via I-35, mainly on I-35 north through Waco. Build in extra time for traffic, fuel and the rental return process at DFW.