One-way rental · ORD → STL
Picking up at O'Hare International and returning the car in St. Louis? Here's whether the different drop-off works, what the one-way fee might add, where you return the car at STL, and what to watch for on the 300 miles drive — so the return location doesn't eat your budget.
Search Chicago pickup on Discover Cars →Midwest metro-to-metro one-way from Chicago to St. Louis, flying out of STL. It's roughly 300 miles, about 4.5 hours via I-55, mainly on I-55 south through central Illinois.
Route heads-up: Leaving Chicago the I-PASS tollways are all-electronic and billed back through the rental; once past Joliet, I-55 is open, flat and toll-free. Watch for farm-country crosswinds and limited services between towns.
At St. Louis Lambert International, drop-offs are at the each company's off-airport facility (a short shuttle ride). To reach it you take your rental company's free shuttle from Terminal 1 (Exit 17) or Terminal 2 (Exit 12). Knowing this before you arrive helps you leave enough buffer for your flight — and confirm your brand actually has a return desk at STL, since one-way returns must be booked to a participating location.
Local toll heads-up at STL: Missouri has no toll roads, so driving around St. Louis is toll-free.
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-region | 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 STL? Compare hotels around St. Louis:
Yes. Most major brands — including Enterprise, Hertz, Avis, Budget, National, Alamo and Sixt — allow you to pick up at O'Hare International (ORD) and return at St. Louis Lambert International (STL), 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 domestic one-ways, while others add a one-time drop charge or a higher one-way rate that is disclosed when you book. The Chicago to St. Louis corridor is well served, so it is worth comparing a few suppliers on the drop fee, not just the daily rate.
At St. Louis Lambert International, the rental cars are at the each company's off-airport facility (a short shuttle ride); to reach it you take your rental company's free shuttle from Terminal 1 (Exit 17) or Terminal 2 (Exit 12). Confirm your specific brand's drop-off location and hours before you travel.
Leaving Chicago the I-PASS tollways are all-electronic and billed back through the rental; once past Joliet, I-55 is open, flat and toll-free. Watch for farm-country crosswinds and limited services between towns. Ask your rental company how it handles tolls so you are not surprised by add-on fees.
It is roughly 300 miles, about 4.5 hours via I-55, mainly on I-55 south through central Illinois. Build in extra time for traffic, fuel and the rental return process at STL.