San Marcos sits on I-35 about halfway between Austin and San Antonio, and three things drive almost every rental here: Texas State University, the outlet malls and the San Marcos River. Texas State alone had about 44,600 students in fall 2025, which means a constant flow of parents, recruits, visiting teams and graduates' families, most of them flying into AUS.
We deliver to campus, your hotel, an apartment off Aquarena Springs Drive or the AUS arrivals curb, and collect the car there when you're done. Compact sedans start at $98 a day, and the minimum age is 21 with no young-driver surcharge, which matters in a college town.
Our economy fleet in San Marcos
Eight categories, all recent models, all automatic. You reserve the category and we deliver that model or a similar one. Prices per day before multi-day and weekly discounts.
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Toyota Corolla or similar — compact sedan, 5 seats, from $98/day
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Honda Civic or similar — compact sedan, 5 seats, from $98/day
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Honda Accord or similar — mid-size sedan, 5 seats, from $114/day
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Mazda CX-5 or similar — compact SUV, 5 seats, from $114/day
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Hyundai Santa Fe or similar — mid-size SUV, 5 seats, from $131/day
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Jeep Wrangler Sport or similar — 4x4 SUV, 5 seats, from $164/day
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Jeep Grand Cherokee or similar — full-size SUV, 5 seats, from $147/day
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Ford Transit Van or similar — 12-passenger van, 12 seats, from $296/day
See every car in Austin and check availability →
Texas State: move-in, game days and graduation
The busiest weeks in San Marcos follow the Texas State calendar. Move-in in August brings thousands of families hauling bins up the hill. Fall Saturdays bring Bobcat football to UFCU Stadium (Jim Wacker Field), which seats about 28,000. Commencement weekends pack the hotels along I-35.
For move-in, a Hyundai Santa Fe or similar at $131 a day holds four bags plus boxes with the seats folded. If two families are moving roommates in together, the Ford Transit or similar seats 12 with room for 10 bags at $296 a day. Parents in for a game or graduation weekend usually just need a Honda Accord or similar at $114. Book early for graduation, because cars and hotels go fast. If your student also has a sibling at UT, our guide to UT Austin parents weekend and graduation covers the Austin side.
The outlets at exit 200
San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets sit side by side off I-35 at exit 200, with more than 240 stores between them. People drive in from Austin, San Antonio and much farther for a full day of shopping. Together the two centers also employ thousands of people.
For an outlet day, trunk space matters more than horsepower. A Mazda CX-5 or similar at $114 a day fits a family's haul without bags on anyone's lap. Holiday weekends get crowded around exit 200, so come early in the day.
The river: Spring Lake, City Park and Rio Vista
The San Marcos River starts at Spring Lake, on the edge of campus, where the Meadows Center runs glass-bottom boat tours over the springs. Downstream, the classic summer float puts in at City Park, where the Lions Club rents tubes, and runs down to Rio Vista Park's small falls, with a shuttle back to the start. On hot weekends, parking near City Park and Rio Vista fills up fast.
A Jeep Wrangler Sport or similar at $164 a day suits river and lake days. Our Wrangler guide to Texas lakes and the Hill Country has more ideas. Wimberley is about 20 minutes northwest on Ranch Road 12, and New Braunfels and Gruene are about 20 minutes south on I-35.
Working in San Marcos
Beyond the university, San Marcos has a large Amazon operation, the CFAN aerospace composites plant, and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital San Marcos on Wonder World Drive. That brings travel nurses on 13-week contracts, plant contractors and new hires who need a car before they buy one. A Toyota Corolla or similar at $98 a day covers the daily drive, three days or more costs less per day, and monthly rates are quoted by phone; see monthly car rental in Austin. If you live here and your car is in the shop, see replacement car rental.
Downtown San Marcos, around the Hays County courthouse a few blocks south of campus, is where students and locals go for dinner and live music. On game weekends and in the first weeks of the fall semester it is packed, and street parking near the square is hard to find. If you are staying at a hotel out by the interstate, drive in early, park once and walk.
Getting to Austin, San Antonio and the airport
Downtown Austin is about 30 miles north on I-35, roughly 35 to 40 minutes without traffic, and much longer at rush hour or on Friday afternoons. San Antonio is about 50 miles south. AUS is about 34 miles away, roughly 40 minutes. See our AUS airport rental page for how the curbside handover works. Some routes north use toll roads, so ask us how tolls work on your rental.
Neighboring Kyle and Buda are 15 minutes up I-35. For the whole metro, start at the Austin economy rental hub. For a delivery address in San Marcos, call or text 512-851-0490.
How it works
- Book online — pick your dates and your vehicle category
- Tell us where to bring it: hotel, home, office, body shop or the airport
- We confirm by phone within the hour and deliver the car clean and fueled at the time you chose
- When you are done, we collect it from the same place
Where we deliver in San Marcos
Free delivery across San Marcos and the rest of Greater Austin, including:
- Texas State University campus
- UFCU Stadium
- San Marcos Premium Outlets and Tanger Outlets
- Downtown San Marcos square
- Spring Lake and the Meadows Center
- City Park and Rio Vista Park
- CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital San Marcos
- Apartments along Aquarena Springs Drive
AUS is about 34 miles from San Marcos, roughly 40 minutes without traffic, and we meet arrivals at the curb with the car ready.
Daily, weekly and monthly rates
A Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic is $98 a day, a Honda Accord or Mazda CX-5 $114, the Hyundai Santa Fe $131, the Jeep Grand Cherokee $147, the Jeep Wrangler Sport $164 and the 12-seat Ford Transit $296. Delivery is included, and there is no airport concession fee and no facility charge. Three days or more cost less per day and a week less still; for a month or longer call or text 512-851-0490 and we quote the monthly rate directly.
Also serving Greater Austin
We also cover Dallas-Fort Worth and Greater Houston with the same categories and the same prices.
Common questions
Is there a car rental near Texas State University?
We deliver to the Texas State campus, apartments off Aquarena Springs Drive and hotels along I-35, so there's no rental office to find. Delivery and collection are free.
Can I rent a car in San Marcos if I'm 21?
Yes. The minimum age is 21 and there is no young-driver surcharge. You need a valid driver's license and a major credit or debit card.
How much is a car rental in San Marcos, TX?
From $98 a day for a Corolla or Civic class sedan. The Accord and CX-5 are $114, the Santa Fe is $131, the Grand Cherokee is $147, the Wrangler is $164 and the 12-seat Transit is $296. There are no airport concession or facility fees.
Can you deliver a rental car for Texas State move-in or graduation?
Yes, to campus, your hotel or the AUS arrivals curb. Those weekends book up early, so call or text 512-851-0490 as soon as you have dates.
Can I get a car for a 13-week travel nurse contract in San Marcos?
Yes. Weekly rentals cost less per day, and monthly rates are quoted directly by phone.
How far is San Marcos from the Austin airport?
About 34 miles, roughly 40 minutes without traffic. We meet you at the AUS arrivals curb and you drive south on your own schedule.
Book your car in San Marcos
Pick your vehicle and dates online, or call or text 512-851-0490 and we will sort it out in a couple of minutes. Browse the Austin fleet →
