Best Way to Plan this trip - Car Rental - MiLB Roadtrip

Question

Hi,

Coming into town this August to see the Savannah Bananas - already have tickets. We are Texas Rangers fans so while in the area we want to hit up the affiliated MiLB teams, so Hickory Crawdads, NC and the new Spartanburg Burgers in SC. Trip will be husband and wife 30s, planning on renting a car, can't deicide whether to make this a round trip in and out of Savannah, or maybe fly out of Charlotte, NC or even Charleston, SC - it will be a pretty whirlwind trip which we are fine with. I've been to both Savannah and Charleston before, my husband has never been to this side of the country before!

What we are thinking so far:

Fly in Wednesday, spend the day exploring Savannah.

Thursday: Savannah game

Friday: pick up rental car from Savannah Airport, drive 4h30 to Hickory. Want to hit their Friday night game as they have fireworks

Sat: Drive 90mins to Spartanburg, Baseball in evening.

Sunday: then its this day I can't decide which way to go. ???

Option 1: Drive 3hr30 back to Savannah, evening flight home. Concerns about long drive, getting stuck in traffic ??

Option 2: Drive 1hr to Charlotte to fly home, would have to pay higher car rental fees, as would be one way rental, from what I have figured an extra $150

Option 3: Drive 3hrs to Charleston, would spend the night to explore Charleston. Return car on Sunday. One way rental would be an extra $200. Plus extra night in hotel.

Flight options are all the same cost roughly, no difference.

The only thing I'm not an 100% on, the car rental through Hertz, as it's a one way rental, states 0 miles included, 30c each extra mile, it seems to estimated mileage and automatically adds on what they think you will drive, then I'm assuming if you go over they will charge the 30c a mile, and if you're under, they will adjust it. So for the Charlotte rental, it seems about right, for Charleston we would probably go over their estimate, but I calculated that in the figures above. - Am I understanding this correctly?

Otherwise I can go through Costco Travel, if we choose to do a one way rental, it goes through Alamo, Charlotte would only be an addlt $20, whereas Charleston $140 for unlimited miles. Though, I have never used Costco Travel. I'm accustom to booking directly with Hertz.

Thoughts? Ideas?

Many thanks

Answer

It sounds like you have an exciting MiLB road trip planned! Here’s a breakdown of your options and some thoughts to help you decide the best way to wrap up your trip. Your three options all have their pros and cons, so let’s take a closer look:

Option 1: Drive back to Savannah for evening flight

This is the most straightforward option, as it keeps everything contained within the original itinerary. You would drive back to Savannah from Spartanburg, which is about a 3.5-hour drive, and catch your flight from Savannah that evening.

Pros: No extra rental car fees for one-way rentals; you’ve already planned to fly in and out of Savannah, so it feels like a more seamless, cohesive trip. You don’t have to worry about extra night accommodations.
Cons: The drive back could be tiring, especially after a long weekend of travel and baseball. Additionally, there could be traffic as you approach Savannah, especially with the Saturday-to-Sunday transition and folks heading back home from weekend getaways.

Option 2: Drive to Charlotte and fly home

Charlotte is only about 1.5 hours from Spartanburg, so this could be a convenient option if you want to avoid the longer drive back to Savannah.

Pros: Short drive from Spartanburg to Charlotte, which means less time spent on the road. If you’ve never been to Charlotte, you could consider adding a brief stop there to explore or grab a meal before your flight.
Cons: The higher car rental fee for a one-way rental ($150 more) is a definite downside. You’ll also need to navigate Charlotte’s airport, which might be a bit busier than Savannah, and you’ll be returning the car at a different location than planned. However, you can save on time since the drive to Charlotte is shorter.

Option 3: Drive to Charleston, stay the night, and return car

If you’re interested in spending a little extra time in Charleston, this could be a great option. The drive from Spartanburg to Charleston is about 3 hours, and you’d have the rest of Sunday to explore Charleston before your evening flight.

Pros: Charleston is a beautiful city to visit, and spending a night there could be a great way to round off your trip. You could enjoy some sightseeing, have a leisurely dinner, and make the most of your time in the Lowcountry.
Cons: The one-way rental fee ($200) is a bit steep, and you’d also incur the cost of an extra night’s hotel stay. Additionally, you’ll have to factor in the cost of the higher rental fee and more miles. But if Charleston is on your bucket list, this could be a good excuse to experience it.

About the car rental fees:

Your understanding of Hertz's one-way rental policy is correct. The 0 miles included means they estimate how far you’ll drive and charge accordingly if you go over. It’s important to check the estimated mileage closely, as driving more than expected could result in additional charges. If you're looking for a more predictable pricing model, using Costco Travel for a rental from Alamo could offer a better deal, especially for Charleston (where the unlimited miles could be a better option). It’s worth considering if you’re planning to drive more than expected.

Overall suggestions:

If you’re comfortable with the extra cost and want to visit Charleston, Option 3 gives you a nice break from driving and an extra destination to enjoy.
If you prefer a more straightforward, cost-effective option and don’t mind the drive back, Option 1 could be ideal, especially if you’re trying to minimize extra rental costs.
If you're more interested in saving time on the road and don’t mind paying a little more for a shorter drive, Option 2 could be a good middle ground.

Ultimately, it depends on whether you’re looking for a little extra adventure (Charleston) or prefer to keep things simple with the easiest logistics (Savannah). Either way, it sounds like a fun trip! Have a great time at the games!