Transportation options for resort vacations: How to Get Around

posted on October 18, 2026

Planning a tropical escape to Miami or an alpine retreat to the Rocky Mountains? While most major US resorts offer on-property shuttles and buses into the local town, it’s important to consider your transportation options for resort vacations.

In many cases, renting a car is the most convenient way to get around, set your schedule, and keep the whole group together from the airport to your resort and back again. With your own car, you’re not limited to the resort grounds and can easily visit hidden beaches or far-flung hiking trails, without the hassle of tour buses.

Whether you’re visiting a Disney theme park, hitting the slopes, or heading to the coast, discover how your transportation options stack up when planning a resort vacation.

In this guide:

What to consider when choosing resort transportation

Picking the best transportation option for your resort vacation comes down to your budget, destination, group size, and ideal itinerary. The right mode of transportation needs to suit your travel style and the group you’re traveling with. Keep in mind that not all resorts are created equal: some will offer complimentary shuttles into town, while others will require you to book and pay for your own transportation.

Here’s what to consider when choosing your transportation options:

Budget: Cost-conscious travelers will be better suited to resorts with transportation included, or to destinations with public transportation, while travelers with a healthy budget can splurge on ridesharing apps.
Location: Consider how close the resort is to local parks, beaches, or ski slopes. If you’re happy to lounge around the pool most days, an occasional free shuttle might work. But if you want to explore nearby towns and secluded beaches, a rental car is a convenient option (especially if the resort isn’t within walking distance of nearby attractions).
Flexibility: If you’re on a tight schedule, waiting in bus lines at peak times is the last thing you want to do on vacation. Consider a mode of transportation where you can set your own schedule and control exactly when and where you stop.
Group size: Large families and bigger groups often bring plenty of luggage and gear (especially on ski trips to mountain resorts). Securing a large rental car gives you plenty of cargo space and the convenience of traveling as one group. Plus, sharing a rental car is often cheaper for groups than buying individual public transit tickets.
Seasonal factors: Keep in mind that booking a rental car in advance is recommended during peak season; it’s the best way to guarantee a wide selection of vehicles and avoid last-minute peak pricing.

Resort transportation options, including Turo rental cars, shuttle buses. — Free shuttles can save you money, but they won’t take you on a scenic detour or to a last-minute dinner in town. Consider your luggage, seasonal road conditions, and travel plans before choosing your ride.

Transportation options for resort vacations: Compared

Renting a car, relying on resort shuttles, or using rideshare services are some of the main transportation options available for resort vacations. Each option comes with pros and cons: shuttle buses can be free but run on a limited schedule, while ridesharing gets you door-to-door but costs can add up fast. As a resort guest, check what options are available at your destination so you can make an informed transportation decision based on your resort’s location, walkability, and connectivity.

Option	Typical cost	Flexibility	Best for	Considerations
Rental car	$$	High	Exploring beyond the resort, groups, families	Widest freedom on schedule and route; parking may apply at some resorts
Resort shuttles	Free-$	Low	On-property stays with little off-site exploring	Fixed schedules and routes; long waits during peak times
Rideshare services	$$-$$$	Medium	Short, occasional trips	Costs add up fast over a multi-day trip; availability can be unpredictable in remote resort areas
Taxis	$$$	Medium	Airport transfers, major resort hubs	Reliable in main hubs, but pricier and harder to find outside them
Public transportation	$	Low	A handful of well-connected beach/city resort towns	Limited or nonexistent in most resort areas
Walking	Free	Very low	Staying entirely on-property	Doesn’t help once you want to explore beyond the resort

Why renting a car is the best option for most resort vacations

From mountain lodges to beachside towns, rental cars tend to be the most flexible, convenient way to get around during a resort vacation. Booking a rental car means you can venture off-property to nearby restaurants, hiking trails, and towns that public transportation won’t reach. You can arrive early to beat the crowds or stay late to catch sunset, and pick up snacks and supplies that easily fit in the trunk.

Here’s why travelers choose to book rental cars for resort vacations:

Set your own schedule: There’s no waiting for shuttle buses or rideshare pickups. If you’re traveling with kids, big groups, or plenty of luggage, securing your own set of wheels gives you control over your vacation (and a smoother journey to the airport to catch that early morning flight).
Cost savings: Renting a car is often more cost-effective than adding up multiple rideshare trips over a multi-day stay. If you’re traveling with the whole family or multiple couples, splitting the cost of a rental car can be a cheaper option (especially if you’re booking a long-term rental; many listings offer discounts for bookings of one month or more).
Wide selection of vehicles: On Turo, you’ll find a huge variety of rental car makes and models suited to all kinds of resort vacations. Book an SUV with roof racks for your next ski trip or a convertible for a tropical summer escape to the Florida Keys.
Convenient delivery options: Want a more relaxing start to your resort vacation? Use Turo’s custom delivery options to get your car delivered straight to your hotel, your resort, or the airport terminal. This lets you skip crowded shuttle buses, rigid bus or train schedules, and expensive ridesharing services.

Travelers loading luggage into Turo rental car outside a mountain resort, with a shuttle bus nearby. — The shuttle runs on its schedule, but your vacation doesn’t have to. Pack your bags, take the wheel, and explore mountain roads at your own pace. Rent on Turo and make every detour an adventure.

Skip the shuttle, book your ride

Getting from the airport to your resort

Want to hit the road straight after you land at the airport? The main ways to get from the airport to your resort include: coordinating an airport shuttle, taking a taxi or rideshare trip, or picking up your rental car on arrival. Overall, getting your rental car delivered to the airport tends to offer the smoothest start to your vacation and means you’ll have your own vehicle throughout the trip.

Let’s compare these three airport-to-resort transit options in more detail:

Airport shuttles: Shared and private shuttles run between the airport and many resorts, and some resorts include them for guests. They’re simple to book, but you’ll be working around set schedules and extra stops, and late flights can leave you waiting.
Rideshare or taxi trips: These are handy when you just need a ride from the terminal to check-in. Wait times and costs can climb at busy hours, and you’ll need to book another ride every time you want to leave the property.
Picking up a rental car at the airport: Grab your keys and go, with no transfer to wait for. You’ll have your own wheels for the whole trip, which makes market runs and day trips easy. Many rental cars on Turo offer airport pickup or delivery, so check the listing for your options.

Family collecting a Turo rental SUV at an airport before their resort vacation. — Touchdown, bags collected, and vacation mode activated! With airport car delivery on Turo, pick up your keys, load your luggage, and head straight to your resort. No shuttle lines or waiting around.

Transportation options by popular US resort destinations

The destination you’re visiting affects which transportation option is the top choice. Browse these popular US resort destinations to see which mode of transportion is likely to be best suited to your upcoming vacation.

Orlando theme park resorts

Nearest airport: Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Vacation season tip: Summer and school holidays are busiest, and afternoon storms are common, so build some flexibility into your park days.
Best mode of transportation: Resort transportation on park days, plus a rental car for everything else.

Not all resorts are created equal when it comes to getting around. Resort guests at Orlando’s Walt Disney World get complimentary bus service to the four theme parks and Disney Springs, but what else you get depends on your resort location:

Bus transportation: The baseline at most resorts, though wait times can be longer the closer you get to the park closing.
Monorail transportation: The monorail loop connects Magic Kingdom with Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, and a second line runs between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Epcot.
Disney Skyliner: Gondolas link Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Riviera Resort.
Boat transportation and water taxis: Select resorts have boat service to the parks and Disney Springs, and Disney’s Beach Club Resort is a short stroll from Epcot.

Universal Orlando Resort has its own shuttles for guests, too.

So where does a rental car fit in? For starters, it lets you skip the bus line after park closing and makes Disney Springs and non-Disney dining a quick drive away. Locals know that Winter Park and Lake Eola are well worth a detour, and day trips like Kennedy Space Center are easy with your own wheels.

Resort shuttle bus and rental car transportation options for theme park visitors. — Theme parks by shuttle, Orlando by car! Enjoy the convenience of resort buses on park days and a Turo rental for family dinners, shopping trips, and spontaneous detours beyond the Disney bubble.

Las Vegas resorts

Nearest airport: Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Vacation season tip: Spring and fall are the most comfortable. Summer heat is intense, so plan outdoor day trips for early morning.
Best mode of transportation: Walking and the monorail on the Strip, plus a rental car for day trips.

The Las Vegas Strip is walkable in sections and served by a monorail, so you can leave the car parked on a night out. The best sights in Nevada are outside the neon lights of Las Vegas, though. A rental car gets you to Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam, and it opens up day trips toward the Grand Canyon. Guided tours are an option, but your own car lets you set the schedule. It also saves you from relying on rideshare for every trip off-property, and after a late night of Vegas nightlife you’re not tied to shuttle times.

In our experience, mornings are the sweet spot at Red Rock Canyon before the heat builds. Check your resort’s parking policy before you book, since parking and valet charges vary.

Myrtle Beach and coastal resort towns

Nearest airport: Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
Vacation season tip: Summer is peak season, so book early. May and September bring lighter crowds and still-warm weather.
Best mode of transportation: Rental car.

Public transportation is limited in most beach resort towns, and Myrtle Beach is no exception. The Grand Strand stretches for miles along the coast, so a car makes it easy to move between beaches, golf courses and restaurants. Think shopping and dining at Broadway at the Beach, the sculpture gardens at Brookgreen Gardens, and seafood in Murrells Inlet. Locals know to head out early on summer weekends, when the most popular beaches fill up fast. The same goes for other coastal resort areas, like the Outer Banks or Gulf Shores, where the best sights and quieter stretches of sand are a drive away from your resort.

Travelers unloading beach gear from a rental SUV near a coastal boardwalk. — Who says a beach date needs a plan? Pack your beach towels and snacks, cruise along Myrtle Beach in a car booked on Turo, and stop for fresh seafood in Murrells Inlet when hunger strikes.

Ski resort towns

Nearest airport: Depends on the resort: Denver (DEN) for Keystone and Copper Mountain, Salt Lake City (SLC) for Park City, Eagle County (EGE) for Vail, Aspen/Pitkin County (ASE) for Aspen
Vacation season tip: Ski season generally runs from late fall to early spring. Holiday weeks are the busiest, so book your car early. If you’re looking for snowbird transportation, renting a car for a month or more tends to be most cost-effective and convenient.
Best mode of transportation: Free in-town shuttles for the village, plus a rental car with all-wheel drive and snow-ready tires for the mountain roads.

Many ski towns, including Park City, Aspen and Vail, have free in-town shuttles that make hopping around the village easy. What they rarely do is reach neighboring towns or other resorts. A rental car opens up multi-resort trips, like pairing Keystone with Copper Mountain in Colorado, plus nearby dining and shopping. Winter roads call for some prep, so look for a vehicle with all-wheel drive and snow-ready tires for snowy mountain roads, and check the listing for what’s included. In our experience, mountain roads can slow down on snowy weekend mornings, so leave extra time.

Desert resort destinations

Nearest airport: Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) for Palm Springs, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) for Scottsdale
Vacation season tip: Winter into spring is peak season, when temperatures are mild. Summer heat is extreme, so run errands and scenic drives early or late in the day.
Best mode of transportation: Rental car with strong A/C.

Palm Springs and Scottsdale are spread out, so walking between resorts, golf courses and restaurants isn’t practical. A car is close to essential if you want to see more than the resort property. From Scottsdale, Sedona Red Rock Country makes a memorable day trip on paved scenic roads. From Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park is within easy reach. Air conditioning and a comfortable cabin matter more here than almost any other resort location.

SUV rental outside a desert resort. — With resorts, restaurants, and desert sights spread across Palm Springs, an SUV makes getting around a breeze. Find your ride on Turo, venture out to Joshua Tree, and discover more at your own pace.

Rental car features to look for on a resort vacation

The right rental car can make a resort vacation a whole lot smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s what to look for when comparing car features, based on the type of resort you’re visiting.

Winter and ski resorts

All-wheel drive: Helps with traction on snowy mountain roads. A Subaru Outback or Toyota RAV4, for example, is a popular pick.
Snow-ready tires: Helpful on mountain roads in winter, so check the vehicle listing for tire details before you book (or filter by “snow tires” to narrow down your search).
Roof rack and cargo space: Skis, boots and bags take up more room than you’d think. Look for roof rails or a rack, plus space inside for your gear.
Heated seats and remote start: A nice luxury after a long day on the slopes.
A manageable size: Village streets and resort lots can be tight, so a compact SUV is often easier to park than a full-size.

All-wheel-drive SUV rental with roof-mounted skis and heated seats for winter ski resort vacations on Turo. — After a day on the slopes, heated seats and a cozy ride back to your resort are hard to beat. Browse Turo and filter by make, AWD, snow tires, and more to find a car suited for your winter getaway.

Beach and desert resorts

Strong air conditioning: Desert heat and coastal humidity are no joke, so look for a cabin that cools down fast.
Trunk space: Luggage, beach chairs and a cooler add up quickly, so a midsize sedan or SUV can make packing easier.
Convertible or sunroof: For example, a Ford Mustang convertible turns a scenic drive along the coast or through the desert into part of the vacation.
EV charging: A Tesla Model Y is a great pick for a quiet, low-fuss ride.
Room for the group: Traveling with car seats or a group of friends? A three-row SUV like a Ford Explorer or Chevrolet Tahoe offers everyone space.

Electric car charging and convertible rental for beach and desert resort vacations on Turo. — Your resort might be the destination, but getting there can be half the fun. Explore the Turo marketplace for a Tesla or Mustang convertible, find a car that suits your plans, and enjoy the scenic route.

Find your vacation wheels

Frequently asked questions about resort vacation transportation

Do I need a rental car for a resort vacation?

For most resort vacations, a rental car is helpful. If you’re staying entirely on-property, shuttles and walking might be enough. If you want to explore nearby towns, restaurants and attractions, or you’re traveling with kids, luggage or a group, a rental car gives you far more freedom.

Is it cheaper to rent a car or use rideshare at a resort?

It depends on how often you leave the resort. For one or two short trips, rideshare can be the better value. Over a multi-day stay, though, those rides add up quickly, and a rental car is often the more cost-effective option, especially when you’re splitting it between a group. Check your resort’s parking policy, too, since parking fees vary.

What transportation is included at Walt Disney World resorts?

Resort guests at select Walt Disney World resorts get complimentary bus service to the four theme parks and Disney Springs. Depending on your resort, you may also have monorail transportation, the Disney Skyliner or boat transportation. Check what your specific resort offers before you book.

Do ski resorts have free shuttle service?

Many do, but coverage varies. Ski towns like Park City, Aspen and Vail have free in-town shuttles that cover the village and base areas. However, these shuttles rarely reach neighboring towns or other resorts, so a rental car is convenient if you want to ski more than one mountain during your stay.

Rent a car for your next resort vacation with Turo

Want to venture beyond the resort property? Renting a car gives you the freedom to explore on your own schedule, whether that’s a day trip from the Las Vegas Strip or a drive to the next ski town over.

With Turo, you can choose from a wide range of vehicles, from an all-wheel drive SUV for snowy mountain roads to a convertible for a coastal cruise. Many listings offer airport pickup or delivery, so you can hit the road as soon as you land.

Ready to plan your resort vacation? Find your perfect rental car and make the most of every moment.

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Lucinda Starr

Lucinda Starr is a travel and automotive writer with 5+ years of firsthand experience road-tripping across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. She writes road trip guides for Turo, drawing on her experience behind the wheel to share practical insights on long-distance drives, destinations, and vehicles. Her travels have taken her across Australia’s East Coast, Victoria’s Great Ocean Road, the Northern Rivers, Byron Bay, and both islands of New Zealand. One of her most memorable journeys was an 11-day, 2,600+ km route from Auckland to Punakaiki and Queenstown. Lucinda has a particular passion for classic, rugged 4WD vehicles and the freedom they bring to exploring new places.

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