We are in the midst of planning a road trip along the Blues Highway - Chicago to New Orleans. In order to do it up properly we will need to rent a car one way. Has anyone got any suggestions for the least expensive way of doing this?

I just saw in Sunday's NY Times Travel Section that Hertz needed people to run cars back to the Northeast from Florida. I know that New Orleans is not Florida, nor is Chicago the northeast but if you don't mind going a little out of your way (or a lot!) then this might work for you. The article listed a code to give to the reservations agent but you might get the help you need by asking a Hertz agent.

Usually this happens twice a year - when the tourist seasons change and the car rental companies are looking for a cheap way to reposition a lot of vehicles to where they'll be busiest. Typically your only choices are Northeast to Florida in the fall and florida to the Northeast in the spring.

Have never heard of them doing this to New Orleans - since many tourists don;t rent cars there.

Sometimes people moving a long distance are willling to have someone drive their car for them rather than pay shipping - perhaps the NO Chamber of Commerce would know companies looking for drivers.

Lenore....An Intermediate size car will run about $475 with Dollar up to $650 with Avis, but at least with unlimited mileage.These rates include the drop fee and local fees and the rate is for one week rental.Full size car will be $50 to $75 higher.

One thing I've discovered is that with Avis if are able to pick up the car from a small town (small Avis counter) the price is MUCH better for one ways. Dropping off in New Orleans won't matter. I think it has to do with how easy or difficult it is to move cars in the lesser locations.

You really want to watch out for "drop off" rates! The prices initially look cheap but then they tack on a hundred $$ or so when you drop the car off. AVIS is especially known for this. I just got a really good one way deal with Hertz!

With Hertz and Avis, check the rates from the airports in chicago as well as the rates from their downtown locations...they can vary widely.

Coincidentally, when I rented a car at NOLA airport for an extended 1 way road trip, I noticed that there were many SUVs that had out of state license plates and only a few registered in LA. Also, National rental car seems to have the lowest one way penalties.

Wow, thanks for all of the info. I'm leaning towards picking up in a smaller centre (frankly driving through Chicago kind of scares me anyways). We've got a while to plan this trip so I can take some time in looking.