Galveston - car rental/hotel

We are flying into Dallas a few days early, then driving a rental to Galveston on Sat for Sunday cruise. I see that Enterprise is the only car rental company available on the island, and is charging a drop fee for the one way rental. I prefer Alamo, but would use anyone that's not going to gouge me. I do not need to stay right at the port the night before, but would like to be relatively close.

How far away would I have to stay to be able to conveniently use a different rental car company? Preferably close enough that it's convenient on Sunday to return the car and get to the port.

Suggestions?

I would say from Dallas you'll probably have a drop off from anyone. Why not fly from Dallas to Houston and then take a shuttle to Galveston?

There's a budget rent a car on I45 in Texas City that Uber quoted $20 from there to the Port of Galveston

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Why not fly from Dallas to Houston and then take a shuttle to Galveston?

I hadn't considered that. Not a bad idea. Thanks

I hadn't considered that. Not a bad idea. Thanks

And use Southwest from Love Field to Hobby. You'll be much closer to Galveston once you land at Hobby.

Southwest is currently $106 pp (x3). I'd save $160 on the Enterprise rental and a few hours drive, not counting the additional shuttle cost to the seaport. Does Southwest seem to drop much lower?