The lead times, the weekends that sell out, and the questions to ask before you reserve.
Summer travel from western Wisconsin is heating up. Family reunions, road trips out west, lake cabins, weddings, sports tournaments — the calendar fills fast. At Riverside Auto Rental, the independent, family-owned car rental in Black River Falls since 1983, we get the same question a lot in late May and early June: "How far ahead do I really need to book?" Here's the honest answer.
For peak summer weekends, our fleet sells out. We're not a national chain that can shuffle vehicles between airport lots overnight — what we have on the lot is what we have. Lead times vary by vehicle:
| Vehicle | Peak Weekend Lead Time | Off-Peak Lead Time |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Passenger Van | 4–6 weeks | 1–2 weeks |
| 7-Passenger Minivan | 3–4 weeks | 1 week |
| SUV (Ford Edge) | 3–4 weeks | 1 week |
| Full-Size Car | 2–3 weeks | 3–5 days |
| Intermediate Car | 1–2 weeks | 2–3 days |
"Peak" means any summer weekend with a holiday, a regional event, or graduation/wedding pull. "Off-peak" means a regular Tuesday-to-Thursday in mid-July.
From our 40+ years booking summer rentals in this market, the weekends that consistently book out earliest are:
Before booking, work out the trip in two steps: how many people, and how many miles.
| Trip | People | Best Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Long road trip out west | 2–4 | Full-Size, Unlimited Mileage |
| Gear-heavy trip or shoulder-season getaway | 2–5 | SUV (Ford Edge), Unlimited Mileage |
| Family of 5 to a lake cabin | 5–6 | 7-Passenger Minivan, weekly rate |
| Family reunion or wedding shuttle | 8–15 | 15-Passenger Van, weekly rate |
| Short local trip, in-state | 2–4 | Intermediate, Local rate (under 100 mi/day) |
| Youth sports tournament travel | 6–14 | Minivan or 15-passenger, depends on team size |
For the deeper analysis, see car vs. van rental.
Most summer renters drive in from nearby — we regularly serve travelers from Tomah, Sparta, and Warrens, all within about 30 minutes.
Booking a rental goes faster when you know these five things up front:
For summer vacations, more rentals than people realize cross the weekly-rate breakeven point. The math:
Full breakdown in our daily vs. weekly post.
Our hours:
For Sunday or holiday pickups/returns, set those up during the week. We're flexible with appointment-based timing when it's planned ahead.
Same checklist as any rental. See the first-timer's guide if you need detail.
For peak summer weekends: 4–6 weeks for 15-passenger vans, 3–4 weeks for minivans and the SUV (only two in the fleet), 2–3 weeks for full-size cars, 1–2 weeks for intermediate cars. Off-peak weekdays book closer to the date.
Vans typically sell out 5–6 weeks ahead of July 4. Cars usually have availability up to 1–2 weeks out. If you know you need a van for the holiday, reserve as soon as the dates are firm.
Yes, subject to availability. Call us as soon as plans shift — the earlier we know, the easier it is to accommodate the change without losing your vehicle.
For most summer vacations longer than 5 days with real driving miles, the weekly rate wins on both price and simplicity (unlimited mileage included). For short trips of 1–3 days, daily is cheaper.
No — we're an independent local rental, so all rentals return to our Black River Falls lot. For one-way needs, a national chain at the Eau Claire or La Crosse airport is the right fit.
The kickoff to summer travel: cabin trips, lake weekends, and family gatherings.
Pricing tiers with the math — especially relevant for week-long summer rentals.
Side-by-side breakdown of cars, minivans, and 15-passenger vans.
Dates, headcount, miles, and where you're headed — we'll match you to the right vehicle and the right rate.
Call 715-396-1466