Fetch your luggage, exit the arrivals hall at Birmingham Airport (BHX), and pick up your rental car. Which one you drive off in depends on where you’re headed. If you’ll be spending most of your time driving in downtown Birmingham, around 7 miles from the terminal, go for something zippy and small. A compact car that’s fuel-efficient will be ideal for those busy streets. But with a smorgasbord of things to see, like the stunning rocky coastlines of the surrounding area, you may want to make a few pit stops. A larger vehicle, like a full-size car or an SUV, will make longer road trips a joy.