Do You Need a Rental Car in Key West?

Key West is roughly four miles long and two miles wide, and the historic district where most visitors spend their time is smaller still. If your plan is Duval Street, Mallory Square, the beaches at Higgs and Fort Zachary Taylor, and a sunset sail, you can do the whole trip on foot, by bicycle, or with the occasional taxi.

A rental car earns its keep the moment you want to leave the island. Day trips to Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key's National Key Deer Refuge, or Marathon are only practical with your own vehicle, because the bus service along the Keys is infrequent and slow.

Consider renting if any of the following apply to your trip:

Skip the car if you are staying in a guesthouse in Old Town for two or three nights and have no plans to leave the island. Parking is the deciding factor: many historic properties have no on-site spaces, street parking is metered or permit-only, and a car you cannot park becomes a daily expense that adds nothing.

A common middle path is to rent for a single day mid-trip. You keep the walkable holiday and still get the drive up the Keys, and you avoid paying for parking on the days you do not need a vehicle.

Bicycles and electric scooters are widely available and suit the flat, short distances of the island. The Duval Loop is a free bus circulating through the historic district, and taxis and rideshare cover the airport run. For a single excursion up the Keys, some visitors book a guided tour instead of driving.