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Photograph illustrating Should You Rent a Jeep in Key West?

Vehicle Types

Should You Rent a Jeep in Key West?

Open-top Jeeps are the signature Keys rental. They are also hotter, louder, and harder to park. An honest look at the trade-offs.

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By Key West Car Rental Editorial Team
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Quick answer

Should you rent a Jeep in Key West?

Rent a Jeep if the open-air drive is part of the holiday and you are heading up the Keys. If you are mostly in Old Town, a compact car costs less and parks far more easily.

Rent a car if you are

  • Couples wanting a top-down drive over the bridges
  • Groups with beach and snorkel gear
  • Visitors doing multiple Keys day trips

You can probably skip it if

  • Old Town-only visitors squeezing into tight spaces
  • Budget travellers - Jeeps carry a premium
  • Anyone leaving valuables in a soft-top vehicle

A Jeep is worth it for the bridges, not for Old Town parking.

Estimated reading time
5 min read
Last reviewed
Last reviewed

Jeep or compact car?

  • Driving the Keys

    1. Planning bridge drives and beach days?

    2. Want the open-air experience

    Recommended

    A Jeep is worth the premium.

  • Old Town only

    1. Staying in Old Town?

    2. Tight street parking

    Not needed

    Choose a compact car - or no car at all.

  • Watching the budget

    1. Cost is the deciding factor?

    2. Same seats needed

    It depends

    Book a convertible or compact and save the difference.

30-second summary

  • Jeeps command a $20-$50 per-day premium over compacts.
  • Soft tops are less secure - never leave valuables inside.
  • Four-wheel drive is unnecessary; the Keys are flat and paved.
  • Great for the Overseas Highway, awkward in Old Town spaces.
  • Book early in season - Jeep inventory is the first to sell out.

Vehicle choice compared

  • Jeep

    $95-$170 per day

    Fun
    Cost
    Space
    Parking

    Best for: Open-air Keys drives

  • Convertible

    $85-$150 per day

    Fun
    Cost
    Space
    Parking

    Best for: Couples chasing sunsets

  • Compact car

    $55-$90 per day

    Fun
    Cost
    Space
    Parking

    Best for: Old Town parking and value

  • Golf cart

    $100-$180 per day

    Fun
    Cost
    Space
    Parking

    Best for: Island-only cruising

Best for

  • Couples on a scenic drive
  • Groups with gear
  • Keys day trips
  • Old Town-only stays
  • Budget travellers

01

The appeal is real

With the roof off, the drive across the Seven Mile Bridge becomes the highlight of the trip rather than the transfer between highlights. For a single day trip up the Keys, few vehicles are more enjoyable.

02

The trade-offs

Before booking one, weigh these against the photos:

  • Sun exposure is intense. Bring hats, sunscreen, and water, and expect a windy, loud cabin at highway speed.
  • Afternoon storms arrive quickly in summer. Know how to put the roof up before you need to.
  • Nothing left inside is secure with the roof off, and luggage is visible.
  • Fuel economy is worse than a comparable car, and rates are typically higher.
  • Old Town parking spaces are tight for a larger Jeep.

03

A reasonable compromise

If your trip is mostly on-island with one excursion, rent a Jeep or convertible for the excursion day and walk or cycle the rest of the time. You get the drive you came for without paying premium rates for a vehicle sitting in a parking space.

Reviewed by

Key West Car Rental Editorial Team

This guide is regularly reviewed to help visitors make informed transportation decisions while visiting Key West.

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