Getting Around Key West: Bikes, Scooters, and Golf Carts

One of the best things about Key West is how little effort it takes to get around. This is a tiny island, two miles by four, pancake-flat, and crammed with character, which means the single best mode of transport is often your own two feet. But you’ve got options, plenty of them, from breezy bike rides and zippy scooters to family-friendly golf carts and good old Uber. The trick is matching the mode to your trip, and knowing a few local quirks (like what happened to the famous Duval Loop bus) before you arrive.

This honest guide breaks down every way to get around Old Town, what each costs, the rules you need to know, and which option is best for whom. Pair it with our Key West parking guide and our taxi, rideshare, and transit guide for the full picture, and start with our getting to Key West guide for how to reach the island in the first place.

§ 02

Do You Need a Car in Key West?

Short answer: for Old Town, almost certainly not. The island is so small and walkable that a car is mostly a liability, you’ll spend more time hunting for scarce, expensive parking than actually driving. The only times a car genuinely helps are if you’re staying well outside Old Town, planning grocery runs, or taking a day trip up the Keys to places like Bahia Honda State Park. For a typical Old Town vacation, you can walk, bike, hop a golf cart, or call a rideshare and never miss having a car. If you do drive down, plan to park it and leave it; our parking guide explains where.

§ 03

Why Key West Is So Walkable

Key West proper is roughly two miles by four, and the tourist heart, Old Town, is even more compact. The whole island can be walked end to end in about an hour, and the streets are flat as a tabletop, shaded by tropical canopy, and lined with the gingerbread houses and historic buildings you came to see. Walking isn’t just practical here; it’s a pleasure and arguably the best way to actually experience the island’s quirks, the roaming roosters, the hidden lanes, the front-porch cats. For getting from your hotel to Duval, to dinner, to Mallory Square for sunset, your feet will usually do just fine.

§ 04

Biking Key West: The Best Way to Get Around

If you want to cover more ground than walking allows, rent a bike, it’s what the locals do, and it’s the best value going. Key West is genuinely bike-friendly, with bike lanes on most streets, racks everywhere, and zero parking stress. Rentals typically run about $15 to $25 a day, with weekly discounts, from shops like Eaton Bikes, We-Cycle, A&M Rentals, and others, many of which deliver to your hotel. On a bike you can zip from Old Town to the beaches at Smathers or Fort Zachary Taylor in minutes, beat the parking problem entirely, and feel the breeze the whole way. For most able-bodied visitors, a bike is the sweet spot of speed, cost, and fun.

§ 05

Scooter and Moped Rentals in Key West

Scooters and mopeds are a quintessential Key West experience, fast, fun, and great for covering the whole island, and one of the most-searched ways to get around. Rentals run roughly $35 to $55 a day for a single-rider scooter, with multi-day discounts and free hotel delivery at many shops like A&M Rentals, Sunshine Scooters, and Pirate Scooter Rentals. You’ll need a valid driver’s license, and shops generally require renters to be at least 18. The good news on licensing: most rental scooters are 50cc or under, which Florida classifies as a “moped,” so a regular driver’s license is enough, no motorcycle endorsement needed. They’re a blast on a sunny day and let you range out to the beaches and quieter corners with ease.

§ 06

Scooter Rules, Licenses, and Safety

A few rules and a serious safety note. By Florida law, helmets are required for riders under 16; riders 16 and up on a compliant moped aren’t legally required to wear one, but you absolutely should, and some rental shops require helmets for everyone. Scooters can’t be ridden on sidewalks, must obey all traffic signals, and can’t park in residential car spaces. Now the honest part: scooter and moped accidents are genuinely common in Key West. The streets are narrow and busy, pedestrians step off curbs without looking, golf carts and cars share the road, and many riders are unfamiliar with the bike. Go slow, wear a helmet, avoid the Duval crowds, never ride after drinking, and treat the whole island like the unpredictable place it is. Ridden carefully, a scooter is a joy; ridden recklessly, it’s the fastest way to end your vacation early.

§ 07

Electric Golf Cart Rentals: Best for Families and Groups

For families and groups of four to six, the electric golf cart is the Key West vehicle of choice. These street-legal “cruisers” (officially low-speed vehicles) seat four, six, or even eight people, offer shade and easy seating, and are perfect for hauling beach gear or kids around Old Town at a relaxed pace. They’re the priciest rental option, typically $150 to $250 or more per day depending on size and season, but split among a group, the cost is reasonable, and the convenience is real. Rental companies abound, and many deliver to your hotel. If you’re traveling with little ones, see our Key West with kids guide; a golf cart often makes the whole trip easier.

§ 08

Golf Cart Laws: Where You Can and Can’t Drive

Golf carts come with their own rules. You need a valid driver’s license, and most shops require renters to be 21 or older (sometimes 25). The carts are street-legal only on roads posted at 35 mph or under, which covers nearly all of Old Town, but they’re prohibited on US-1 / the Overseas Highway and the bridges, so you can’t take one out of town. Top speeds are around 20 to 25 mph, seatbelts are required, and some carts are daytime-only unless specially equipped. Stick to Old Town’s quiet streets and you’ll be fine; just don’t try to drive one to the beach up the Keys.

§ 09

The Duval Loop and Key West Rides: Public Transit in 2026

Here’s where most travel guides are out of date, so pay attention. For years, the Duval Loop was a beloved free city bus that circled Old Town, and you’ll still see it described that way all over the internet. But as of 2026, the free Duval Loop has been suspended (a fare was added in mid-2025, and service stopped at the end of that year). The city has called the suspension temporary and is studying a possible return, but for now, it is not running. Check the City of Key West transit page for the current status before you count on it.

In its place, the city operates Key West Rides, an app-based, on-demand shared shuttle (think of it like a city-run Uber pool) that covers Key West and Stock Island for about $2 per trip. You book it through the free Key West Rides app or by phone, and a van picks you up and may share the ride with others heading the same way. It’s a great budget option, though demand can be high and wait times can run long at peak times, so build in a little patience. There’s also a Lower Keys Shuttle that runs up US-1 to Marathon for about $4 if you’re headed up the island chain without a car.

§ 10

Pedicabs, Taxis, Uber, and Lyft

For door-to-door rides, you’ve got several choices. Pedicabs, the human-powered bicycle cabs you’ll see all over Duval, are fun for short, scenic hops, typically charging around a dollar-fifty or two per minute; always agree on the price before you climb in. Taxis operate island-wide, with metered fares and set zone pricing from the airport. And yes, Uber and Lyft both work in Key West and are reliable, with short, inexpensive rides, though expect surge pricing and longer waits at sunset, on event nights, and around bar-closing time. For late nights out on the town, a rideshare is the smart, safe way home, especially if you’ve been enjoying the nightlife.

§ 11

Conch Tour Train and Old Town Trolley: Tours, Not Transport

You’ll see the Conch Tour Train and the Old Town Trolley everywhere, but it’s worth understanding what they are: sightseeing tours, not really daily transportation. The Conch Tour Train is a narrated, roughly 75-minute open-air loop with limited stops, while the Old Town Trolley is a hop-on, hop-off narrated tour with about a dozen stops. Both run around $40 and are a great way to orient yourself on your first day and learn the island’s history, but they’re not an efficient way to get from point A to point B on a daily basis. Use them for the tour, not the commute.

§ 12

Key West Transportation Compared

Here’s the quick rundown to help you choose.

Prices change with the season and the shop, so confirm current rates when you book.

§ 13

Which Option Is Best for You?

Let me make it simple. Most couples and solo travelers: rent a bike, it’s cheap, fast, and the most fun. Families and groups: an electric golf cart is worth the splurge for the shade, seating, and gear space. Budget travelers: walk, bike, and use Key West Rides. Confident riders wanting range: a scooter. Anyone out drinking on Duval: rideshare home, full stop. And almost everyone: leave the car parked. Mix and match across your trip, walk by day, rideshare by night, and you’ll get around effortlessly. For more practical planning, see our Key West travel tips.

§ 14

Getting To and From the Airport

One trip worth planning separately is the airport run, since you will likely have luggage. Key West International Airport (EYW) sits about three miles east of Old Town on South Roosevelt Boulevard, an easy 8-to-10-minute drive, far too far to bike with bags, and not practical on a scooter. Your best bets are a taxi (roughly $15 to $21 to Old Town, using set per-person zone fares), an Uber or Lyft (often comparable, picked up at the rideshare curb), or a free hotel shuttle if your property offers one, always worth asking when you book. Rental cars are available at the airport, but unless you are leaving the island or staying well outside Old Town, a car mostly buys you parking headaches. Once you have dropped your bags at the hotel, that is when the bikes, scooters, golf carts, and shuttles in this guide take over for the rest of your stay. Our dedicated Key West airport guide covers terminal details and arrivals, and our transportation guide goes deeper on taxis, rideshare, and transit. The simplest approach for most visitors: taxi or rideshare from the airport on arrival and departure, and car-free fun in between.

§ 15

A Word on Renting Responsibly

Whatever you rent, take a few minutes to do it right. Inspect the bike, scooter, or cart for existing damage and photograph it before you leave the shop, so you are not blamed for someone else’s scratches. Understand the rental company’s insurance and damage-waiver options, and ask about what happens in case of a breakdown. Confirm the return time and fuel or charging requirements. Wear the helmet, even when it is optional. And ride defensively, Key West’s streets mix cars, carts, scooters, bikes, pedestrians, and the occasional wandering rooster, so courtesy and caution keep everyone safe. A little diligence at pickup saves headaches at return and keeps your island adventure fun from start to finish.

§ 16

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Getting around Key West is half the fun, so lean into it. Walk the historic lanes, rent a bike to range a little farther, grab a golf cart if you’re rolling with the family, and call a rideshare when the night runs late. Skip the car for Old Town, know that the old free Duval Loop has given way to the Key West Rides shuttle, and match your wheels to your day. Do that, and you’ll spend your vacation exploring, not parking. For everything else about reaching and navigating the island, start with our getting to Key West guide.

Some visitors rent a bike in Key West and never give it back to the island at all, at least not for a few days. The Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail follows Flagler’s old railroad route for 106 planned miles up to Key Largo, much of it on separated path and restored railroad bridges. If a ride over the water appeals more than a scooter on Duval, our Overseas Heritage Trail guide covers the best sections and what the long ride is really like.