A cruiser bicycle with basket parked on a brick sidewalk in historic Old Town Key West

How to Get Around Key West: Free Bus, Bikes & Walking

Understanding how to get around Key West without a car makes this one of the most walkable island cities in North America. Driving a rental car into historic Old Town is one of the most common visitor mistakes: narrow one-way streets, heavy pedestrian crossings, and strictly enforced residential permit zones make driving frustrating and expensive. This guide breaks down the best ways to navigate the island—led by the free city-operated Duval Loop bus, rental cruiser bicycles, and walking routes. The wider island directory and travel planner starts on the Key West City Guide homepage.

Quick answer Duval Loop bus, bike rentals, and why golf carts are not recommended

Read on 10 September 2026: You do not need a car in Key West. The City of Key West operates the Duval Loop, a 100% free air-conditioned bus looping Old Town every 15 minutes from 6:00 AM to midnight. Single-speed cruiser bicycles ($15-$20/day) are the universal local transport. We strongly advise against renting street-legal golf carts (LSVs): they cost $150-$250/day and face the exact same parking restrictions as full-sized cars.

Key takeaways

Ride the Duval Loop for free: hop on at any of the 18 marked stops along Whitehead and Simonton Streets with zero fares or passes.
Rent a beach cruiser bicycle: the flat island makes cycling fast, pleasant, and easy to park at bike racks across Old Town.
Avoid golf carts in Old Town: golf carts are legally motor vehicles; they cannot park in residential spaces or on sidewalks and receive $100 tickets.
Rideshares are plentiful: Uber and Lyft operate island-wide, with typical Old Town to New Town fares running $12 to $18.

Compare transit methods across speed, cost, parking convenience, and comfort:

Mode	Cost	Speed	Parking Ease	Our Verdict
Duval Loop Bus	Free ($0.00)	Moderate (every 15 min)	No parking needed	Best for Old Town transit
Walking	Free ($0.00)	Slow & scenic	No parking needed	Best for historic side lanes
Beach Cruiser Bicycle	$15 - $20 / day	Fast & flexible	Easy (racks everywhere)	Top local choice
Rideshare (Uber/Lyft)	$10 - $20 / ride	Immediate	No parking needed	Best for airport & New Town
Old Town Trolley	$48.50 (all day)	Guided loop	Hop-on hop-off stops	Best for full-island sightseeing
Rental Golf Cart (LSV)	$150 - $250 / day	Slow (25 mph max)	Extremely difficult	Not recommended (parking trap)

Explore guided trolley and train routes connecting Key West's major districts.

Green and orange Old Town Trolley parked near Mallory Square in Key West

from $48.50

Key West: Old Town Trolley 13-Stop Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.7(1,840 reviews)· 1 day

Full-day transport covering 13 stops across the entire island from Mallory Square to New Town. Ideal for travelers visiting Key West without a rental car or avoiding costly Old Town parking.

Check Availability

Yellow and black Conch Tour Train rolling down a palm-lined Key West street

from $42.95

Key West: Conch Tour Train 75-Minute Sightseeing Tour

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.6(1,250 reviews)· 75 minutes

The quintessential 75-minute loop through Old Town operating since 1958. Best for orientation and first-timers who prefer continuous live storytelling over walking in midday Florida heat.

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Cruiser bikes parked outside a colourful wooden Victorian porch in Old Town Key West

from $80.00

Key West: Guided Bicycle Tour with Cuban Coffee Tasting

★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.9(85 reviews)· 2 hours

The most intimate way to explore Old Town back lanes, smelling jasmine and frangipani blossoms while hearing stories of wreckers, sponge divers, and rum-runners from a resident guide.

Check Availability

Prices, ratings and details are the platform's own, checked in Q3 2026; dollar figures are the listed prices — the platform bills in your account's currency.

The Duval Loop: Key West's best-kept secret

Funded through local parking revenues, the Duval Loop is a municipal bus route specifically designed to reduce vehicular traffic in Old Town. The vibrant pink, blue, and yellow mini-buses follow a counter-clockwise loop along Simonton Street, Front Street, Whitehead Street, and Truman Avenue.

Key features include:

Frequency: Runs every 15 minutes between 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM (every 30 minutes from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM to midnight).
Stops: 18 marked stops positioned every 2 to 3 blocks. Stop 1 is at the Old Town Parking Garage (Grinnell St), Stop 4 is at Mallory Square, and Stop 11 is near the Southernmost Point Buoy.
Zero Fares: Just step aboard through the front door. There are no tickets, passes, app downloads, or resident ID requirements.

Cycling in Key West: rules, rentals, and bike racks

Key West is one of the most bicycle-friendly communities in America. The entire island is flat, vehicle speed limits in Old Town are restricted to 20 mph, and motorists are accustomed to sharing lanes with cyclists.

Local bike shops (such as Eaton Bikes, We Cycle, and Island Bicycles) rent classic single-speed cruisers equipped with wide saddles, coaster foot brakes, a front wire basket, and a secure cable lock. Daily rates range from $15 to $20, with multi-day discounts available. Under Florida law, cyclists must obey standard traffic signals, ride in the direction of traffic, and use a front white headlight and rear red reflector when pedaling after sunset.

Why renting a street golf cart is usually a mistake

Rental agencies along North Roosevelt Boulevard heavily market street-legal golf carts (low-speed vehicles, or LSVs) to tourists. While they look fun in brochures, they represent one of Key West's biggest tourist traps.

Under Florida law, LSVs are classified as motor vehicles: they can only be driven on streets with posted limits of 35 mph or less, drivers must be licensed and insured, and open alcohol containers are strictly illegal. Crucially: golf carts are subject to the exact same parking rules as full-sized pickup trucks. They cannot be parked on sidewalks, bike paths, or in residential permit spaces. Visitors regularly spend $200 per day to rent a cart, only to spend an hour circling Old Town unable to find a legal metered parking spot, or return to find a $100 parking citation on their steering wheel.

Essential transit hubs in Key West

Key locations for buses, parking, and bike rentals:

Old Town Garage (Park 'N' Ride)

Covered municipal garage with 200+ stalls and Stop 1 of the free Duval Loop bus.

300 Grinnell Street

Mallory Square Depot

Terminus for the Conch Tour Train, Old Town Trolley, and Duval Loop Stop 4.

Wall & Front Streets

Key West International Airport

Commercial airport terminal located 10 minutes from Old Town via taxi or rideshare.

Far eastern end of island

Frequently asked questions about getting around Key West

Is the Duval Loop bus really free for tourists?

Yes, the Duval Loop is 100% free for everyone—visitors and locals alike. There are no fares, passes, or tickets required.

Can you get around Key West without a car?

Yes, absolutely. In fact, exploring without a car is vastly superior in Old Town. Walking, rental bicycles, and the free Duval Loop bus easily cover all major sights.

How much does it cost to rent a bicycle in Key West?

Standard single-speed cruiser bicycles rent for approximately $15 to $20 per 24-hour day, which includes a lock, helmet, and basket.

Is Uber and Lyft available in Key West?

Yes, both Uber and Lyft operate throughout Key West and the Lower Keys with quick response times (usually 3 to 7 minutes in Old Town).

Can golf carts park anywhere in Key West?

No. Street-legal golf carts must follow the exact same parking laws as standard automobiles. They can only park in legal paid metered spaces or public garages, and are barred from residential-only spaces.

Key West on video: Getting Around

Verified video walkthroughs and footage of Getting Around, providing visual perspective before your visit.