Those vacationers who wish to spend their days blissfully confined to Key West won’t need a car, as the island is small and there are plenty of reliable and inexpensive alternative transportation options. If you intend to range the length of the archipelago, stopping at all the natural parks and different keys, you’ll certainly need a car, or a boat.

KEY WEST – NO CAR REQUIRED

If you do plan on staying primarily on Key West, don’t bother renting a car. In fact, if you drive to Key West it’s often best to leave your car on Stock Island and take one of the trolleys into the Old Town section, where parking is rare and occasionally unavailable. The streets of the historic district are packed with people, scooters, taxis, and bicycles, making navigation in an automobile somewhat stressful. Many hotels and guesthouses offer limited parking, but there often isn’t enough space to ensure you’ll find a vacant spot upon your arrival. Ask in advance; it’s always less frustrating to pay for a reserved space than to search for an empty slot in an alley. Many side streets have restricted parking and allow only residents to park—avoid any spaces marked with an “RP” sign or white paint along the curb. If you’re towed, you’ll end up on Stock Island anyway. RV drivers should call (305) 292-PARK for current information on the regulations regarding camper parking.

In lieu of cars, Key West locals and visitors have adopted the scooter as their preferred mode of transportation. Moped and scooter rentals are available across the island; a cluster of rental agencies competes for business on the several blocks surrounding the intersection of Truman Avenue and Duval Street. Rental rates vary widely and depend upon your rental length, which also varies considerably from agency to agency. A “one day” price can cover from an 8-hour period to a full 24 hours.

Tiny electric cars offer an environmentally conscious choice (and make great photo opportunities). These little egg-like carriages seat two or four people and reach a maximum speed of 25 mph. Eco-tourists will appreciate the addition of tiny electric cars to the list of transportation choices. Average prices are between $100 and $200 per day.

Those who’d like some exercise and perhaps a bit more cash in their wallets can rent a bicycle from any of the many local outlets. There are so many bikes on Key West that most shops offer ample parking for them—the only trouble is trying to remember which bike is yours. Rentals are inexpensive and available hourly, daily, overnight, or weekly.

None of the rental agencies are legally required to offer insurance to riders, though many do for an additional fee. Whichever vehicle you opt for, remember that all traffic laws still apply, and operators are liable for any damage to property.

Of course, you don’t have to rent anything to get around easily—and more quickly than by walking. Buy a trip on the Old Town Trolley Tour, which functions as an all-day open-air bus service around the island. You’ll learn some interesting Key West history on the way, too; the entire tour takes 90 minutes and covers piracy, wrecking, Indians, and war on Key West. Board and get off wherever and as frequently as you like at any of the ten stops. The train runs from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. year-round, and parking is available at Mallory Square and the Key West Welcome Center.

The Bone Island Shuttle is another trolley option and a fantastic value—an all-day ticket sets you back a mere $8, and the shuttles run from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily. The air-conditioned shuttles run a circuit through the Old Town historical district and along the coasts north to the Key West Welcome Center, passing the beaches and the airport on the way. (It’s said that the fierce Calusa Indians deposited their enemies’ bodies on Key West’s beaches, hence the island’s first name, Cayo Hueso – Bone Island.)

Look for the omnipresent “pedal cabs” that carry people along the busy streets of Key West’s Old Town. While you relax in one of these two-person bicycle carts and take in the tropical landscape, drivers can relate the history of the buildings and tales of the island’s illustrious residents as they pedal.

Of course, Key West has traditional yellow cabs, too, only most of them are actually painted pink. Hailing a taxi generally isn’t difficult, but you can call ahead to arrange pickup, or for limousine service. Airport shuttles are also plentiful, and some hotels operate private shuttles for their guests.

TRAVEL THE FLORIDA KEYS BY CAR

Thanks to the fact that only one highway connects the islands of the Florida Keys, it’s very simple to navigate your way from the extraordinary coral reefs of Key Largo all the way to the good-natured bacchanalia of Key West. The Overseas Highway, also called U.S. 1, stretches to the very tip of Key West, where it ends at the southernmost point in the contiguous United States. Most businesses, parks, and attractions located along the Overseas Highway rely on the mile markers as their address – these markers begin at MM 126 in Florida City and count down to Key West. For example, the Seven Mile Bridge begins at MM 47 and ends at MM 40, south from the tip of Vaca Key to the northern edge of Bahia Honda. As you’re heading south to Key West, addresses to your left are “Oceanside” (along the Atlantic), while those on your right are “bayside” (bordered by the Gulf of Mexico or Florida Bay). For added accuracy, many MM numbers also designate a fraction of a mile.

National & local car rental agencies are found throughout the Florida Keys, though larger concentrations are on Key West, Marathon, and Key Largo. If you make arrangements in advance, most rental agencies will pick you up at the airport or the marina. Reservations are a must for visitors arriving during the busy winter season, and during Fantasy Fest in October on Key West (though you’re better off marching with the parades than trying to drive through them).

TRAVEL THE FLORIDA KEYS BY BOAT

There’s no better way to see the keys than by boat. Surround yourself with sparkling water and palm-lined shores as you drift from island to island, and forget about the hassles of life on land. The most popular and easily traveled routes are the Intracoastal Waterway in the Gulf of Mexico and Hawk Channel in the Atlantic Ocean, but anyone comfortable with marine navigation can wind their way through the islands.

Nearly all the major keys along the Overseas Highway have a public marina or two, and some resorts maintain their own marinas for guest use. Besides the Key West Bight (a.k.a. Key West Historical Seaport), four private marinas operate on Key West, and another on nearby Stock Island. More harbors spot the shores from Marathon to Key Largo, many with excellent eateries steps from the docks.

Marina rates are generally determined by boat length and are quoted per-night. Extended stays may get you a cut rate—but be sure to reserve your space well in advance, especially during the winter months. Most marinas keep mechanics on hand, are near convenience stores, supply fresh water and both 30- and 50-amp hookups; many have shower and laundry facilities.

If you’d prefer solitude, anchor alongside one of the minor keys, drop your fishing line, and experience the natural beauty of those unspoiled islands reachable only by sea. Lignumvitae Key and Blackwater Sound at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park are good choices, but dozens of safe anchorage points are scattered throughout the archipelago. Watch out for the monkeys on Raccoon Key, which aren’t shy but could certainly have better manners.