Transportation Options, Key West

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Key West is a small island and a bicycle is all you need to get around. Even the public busses and some of the taxis have bike carriers for when you get tired of pedaling or to impaired to ride. The City Busses only cost two dollars (multi trip passes available) and will carry your bike on a rack on the front, 305-292-8160 or 305-293-6426. The Five Sixes Cab Co. has bike racks on most of their cabs. 305-296-6666 and they now have a fleet of Hybrid SUV cabs.

There is a public bus system connecting Key West to Marathon and another bus connects Marathon to Florida City. For the hardcore budget traveler you can get from Searstown in Key West to Florida City (Wall Mart) for a grand total of three dollars and eighty-five cents. It's a good way to meet the local working folks as well. I have not personally taken the bus from Marathon to Florida City. Check the Website listed to learn more about both busses. Monroe County Transit 305-292-4422 and Lower Keys Shuttle 305-292-8160.

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Taxis are very expensive in Key West. They charge per person per trip. It cost us $14 to go from the Historic Harbor to the airport ($7 each). The possible means of transportation are - from cheapest to most expensive:

1) Walking - free
2) Bicycling - we bring a folding bike on our boat, so that's free for us - otherwise you can rent bikes. Biking is easy on the island.
3) Public transport
4) Bone Island Shuttle
5) Taxi
6) Motor scooter/Moped rental - you need one for each person and can be hazardous.
7) Car rental
8) Electric car rental.

We have used 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7.

Let your dog drive while you enjoy the views! Seriously though, you can get around by scooter, taxi, bike, feet and boats. Do look out for cool animal sightings - they act like people, and walk around like they own the island!

You can fly into Ft. Lauderdale or Miami Airport and rent a car to drive the rest of the way to the keys.
There several ways to get around Key West once you get down there. You can rent mopeds, bikes, or small moter carts. There is also a trams and small buses that give tours.

Yes there is a public bus system in Key West, and it is pretty comprehensive. A map of the routes is as http://www.keywestcity.com/egov/docs/1209991161_463653.pdf

They provides public transit services throughout Key West, Stock Island on 8 routes, the earliest of which begin operation at 5:30 am and run as late as 11:30 pm.

There used to be shuttles that went around to the various hotels and dropped off, but apparently those services have shut down because so many of the hotels have closed.

There are several big grocery stores. We usually go to the commissary, but if that is closed we go to Publix which is on Roosevelt Blvd in Searstown. There's also a WinnDixie.

Greyhound from Miami is about $35.
Most of the old town is in an area of about 1 x 2 miles. Walk or rent a bicycle, scooter or electric car. I parked my truck and didn't use it for days on my first trip here.

Key West Airlines
American 800-433-7300

Cape Air 800-352-0714

Comair/Delta 800-354-9822

Gulfstream Int'l Airlines 800-992-8532

Pan Am Air Bridge 305-295-0165

Sea Coast 800-742-6278

US Air Express 800-428-4322
Key West Airport Shuttle
Shuttle between Key West,
Marathon & Miami Airports 800-875-4555
Key West Car Rental Agencies
Alamo Rent-A-Car 305-294-6675

Avis Rent-A-Car 305-296-8744

Budget Car & Truck Rental 305-294-8868

Dollar Rent-A-Car 305-296-9921

Enterprise Rent-A-Car 305-292-0220

Hertz Rent-A-Car 305-294-1039

Tropical Rent-A-Car 305-294-8136

Value Rent-A-Car 305-296-7733
Key West Sightseeing Tours
Conch Tour Train Mallory Square 305-294-5161

Old Town Trolley Mallory Square 395-296-6688

Perfect Pedicab Duval Street 305-292-0077

My usual tip in America: public transportation is decidedly a joke in most of the USA. Few metros in city centers, a national bus system thats archaic and a national train system that is late, goes few places and frankly is an embarassment. In Florida its even worse than the 'norm'. SADLY...Dispite a public voting mandate that bullet trains ply between Jacksonville/Orlando/Tampa/Miami..we are still waiting for any progress on that event. Miami does have a metro that will get you a fair number of places..but the rest of Florida you have little choice but to rent a car.Believe it or not..there was once a trainline to Key West but a hurricane wiped it out and its never been recostructed. Bummer.

The best way to get to Key West is by car.
If you prefer to drive to Old Town and park, another option is park your car at the city's Park 'n'Ride garage on Caroline and Grinnell Streets and take the shuttle or walk downtown.
Because parking can be expensive and hard to find,
check out the island's public and private transit system that will take you from New Town to Old Town.
For only $4 you can use the Bone Island Shuttle to get from several hotels in New Town to the excitement of Old Town as ofter you like during the day.