Golf Cart Rentals in Key West

Key West runs about 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. A golf cart covers every corner of it in an afternoon. You park where a car parks, you duck down the narrow lanes of Old Town the tour buses can't reach, and you make the kind of spontaneous detours that turn a good day into a great one. It's the local move — the whole island opens up the second you've got one.

Where to Rent a Golf Cart in Key West

Sunset Watersports — One of the most established rental operations on the island, with one of the biggest fleets. You'll find multiple pickup spots and a solid lineup of 4- and 6-passenger carts, consistent quality, and fair pricing. Reserve ahead in peak season and you're set.

Barefoot Billy's — A longtime Key West name that rents carts alongside its watersports operation. Handy if you want to pair an afternoon cruise with a jet ski or a sandbar trip on the same booking. Ask about hotel pickup — they often have it.

Fun Rentals — On Truman Avenue, an easy walk from Old Town. They rent carts by the hour, half-day, or full day, plus scooters and bikes if your group wants to split up. Friendly counter, no hard sell.

Tropical Rent A Car — Also on Truman near the airport end of town, good if you're staying in New Town. Less foot traffic here means you'll sometimes land better availability on short notice. They handle carts, scooters, and cars under one roof.

A&M Rentals — A local mainstay for scooters and carts, with delivery to a lot of hotels and rentals. Worth a call if you'd rather have the cart waiting at your door than pick it up yourself.

For tours that combine a golf cart with a local guide, check availability on Togu → — there are guided golf cart tours that cover Old Town, the cemetery, and Bahama Village with commentary, which is a solid option if you want context alongside the cruise.

What It Costs

Pricing swings with season and cart size, so treat these as ballpark 2026 numbers and confirm when you book:

• 2-hour minimum: roughly $45–$65 for a 4-passenger cart
• Half day (about 4 hours): around $65–$100
• Full day (8–12 hours): in the neighborhood of $100–$160
• 6-passenger carts: figure another $20–$40 on top

Peak season — roughly December through April, plus the July 4th and New Year's stretches — tends to run higher. Summer weekdays are usually where you find the best deal. Book online ahead of any holiday week and you'll have a cart waiting; walk-in availability goes fast.

Rules of the Road

Golf carts in Key West are street-legal motor vehicles, which means:

• Valid driver's license required — you're driving a vehicle, not a toy
• Driver must be 21+ at most rental shops (some allow 18+)
• Golf carts are permitted on streets with 35 mph speed limits or less — which covers almost all of Old Town and the residential neighborhoods
• Not permitted on US-1 (North Roosevelt Blvd) or South Roosevelt Blvd — too fast, no golf carts
• Seatbelts if equipped; otherwise hang on
• No driving on the beach or sidewalks
• Parking: same rules as a car — use parking spots, not the middle of the street

The police do enforce these rules. Stick to the residential streets and Old Town and you'll have zero issues.

Best Routes and Neighborhoods to Cruise

Old Town grid — The streets between Duval and the waterfront on the Gulf side. Simonton, Whitehead, Elizabeth — quieter than Duval, full of painted wood-frame houses and massive banyans. The architecture is the attraction here. Go slow.

Bahama Village — The historically Bahamian neighborhood off Petronia Street. Colorful, residential, and easy to miss if you're sticking to the tourist drag. A golf cart is the right pace for this neighborhood.

The Key West Cemetery — Angela Street to Frances Street. Drive through or park and walk. The cemetery has been on this land since 1847 after a hurricane moved it from the beach. Famous for its above-ground vaults and irreverent headstone inscriptions. Genuinely worth 30 minutes.

The South Side beaches — Smathers Beach to the Casa Marina area. A long straight run along the Atlantic side. Park at Smathers, take a swim, keep going east toward the quieter end of the beach. On the return, cut north through the residential blocks back toward Old Town.

Garrison Bight Marina area — The working waterfront on the north (Gulf) side. Interesting contrast to the tourist Mallory Square end — fishing boats, live-aboards, local life. Good in the morning when the charter boats are heading out.

Tips Worth Knowing

Book ahead on weekends and holidays. Key West is small and there are only so many carts. If you're visiting on a peak weekend in January or during Fantasy Fest, book before you arrive.

Start early. Morning is the best time to cruise Old Town — less traffic, cooler, and the light through the trees on the residential streets is beautiful. By noon it's crowded and hot. Afternoon sun in summer is brutal in an open cart.

Bring water. Open carts in Key West in June–September are hot. Rental shops won't always mention this. Have cold water in a cooler or bag.

Check the fuel/charge level before you leave the lot. Most carts are electric and charged. Some are gas. If it's electric, ask about range — full charge covers a full day of casual driving easily, but confirm.

Don't try to drive down Duval on a Friday night. It's pedestrian-heavy and chaotic. Cut over one block to Simonton or Whitehead for a parallel route without the crowd.

Need help planning the rest of your trip? Talk to a local concierge →

Want the cart, the route, and the dinner reservation lined up before you land? Let togu.ai plan the whole day for you →

Key West changes fast — prices, hours, and openings shift. Always double-check before you go, or let togu.ai handle it for you.