Golf Cart Rentals in Key West

Key West is 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. A golf cart covers every corner of it in an afternoon. You can park anywhere a car parks, duck down the narrow lanes of Old Town that buses can't reach, and make the kind of spontaneous detours that turn a good day into a great one. It's the locals' move — and once you've done it, you'll wonder why you ever walked.

Where to Rent a Golf Cart in Key West

Sunset Watersports / Sunset Golf Carts — One of the most established rental operations on the island. Multiple pickup locations including near the cruise ship pier and on Duval Street. Good fleet of 4- and 6-passenger carts, consistent quality, and competitive pricing. Book in advance during peak season.

Paradise Scooter Rentals — On South Street near the marina. Rents golf carts alongside scooters and bikes. Good for half-day rentals if you just want a few hours in the afternoon. Friendly staff, no hard sell.

Cruise Rent-A-Car & Scooter — Near the intersection of Duval and South, a perennial favorite. Carts rent by the hour, half-day, or full day. They also rent scooters and can help you decide which is better for your group size.

Tropical Rentals — On Truman Avenue near the airport end of town. Better for longer rentals if you're staying in New Town. Less foot traffic means sometimes better availability on short notice.

For tours that combine a golf cart with a local guide, check availability on Viator → — 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

Prices vary by season and cart size, but here's a realistic range for 2026:

• 2-hour minimum: $45–$65 for a 4-passenger cart
• Half day (4 hours): $65–$100
• Full day (8–12 hours): $100–$160
• 6-passenger carts: Add $20–$40 to any of the above

Peak season (December through April, plus July 4th and New Year's) runs 10–20% higher. Summer weekdays are often the best deal. Book online in advance during any holiday week — walk-in availability disappears 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 →