How to Get to Key West: Comparison of 4 Main Transportation Options & Ticket Booking Guide

How to Get to Key West: Full Comparison of 4 Main Transportation Options

From Miami south to Key West, driving Overseas Highway (often called "America's most beautiful ocean road") covers about 260 km, with 42 bridges connecting over 100 coral reef islands (per 2024 Florida DOT data)—the journey itself is part of the experience. This article puts 4 Key West transportation options—driving, flying, train, and bus—side by side, breaking down travel time, fares, comfort, and booking links so you can pick the most hassle-free plan for your budget and schedule.

Driving to Key West: Maximum Freedom, Best Scenery

Driving is the top choice for most visitors heading to Key West. Departing from Miami via US‑1 south, the full trip takes about 3.5–4 hours, passing through Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and finally arriving at Key West. Driving costs mainly come from gas and tolls: round-trip gas runs about $60–80 (based on 2025 AAA average fuel price), US‑1 has no toll road sections but does cross 7 toll bridges (per Monroe County's 2024 official notice), totaling about$2.50 one-way for a standard car.

The advantages are clear: unlimited luggage, stops anytime, and access to the best sunset viewpoints—Smathers Beach, Mile Marker 90, and Seven Mile Bridge can all be added to your itinerary. Downsides: during peak season (December–April), US‑1 traffic can add 2+ hours, and parking on the island is tight, with public lots near Duval Street averaging $20/day. For rentals, we recommend comparing prices early via Booking.com Car Rental, with Miami (MIA) or Fort Lauderdale (FLL) airports being the most convenient pickup/drop-off points.

Flying to Key West: 1-Hour Flight from Miami

If you're short on time and want a direct beach getaway, flying is the fastest option. Miami International Airport (MIA) operates 8–10 direct flights daily to Key West International Airport (EYW), flown by American Airlines and Silver Airways, with a flight time of about 1 hour 5 minutes. Economy one-way fares typically run $89–189 (per Google Flights June 2025 sampling), and booking 21 days ahead often gets you an early-bird fare under$80.

After landing, EYW is just 4 km from Mallory Square in the old town—a taxi costs $12–15, and Uber/Lyft runs$9–12 to reach your hotel. Flying saves time and avoids fatigue; downsides include extra checked-bag fees, missing the ocean scenery, and EYW flights being affected by Miami weather. Tickets can be booked through airline websites or third-party platforms like Expedia.

Key West Train + Bus Combo: For Non-Drivers

Amtrak doesn't run directly to Key West—the nearest station is Miami Amtrak Station—so the train option is really an "Amtrak train + connecting bus" combo. Silver Star / Silver Meteor routes run from New York, Washington, and Orlando to Miami, where you transfer to a Greyhound bus heading south. The full trip takes 12–18 hours, with one-way fares of $80–150 (per Amtrak's 2024 schedule). Pro: you can sleep and don't have to drive. Con: long travel time and tight transfer windows, with high risk of missed connections during peak season.

Bus-only option: Greyhound offers direct Miami–Key West service, 2–3 departures daily, taking about 4 hours 15 minutes, fares $35–65, bookable directly on the [Greyhound website](https://www.greyhound.com/). RedCoach runs premium Miami–Orlando–Fort Myers–Key West buses with 110V power and free Wi‑Fi, one-way$45–89. Buses suit backpackers and solo travelers with great value, but luggage allowance and on-time performance should be confirmed in advance.

Key West Accommodation & On-Island Transport

No matter which way you arrive, Key West's activity radius is actually quite small. Duval Street, Mallory Square, Southernmost Point, and Fort Zachary Taylor are all reachable by bike or e-scooter. Island rental shops offer daily Jeep, Vespa, and e-bike rentals—a Jeep Wrangler runs $89–129/day, e-bikes$25–40/day, making it the most flexible way to do an in-depth tour of Key West.

For accommodation, Key West's Old Town clusters mid-to-high-end choices like Hyatt, Ocean Key Resort, and Pier House Resort, priced 220–450/night (2025 peak season average); budget options like El Mar and The Paradise Inn B&Bs run 120–180/night and can be compared on the Booking.com Key West page. Booking in Old Town or the south end is recommended—walking handles 80% of your itinerary.

Quick Comparison of 4 Transportation Options

Option	One-Way Time	Price Range	Best For
Self-drive (from Miami)	3.5–4 hours	Gas + bridge fees ≈ $65–85	Families / groups / scenery lovers
Flight (MIA→EYW)	≈ 1 hour (excluding transfers)	$89–189	Tight schedules / business / short trips
Amtrak + Bus	12–18 hours	$80–150	Train enthusiasts / no time pressure
Greyhound / RedCoach	4–4.5 hours	$35–89	Backpackers / solo travelers

Pitfall Checklist: 5 Common Mistakes When Going to Key West

1. Not checking fuel prices and bridge tolls during peak season: December–April is Key West's peak season, and US‑1 traffic can extend travel to 6+ hours; check bridge toll notices on the Monroe County website before departure to avoid not having cash when tolls are collected.
2. Focusing only on Miami Airport and ignoring FLL: Fort Lauderdale Airport rental prices are typically 15–25% cheaper than MIA, and Terminal 1 pickup is faster.
3. Only watching direct flights: When Miami has weather delays, connecting through Tampa (TPA) to Key West is often faster than rebooking direct flights.
4. Tight train/bus transfer windows: Amtrak is often 30–60 minutes late, so allow at least a 2-hour buffer when transferring to Greyhound.
5. Only looking at public parking: Duval Street has 2-hour curbside limits (per Key West City's 2024 notice), with $35 overtime fines—better to park at your hotel or a Sun‑Guide public lot.

FAQ

Q1: What's the fastest way from Miami to Key West? The fastest is MIA direct to EYW—about 1 hour in the air, or 3–4 hours including check-in; self-drive takes 3.5–4 hours but offers richer scenery.

Q2: How many days do you need for Key West? We recommend 3 days 2 nights: Day 1 Old Town + Mallory Square sunset, Day 2 ocean activities (snorkeling, glass-bottom boat), Day 3 Seven Mile Bridge + Bahia Honda State Park.

Q3: When is the best time to visit Key West? November–April has dry, pleasant weather with temperatures of 22–28°C; avoid the June–October hurricane season and September tourist peak.

Further Reading & References

• Key West – Wikipedia
• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – National Park Service
• Florida Keys & Key West Official Tourism
• Lonely Planet Key West Travel Guide

Getting to Key West itself is the most romantic footnote to an American road trip—pick the right way to go, and leave the rest to the sea breeze and sunset.