The bottom line is that, while in Key    West, you are better off not having a car. Chances are  that you are staying in or close to the Historic Downtown district on the  western part of the island. If this is the case for you, walking is the ideal  means of transportation as all the great restaurants, bars, shops and activity  locations are in this area. If you are staying a little further out on the  eastern part of the town, grabbing a cheap taxi ride to where you need to go is  the smartest way to go. You can also rent bikes or scooters at several  locations throughout the island. There is a pretty decent bus system in Key West with unlimited  one-day passes running for the affordable price of $3.

But if you  really want to bring a car down to Key    West, you have to come prepared with knowledge on  where to park, where not to park, and how much you should expect parking to  cost you. Parking is very limited in Key    West, especially during the frequent weekend-long or  week-long events that take place on the island. Driving and traffic can also  prove tricky with small, narrow streets creating congested and slow-moving  traffic.

The City  of Key West  provides three well-guarded parking lots in several prime locations. The Mallory Square  parking lot, located on the corner of Front and Wall Streets, allows parking  from 7AM to midnight, at a rate of $4 per hour, with a $32 maximum (a total of  8 hours). The Key West Bight lot, on the corner of Margaret and Caroline, has a  rate of $2.50 per hour, with a maximum stay of 6.5 hours ($16.25). The Old Town  Garage offers a park'n'ride service on the corner of Grinnell and Caroline at  $2 per hour or $13 a day maximum. This lot also offers a monthly pass for  $99.75. All three of these garages are in the historic downtown district, just  a few blocks from the historic and famous Duval Street where most of the action in Key West takes place. Also  be aware that some of the rates do go up during special events, such as the weekend  of Fantasy Fest.

Another  popular option for parking in Key West  is street parking. Typically you find metered parking along many side streets  and they are enforced normally enforced Mondays through Saturdays from 8AM to  Midnight and Noon to Midnight on Sundays. Some of the street parking, however,  is strictly residential parking and you should definitely not park here as you  will definitely get ticketed. Make sure that the area you are parking is  completely legal, as some ticket fines can reach as high as $175 (for parking  in a designated fire lane, for instance).

Basically, if you choose to bring your car or a rental car down to Key West, make sure you  are well aware of the potential stress and expenses associated with driving and  parking on the island. If you plan ahead and well, in addition to familiarizing  yourself with the streets, various parking options, and the parking laws, you  will definitely be able to navigate your way successfully throughout the island  and find decent parking spots.