Cloves Carneiro Jr · October 12, 2026

Can You Take a Rental Car from Fort Lauderdale to Key West?

Yes. Key West is in Florida, so you can take an Atlas rental there under the normal rental agreement. It's one of the best drives in the state: south through Miami-Dade, into Key Largo, then along the Overseas Highway, island to island, until the road runs out.

It's also a long drive, and that's what is worth planning for. Mileage, traffic, tolls, fuel and parking in Key West all matter more on this trip than on a week of driving around Fort Lauderdale.

The short answer

Key West is allowed. It's in Florida, so no out-of-state approval is needed.
It's roughly 190 miles each way, so a round trip comes to about 380 miles before any driving around once you're there.
Every rental includes 200 miles per day, pooled across the rental. If you'll go over, you can add unlimited mileage for $15 per rental day (plus tax).
Every car has a SunPass transponder, so toll roads on the way south just work.
Plan your parking in Key West before you arrive.
Tell us about the trip, and tell us early if your return time changes.

How far is Key West, and how long does the drive take?

From Fort Lauderdale it's roughly 190 miles each way, depending on where you start and the route your navigation app picks. The Overseas Highway's mile markers count down from about 127 at Florida City to 0 in Key West, so most of the drive happens after you leave the mainland.

On a clear day, plan on about four hours each way. Expect longer. Traffic builds around Miami, Homestead, Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon. Once you're in the Keys, US 1 is essentially the only road, so a crash or a construction zone can stop everything with no way around it.

The Keys section is the Florida Keys Scenic Highway, about 110 miles long and Florida's only All-American Road. It's a road to enjoy, not one to rush.

Can you do Key West as a day trip?

You can, but it's a very long day. Four hours down, four or five in Key West and four hours back already adds up to 12 or 13 hours, before traffic, fuel, meals or any stops along the way.

A day trip works if you leave very early, only want a few hours in Key West, and don't need to be anywhere at a fixed time that evening. For most people, staying one night is the better trip, and it's what we recommend in our day trips from Fort Lauderdale guide too.

An easy two-day plan:

Day 1: Leave Fort Lauderdale in the morning, stop in Key Largo or Islamorada, continue through Marathon and over the Seven Mile Bridge, then park in Key West and spend the evening in Old Town.
Day 2: Spend the morning in Key West, start north after lunch, stop once more in the Keys, and be back in Fort Lauderdale by evening.

Mileage: standard allowance or unlimited?

This is the one Atlas-specific decision worth making before you book.

Every rental includes 200 miles per rental day, pooled across the whole rental. Miles over the allowance are billed at $0.35 each after you return the car. If you'd rather not count miles at all, add Unlimited miles for $15 per rental day, plus tax. With it, there's no allowance and no overage charge.

To decide, estimate your total miles (about 380 for the round trip, plus whatever you'll drive in the Keys and at home), then compare:

The miles over your allowance, multiplied by $0.35
$15 multiplied by your rental days

How that usually works out for Key West:

One-day rental: a round trip puts you roughly 180 miles over the allowance. Unlimited mileage is almost certainly the cheaper choice.
Two-day rental: the pooled allowance is twice the daily figure, which covers a straight round trip with some room. Unlimited is worth it only if you plan a lot of extra driving.
Three days or more: the pool usually covers Key West, stops along the way and normal local driving. Choose unlimited if you want to stop thinking about miles altogether.

You can choose unlimited mileage when you book. If your plans change, you can also add it later by changing your booking online, as long as you add it before you return the car.

Tolls on the way to Key West

Depending on where you start, your route south may use Florida's Turnpike or other toll roads before it joins US 1. The Overseas Highway through the Keys has no tolls.

If you take Card Sound Road into North Key Largo instead of US 1, there's one more toll. It's cashless, and your car's SunPass covers it.

Every Atlas car has a SunPass transponder, so you don't need to buy one or set up an account. Use the electronic lanes normally, and we bill you the actual toll amount afterward, with no daily fee or markup. Some tolls post a few days after the rental ends, which is normal.

Should you avoid tolls? On a trip this long, the real question is how much time the toll route saves. You pay only the toll itself, so if the faster route saves real time, take it. How Do Tolls Work in a Rental Car in Florida? covers the full policy.

Which Atlas car is best for Key West?

Any of our cars can make the trip comfortably. Choose based on who's coming and what you're bringing:

Volkswagen Jetta: a comfortable highway sedan for couples or solo travelers, with a big trunk for moderate luggage.
Kia Soul: compact on the outside and roomy inside, with an easy cargo area. Its small size helps in Key West, where parking spaces are tight.
Volkswagen Taos: a compact SUV with the most room for luggage and passengers and a higher seating position. Good for families and longer stays.

Our sedan vs. SUV guide goes into more detail.

Driving through the Keys

After Florida City, the drive feels different. The Overseas Highway is beautiful, but it's also the main street for every island it crosses. Expect:

Long two-lane stretches with few safe places to pass
Lower speed limits through towns, which are enforced
Pedestrians, cyclists, and cars turning in and out of driveways and businesses
Long bridges with no shoulder to pull onto

Leave plenty of distance, watch the speed limits, and don't pass aggressively. The Seven Mile Bridge near Marathon is part of the normal route. Drive it at the posted speed, and don't slow down suddenly for photos. If you want pictures, use a proper pull-off before or after the bridge.

Traffic is usually heaviest heading south on Friday afternoons and heading north on Sunday afternoons. It's also worse on holiday weekends, during winter season and spring break, and around big Key West events such as Fantasy Fest. If you have a flight or a fixed return time afterward, leave a generous buffer.

Good places to stop

Key Largo: the first key you reach from the mainland, good for coffee, breakfast, fuel or a quick look at the water.
Islamorada: marinas and waterfront restaurants, a natural lunch stop in the Upper Keys.
Marathon: the Middle Keys stop for fuel, food and a stretch before the Seven Mile Bridge and the Lower Keys.

On a day trip, every stop takes time away from Key West. On an overnight trip, the stops are part of what makes the drive worth it.

Fuel

A round trip of nearly 400 miles means at least one fill-up, and probably more with air conditioning and Keys traffic. There are gas stations all along the route, but fill up before you're running low rather than hunting for the next one.

Plan for the return too. Either bring the car back with the fuel level you picked it up with, or add Fuel pre-pay when you book, so you won't be charged for a lower tank and don't have to refuel just before returning the car.

Parking in Key West

Old Town Key West is compact, popular and busy, so parking needs more thought than in most Florida destinations. You'll find metered street parking, city lots, garages, private lots and hotel parking.

You'll also find spaces reserved for residents with permits. Don't park somewhere just because it's empty. Read the signs, and when in doubt, use a meter, a public garage or a clearly marked paid lot. Paying to park is cheaper than a ticket or a tow.

A simple option is the city's Park N Ride Old Town Garage at 301 Grinnell Street. It's open 24 hours, and the city says your garage ticket covers city bus rides for everyone in the car. If you're staying overnight, check your hotel's parking before you book, because many Key West hotels charge for it separately.

Once you've parked, you may not need the car again until it's time to leave. Old Town and Duval Street are easy to explore on foot, by bike or by rideshare.

Do you need to tell us before driving to Key West?

You don't need special approval, since Key West is in Florida. Please still let us know when you book or before you head south. It takes one message, and it helps us help you if something happens a few hours from Fort Lauderdale.

You'll return later than scheduled, or want to extend the rental
A warning light comes on, or the car isn't driving normally
You're unsure about mileage before you leave

Driving outside Florida is different, and it may need approval in advance. If your road trip will cross the state line, contact us before your rental starts.

If something goes wrong in the Keys

If the car has a problem, such as a serious warning light, overheating, an unsafe tire or a strange noise, stop driving as soon as it's safe and contact us. Don't arrange repairs yourself.

If you're in an accident:

Make sure everyone is safe, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or the road is blocked.
Contact the police when appropriate. A police report may be required.
Exchange information with the other driver.
When it's safe, take photos of the scene and any damage.
Notify Atlas immediately.

The steps are the same in Fort Lauderdale, Key Largo, Marathon or Key West.

Staying longer

If Key West is part of a longer South Florida stay, it usually makes sense to keep one car for the whole trip rather than booking separate rentals. Every car in our fleet currently takes 10% off the vehicle rate for rentals of seven days or more, applied automatically.

If you're booking for a busy time, such as winter weekends, holidays, spring break or event weekends, book early. Our guide on how far in advance to book covers the timing.

Before you go

Estimate your total miles, and decide between the standard allowance and unlimited mileage.
Check your departure time against the traffic patterns above.
Have a parking plan for Key West, and check your hotel's parking policy.
Fill up before the tank gets low, and plan how you'll return the car fueled.
Bring a phone charger, water, sunscreen and sunglasses.
Tell us about the trip, and tell us early if your return time changes.

Is the drive worth it?

For most visitors, yes. Flying or taking a bus gets you to Key West, but only driving gives you the Keys themselves: breakfast in Key Largo, lunch in Islamorada, the Seven Mile Bridge, and the freedom to stop wherever you like and change plans along the way.

We deliver to Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Dania Beach, Hallandale Beach, Aventura and Davie, and you can also pick up at our FLL Airport Park My Share location. Rates start at $54.00 a day and change with demand and dates, so the quote for your dates is the real number. Choose your car and dates, add unlimited mileage if the trip calls for it, review the itemized price, and enjoy the drive south.

See the cars and get a quote, or check our FAQ.

Local Travel & Driving