Start with the whole itinerary
Key West International Airport publishes its current airline list on its official site. Direct availability depends on origin and season, so compare the live schedule for your dates rather than assuming a route operates daily or year-round.
If you fly directly to Key West
Travelers staying in Old Town or another central area generally do not need a rental car. Much of the visitor area is walkable, and taxis, rideshare, rental bicycles, and other local transportation can handle the airport transfer and daily movement. Keeping a rental car for an otherwise compact stay adds rental and parking costs without providing much practical value.
A car becomes useful if you intend to leave Key West and drive the Overseas Highway to another island. Even then, compare a one-day rental with paying to keep and park a car throughout the entire stay.
When flying into South Florida and driving makes sense
- The complete cost is substantially lower. Compare airfare plus rental car, fuel, tolls, parking, and the value of several additional hours in transit. A cheaper flight alone does not make the drive the better choice.
- You are taking a genuine Florida Keys road trip. This means your itinerary includes planned attractions, extended stops, or overnight stays in places such as Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon, or other Upper and Middle Keys destinations. The highway is then part of the vacation rather than merely a long airport transfer.
- Your schedule can absorb road delays. Traffic, crashes, weather, and peak travel periods can make the drive unpredictable, so do not build a tight flight or tour connection around an optimistic arrival time.