Ten-minute rides from EYW to Duval Street are standard by taxi
From the Main terminal at Key West International Airport, Key West Taxi Service lines up right outside baggage claim, usually from the first arrival of the day until the last inbound flight. You walk out, join the queue, and most rides into Old Town or nearby resorts run under 10 minutes in light traffic, with Truman Avenue and South Roosevelt Boulevard only stretching that to 15–20 minutes at peak times.
Pricing shows up two ways: locals quote typical meter totals of about $15–25 from EYW to central Key West hotels, while some visitors report per-person rates in the $7–9 range on shared rides. More than one review mentions a flat $20 to Old Town taking “maybe 10 minutes,” so treat that as a ballpark for a standard cab to Duval Street or nearby resorts.
Cabs work best for late-night arrivals and quick turnarounds, when the local bus schedule thins out and Uber or Lyft may surge or show long wait times. Reddit threads about r/keywest flag that rideshare drivers sometimes cancel short 2–3 mile trips from the airport, while the taxi stand at EYW generally has cars ready to move as soon as bags hit the carousel in the Main terminal.
Do a quick price check when you land: regulars pull up both Uber and Lyft while walking toward baggage claim, then glance at the taxi line outside. If rideshare is quoting $25–30 with a 15-minute wait, the taxi’s typical $15–25 meter to Duval Street plus a tip usually wins. If you see a $12–15 rideshare with a driver already at the airport, grab that instead and skip the queue.
Complaints center on expectations, not availability. A few travelers mention drivers grumbling about very short hops of 2–3 miles or acting lukewarm compared with bigger-city service, and several are surprised to pay around $20 for a sub-10-minute ride. Have cash or a card ready, confirm the estimate before pulling away from the curb, and if you’re staying in Old Town, plan to skip a rental car and use this one cab ride plus walking or bike rentals to keep parking headaches off your Key West list.
Tip: If your flight lands after 10 p.m., head straight from the Main terminal exit to the taxi queue before stopping for anything else; catching one of the cars already waiting can shave 20 minutes off your airport-to-hotel time.
Step by step
- 01 Follow the exit signs in Concourse A to the ground-level baggage claim area.
- 02 Exit left near the rental car desks.
- 03 Proceed outside to the taxi line.
- •Not following the exit signs may lead to confusion.
- •Forgetting to confirm the fare with the driver before departure.