Parking in Key West for holiday events comes down to the Historic Seaport, where the Harbor Walk of Lights and the boat parade happen, and Duval Street, where the street parade and the conch shell and shoe drops happen. The City’s Old Town garage is a block from the Seaport’s main lot, the City runs paid lots nearby, and its buses cost $2 a ride. This page covers each event night, the closures the City has posted, and the car-free options. Christmas in Key West is an independent planner published by LPE Realty LLC. We are not the City of Key West, Schooner Wharf, the Historic Seaport or any other organiser, and when their published details differ from this page, theirs are the ones to follow.
The short answer
- City of Key West: the "Park N Ride – Old Town Parking Garage" is "at 301 Grinnell Street at the corner of Caroline & Grinnell Streets", "300 on a first come, first serve basis", hourly "$ 6.00 plus tax", daily "$48.00 plus tax". "Special Event Rates may apply – the City Manager determines the rate." "The bus stop is across Caroline Street in front of West Marine." (Page last updated Feb. 28, 2024.) City of Key West: Parking Garage
- keywestchristmas.org: "Park in the Main Parking Lot located at Margaret & Caroline St. OR the Parking Garage one block away at Caroline & Grinnell St. OR in the lot at Green & Elizabeth St." and "Please use FREE scooter parking areas and designated bike racks all around the Historic Seaport and Harbor Walk Area. Please no locking bikes to the decorations!" Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights)
The City’s Park N Ride Old Town Parking Garage is at 301 Grinnell Street, at the corner of Caroline and Grinnell Streets. The City lists 300 spaces at $6.00 an hour plus tax and $48.00 a day plus tax, and warns that special event rates may apply, set by the City Manager. For the Harbor Walk of Lights, keywestchristmas.org names three places: the main lot at Margaret and Caroline, the garage one block away at Caroline and Grinnell, and the lot at Greene and Elizabeth. The garage it names is on the same corner as the City’s Park N Ride. The organiser also points scooters and bikes to the free scooter areas and racks, and asks that no one lock a bike to the decorations.
Compare lots near where you are going
The picker below lists the City garage and City lots with the rates and limits the City publishes, the straight-line distance from the Historic Seaport, and the source and checked date for each. Choose where you are headed and it sorts the options.
Decision tool · parking
Where should I park?
Pick where you are going. We rank the City of Key West garage and lots by how close they are to where you are headed, with the rates and rules the City publishes.
| Lot | Address | Spaces | Cost and limits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Parking Garage (Park N Ride) | 301 Grinnell Street (corner of Caroline and Grinnell Streets), Key West, FL 33040 | 300 | $6 an hour plus tax, $48 a day plus tax | City of Key West: Old Town Parking Garage |
| Key West Bight Parking Lot (Caroline Street Lot) | 800 block of Caroline Street, Key West, FL 33040 | 120 | $6 an hour, $48 a day maximum | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Mallory Square Parking Lot | 412 Wall Street, Key West, FL 33040 | 100 | $7 an hour, $48 a day, 10-hour maximum | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Conch Republic Parking Lot (Greene Street Lot) | Greene Street, Key West, FL 33040 (no street number published) | 136 | $6 an hour, 10-hour maximum | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Ferry Terminal Parking Lot | 100 Grinnell Street, Key West, FL 33040 | 19 | $6 an hour, 10-hour maximum | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Fire Station No. 2 Parking Lot | Corner of Angela and Simonton Streets (600 block of Simonton), Key West, FL 33040 | 84 | $6 an hour, 10-hour maximum | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Half Shell Raw Bar Parking Lot | 231 Margaret Street, Key West, FL 33040 | 19 | $6 an hour | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Jackson Square Lot | 600 Thomas Street (600 block), Key West, FL 33040 | Not published | $6 an hour, nights and weekends only | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Parking Lots at Butler Boulevard & Angela Street (Truman Waterfront) | Butler Boulevard and Angela Street, Key West, FL 33040 | 75 | $6 an hour | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Truman Waterfront Park North Parking Lot | Truman Waterfront Park, Key West, FL 33040 (no street address published) | 106 | $6 an hour | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Simonton Street Beach & Parking Lot | 0 Simonton Street, Key West, FL 33040 | Not published | $6 an hour, 10-hour maximum | City of Key West: City Parking Lots & Rates |
| Smathers Beach parking (on-street, South Roosevelt Blvd) | South Roosevelt Boulevard (A1A), Key West, FL 33040 | Not published | $5 an hour | City of Key West: Smathers Beach |
On-street parking: Downtown on-street spaces are metered (zone 33050); the City does not publish the hourly on-street rate on the pages read. City lots near the Seaport cost $6 an hour; Mallory Square costs $7; the Old Town garage is $6 an hour plus tax and includes free rides on City bus routes. Residential spaces in the historic neighborhoods need a City residential permit. City of Key West: Parking Department FAQs
Walking times are straight-line estimates from OpenStreetMap coordinates, not measured routes. Rules and rates are the City’s own words, checked 2026-10-21; signs on the day win.
Parked and ready? The evening planner puts the Harbor Walk, Duval Street and dinner in order.
Seaport and Old Town lots in the City’s words
The City’s parking lots and rates directory lists the Key West Bight Parking Lot on the 800 block of Caroline Street at “$6 per hour, $48 daily maximum”, the Half Shell Raw Bar lot at 231 Margaret Street at “$6 per hour” and the Ferry Terminal lot at 100 Grinnell Street at “$6 per hour, 10-hour maximum”. The Mallory Square lot at 412 Wall Street is “$7 per hour, $48 daily, 10-hour maximum”. The garage’s hourly rate matches the $6 lots, with tax added on top.
City lots take payment at the pay station or through the Passport Parking app, and the City says zone numbers are printed on the side of each pay station. At the garage, the City says the “Automated pay station accepts credit cards, debit cards, and coins only.” The City does not publish a downtown on-street meter rate on the pages we read, so we do not give one.
Event nights and street closures
Harbor Walk evenings, Nov. 25 to Dec. 31
On an ordinary night of the season, use the organiser’s three options above. Lighting night, Wednesday, Nov. 25, has holiday music from 5 PM and trees lit at 6 and 7 PM; aim to park before the music starts. Details are on the Harbor Walk page.
Hometown Holiday Parade, Saturday, Dec. 5
- The City of Key West calendar lists "Holiday Parade – Street Closure and City Property Event Notice" on "Saturday, December 5, 2026", "7:00 PM – 9:00 PM", contact "Dorian Patton, 305-809-3868". City of Key West: Calendar event notice
- keywestchristmas.org: "Saturday, December 5", "2026 Key West City "Hometown Holiday Parade"", "Starts at 6:30pm", "Parade starts on Truman Ave. (at White St.) then proceeds to Duval St., then down Duval St. ending at Eaton St." and "Of course Santa will make a guest appearance!" Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights)
The City’s notice is titled “Holiday Parade – Street Closure and City Property Event Notice” and covers 7 to 9 PM. It does not name the streets. keywestchristmas.org gives the route as Truman Ave. at White St., then Duval St. down to Eaton St., starting at 6:30. Park away from that line and walk in, rather than planning to drive along or across it near the start. More on the holiday parade page.
Custom House concert, Friday, Dec. 11
- The City of Key West calendar lists "2026 Custom House Holiday Concert & Bazaar – City Property Event Notice" on "Friday, December 11, 2026", "5:00 PM – 8:00 PM": "The event takes place at the Custom House and Clinton Place. Front Street will be closed in front of the Custom House from Greene Street to Whitehead Street." KWAHS says students' trees will be displayed "in the week leading up to our Annual Holiday Concert & Bazaar on December 11th." City of Key West: Calendar event notice; Key West Art & Historical Society: Holiday Concert & Bazaar
The City says Front Street will be closed in front of the Custom House from Greene Street to Whitehead Street during the 5 to 8 PM concert and bazaar.
Lighted Boat Parade, Saturday, Dec. 12
- The City of Key West calendar lists "Deck the Hulls! Annual Schooner Wharf Bar Key West Lighted Boat Parade – City Property Event Notice" on "Saturday, December 12, 2026", "7:00 PM – 10:00 PM", at "Key West Historic Seaport and Marina", "201 William Street". City of Key West: Calendar event notice
- The City of Key West calendar lists "Rudolph Red Nose 5K – City Property Event Notice and Street Closure Notice" on Dec. 12, 2026, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM: "Race starts and ends at the Duval Street Pocket Park. South Street and Duval Street will be closed for the start of the race." City of Key West: Calendar event notice
The City’s notice covers 7 to 10 PM at the Key West Historic Seaport and Marina, 201 William Street. That is the same waterfront the Seaport lots and the garage serve, and the garage page says special event rates may apply. That morning a City notice also closes South Street and Duval Street for the start of the Rudolph Red Nose 5K, 8 AM to noon; the race organiser has not confirmed it on its own page. Read the boat parade page.
New Year’s Eve, Thursday, Dec. 31
- The City of Key West calendar lists "New Year's Eve Shoe Drop – Street Closure Notice", "December 31, 2026 – January 1, 2027", "9:00 PM – 2:00 AM", Duval Street: "The 700 bock of Duval Street will be closed beginning at 2:00 pm." (sic) City of Key West: Calendar event notice
For the shoe drop, the City says the 700 block of Duval Street closes from 2:00 pm, with the notice running from 9 PM to 2 AM on Jan. 1, 2027. On New Year’s Day there is no Key West Rides service. Every drop and its location is on the New Year’s Eve page.
On Oct. 21, 2026 the City had not posted event parking plans or event rates for any of these nights. Its temporary road closures page is the one to check from late November.
Leave the car: buses and Key West Rides
- City of Key West Bus Fares: "Effective July 7, 2025", City "One Way" $2 full fare, "One Day Pass" $4, "7-Day Pass" $8; Keys (Lower Keys) one way $4. "One Day Super Pass Valid on City and Lower Keys Routes $ 12". Payment by "cash and credit card via Token Transit" (Key West Rides page). City of Key West: Bus Fares
- City of Key West: "Key West Rides On-Demand is an innovative form of transportation that will replace the North and South Lines". "This is a bus stop-to-bus stop service". Hours "Monday" to "Sunday 6 AM" to "8 PM", "(No service on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day)." Booking help: "305-809-3910". City of Key West: Key West Rides On-Demand Bus Service
- City of Key West: "The City of Key West Department of Transportation provides public transit services throughout Key West, Stock Island, and up to Marathon, Florida." Information line "305-600-1455"; "Buses may be delayed at times due to heavy seasonal traffic." City of Key West: Transportation (KWDoT)
- The City's Bus Fares page still lists "Duval Loop – $1". The Key West Citizen reported on Dec. 31, 2025 that "the Duval Loop bus route will be suspended beginning Jan. 2, with service replaced by the Key West Rides on-demand transit program" and that "Fares were free until July of this year when they were increased to $1 per ride" (secondary source, news). Do not call the Duval Loop free or running. Key West Citizen (news, secondary); City of Key West: Bus Fares
City buses cost $2 one way, $4 for a One Day Pass and $8 for a 7-Day Pass. Key West Rides is the City’s on-demand, bus stop to bus stop service, running 6 AM to 8 PM daily, with no service on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day; booking help is on 305-809-3910. Key West Rides stops at 8 PM, the hour the boat parade starts, so plan a different way back after the parade. The City also warns that “Buses may be delayed at times due to heavy seasonal traffic.”
The City’s Old Town garage page says that “Payment at the Park n’ Ride Garage grants free access to the City Routes of public transportation for you and everyone in your vehicle”. That does not cover the Lower Keys Shuttle. The bus stop is across Caroline Street in front of West Marine. The Duval Loop is a different matter: the City’s fares page still lists it at $1, but the Key West Citizen reported it suspended from Jan. 2, 2026, so do not count on it.
Accessible parking
The City’s parking FAQ says “All municipal lots have designated disabled parking spaces and on-street accessible spaces at various locations.” It adds that a vehicle with a handicap placard or plate can park in any municipal metered space for up to 4 hours without paying. The City does not publish accessible-space counts for each lot.
Rules worth knowing before you park
- The City’s 2026 fine table lists $65.00 for overtime at a meter, for parking in a residential space without a permit and for parking on a bicycle lane or rack, and $250.00 for an accessible space without a valid permit.
- Boats, boat trailers, RVs and vehicles over 20 feet cannot legally park on City streets or in City lots, according to the City’s permit FAQ.
- The Old Town garage has a 7 feet 2 inches height limit, and the City asks vehicles over 20 feet to use the top level.
- Residential parking permits are for City residents, according to the Parking Department. Visitors should leave residential spaces alone.
Signs on the day win
Rates, closures and lot rules can change for an event. The signs at the lot, the pay station and any officer directing traffic on the night override this page and the picker. Before you leave, look again at the City’s notices and the organiser’s page for your event. To plan the trip around where you park, use the evening planner, and for arrival by air, ferry or road see getting here.
Where can I park for the Harbor Walk of Lights?
keywestchristmas.org names the main lot at Margaret & Caroline St., the parking garage at Caroline & Grinnell St., and the lot at Green & Elizabeth St. It asks people not to lock bikes to the decorations.
Source: Key West "Bight" Before Christmas: keywestchristmas.org (Harbor Walk of Lights)
How much is the City parking garage near the seaport?
The City's Park N Ride Old Town Garage at 301 Grinnell Street lists $6.00 an hour plus tax and $48.00 a day plus tax, with 300 spaces. Special event rates may apply.
Source: City of Key West: Parking Garage
Is there a free bus in Key West?
Not that the City lists. City buses are $2 one way. The City now runs Key West Rides, an on-demand shared ride between bus stops. A news report says the Duval Loop was suspended from Jan. 2, 2026 and had charged $1 since July 2025.
Source: Key West Citizen (news, secondary); City of Key West: Bus Fares
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organisers have the final word: City of Key West: Visitors