Mackinac Island, Coronado, Cape May, Key West, Clearwater Beach, Chatham, Provincetown, Santa Monica, Asbury Park and Ogunquit are ten beach towns in the U.S. where a family week works with no rental car, and each one goes car-free in its own way and on its own calendar. On Mackinac Island, cars have been banned since 1898, and your suitcases ride the Shepler’s ferry with you at no charge. In Santa Monica, the Metro E Line drops you about a 10-minute walk from the pier. Other towns lean on summer trolleys and ferries, and Chatham and Ogunquit still need a bus transfer or a taxi from the nearest station. Book a room near the sand and plan on a week of flip-flops, bike rides and a trolley ride or two.
Why Skip the Rental Car?
Parking near the sand adds up fast in several of these towns. The Shore Hotel in Santa Monica lists overnight valet at $65 plus tax, The Asbury Hotel charges $55 a night for valet from May 15 to October 15, and Ogunquit’s Main Beach lot charged $50 a day in the 2026 season. In Cape May, some places to stay have no on-site parking at all, and the free side-street spots fill early. Leave the car at home and that money goes toward ice cream and bike rentals instead, while the kids get a ferry ride or a trolley ride out of the deal.
Car-Free at a Glance
| Town | How you arrive | Getting around | When car-free works best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackinac Island, MI | Ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace | Bikes, walking, horse-drawn taxi | Late April through October |
| Coronado, CA | MTS bus 992 from the airport to downtown, then the ferry, or a taxi | Walking, rental bikes, MTS bus 904 | Year-round |
| Cape May, NJ | NJ Transit bus to the Welcome Center | Walking, delivered rental bikes, evening jitney | Mid-June to Labor Day |
| Key West, FL | Fly into EYW and take a taxi, or the ferry from Fort Myers Beach | Walking, rental bikes, app-booked city bus | Year-round |
| Clearwater Beach, FL | Grouper shuttle from St. Pete-Clearwater airport | Jolley Trolley, Suncoast Beach Trolley | Trolleys year-round, ferry February to Labor Day |
| Chatham, MA | Bus to Hyannis, then the CCRTA H2O bus | Walking in the village, rental bikes | Summer, staying in the village |
| Provincetown, MA | Fast ferry from Boston | Walking, rental bikes, seasonal shuttle | Mid-May to mid-October |
| Santa Monica, CA | Metro E Line from downtown LA, Big Blue Bus from LAX | Walking, beach bike path, Big Blue Bus | Year-round |
| Asbury Park, NJ | NJ Transit train, most trips change at Long Branch | Walking | Memorial Day to Labor Day |
| Ogunquit, ME | Amtrak Downeaster to Wells, then a taxi | Trolley, walking the Marginal Way | July 1 to October 15 |
The 10 Best Walkable Beach Towns in the USA
1. Mackinac Island, Michigan
On Mackinac Island the traffic is bikes, walkers and horse-drawn carriages, because village leaders banned horseless carriages on July 6, 1898.
Getting there without a car. There is no bridge, so you cross by ferry from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace with Shepler’s or Arnold Transit, and Shepler’s direct boats take about 16 minutes from either side. Luggage rides with you at no charge on Shepler’s, strollers ride free and are stored on board, and some island lodgings send dock porters to carry bags straight to your room. The nearest airports are Pellston Regional, about a 20-minute drive south of Mackinaw City, and Chippewa County International, about 30 minutes north of St. Ignace, and Mackinaw Shuttle and Northern Transport & Shuttle both run shuttle service.
Getting around. More than 1,500 rental bikes wait on the island, tandems and burleys for the kids among them, and the taxi here is a horse-drawn carriage. M-185 circles the island for 8.2 miles with no vehicles allowed except emergency ones, and it takes about an hour to bike without stopping. Training wheels are not allowed on Main Street, Market Street or Cadotte Avenue, so plan that first wobbly ride somewhere else. The ferry docks sit about three blocks from downtown.
Where to stay. Mission Point Resort lists Shepler’s dock as a 15-minute walk (0.75 mile) and Arch Rock as a 10-minute walk, and the island’s tourism bureau points to a beach in front of the resort with a lawn of Adirondack chairs. Our family hotels on Mackinac Island guide covers it alongside the Grand Hotel, and you can also compare Mackinac Island rooms. For the hours off the bike, see the island’s best family activities.
Good to know. In 2026, Mission Point, Island House and most inns close October 25, the Grand Hotel closes October 26, and Shepler’s stops sailing from both ports October 31. The Michigan DNR says the beaches in Mackinac Island State Park have no lifeguards, and none is listed at the Mission Point beach. The island’s beaches are rockier than a typical sandy shore. Shepler’s and Arnold have said they may stop service in 2027 without a new contract with the city, so check ferry news before you book a 2027 trip.
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2. Coronado, California
Coronado is a flat island about a mile across, with a wide sandy beach about 1.75 miles long on one side and, on the other, a ferry landing on San Diego Bay.
Getting there without a car. From San Diego International, MTS Route 992 runs from both terminals to Santa Fe Depot downtown in about 15 minutes, every 15 minutes from 4:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. From downtown, Flagship’s ferry crosses from Broadway Pier to the Coronado Ferry Landing in 15 minutes, with a departure every hour. Bikes ride at no extra charge when there is space and strollers are welcome, but only small personal items fit on board and there are no restrooms. With suitcases, a taxi or rideshare is the easier move, and the Hotel del puts the airport about 15 minutes away.
Getting around. The island has sidewalks suited to wheelchairs and 15 miles of bike paths, says the Coronado Visitor Center, which asks cyclists to steer clear of busy Orange Avenue, the main shopping and dining street. Holland’s Bikes & Beyond rents cruisers, tandems and surreys at the Ferry Landing from 9:30 a.m. to sunset, children’s tag-alongs are among the island’s rentals, and kids must wear helmets. The free summer shuttle ran June 7 to September 7 in 2026, and MTS Route 904 also runs along Orange Avenue to City Hall and the Ferry Landing as a regular fare bus.
Where to stay. The beach runs right past the Hotel del Coronado, its FAQ calls it walkable to Coronado Village, and its pools are heated year-round to about 80 to 85 degrees. El Cordova Hotel is listed on Booking.com as a 5-minute walk to Coronado Beach, most of its one- and two-bedroom suites have kitchens, and it adds a $30 nightly amenity fee. Our Coronado family hotels guide covers both, and our 3-day weekend itinerary maps out the beach and Ferry Landing days. Skip Loews Coronado Bay for a walk-everywhere week, since it sits about 8 miles down the Silver Strand.
Good to know. The Central Beach lifeguard station is staffed daily, all year, 9 a.m. to sunset, and Memorial Day to Labor Day brings extra towers at Glorietta Bay and along the public beach.
3. Cape May, New Jersey
Cape May, billed as the country’s oldest seaside resort, was declared a National Historic Landmark as a whole city in 1976, and its Washington Street Mall sits about 0.2 mile from the beach, or roughly five minutes on foot.
Getting there without a car. NJ Transit buses 313 and 315 run to Cape May year-round, and the 316 express from Philadelphia added daily summer service starting June 20, 2026. Buses pull in at the Cape May Welcome Center, within walking distance of B&Bs, restaurants and shops. Cape May Airport has no airline service, so if you fly into Atlantic City, a taxi or shuttle takes you to the NJ Transit bus station there for the bus into town.
Getting around. Walking is the best way to see Cape May, according to the town’s visitor site, and bike rental companies offer daily or weekly rentals and can drop the bikes at your hotel or B&B. The Promenade runs nearly two miles beside Beach Avenue with arcades, candy and ice cream along the way, though bikes may ride it only from 4 a.m. to 10 a.m. between May 16 and September 14. The free city jitney runs 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. only, daily from June 19 to September 7 in 2026 and Friday to Sunday from September 11 to October 25.
Where to stay. Congress Hall sits steps from the Promenade, the beaches, shopping and dining, and its beach service sets up at the end of Perry and Congress Streets. Montreal Beach Resort at 1025 Beach Avenue is directly across the street from the beach. You’ll find both in our Cape May family hotels guide, and our guide to the beaches helps you pick your stretch of sand.
Good to know. Anyone 12 and older needs a beach tag from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and kids 11 and under go free. In the summer season, Cape May Beach Patrol lifeguards watch all of the city’s beaches, about 2.5 miles from the Cove to Poverty Beach, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. Key West, Florida
You can reach Key West by plane or by boat, and once you are there, bike rentals are available all over the island.
Getting there without a car. Key West International (EYW) lists taxis and ride shares among its ground transportation, so a taxi or rideshare gets you to your hotel. The Key West Express ferry leaves Fort Myers Beach at 8 a.m. and heads back from Key West at 6 p.m., about 3.5 hours each way, on the dates in its sailing calendar. It docks at the Historic Seaport, under ten minutes on foot from Duval Street, and standard single-seat bikes can come along for a fee.
Getting around. Key West scores higher on wheels than on foot, with a Bike Score of 87 against a Walk Score of 63, somewhat walkable, for the city as a whole. The Duval Loop bus was suspended on January 2, 2026, and the city replaced it with Key West Rides, an app-booked bus that runs 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily across the island. City bus service has been changing, so check the city’s transit page before your trip. The Conch Tour Train is a 60-minute sightseeing loop that boards every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 303 Front Street, and it closes the last Saturday in October for Fantasy Fest.
Where to stay. Southernmost Beach Resort at 1319 Duval Street is listed on Expedia as about a 2-minute walk to South Beach and a 1-minute walk to Duval Street, and the resort has two beaches and three heated pools. Casa Marina at 1500 Reynolds Street is listed on Travelocity as a 3-minute walk to Higgs Beach Park and a 9-minute walk to Duval Street, about a 7-minute drive from the airport. Both are in our Key West family hotels guide. For the days in between, the aquarium at Mallory Square and the indoor Butterfly and Nature Conservatory at 1316 Duval Street, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., top our list of the family activities.
Good to know. No lifeguards watch Smathers Beach or Fort Zachary Taylor, and lifeguard coverage at Higgs Beach and South Beach is not listed. Fort Zachary Taylor opens 8 a.m. to sundown every day, and people arriving on foot or by bike pay a lower entry fee than cars. Mallory Square’s Sunset Celebration gets going about an hour before sunset each night, so time your walk over for the show.
5. Clearwater Beach, Florida
Clearwater Beach centers on Pier 60 Park, where kids get a playground and lifeguards watch the main beach, but most errands here need a ride rather than a walk.
Getting there without a car. Fly into St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) and the Grouper Airport Express, a PSTA on-demand shuttle, takes you to any address on Clearwater Beach. It runs whenever PIE has flights, books only through its web booker or app up to two months ahead, and picks up near the west exit of baggage claim. Every Grouper trip has to start or end at PIE, which means no rides around the beach and no pickups at Tampa, so check transfers before you book a flight there.
Getting around. Walk Score gives the Clearwater Beach neighborhood a 38 and says most errands require a car, which is why the trolleys matter here. The Jolley Trolley runs its beach and coastal routes 7 days a week, 365 days a year, reaching Clearwater Beach, Sand Key and nearby cities, and children 8 and under ride free. Guests at the Sandpearl, Opal Sands, Sheraton Sandkey and Marriott Sandkey ride the Jolley free with a room card. PSTA’s Suncoast Beach Trolley heads south from Clearwater Beach through Indian Rocks Beach to St. Pete Beach every 20 to 30 minutes, roughly 5:20 a.m. to midnight. The Clearwater Ferry links Clearwater, Clearwater Beach and Dunedin Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., from February through Labor Day.
Where to stay. The Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa calls Pier 60 footsteps away, lists Sunsets at Pier 60 at 0.10 mile, and includes bike rentals in its daily resort charge. Sandpearl Resort sits on its own 700-foot span of Clearwater Beach. Our Clearwater Beach family hotels guide has more on each.
Good to know. Pier 60 lifeguards work seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., though tower staffing depends on season and weather. Pier 60 Park is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Trolleys keep running all year, so a winter week works as well as a summer one, minus the ferry.
6. Chatham, Massachusetts
Chatham goes car-free only for families who stay in the village, since no public bus or ferry runs directly from Boston or Logan into town.
Getting there without a car. Plymouth & Brockton runs from Boston and Logan Airport to the Hyannis Transportation Center, and Peter Pan buses arrive there too. From Hyannis, CCRTA’s free H2O bus continues along Route 28 to Chatham about once an hour on weekdays, with 13 weekday departures from Hyannis between 6:30 a.m. and early evening, and it reaches the Veteran’s Field Road stop in about an hour. Its Chatham stops are Morton Road, Crowell Road, Veteran’s Field Road and Broad Reach, and the earliest trips skip Saturdays and school vacations. A local visitor guide puts the whole trip from Logan at about 3.5 to 4 hours. The CapeFLYER weekend train from South Station to Hyannis runs only from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
Getting around. The Old Colony Rail Trail starts on Depot Road across from Veterans Field and links to the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Harwich. Chatham Hood Bikes at 400 Main Street is the closest rental for a downtown stay. Oyster Pond, a saltwater tidal pond, is within walking distance of Main Street, while Harding’s Beach at 385 Hardings Beach Road is reached by road. From the end of June through the end of August, the Chatham Band plays a free Friday-evening concert in Kate Gould Park on Main Street.
Where to stay. The Chatham Wayside Inn at 512 Main Street puts Main Street steps from the door, calls Lighthouse Beach a short walk away, and has a heated pool. Chatham Bars Inn sits a quarter-mile outside the village with a private beach and free bike rentals for guests. Both appear in our Chatham family hotels guide, or you can browse Chatham rentals on VRBO.
Good to know. Chatham lists summer lifeguards at Harding’s, Ridgevale and Cockle Cove beaches. Lighthouse Beach has no lifeguards, and the Chatham Chamber of Commerce warns of strong currents there. Its south tip is permanently closed to swimming, and a red flag closes the whole beach to swimmers. Under the town’s 2025 rules, drivers needed a pass for Lighthouse Beach’s Bridge Street lot from July 1 to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the overlook allowed 30 minutes, a squeeze walkers from the village skip. H2O buses do not run on Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Year’s Day.
7. Provincetown, Massachusetts
Provincetown’s ferries from Boston tie up at MacMillan Pier, and the ferry company itself calls walking and bicycling the preferred way around the village.
Getting there without a car. Boston Harbor City Cruises leaves Long Wharf and averages 95 minutes dock to dock, while Bay State Cruise Company sails from 200 Seaport Boulevard. In 2026, Boston Harbor City Cruises ran daily from May 16 to October 12, and Bay State ran daily from May 16 to October 18, then Friday to Sunday from October 23 to November 15 on crossings of about 100 minutes. The Silver Line reaches Bay State’s dock in four minutes from South Station and also runs from Logan, and the stop is less than 100 yards from the pier. Bay State charges nothing for luggage, keeps a luggage storage booth on the Provincetown dock, and carries bikes when you add them to your reservation.
Getting around. Gale Force Bikes at 144 Bradford Street Extension rents trailers and tag-along bikes for toddlers, with bike lanes running from the shop toward the trails and beach. It opens from April 11 through October. The Province Lands Bike Trail loops 5.45 miles with spurs to Herring Cove and Race Point, and the Park Service rates it advanced-intermediate, with steep hills, sharp turns and tunnels. The free CCRTA Provincetown Shuttle stops at MacMillan Pier, the Provincetown Inn, Herring Cove and Race Point, and its 2026 season ended October 11.
Where to stay. The Provincetown Inn at 1 Commercial Street has direct beach access on Cape Cod Bay, a seasonal waterfront pool and its own shuttle stop. Herring Cove, the only National Seashore beach on the bay side, is right outside the town center and has gentler waves and warmer water than the Atlantic beaches. At the Harbor Hotel on the east end, the beach across the street disappears under the water at high tide. Compare them in our family hotels in Provincetown and the Provincetown beaches guide.
Good to know. From late June through Labor Day, lifeguards are typically on duty at Herring Cove and Race Point. Plan a car-free Provincetown week between mid-May and mid-October, when the Boston ferries sail daily.
8. Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica has a pier with an aquarium and a merry-go-round, a paved beach path that rolls for 22 miles, and a light-rail station downtown.
Getting there without a car. Metro’s E Line runs from 7th Street/Metro Center in downtown Los Angeles to Downtown Santa Monica Station at 4th Street and Colorado Avenue in about 46 minutes, with trains every 10 minutes at peak times and every 12 minutes off peak. From the station, it is about a 10-minute walk to the pier, heading west on Colorado, over Ocean Avenue and down the pier bridge. From LAX, a free shuttle runs from the terminals to the LAX/Metro Transit Center, and Big Blue Bus Route 3 has run seven days a week between that center and downtown Santa Monica, so check its current timetable before you fly.
Getting around. The Third Street Promenade is closed to cars for three blocks between Wilshire and Broadway, with a farmers’ market every Wednesday and Saturday. The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, the paved path known as the Strand, runs from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance, and bikes are allowed on the pier. Perry’s Cafe and Beach Rentals at 320 Santa Monica Pier rents bikes, boogie boards, chairs and umbrellas. Big Blue Bus Route 8 stops at Ocean and Colorado, right by the pier. The Heal the Bay Aquarium, tucked under the carousel building, opens Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Where to stay. Shore Hotel at 1515 Ocean Avenue lists the beach 0.1 mile away and the pier and the Promenade each 0.3 mile away. Its policy page lists a $45 guest amenity fee and overnight valet at $65 plus tax, so leaving the car at home keeps the valet charge off your bill. See more options in our guide to family hotels in Santa Monica, and plan the days with our family activities guide.
Good to know. On either side of the pier, LA County lifeguards staff the towers, and the schedule depends on the tower and the season. With trains running from early morning to late night, Santa Monica works car-free in any month.
9. Asbury Park, New Jersey
Asbury Park pairs a fully accessible boardwalk with its own station on NJ Transit’s North Jersey Coast Line.
Getting there without a car. From New York Penn Station or Newark Penn Station, most trips to Asbury Park change to a diesel train at Long Branch, though some weekday express trains run straight through. From Newark airport, AirTrain runs to the airport rail station, where NJ Transit trains continue to Asbury Park with at least one change. Signs at the Asbury Park station put the boardwalk and ocean about a 12-minute walk away, through a tunnel marked for Downtown and Boardwalk.
Getting around. Here you mostly walk. Bikes are not allowed on the boardwalk from 10 a.m. to midnight, skates, skateboards and scooters are not allowed, and e-bikes, e-scooters and mopeds are never allowed on the beach or boardwalk. The Convention Hall restrooms open 6 a.m. to midnight every day of the year, which helps with small kids after the beach restrooms close.
Where to stay. The Asbury Hotel at 210 5th Avenue says the beach is one block away, about a 6-minute walk, with the boardwalk a block off too. Its valet costs $55 a night from May 15 to October 15, and its outdoor pool opens in the summer months. Compare it with the other picks in our family hotels in Asbury Park and find your spot in the Asbury Park beaches guide.
Good to know. You need a beach badge from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, and badges are free for kids 12 and under with an adult. Lifeguards from the city’s Beach Patrol work every day from June 13 to Labor Day and on weekends from Memorial Day until then, with hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 to 6 on weekends and holidays, and the city asks swimmers to stay out of the water when no lifeguard is on duty. The stretch between the 8th Avenue and Deal Lake Drive jetties is for surfing only, with no swimming.
10. Ogunquit, Maine
In Ogunquit you can stroll the Marginal Way, a 1.25-mile paved footpath between town and Perkins Cove, and in season a fleet of eight trolleys carries you through the rest of town.
Getting there without a car. Amtrak’s Downeaster stops at the Wells Transportation Center, with five trips a day each way between Boston’s North Station and Brunswick. The Ogunquit Playhouse is 7.2 miles from that station, and Amtrak calls onward ground connections extremely limited, so line up Ocean Taxi or another ride before you board. The bus at the station, Shoreline Explorer’s Orange Line, runs to Wells Beach and Sanford, not Ogunquit. Flying in from Portland or Portsmouth means a taxi, a rideshare or a rental car.
Getting around. The Ogunquit Trolley ran daily from July 1 to October 15 in 2026, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and it stays parked in bad weather. The Marginal Way is paved and largely flat with a few narrow, steeper spots, takes about 45 to 60 minutes to walk, and Visit Maine says it works reasonably well for strollers from a main entrance. You reach Main Beach from Beach Street and Footbridge Beach from Ocean Street over a pedestrian bridge.
Where to stay. The Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort at 85 Shore Road sits right on the Marginal Way, and Visit Maine places it within easy walking distance of the beach and the center of town. It opens April to October and has a seasonally heated pool. Cliff House, by contrast, is in Cape Neddick, and its town shuttle runs only July to Labor Day with no beach drop-off. More picks are in our guide to family hotels in Ogunquit, and our Ogunquit family activities guide covers time away from the beach.
Good to know. Ogunquit Ocean Rescue staffs lifeguard stations at Main Beach, Footbridge Beach and other town beaches from late June to Labor Day. If you do bring a car, the 2026 town lots charged $50 a day at Main Beach from April 17 to October 31. Car-free Ogunquit lines up with the trolley season, July 1 to October 15.
Honorable mention: Siesta Key, Florida just missed the list. The free Siesta Islander trolley runs between Siesta Key Village and Turtle Beach from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day, but it has stayed on the key since April 25, 2026. Free Route 99 still links the Sarasota airport with downtown Sarasota, but the trolley no longer runs downtown. Most families flying in will want a rideshare, and the airport has an Uber and Lyft pickup zone. Our full Siesta Key guide has the details.
How to Pull Off a Car-Free Beach Week
Start with the calendar, because the trolleys and ferries that make these towns easy keep their own seasons. In 2026, the Ogunquit Trolley ran July 1 to October 15, Coronado’s free shuttle ran June 7 to September 7, the Provincetown Shuttle ended October 11, the Clearwater Ferry runs February through Labor Day, and Mackinac’s ferries run from late April through October.
Next, check how the last leg handles your bags. Shepler’s carries Mackinac luggage at no charge, Bay State has a storage booth on the Provincetown dock, and the Coronado ferry takes only small personal items, so a family with suitcases may prefer a taxi over the bridge. CCRTA buses on Cape Cod carry three bikes on their racks, and the Coronado ferry takes bikes when there is room.
Then plan meals around what you can carry. El Cordova Hotel in Coronado has suites with kitchens, Cape May’s Acme Markets stays open year-round, and Doud’s Market on Mackinac Island is open all year too. With a kitchen in a Cape May vacation rental, you make fewer trips out, and booking an outing such as Key West family tours ahead of time keeps the big day simple. For little riders, look for kid gear at the rental shop, like the burleys on Mackinac, the trailers and tag-alongs at Gale Force Bikes in Provincetown, and the children’s tag-alongs on Coronado, where kids must wear helmets.
Two of the towns above, Coronado and Santa Monica, are in California, and they are not the only ones there worth a family week. We ranked all seven of the state’s best in our California beach towns for families guide.
Leaving the car behind is one way to narrow a shortlist. Two others we have since ranked are what a week actually costs, in our most affordable beach towns for families, and how a beach behaves with a small child, in our best beach towns for toddlers.
FAQs About Car-Free Beach Vacations
What is the most walkable beach town in the US?
For a family that wants no car at all, Mackinac Island is the purest pick on this list, because cars have been banned there since 1898 and everyone gets around by bike, on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. Its season runs roughly May through October. On the mainland, Cape May puts the Washington Street Mall about a five-minute walk from the beach, and Santa Monica’s E Line station is about a 10-minute walk from the pier.
Which beach towns can you reach without a car at all?
Provincetown has fast ferries from Boston, daily from mid-May to mid-October in 2026, and Santa Monica has the Metro E Line from downtown Los Angeles. Asbury Park has NJ Transit trains from New York, with most trips changing at Long Branch, and Cape May has NJ Transit buses year-round. Coronado is a bus and ferry ride from the San Diego airport, Key West has its own airport plus the Key West Express ferry from Fort Myers Beach, and Clearwater Beach has the Grouper shuttle from St. Pete-Clearwater International. Mackinac Island, Chatham and Ogunquit each need a shuttle, a bus transfer or a taxi for the last leg.
Do you need a car in Key West with kids?
Not for a stay near Duval Street. The airport lists taxis and ride shares, bike rentals are available throughout the island, and Walk Score gives Key West a Bike Score of 87. The Duval Loop bus is no longer an option, since it was suspended in January 2026, so plan around walking, bikes and the app-booked Key West Rides bus, and check the city’s transit page before you go.
Are walkable beach towns more expensive?
Rooms close to the sand can carry extra charges, but a car brings its own costs. The Shore Hotel in Santa Monica lists a $45 amenity fee and overnight valet at $65 plus tax, The Asbury Hotel charges $55 a night for valet in season, and Ogunquit’s Main Beach lot ran $50 a day in 2026. On Coronado, street parking is free, with a two-hour limit on Orange Avenue. Hotel parking is another matter, since El Cordova lists $40 a night for off-site parking and the Hotel del charges for its self-park and valet.
Plan These Towns in Depth:
- The Lazy Parent’s 3-Day Weekend Itinerary in Coronado, CA
- How Much Does a Family Trip to Coronado Cost?
- Best Family Hotels with Pools in Cape May, NJ
- The Ultimate Family Guide to Cape May Beaches
- Best Family Hotels with Pools in Clearwater Beach, FL
- Best Family Hotels with Pools in Chatham, MA
- Top Family-Friendly Activities in Key West, FL
- Beach Vacation vs. Cruise: Why a U.S. Beach Town Wins for Families
