Is it worth it to rent a car in South Beach?

Question

Hubby and I are spending a week in SoBe for our anniversary at the end of the month...do you think that it is worth it to rent a car?

Answer 1

If you are going places far outside the South Beach area, then you will probably want a car. For instance trips to the Keys or Fort Lauderdale.

If your activities are pretty much centered around the beach and downtown, dining, clubbing, shopping, and your hotel, then a car will just be a head ache. Buses run up and down the beach frequently until after midnight and start again at 5 the next mornings. Forget the car and use the money to take a few taxis, to rent bicycles for the week. Make sure to bring, buy, or rent locks.  

Answer 2

I don't think so. South Beach, which runs from the southern tip of the island to the roughly 4-5 block transitional area of Lincoln Road to the Canal (21st--23rd Streets) is a walking area. Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue from the jetties to, say, Lincoln Road is easy to walk because the blocks are so short and the views are so great and, anyway, the terrain is so flat. Cars will be jammed and you'll be strolling along.

And, here's the best secret: To really appreciate and experience So Be, walk west--to Drexel and Euclid and Meridian and Flamingo Park and Lenox and Jefferson and a couple more all the way to Biscayne Bay. You'll really, really see South Beach and, therefore, the true Miami Beach. You don't need a car--you don't want a car--to do all that. The whole thing, ocean to bay, is, at best, between 1/4 to 1/2 mile. Happy Anniversary!! Have a great time.

Answer 3

No, its definitely NOT worth it.

All the main hot spots in SoBe are within less than 1 square mile, so you can just walk

.

Worst case, rent a scooter.  It makes it way easier in traffic and to park and will save you a ton of money.

Only if you plan to venture away from SoBe is a car worth it.

Answer 4

NO! Rent a scooter instead. Parking is hard to find unless you put the car in a public parking garage or have it valet parked. Both can become expensive.

OR take a nice walk or hop in a taxi.

Answer 5

In North Miami Beach a car  or taxi is a necessity, the story is different in South Beach. One can walk along Collins Avenue, Ocean Drive and Washington Avenue. There is even Lincoln Road, a street designed to walk, which has been converted into an outdoor mall. It is home to many restaurants, several night clubs, stores and movie theaters within its ten block span.  

Taxis abound in South Beach (which is generally defied as the entire part of Miami Beach located below Dade Blvd. and 23rd Street), but a fun and much cheaper way to see it all is to ride the South Beach Local bus service.  With stops every few blocks (look for the colorful “Local” signs on the sidewalk along the route), and service running every 10 to 15 minutes throughout each day, the South Beach Local makes getting around South Beach a breeze.  Geared mainly toward visitors, the Local’s buses are newer, air-conditioned, clean and safe.  The friendly drivers are quite helpful and seem to be very willing to assist riders in finding the stop closest to their destination or to offer other travel related information.  The fare is $0.25, which is considerably less than regular Miami-Dade Metrobus service at $1.50.  Metrobus service can also be used throughout all of Miami Beach, Miami and the rest of the County.