Getting Around Boca Raton
The short answer
You need a car for most of Boca Raton. A free downtown trolley links Mizner Park, the Brightline station and Royal Palm Place, rideshare covers the city well, and Tri-Rail and Brightline handle north-south trips, but the beaches, west Boca and neighboring towns all require driving.
Do you need a car?
If your trip is downtown, Mizner Park and the beach, you can manage on the trolley, rideshare and your feet. For anything else — Gumbo Limbo, west Boca, Delray, the wetlands — rent a car. Distances are short but transit between them is not practical.
Parking
City beach lots charge by the hour with higher non-resident rates and fill before 11am on winter weekends. The Mizner Park garage is free for the first few hours. Downtown street parking is metered and enforced.
Cycling and walking
The El Rio Trail runs about six paved, shaded miles through the city away from traffic and is the most pleasant way to move north-south under your own power. A1A has bike lanes but heavy traffic.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a car in Boca Raton?
- For most visits, yes. Downtown and the beach are manageable with the free trolley and rideshare, but the parks, west Boca and nearby towns all require a car.
- Is there a free trolley in Boca Raton?
- Yes. Boca Raton runs a free downtown trolley connecting Mizner Park, the Brightline station, Royal Palm Place and Palmetto Park Road.
- How much is beach parking in Boca Raton?
- City beach lots charge hourly, with non-resident rates several times higher than the resident rate. Daily maximums apply and lots often fill by late morning in season.