Are 30A Golf Cart Rentals Allowed in Rosemary Beach and Seacrest Beach?

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Are you planning a trip to 30A? If so, you have come to the right place. I am a local Airbnb superhost and can answer any 30A Florida question that you may have! One that I see asked very often is about 30A golf cart rentals.  So, today, we are going to dig into that!

Planning a trip to 30A? Read my blog about the top 10 mistakes people make when planning a trip to 30A first!

Today, I want to talk about 30A golf cart rentals on the east end of 30A, specifically Rosemary Beach, Seacrest Beach, and Alys Beach. Long story short, golf carts are not allowed on the east end of 30A.

The good news is that you don’t need them. The east end of 30A, from Alys Beach to Rosemary Beach, is 100% walkable. I am familiar with these areas and can address this topic with 100% certainty.

However, 30A and the 30A beachside communities cover a large area, and I would also like to discuss golf cart usage on 30A in general. So, let’s deep dive into the topic of golf carts on 30A! 

RELATED POST: Fun Things To Do on 30A With Kids

What’s Up With 30A Golf Cart Rentals?

There is a lot to unpack here because this is undoubtedly the most polarizing issue in South Walton County, Florida, where 30A is located. It’s important to ensure we are discussing the same thing here, so let’s unpack that first. 

LSVs vs. Golf Carts

The street legal golf carts you see on 30A are actually LSVs – low-speed vehicles. This means they are treated as a vehicle with license plates, rearview mirrors, seat belts, etc., intended for use on roads with a maximum speed limit of 35 mph or lower. This differs from a golf cart you drive on a golf course, like the one you see below.

I will use the terms interchangeably here, as most people call them “golf carts.” Still, please note that I am referring to licensed LSVs in this 30A golf cart rentals blog post, not an actual golf cart like the one shown above.

So, What’s the Big Debate About Golf Carts and LSVs on 30A?

In summary, many tourists love them; locals tend to hate them. And the Walton County Sheriff’s Office has to designate many resources to help manage them.  This topic always sparks a heated debate whenever it’s brought up!

Why Do Most Locals Hate 30A Golf Cart Rentals?

Bottlenecks: The primary issue is that, while these low-speed vehicles are allowed on roads with a 35 mph speed limit, many travel much slower. It isn’t unusual for an older electric cart to max out at 20 mph. This causes traffic to back up along the roughly 20 miles of scenic highway. It’s all fun and games if everyone is on vacation. However, the truth is that many people live on 30A, work here, and go to school here.  

There are a couple of areas along 30A where carts can pull to the side safely to let people pass. If you are driving and LSV on 30A with a line of cars behind you and see one of those, pull over!

Safety: Another overwhelming concern is safety. While the same laws apply to these golf carts as they do to vehicles, many don’t abide by them. Licensed drivers are the only ones who should be operating these, but middle school kids joyride around neighborhoods in them. It’s common to see babies on their parents’ laps, sometimes while their parents are driving. Or young toddlers sitting alone in the back, usually four kids in a space for two.  

This means that your babies and little kids need to be in car seats!

The Walton County Sheriff’s Department is cracking down on violations. Still, every time I am there, I see people driving around in them with open alcohol. Or teenagers packed into one and driving down the middle of the road.

Hazards: One other issue is parking. These golf carts or LSVs must be parked in an actual parking spot. However, many people make up their own spot for them, often blocking sidewalks or hanging out into the street from the curb.  I have a blog post with more information about parking on 30A!

Why Do People Rent Golf Carts on 30A?

So, if they are such a pain in the butt, why are 30A golf cart rentals so popular? One word – vacation! 

For many, it’s a fun novelty they look forward to while visiting 30A. And many do use them responsibly. I estimate that 50% of people renting and driving golf carts on 30A do things safely and correctly. 

As a popular beach destination, driving golf carts to the beach helps keep sand out of their personal vehicles. Weather permitting, people enjoy the salt air on their skin as they cruise from community to community. 

To be fair, there are areas where they are helpful, especially in master-planned communities set back far from the beach, where they are more functional. In this case, drivers typically cross 30A but don’t traverse it. Some of these neighborhoods even have small parking lots for golf carts.   

I personally find it somewhat silly to rent a golf cart if you already have a vehicle. But I do see how it’s appealing for people who fly into 30A airports. Sometimes they choose an LSV over a rental car on 30A to transport items to the beach.

30A Golf Cart Rules

Let’s talk about the rules and regulations for LSVs (low-speed vehicles), better known as golf carts, on 30A!  For the most part, it will parallel the rules you follow in a standard vehicle.

LSV Rules and Laws

The best resource here is the Walton County Sheriff’s Office LSV page. It has everything you need to know. But here is a summary.

#1 Golf Carts that haven’t been made into LSVs are never allowed on any roadway. These don’t have license plates and belong on golf courses.  

#2 LSVs must have a valid registration tag affixed to their license plates. They must have seatbelts, headlights, taillights, turn signals, horns, mirrors, parking brakes, side reflectors, and a VIN to obtain this. 

#3 Must be able to reach 20 MPH but not greater than 25 MPH.

#4 Drivers must have a valid driver’s license.

#5 All occupants under the age of 18 must wear a seat belt. All front seat occupants must wear a seat belt. All children under 6 must be in a car seat or booster seat.

#6 Low-speed vehicles may only be driven on roadways with 35 MPH or under speed limits. They can not drive or park on sidewalks or bike paths. 

#7 Should adhere to all other vehicular laws. This means no drinking and driving, a complete stop where required, etc. 

#8 LSVs can not drive on the sandy beaches in Walton County.

Where are Golf Carts Allowed on 30A?

So, you are on the up and up and ready to follow all the rules. But where can you use your golf cart or LSV on 30A?

The actual road 30A (Scenic Highway 30A) is 35mph and under, and LSVs can be driven the entire length. They can be parked in actual public parking spots along 30A, at any public beach access, or state park. The main restrictions usually apply when venturing off 30A.  

The 30A area, often called Santa Rosa Beach or Inlet Beach after the two zip codes that cover the entire area, comprises many incorporated and private communities and neighborhoods. This means those communities can make their own rules around LSVs in their community and on private property. This is why it’s difficult to explain where golf carts (LSVs) are allowed and where they aren’t.   This is the same reason I had to write a 3000-word blog post to explain the difference between the public and private beaches on 30A.

Some neighborhoods even have rules stating that rental carts aren’t allowed or that they can be driven only by owners. Some only allow one vendor to service that neighborhood, or specifically allow eclectic carts but not gas carts.

Areas such as Seaside do allow golf cart parking in their golf cart lots; however, visitors to Seaside cannot drive them around the community. The only way to get a true and accurate answer is to ask your Airbnb host or the rental management company you rent from.  They can give you accurate answers around 30A golf cart rentals at that exact property.

Click here to browse vacation rentals on 30A!

Map Showing Where You Can Drive LSVs on 30A

The Sheriff’s office provides a great map showing where you can not drive LSVs in South Walton County. Click here to view their interactive map, which allows you to zoom in and scroll. 

To answer the question in the title of this post, here is a cropped section showing the east end of 30A, including Alys Beach, Seacrest Beach (where our 4 vacation rentals are), and Rosemary Beach. 

You will notice that they are allowed in Inlet Beach. However, Winston Lane is a one-way street heading north. So, there is no way to get from these 30A communities to Inlet Beach without cutting through a restaurant parking lot and then driving several feet on a sidewalk.

This, of course, is not allowed, but many people believe they want a golf cart to visit the large regional public beach access in Inlet Beach from 30A. 

So, let’s answer today’s questions at hand!  

Can You Have Golf Carts in Rosemary Beach, Florida?

No, you can drive through Rosemary Beach while staying on Highway 30A, but driving and parking in Rosemary Beach is prohibited.  That said, this area is very walkable! Places like The Pearl Hotel, shown below, are literally steps from the beach!

Are Golf Cart Rentals Allowed in Seacrest Beach?

Seacrest Beach is composed of several homeowner and condominium associations. At The Village of South Walton, where the Peddlers Pavilion is, golf carts and LSVs are not permitted to be driven or parked in the community.   This is where I own my vacation rentals, so I am very familiar with the rules here.

In the adjacent Seacrest Beach residential neighborhood, only owners are allowed to drive them. Visitors and guests are not permitted to rent or use LSVs in this neighborhood. 

Once again, you can drive through this area on Highway 30A, but can not turn off into these communities, nor can you park in them.

Can You Drive a Golf Cart in Alys Beach?

Alys Beach is another drive-through-only community. They have a zero-tolerance policy, and you can not drive an LSV on the private streets that make up Alys Beach.  

I often see groups planning girls’ trips to 30A and wanting to visit places like Alys Beach by golf cart. And, even if they were allowed, most of these LSVs hold 4 or 6 people, requiring multiple for groups of 12-18. My point is that you have to think through factors like that before your trip to 30A!

So, Do You Need 30A Golf Cart Rentals at All?

I hope I have clarified that LSVs are not permitted in these communities on the east end of 30A. But, as I mentioned earlier, you don’t really need them. The beauty of these communities is that they are very walkable. You can easily access dozens of shops and restaurants in under 10 minutes from almost anywhere. 

Read my post about when you should and shout not rent a car on 30A based on where you stay and when you travel!

But what about the rest of 30A?

There are areas where they are a better fit, especially on the west end of this vacation hot spot. Often, these are areas where most establishments and the beach aren’t within walking distance.   30A golf cart rentals are most popular in these areas. Just make sure you know the beach tent rules for various beaches before trying to haul one there in your LSV!

30A Golf Cart Rentals 

If you decide that you are interested in golf cart rentals in other parts of Santa Rosa Beach, many companies rent them out. A quick Google search for 30A golf cart rentals will put you in touch with many. However, asking your host or the company you are booking through is still very important before entering into a contract. 

I will note that these rentals are not cheap. You should ask yourself if the cost outweighs the convenience. And if you do, make sure to follow the rules! 

Also, the following map from 30A.com shows you the number of parking spaces you will find at the public beaches on 30A. If not listed here, the access has under 10 parking spaces.

I will say that whether you are for or against golf carts on 30A, you should follow the NoCarts30A page on Instagram. They highlight some jaw-dropping behavior observed on some LSVs in the area. It’s eye-opening and helps show where the problems lie and why this topic is so controversial! 

In the words of the great philosopher Taylor Swift, “This is why we can’t have nice things.” Regardless of whether you are for or against the use of LSVs on 30A, careless and dangerous behavior leads to major accidents. This is why many people want the speed limit raised to 36 mph on 30A, therefore disallowing them. 

One other thing to note is that many of the 30A congestion problems, amplified by the 30A golf cart rentals, are seasonal. For example, in the peak summer month of July, you won’t be able to find much parking anywhere for an LSV or a vehicle. I have a blog post about the best time to visit 30A that shares what to expect in the area each month, and another 30A guide for visiting 30A in the winter.

And don’t miss my complete 30A packing list blog post!

Our 30A Vacation Rentals in Seacrest Beach, FL

If you have made it this far and want to book a place in the very walkable east end of 30A, consider our condos in Seacrest Beach. I am a top-rated Airbnb superhost and provide my guests with comfortable accommodations and top-notch service.   

Click here to see my Seacrest Beach vacation rentals! 

Are You Interested in Becoming an Airbnb Host on 30A?

And, if you are interested in becoming an Airbnb host or are a current host looking to level up your game, check out the Airbnb hosting section of my blog! It is a great resource that leaves no questions unanswered! 

Here, you will find everything from the Best Mattress for your Airbnb to Easy Ways to Make Your Airbnb Baby Friendly.

If you are a guest, read “Don’t Ghost Your Host” for great tips on being a good guest!

And lastly, if you are just thinking about becoming an Airbnb host, make sure to read my Truth I Wish I Knew Before Becoming An Airbnb Host blog post!

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