Scottsdale is built for the car. Valley Metro buses run along the main arteries but with limited frequency, and the light-rail line ends across the boundary in Tempe rather than entering Scottsdale itself. A rental car is the default. Distances are deceptive: Taliesin West, OdySea, and the McDowell trailheads are each a 20–40 minute drive from Old Town.
Within Old Town the free Scottsdale Trolley loops through the gallery district and resort corridor at no charge. Ride-share services (Uber and Lyft) work well and are the easiest option for a night out — driving home after drinks is heavily policed. Cycling is good in the early-morning cool months along the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt, an 11-mile linear park strung along a flood-control corridor.