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Arrival

Getting to Miami

Most visitors fly into Miami International, about eight miles from downtown with Metrorail connections. Fort Lauderdale's airport to the north is another option: compare the airfare together with transfer time and cost. Brightline links downtown Miami with South Florida cities and Orlando.

Last checked September 12, 2026

Miami International Airport (MIA)

Miami International Airport sits about eight miles northwest of downtown and is a major gateway for Latin America and the Caribbean. Take the free MIA Mover from the terminal area to the Miami Intermodal Center for Metrorail, Tri-Rail, Metrobus and the rental-car center. On weekdays, the Metrorail Orange Line runs toward downtown; on weekends it operates as an airport shuttle to Earlington Heights, where you transfer to the Green Line for the city.

Metrorail is a low-cost option if your base is near a station; the standard fare is $2.25, with contactless payment, EASY Card/Ticket and mobile-pass options. Metrobus also connects the airport station with Miami Beach. A taxi or rideshare can be more convenient with luggage or for a destination away from transit, but allow for traffic and compare the total transfer cost.

Fort Lauderdale and the train

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), roughly 28 miles north of Miami, is worth comparing with MIA. The Tri-Rail airport station is separate from the terminals: a complimentary shuttle links them during train operating hours. Tri-Rail serves Miami Airport and MiamiCentral, but MiamiCentral journeys normally require a transfer at Metrorail Transfer station except on the designated express trains. Allow time for the shuttle and any onward connection to the beaches.

Brightline runs faster, modern trains from MiamiCentral station downtown north to Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach, and on to Orlando — a good option if you are combining Miami with another Florida stop rather than flying in.

Arriving by car

Interstate 95 is the main north–south route along the coast, Florida's Turnpike runs parallel inland, and US-1 threads through the city and south toward the Keys. Traffic is heavy at peak hours and on event weekends.

Parking is tight and expensive in South Beach and Brickell, and many hotels charge for it, so a car is most useful if you plan day trips to the Everglades or the Keys rather than for getting around the city core.

Sources

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