MG Miami Guide Choose the Miami base before the itinerary
Arrival

Getting to Miami

Most visitors fly into Miami International, a major gateway about eight miles from downtown that connects to Metrorail. Fort Lauderdale's airport to the north often has cheaper fares, and Brightline trains now link Miami with West Palm Beach and Orlando.

Last checked June 18, 2026

Miami International Airport (MIA)

Miami International Airport sits about eight miles northwest of downtown and is one of the busiest gateways in the country, especially for flights to and from Latin America and the Caribbean. It connects to the Miami Intermodal Center, where you pick up the Metrorail Orange Line into downtown, Tri-Rail commuter trains, Metrobus, and the rental-car center.

Metrorail is the cheapest way into the city if your base is near a station; otherwise a taxi or rideshare to Miami Beach or Brickell is quick outside rush hour and the standard choice for most first-time visitors.

Fort Lauderdale and the train

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), about 28 miles north, often has lower fares and is worth checking; Tri-Rail commuter trains connect it down toward Miami, though you will still need a transfer to reach 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

Reviewed source trail