Transportation in and around Miami: Find out where is Miami and how to get there
Find out how to get to and around Miami by public or private transportation
Have you ever wondered where Miami is or where Miami Beach is? In this article, you will find out where they are located, discover their public transportation options and how to get around the entire metropolitan area without any hassle – including Miami and Fort Lauderdale airports.
Feel free to jump straight to your topic of interest:
Where is Miami
Located in the southern part of the state of Florida, USA, the city of Miami is situated in Miami-Dade County and is a 3:30hour drive from Orlando (approximately 238 miles) and about a 4-hour drive from Tampa (approximately 282 miles).
See where Miami is on the map:
Where is Miami Beach
Did you know that Miami Beach isn’t located within the city of Miami? Miami is one city and Miami Beach is another. Both are part of Miami-Dade County, but they’re approximately 6 miles apart, or a 20-minute drive.
How to get to Miami
The easiest way to get to Miami is by plane. The nearest airports are Miami International Airport (MIA), which is approximately 9 miles away, and Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), about 26 miles away.
How to go from Orlando to Miami
Many tourists arrive in the United States through Orlando. If this is your situation, know that the journey from Orlando to Miami can be done by rental car, train, or bus.
By car, the journey takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes, while the Brightline fast train (opened in the second half of 2023) completes the trip in 3 hours and 30 minutes, with a cost starting at U$79*. The regular train is operated by the Amtrak company. The average travel time is 6 hours and costs U$49*, with one in the morning and one in the afternoon; please check the schedules on the website. Bus transportation takes about 4 hours, with routes departing from Orlando Airport. The ticket price is U$45.99* and can be purchased on the Greyhound website.
Public transportation in Miami
One of the advantages of Miami is the possibility to move around easily. Here it is super possible to enjoy every corner of the city without the need for a rental car.
See below how to get around in the greater Miami area:
Tri-Rail
The Tri-Rail is a train that passes through the main airports in the region and transfers to the Metrorail. Check the schedules and updated rates of this means of transportation in Miami through the website.
Price: The Tri-Rail is divided into six zones, separated by the blue bands in the image, and during the week, the transportation price depends on how many zones you will pass. The base amount is US$2.50* and + US$1.25* per zone. During the weekends, the one-off fee is U$5*.
Brightline
Another quick commute option is Brightline‘s high-speed trains. They run from Miami to West Palm Beach and recently launched a route that goes to Orlando in just 3:30 hours. Check available routes and other information here.
Value: Tickets from U$24*.
Metromover
The Metromover is an elevated train that runs through the city of Miami. It offers transfers to Metrorail (at Brickell and Government Center stations) and to Brightline. You can use it to get to the Frost Museum of Science or the Pérez Art Museum Miami from the Museum Park station.
Value: Free
Metrorail
With a length of 25 miles, the Metrorail passes through the main points of Miami (including the airport) and transfers to other means of transportation such as Brightline, Tri-Rail, and Metromover. Transfer from Metrorail to Metrobus is free; transfer to Metrobus espresso is U$0.95. The orange and green lines pass through Viscaya Station, which is a 14-minute walk from the Vizcaya Museum & Garden.
Value: U$2.25* or U$5.65* the all-day pass.
Metrobus
The Metrobus travels between most cultural attractions and shopping malls, making it a great way to get around Miami. There are several lines; check the complete map and prices for each route here.
Value: U$2.25* or U$5.65* for the all-day pass.
Trolley
The Trolley resembles those old trams. It serves Downtown, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, and the cities of Doral and Miami Gardens, operating from 8 AM to 11 PM daily. Download the map here.
Value: Free
It is worth mentioning that bicycles are accepted on all public transportation mentioned above. Even the trolley has support for two bikes. Cool huh?
Tip from the fox 🦊: To follow the schedules in real-time, buy tickets for the Metrorail, Metrobus, and Metromover by downloading the GO Miami-Dade Transit Mobile (Android) (Apple) app on your cell phone.
Sustainable Tourism 🍃: the public transportation with the lowest carbon footprint are Metromover, Metrobus, and Metrorail. How about prioritizing their use during your stay in Miami?
Easy Pass
The Easy Pass is a simple and convenient way to make payments when using the Metrorail and Metrobus – the primary modes of transportation in Miami. You can choose to use a physical contactless card, digital wallets, or the Easy Ticket transportation card. The Easy Pass works by tallying the trips made with the selected payment method, and once you reach the equivalent of a daily pass value (U$5.65*), no further charges will be incurred for any additional trips taken on the same day.
It is essential to consistently use the same payment method so that the system accurately counts the trips taken. Accepted digital wallets include Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Fitbit Pay.
The Easy Ticket, designed for tourists and visitors, can be obtained through the GO Miami-Dade Transit app. It can be loaded with 1-day or 7-day passes, or starting from U$40* for use. It’s important to note that single-use passes (1 way) are activated at the time of purchase and must be used within 3 hours.
Ridesharing apps
Another practical way to get around Miami is through ride-hailing apps. These are some examples that operate in the city:
- Freebee is a local ride-sharing app with a sustainable proposal, as all registered vehicles are electric. The application has suggestions of what to do in Miami and the service is free.
- Known worldwide, Uber also operates in Miami and is a possibility for days when you are in a hurry to reach your destination.
- Very common across the country, Lyft operates throughout the Miami area and, like Uber, allows you to choose a car category to make your ride.
Car renting
If you are a traveler with little time or want to explore not only Miami but also other cities, this could be a good option.
Sustainable Tourism 🍃: If possible, prefer renting an electric vehicle to reduce CO2 emissions. See recharge points here.
Personal driver
During Elaine’s visit to Miami, she had an excellent experience with the services provided by Jose Lopez of Enjoy Limo.
“Jose’s service was impeccable. He’s punctual, the vehicle is spacious, comfortable, and complimentary cold drinks are available. Plus, he speaks both Spanish and English.”
Elaine Villatoro
Values: Flat rate from Miami Airport to Downtown or Miami Beach of US$ 80* in Sedan vehicle or US$ 105* in SUV.
Note: There are other drivers who also work for this company.
Bicycle
How about exploring the city by bike? You can rent or take a guided tour. Several companies provide this service, such as:
- Citi Bike Miami, with more than 160 bike rental stations spread across Miami, allows you to rent a bike 24 hours a day. 1 hour rental costs U$7.49* and U$24* for the whole day.
- City and Roll Miami has bikes for all tastes and family members. Values from U$15*.
- At the Miami Beach Bicycle Center all rentals include helmets, padlocks, and panniers. All-day bike rentals for adults start at $28* and $24* for children.
Sustainable Tourism 🍃: this is the most sustainable means of transportation to get around Miami, in addition to being fun and a great physical exercise. If you need to make longer journeys with your bike, remember that you can take it with you on public transportation in the city.
FAQ
The following municipalities are part of Miami-Dade County: Miami, Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, Homestead, Coral Gables, North Miami, South Miami, West Miami, Miami Springs, Miami Shores, Golden Beach, Florida City, Hialeah, Opa-Locka, Biscayne Park, Key Biscayne, Surfside, El Portal, Indian Creek Village, Sweetwater, North Bay Village, Bay Harbor Islands, Bal Harbour, Virginia Gardens, Hialeah Gardens, Medley, Aventura, Pinecrest, Miami Lakes, Sunny Isles Beach, Palmetto Bay, Doral, Miami Gardens, Cutler Bay.
The best way to get from Miami Airport to Fort Lauderdale Airport or Fort Lauderdale Station is by Tri-Rail.
The distance between Miami and Orlando is approximately 236 miles, which is about three and a half hours by car.
To get to Miami Beach from Miami Airport, use J Line 110 or Line 150 (express) on the Metrobus.
The most convenient way to get from Miami Airport to Fort Myers via public transportation is by bus with the Greyhound company, starting at $24*. It is also possible to go by car.
Take the Metrorail to Dadeland South, alight at Government Center station, transfer to Metromover to Inner Loop and alight at Bay-Front Park station.
The Greyhound company operates the route from Miami to Key West, and has trips every day from U$24*.
Now that you know the transportation options in Miami, tell us what your chosen alternative was 😊.
Travel insurance to Miami
To ensure peace of mind and safety during your international adventures, don’t forget to take out travel insurance. It offers coverage and assistance in case of medical emergencies, accidents, or unforeseen events. We currently use Safety Wing travel insurance because of the competitive price, good coverage, and flexibility for digital nomads. See more information on the website.
🦊 Sincere fox informs:
*All amounts reported in this article were collected in August 2023 and may be taxed and subject to change at any time.
** This post contains affiliate links, which means that when you buy a product/service after clicking on our links, LMTM earns a commission that helps us maintain free content for all traveling foxes in the world ✌🏽🦊 .
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