Miami’s main airport is MIA (Miami International Airport), 6 miles west of Downtown, featuring a large horseshoe-shaped structure and impressive air traffic (the third largest in the country), however, a little further away, 15 miles north of the city, is another airport: Fort-Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL), served by many budget airlines.
Being further from the city than MIA, you will have to spend more for the transfer from here but Fort Lauderdale airport can be an interesting low cost option for domestic flights (by the way, the town is interesting to visit, check out our guide on what to do in Fort Lauderdale).
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How to Find Cheap Flights to Miami
Looking for a flight, possibly low-priced, to Miami is not particularly difficult, especially if you consider the flight + hotel package, which often provides a considerable saving. Check for yourself on this page.
From Miami airport to South Beach (and downtown)
There are several ways to get around to Miami’s main places of interest. For info on how to reach your hotel once you arrive, see below:
From MIA
There are several options: it all depends on your wallet and your desire to be comfortable after a long trip. Here are the possibilities:
- By car: getting from the airport to the city is very easy. It will take you about twenty minutes to reach downtown or South Beach
- Free hotel shuttles: some hotels offer their guests free shuttles from the airport, check if your hotel has this service
- Cab: there are fixed rates according to the areas (but don’t forget the tip!), you can find them here
- Shared shuttle: there is also a shared shuttle service, cheaper than normal cabs, which you can find on this page
- Metrobus: buses to Miami (lines 7, 37, 42, 57, J,150, 238, 297, 338 ) leave from the opposite side of Concourse E. A cheap but inconvenient solution if you are loaded with luggage: you may be forced to take another bus later if the line does not stop near your hotel. Line 150 goes directly to South Beach
- Metrorail: this is an elevated train that goes to Downtown and then touches the southern neighborhoods. The line that goes to the airport is the orange line.
- Private Transfers: You can also opt for a private transfer, choosing from a variety of options, including more luxurious and personalized ones.
If you want to get some more details on how to get to Miami from the airport, read our article on getting around Miami.
From FFL
Again, there are various options:
- By car: it will take you twice as long (a good half hour) to reach Miami’s key locations
- Tri-Rail trains: there is a free shuttle bus that connects Terminals 1 and 3 to the Tri-Rail station, from where trains depart for Miami (although rather infrequently)
- Shuttles: shared shuttles that will take you to your desired location. It will cost at least thirty dollars
- Private transfers: again, you can opt for a private airport transfer.
Miami Airport Car Rentals
If you rent a car at MIA you will find all the useful information on our article dedicated to Car Rental. If you are renting a car in Fort Lauderdale, follow the directions below:
- Like MIA, the airport has a Rental Car Center that houses most of the agencies (Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, EZ, Hertz, National, Payless, Royal, Thrifty)
- The Rental Car Center is located in the building next to Terminal 1, so picking up your car will be a breeze.
- If you have booked the car with another company, the pick-up office is located outside the airport. To reach these companies, proceed to the Rental Car Center and go to the number 7 bus stop; a courtesy shuttle is provided directly by the rental car company. At the stop you will also find a phone to call the agency.
Places to Stay Near Miami Airport
If you are looking for a hotel near the airport I suggest you to take a look at these 2 online resources:
List of available hotels near MIA
List of available hotels near FFL
Map and driving directions to both Miami airports
Directions to MIA
The address of the airport is 2100 NW 42nd Ave. – Miami, Fl 33142. Alternatively you can enter these coordinates:
- Latitude: 25.794693981789
- Longitude: -80.276871577362
However, if you need to return the car, you will have to go to the Rental Car Center, so the address to enter in the GPS is 3900 NW 25th Street – Miami, Fl 33142. If you don’t have satnav (but I sincerely recommend it) find directions on the official website page.
Directions to FFL
The exit you need to take to get to the airport is on US 1 (South Federal Highway). You can find detailed directions from the
surrounding areas on the official website.
