Miami Airport Transfers: MIA, FLL and Rail

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the main airport for Miami. It is near the city and links directly to Metrorail, Metrobus and Tri-Rail through the Miami Intermodal Center. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is another option in Broward County. Check the airport code before booking accommodation transport: FLL begins your journey in another county and uses a different terminal connection. (MIA public transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

At MIA, follow signs from the terminal to the free MIA Mover on Level 3. The airport operator directs passengers to the Miami Intermodal Center, where Metrorail, Metrobus and Tri-Rail connect. The Orange Line serves MIA Station and continues towards downtown Miami, Brickell, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables and southern Miami-Dade. Metrobus routes serving the airport include 37, 42, 57, J and the 150 Miami Beach Airport Express. (MIA public transportation, checked 2026-09-28) (Metrorail service, checked 2026-09-28)

Tri-Rail is the regional train for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. From MIA, use the MIA Mover and follow signs to Miami Airport Station. From FLL, the Tri-Rail station is at Dania Beach rather than beside the terminals; Tri-Rail provides a complimentary airport shuttle for passengers. A taxi or ride-app vehicle is the direct option from either airport when the hotel is away from a station. (Tri-Rail Miami Airport directions, checked 2026-09-28) (Tri-Rail FLL station, checked 2026-09-28)

Miami-Dade publishes the Metrorail route, station list and live trip-planning tools, but no single airport-to-hotel journey time. The final result depends on the destination station, the walk from MIA Station and any onward Metromover, Metrobus or local connection. Enter the accommodation in GO Miami-Dade before leaving the terminal, then add time for baggage and the MIA Mover connection. (Metrorail service, checked 2026-09-28) (MIA public transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

The Miami Beach Airport Express is a scheduled airport-station-to-beach route, not a guaranteed hotel journey. MIA publishes service between the MIA Metrorail station and Miami Beach from 41st Street to South Pointe Drive. Select the stop closest to the accommodation and allow for the short MIA Mover ride from the terminal, the bus wait and the final walk. (MIA public transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

Tri-Rail’s timetable lists individual departures and arrivals for Miami Airport, Fort Lauderdale Airport, Metrorail Transfer and other stations. It does not publish one universal Miami-to-Fort Lauderdale or Miami-to-West Palm Beach duration on the timetable page. Choose the origin, destination, direction and travel date in the operator’s planner; from FLL, include the airport shuttle between the terminals and Dania Beach station. (Tri-Rail schedule, checked 2026-09-28) (Tri-Rail trip planner, checked 2026-09-28)

Road transfers have no fixed published journey time. Traffic, weather, cruise traffic and the distance between FLL and Miami can change the result. Use the designated taxi rank or ride-app pickup, enter the exact destination before accepting a quoted ride and allow additional time beyond the airport-to-city distance. (MIA taxis and ride apps, checked 2026-09-28) (FLL ground transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

Miami-Dade publishes a $2.25 full fare for Metrorail and Metrobus. Bus-to-rail and rail-to-bus transfers are free, and the county lists a $5.65 one-day fare cap for unlimited Metrorail and Metrobus travel when the same contactless card, wallet or stored-value EASY Card is used. Fare gates do not accept cash, so pay contactless or buy an EASY product or mobile pass before entering. (Miami-Dade transit fares, checked 2026-09-28; Miami-Dade fare cap, checked 2026-09-28) (Metrorail service, checked 2026-09-28)

The Miami Beach Airport Express is published by MIA at $2.25 each way. Buy or load the required EASY fare at the Miami Intermodal Center, then check the route and destination stop before boarding. This bus fare is separate from any taxi, ride-app or Tri-Rail charge. (MIA public transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

Tri-Rail uses a zone-based fare system and provides an online fare calculator. The operator’s current homepage also announces a 10 percent fare increase taking effect on October 1, 2026, so use the calculator for the date of travel rather than carrying forward an older zone amount. Buy before boarding from a station vending machine, the mobile ticketing service or an available station agent. (Tri-Rail fare calculator, checked 2026-09-28) (Tri-Rail fare notice, checked 2026-09-28)

MIA publishes taxi meter rates of $2.95 for the first one-sixth mile, then $0.85 for each additional one-sixth mile up to one mile and $0.55 for each additional one-sixth mile afterwards. Waiting time is $0.40 per minute, a $2 airport origination fee applies and trips beginning at MIA have a $15 minimum. Larger SUVs and vans have a 30 percent surcharge; wheelchair-accessible taxis serving wheelchair users are exempt. (MIA taxi rates, checked 2026-09-28)

FLL designates lower-level pickup areas; it does not publish one fixed taxi fare for every Miami destination. Ask at the marked taxi area for the current regulated estimate, or enter the destination in the ride app after reaching the airport’s designated pickup area. (FLL ground transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

Metrorail operates from 5:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. The Orange Line to MIA runs every 15 minutes on the airport connection described by Miami-Dade. On weekends, Orange Line trains operate as an Airport Shuttle between Earlington Heights and MIA, so passengers travelling from farther north must change at Earlington Heights. Maintenance and single-tracking can alter the regular timetable; check GO Miami-Dade for the travel date. (Metrorail service, checked 2026-09-28)

MIA publishes the Miami Beach Airport Express every 30 minutes from 6:00 a.m. to 11:40 p.m., seven days a week. The airport page also says MIA Mover trains depart every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 15 minutes on weekends. The page does not give one all-day operating window for the MIA Mover, so follow terminal signs and confirm the next connection after landing. (MIA public transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

Tri-Rail publishes separate weekday and weekend timetable tables with station-by-station departures. The operator’s schedule therefore gives a date-, direction- and station-specific pattern rather than one frequency for the entire line. At the FLL station, ticket vending machines operate during train hours; the staffed kiosk is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and closed on weekends and holidays. (Tri-Rail schedule, checked 2026-09-28) (Tri-Rail FLL station, checked 2026-09-28)

Broward County’s airport information directs passengers to the lower-level ground-transportation areas at FLL. The airport’s public page does not publish a single universal departure interval for every taxi, ride-app, shuttle or county-bus option. Choose the service first, then use that operator’s current route or booking information for the terminal, stop and travel date. (FLL ground transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

Metrorail is the clearest scheduled late-evening public-transport option at MIA because Miami-Dade publishes a daily 5:00 a.m.–midnight window. The Miami Beach Airport Express ends at 11:40 p.m. If baggage collection brings you close to midnight, check the live departure before taking the MIA Mover and keep a taxi or ride app as a fallback. (Metrorail service, checked 2026-09-28) (MIA public transportation, checked 2026-09-28)

Sunday service is included in the published Metrorail and Miami Beach Airport Express patterns. The weekend Orange Line arrangement uses the airport shuttle between Earlington Heights and MIA; passengers approaching from north of Earlington Heights change there. Tri-Rail’s Sunday departures are shown in its weekend timetable, so select the direction and date before walking to the platform. (Metrorail service, checked 2026-09-28) (Tri-Rail schedule, checked 2026-09-28)

At FLL, Tri-Rail’s complimentary airport shuttle runs during train operating hours at approximately 15- to 20-minute intervals. The staffed ticket kiosk is closed on weekends and holidays, but ticket vending machines remain available during train hours. Take the shuttle from the airport terminal to Dania Beach, then use the weekend timetable for the train departure rather than the weekday table. (Tri-Rail FLL station, checked 2026-09-28)

MIA states that ground transportation is available 24 hours a day, with taxis outside baggage claim on the arrivals level. Use the marked taxi rank or the ride-app pickup shown on airport signs, and ignore unsolicited offers inside the terminal. FLL also directs travellers to designated ground-transportation areas, so follow airport signage and use an identified vehicle. (MIA airport FAQ, checked 2026-09-28) (MIA taxis and ride apps, checked 2026-09-28) (FLL ground transportation, checked 2026-09-28)