Things to do / Travel Guide
Southern Florida and Miami Airports
Four major commercial airports serve the South Florida region: Miami International (MIA), Fort Lauderdale International (FLL), Palm Beach International (PBI) on Florida's Atlantic coast and Southwest Florida International Airport at Fort Myers (RSW) on Florida's gulf coast. The busiest airport by far is Miami International, which serves as one of the U.S.'s main gateways to Latin America. The Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach airports are relatively close to the popular tourist centers of their respective cities.
Fort Lauderdale (FLL) should be considered a good option for visitors to Miami Beach. It is only takes about 20 minutes longer to get to Miami Beach from FLL and you may find significant savings or better schedules flying into FLL.
Palm Beach (PBI) is probably a better arrival options if you're headed north of the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area. If you are going to base your trip on South Florida's Gulf Coast, then the airport by Fort Myers might serve you best.
If you are planning a road trip, an option to consider would be flying in to one airport and out of the other. Check the car rental drop-off charge, which is usually quite low from one Southern Florida airport to another.
Key West and Miami Driving Directions
The main highway connecting South Florida to the rest of the state and the nation is Interstate 95, which continues all the way up the East Coast to the Canadian border. It is this artery that the overwhelming majority of automobile-bound visitors take to South Florida. I-95 terminates in Miami, but good old US Highway 1 continues just about until the very last patch of sand on Key West.
Note that the most direct route from Orlando is via the Florida Turnpike, a toll road.
I-75 cuts clear across the everglades of Southern Florida from Fort Lauderdale to Naples, continuing north, through the length of Florida to Atlanta and beyond, all the way to the Canadian border.
Bus to Miami
There is Greyhound bus service to Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Key West, West Palm Beach and other Southern Florida destinations from major cities in Florida and beyond. Several other companies run buses between popular Florida destinations, including Orlando, Gainesville and Jacksonville.
Amtrak Train to Miami
If you plan to arrive in Miami, or points north by train, Amtrak's Silver Star and Silver Meteor trains are your only option. There are two trains a day, both arriving in West Palm Beach between 4 and 5 pm. The train continues for about another hour to Fort Lauderdale and another hour to Miami.
It's a pretty long haul to the rest of the country, not to mention the 10 hours the train takes getting to Miami from Florida's northern border. The Silver Star and Silver Meteor originate in New York. Other than these routes, there are no connections to the rest of the Amtrak rail system south of Washington, DC.
Fort Lauderdale and Miami Cruises
The ports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale are among the busiest cruise ship ports in the world. Large, modern cruise ships dock here, as this is the main departure point for Caribbean cruises and to ports of call worldwide.
South Florida has a plethora of marinas along its coastline; serving the visitors fortunate enough to get here by private boat or yacht.
Airports Serving Key West, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Boca Raton and Southern Florida
Getting-There
Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood Intl Airport (FLL)
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
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