Getting from Miami Airport to South Beach

South Beach is served by two airports. Miami International (MIA) is the closer of the two at roughly 10 miles, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) is about 30. Which one you fly into changes the journey more than most people expect.

From Miami International

The drive is short - typically 20 to 30 minutes outside rush hour, longer if you land in the late afternoon. You cross one of the causeways over Biscayne Bay, which is a genuinely good introduction to the city.

• Rideshare and taxi - the default. Pickup is signposted from every terminal, and the trip is direct
• Rental car - only worth it if you are leaving South Beach regularly. Parking on Ocean Drive is valet and limited, so a car you are not using becomes a daily cost and a daily hassle
• Public transit - the Miami Beach Airport Express bus runs from MIA to Miami Beach and is the cheapest option by a wide margin, though slower and less convenient with luggage

From Fort Lauderdale

Budget around an hour by road, and more in traffic. FLL often has cheaper fares, and the saving can be real, but factor the longer transfer at both ends of the trip before deciding.

The thing to decide before you land

Whether you need a car at all. South Beach is walkable end to end, and the places most visitors go beyond it - Wynwood, the Design District, Little Havana - are a twenty-minute rideshare away. For a three or four-night stay, most guests find the car sits parked the entire time.

If you do bring one, check parking arrangements with your hotel before you arrive rather than after. On Ocean Drive it is valet, availability varies with the season and with city events, and it is not something you want to be solving with luggage in the car.