Miami Airport Transfer Guide
🇺🇸 Miami International (MIA) — Updated 2026
Miami International (MIA) is 13 km north-west of South Beach — a 25-50 min drive depending on causeway traffic. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) is 50 km north — many transatlantic + Caribbean low-cost arrive there. Miami's flat-rate cab from MIA to South Beach is $35 plus tolls + tip (~$45 total). Pre-booked sedans run $40-65, larger SUVs $65-95. The Metrorail + Metromover combo from MIA is theoretically $2.25 but doesn't reach South Beach — only useful for Downtown / Brickell. Cruise port (PortMiami) arrivals: pre-book is strongly recommended for the 8 km MIA→PortMiami transfer with 4+ pieces of luggage.
13 km South Beach / 12 km Brickell / 50 km FLL / 8 km PortMiami cruise terminal
Pre-book your Miami airport transfer
English-speaking driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed prices, flight tracking, free cancellation up to 24h.
- Flight tracking — delay-aware pickup
- Fixed price · no surge · free cancellation
- Cars, vans, minibuses for 1–8 passengers
via Welcome Pickups · MIA
Miami airport transfer options compared
| Option | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups (pre-booked) | $40–95 | 25–60 min | Meet-and-greet, English/Spanish driver, fixed fare. |
| Kiwitaxi (pre-booked) | $35–90 | 25–60 min | Marketplace, instant quote, cruise-port specialist option. |
| MIA flat-rate cab | $35 + tolls + tip | 25–50 min | Flat $35 to South Beach + ~$5 tolls + 20% tip = ~$48. |
| Uber / Lyft | $25–70 | 25–60 min | Surge during cruise-arrival days + weekend evenings. |
| Metrorail + Metrobus | $2.25 | 60–90 min | Only useful for Downtown/Brickell — no South Beach line. |
| SuperShuttle / shared van | $22–28 | 40–75 min | Shared, multiple drops, slower but cheap. |
Top destinations from MIA
South Beach (Ocean Drive, Lincoln Road)
13 km via MacArthur Causeway, 25-50 min.
Brickell / Downtown Miami
12 km, 20-40 min — closest area to MIA.
Wynwood / Design District
10 km, 18-35 min.
PortMiami (cruise terminal)
8 km but heavy luggage day — pre-book recommended.
Fort Lauderdale (FLL airport)
Cross-county transfer, 50 km / 40-75 min.
Booking tips for Miami
- → For PortMiami cruise arrivals: pre-book the transfer 7+ days ahead — cruise embarkation Saturdays are surge-heavy
- → MIA to South Beach via MacArthur Causeway is fastest — but tolls add $1.25-3 each way
- → Fort Lauderdale FLL is often cheaper to fly into for Miami visits — $70 transfer offsets $100+ in flight savings
- → Spanish-speaking driver available on request — 67% of Miami-Dade speaks Spanish
Hotels in Miami
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FAQ
MIA or FLL for Miami arrivals?+
MIA: in Miami city, 13 km to South Beach (25-50 min). FLL (Fort Lauderdale): 50 km north of Miami, 40-75 min transfer to South Beach. FLL flights are often $100-200 cheaper but the $70 transfer eats into savings. For 1-2 nights: MIA is worth the price difference. For 5+ nights or budget travel: FLL flight + transfer can net cheaper.
Cruise port transfer — what's special?+
PortMiami is 8 km north-east of MIA — short drive but cruise-day mornings (typically Saturday) see surge pricing + queues. Welcome Pickups + Kiwitaxi both offer cruise-port specials with extra luggage allowance + porter coordination. Pre-book 7+ days for cruise embarkation Saturdays; $45-75 fixed beats Uber surge ($60-100+).
Metrorail to South Beach?+
No — Miami Metrorail does not reach South Beach. The only options to South Beach without a car are: cab ($45), Uber/Lyft ($25-70), pre-booked transfer ($40-65), or SuperShuttle van ($22). Metrorail is useful for Downtown / Brickell / Wynwood drops only.
Miami Beach traffic — when is worst?+
MacArthur Causeway (the main MIA→South Beach link) is congested 16:00-19:00 weekday afternoons + Saturday-Sunday during cruise turnover. A normal 25-min drive can hit 50-60 min. For evening arrivals: pre-book to lock the fixed fare in advance — Uber surge can spike 2-3x.
Mobile data for the United States
Get mobile data for the United States set up before you land.
Luggage storage in Miami
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Airport lounges at Miami Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Airport transfers in other cities: