From beautiful beaches to dynamic street art, Miami’s best sights are spread out. If budget is not a big concern, you could rent a car and pay (a lot) for parking. But with some smart planning, it’s easy to get around with public transportation. In this guide I explain how to use the Miami public transportation systems and give some tips on navigating the city of palm trees and neon lights.
If you’re looking for a guide on things to do and everything else, check out my other post here.
Overview
Let’s get one thing out of the way: Miami and Miami Beach are two different cities. Miami is a big city on the mainland, with skyscrapers and neighborhoods that sprawl for miles. Across Biscayne Bay is Miami Beach, with tons of luxury hotels and a high concentration of tourists. Ideally, you want to sample a bit of everything the area has to offer, which means navigating around both.
On the Miami side, you’ll find an overlapping system of trains, buses, and trolleys. It’s a bit confusing, but you can get pretty much anywhere. In general, you can use the Metrorail and Metromover to cover long distances and hop on a bus or trolley for shorter ones. Your best bet is to use Google Maps and follow along with the routes it suggests. The whole system is only $2.25 per ride or a daily max of $5.65. What a deal!
To get over to Miami Beach, your options are car or bus. Once you’re there, Miami Beach has a free trolley system that’s particularly useful.
Miami By Car
The most convenient option for getting around Miami is a car. You can rent a car, which means paying for parking on top of the rental, or you can use rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft. My last 20-minute ride to the airport cost about $25. Rideshares are especially good if you’re staying out late and want a safe way to be whisked back to your hotel.
That said, you can save a lot of money using Miami’s extensive public transit systems. Even drivers can benefit from taking a couple key bus rides or hopping on the free trolleys.
Airport Transportation Options
Miami International Airport (MIA) is close to the city, only about 7 miles from downtown. To get to Miami proper, you can hop on the Metrorail orange line. It runs about every 15 minutes and can drop you off at Government Center downtown or points beyond. It’s only $2.25 to ride, so well worth considering instead of a $30 Uber or Lyft.
If you’re heading out to Miami Beach, your best option by public transportation is the Miami Beach Airport Express Bus (Route 150). Uber or Lyft might be worth considering though. Figure around $40.
And if you’re flying into Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) to the north, you can take a shuttle to the Tri-Rail station and then a train to Miami. I would probably just suck it up and get a car though.
Getting Between Miami and Miami Beach
Your best option to get between Miami and Miami Beach with public transportation is the Route 120 Beach Max bus. In downtown Miami, you can get on at either the Arsht Center Metromover/Bus station or the Government Center Metrorail/Metromover station. In Miami Beach, the bus makes a bunch of stops along the beachside main drag of Collins Avenue.
Miami and Miami Beach Transportation Systems
Metrorail
Miami’s Metrorail is a rail system that runs throughout the region. You’ll probably only need to use it for bigger trips between areas like the airport, Brickell, Coconut Grove, etc. The Metrorail does not run out to Miami Beach.
To ride, it’s easiest to tap in at the fare gates with a contactless credit card or digital wallet. A ride is $2.25. If you use the same card, the system will automatically cap your charges at the daily max of $5.65. You can also buy digital passes on the official transit app or physical tickets.
Metromover
The Metromover is a monorail system in downtown Miami. It’s situationally useful if you’re trying to get around downtown and don’t feel like walking. It also runs down to Brickell, which is helpful if you happen to be staying there or want to explore the area. The system sometimes runs both “inner” and “outer” loops, so be sure to check which one you need. The Metromover is free to ride.
Buses
The bus system in Miami and Miami Beach is extensive. Google Maps is your friend here; I would not recommend trying to understand the bus routes. That said, the 120 Beach Max is particularly useful if you’re going between downtown Miami and Miami Beach.
To pay, it’s easiest to tap in with a contactless credit card or digital wallet when you get on the bus. You can also buy digital passes on the official transit app or physical tickets. You pay the same $2.25 a ride/$5.65 daily max as the Metrorail.
Trolleys
The various neighborhoods of Miami and Miami Beach each have “trolleys” that are essentially small buses designed to look like old fashioned streetcars. They are all free to ride, and each one runs in a loop around a neighborhood.
In Miami Beach, the South Beach trolley is particularly useful. It runs in a big loop around the area, from South Pointe Park up to Dade Boulevard. It connects with the rest of the Miami Beach trolley system if you’re heading up to Middle Beach or North Beach.
In Miami, the trolley routes often overlap with the buses. I suggest using Google Maps to determine which of the two options will get you to your destination efficiently.
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