Miami International Airport (MIA) is connected to Miami and the surrounding region by a layered network of ground transportation. The right choice depends on how many people are traveling, how much luggage you have, what time of day it is, and whether your destination is downtown or the suburbs.
Uber & Lyft
Uber, Lyft, and taxis pick up curbside on the Lower Drive (Arrivals) at the column numbers assigned by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. Drop-offs are unrestricted on the Upper Drive (Departures).
On-airport facility
The MIA Rental Car Center is connected to the terminal by the free MIA Mover automated train — a four-minute ride from Concourse E.
Rail & bus to Miami
Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) is connected to the airport by the MIA Mover. From the MIC, Tri-Rail commuter trains reach Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Metrorail Orange Line reaches downtown Miami in 25 minutes for $2.25, and Metrobus serves all of Miami-Dade County.
Hotel & intercity
SuperShuttle Express, GO Airport Shuttle, and the Florida Keys Shuttle board on the Lower Drive at the south end of baggage claim. Cruise port shuttles to PortMiami and Port Everglades operate seasonally.
Rideshare (Uber and Lyft) at MIA
Uber, Lyft, and taxis pick up curbside on the Lower Drive (Arrivals) at the column numbers assigned by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department. Drop-offs are unrestricted on the Upper Drive (Departures).
Surge pricing is common during weather delays and immediately after large arrival banks. If your phone shows surge pricing of 1.8x or higher, the rental-car shuttle for a same-day return is often a faster total-cost path than waiting for surge to drop.
Rental cars
The MIA Rental Car Center is connected to the terminal by the free MIA Mover automated train — a four-minute ride from Concourse E. Loyalty members of National (Emerald Club), Hertz (Gold Plus Rewards), Avis (Preferred), and Enterprise (Plus) usually skip the counter entirely. National's choose-any-car-on-the-aisle model is the fastest path through the facility for travelers who do not need a specific vehicle class.
Public transit to and from MIA
Miami Intermodal Center (MIC) is connected to the airport by the MIA Mover. From the MIC, Tri-Rail commuter trains reach Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Metrorail Orange Line reaches downtown Miami in 25 minutes for $2.25, and Metrobus serves all of Miami-Dade County. For more on US airport transit options, see the ground transport overview.
Hotel and parking shuttles
SuperShuttle Express, GO Airport Shuttle, and the Florida Keys Shuttle board on the Lower Drive at the south end of baggage claim. Cruise port shuttles to PortMiami and Port Everglades operate seasonally. Free shuttles run on each operator's own loop, typically every 10 to 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes overnight. If you do not see your hotel's shuttle, call the front desk before assuming you have missed it — schedules vary on weekends and holidays.
Cell phone waiting area
If somebody is picking you up in a private vehicle, ask them to wait at the cell phone waiting lot until you have your luggage and are at the curb. Pulling to the arrivals curb early at MIA forces the driver into the recirculation loop, which can add 15 to 25 minutes on a busy day.
Accessibility
All ground transportation options at MIA are required to provide equivalent service for travelers with disabilities. Accessible taxis are dispatched on request from the taxi stand. Public transit is wheelchair accessible. Hotel shuttles are required to provide wheelchair accommodation — call the hotel ahead to confirm a lift-equipped vehicle is on your departure-window schedule.
Parking is the alternative
If you are driving yourself, see the MIA parking guide for on-site garages, off-site lots, and a comparison of every published rate.