Travel - International
Air: International airports: Miami (MIA) (website: www.miami-airport.com) is 8km (5 miles) northwest of the city (travel time – 25 minutes). There is a 24-hour coach service to the central bus station and hotels on request. Buses and trains are available to the city. Taxi, van and limousine services are also available. Fares are fixed. Greyhound runs services to Homestead, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West and Marathon.
Tampa (TPA) (website: www.tampaairport.com) is 8km (5 miles) west of the city (travel time – 15 minutes). A bus service runs into the city; limousine and taxi services are also available.
Scheduled flights from the UK to Orlando arrive at Orlando International (ORL) (website: www.state.fl.us/goaa/), which is 12km (7 miles) south of the city (travel time – 15 minutes). Hire cars, coach, bus, taxi and limousine services are available. Shuttle services are available to the main tourist destinations. Chartered flights from the UK arrive in Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) (website: www.orlandosanfordairport.com/), approximately 29km (18 miles) northeast of the city. Hire cars, coaches, buses, taxi, limousine and shuttle services into the city are available.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) (website: www.fll.net) is 8km (5 miles) from the city (travel time – 10 minutes). Hire cars, limousines, taxis and bus services are available, with rail connections to the surrounding counties.
Approximate flight times: From Miami to Atlanta is 1 hour 50 minutes, to Barbados is 3 hours 25 minutes, to Caracas is 3 hours 10 minutes, to Charlotte is 2 hours, to Chicago is 3 hours 10 minutes, to Dallas/Fort Worth is 3 hours 20 minutes, to Freeport is 40 minutes, to Grand Turk is 1 hour 45 minutes, to Guatemala City is 2 hours 40 minutes, to Honolulu is 12 hours 15 minutes, to Houston is 3 hours, to London is 8 hours 10 minutes, to Los Angeles is 7 hours, to Mexico City is 3 hours 15 minutes, to New York is 2 hours 40 minutes, to Orlando is 55 minutes, to Panama City is 3 hours, to Port-au-Prince is 45 minutes, to Providenciales is 1 hour 35 minutes, to St Croix is 2 hours 40 minutes, to San Francisco is 7 hours 25 minutes, to San Juan is 2 hours 25 minutes, to Santo Domingo is 2 hours 10 minutes, to Tampa is 55 minutes and to Washington, DC is 2 hours 20 minutes.
From Tampa to London is 10 hours (direct flight), to Miami is 55 minutes and to New York is 2 hours 40 minutes.
From Orlando to London is 9 hours, to Miami is 55 minutes, to New York is 2 hours 30 minutes and to Washington, DC is 2 hours 5 minutes.
SEA: The port of Miami has been called the ‘Cruise Capital of the World’ and offers ocean liners for business meetings, weekend getaways and extended luxury cruises.
The port of Fort Lauderdale, Port Everglades, is the second most important cruise port in Florida. Other cruise ports on the east coast include Port Canaveral and Port of Palm Beach. The main West Coast cruise ports include St Petersburg and Tampa. Major cruise lines in Florida include Carnival, Celebrity, Commodore, Costa, Crown, Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian, Premier, Princess, Regal, Royal Caribbean, Royal Viking, Seabourn, SeaEscape and Sun Line.
RAIL: Amtrak’s Miami Station is 11km (7 miles) north of the city centre. It is the southernmost point on the network, marking the southern end of the main east coast line from New York (and ultimately Boston). A branch line terminates at Sarasota, a few miles south of Tampa on the Gulf of Mexico. There are no direct services between the two.
ROAD: The best major routes through Florida are: Daytona Beach to St Petersburg (I-4), Jacksonville to the Alabama border (I-10), St Petersburg to Tampa (I-275), the lower West Coast to Fort Lauderdale (I-75), the North–South highway (I-95) or (I-75) and the East–West cross-state highway from Clearwater to Vero Beach (State 60). The Florida's Turnpike is a 723km (449-mile) system of limited-access toll highways which passes through 11 counties from north Miami to a junction with I-75 in north central Florida. Most roads are excellent throughout the State.
Approximate driving times: From Orlando to Miami is 4 hours 45 minutes, to Daytona is 1 hour, to Fort Lauderdale is 4.5 hours, to Jacksonville is 3 hours, to Key West is 8 hours 45 minutes, to Naples is 4 hours, to Pensacola is 9 hours, to St Petersburg is 2.5 hours, and to Tallahasee is 5 hours 15 minutes. All times are based on non-stop driving at or below the applicable speed limits.
Approximate Greyhound travel times: From Miami to Fort Lauderdale is 1 hour 55 minutes, to Palm Beach is 3 hours, to Orlando is 7 hours 15 minutes, to St Petersburg is 8 hours 30 minutes, to Jacksonville is 9 hours 30 minutes, to Tampa is 10 hours, to Tallahassee is 13 hours and to Atlanta is 18 hours.
Urban: Miami/Miami Beach: A new, improved public transport system has been launched for the central Miami area, with plans to expand it still further. It includes an elevated Metrorail system and an expanded bus system. The Downtown Metro Mover combines the fun of a theme park with the convenience of above-street-level travel. Buses operate frequently through most areas of Greater Miami. Fares are moderate and transfers are available. Taxis can be expensive in the Miami area; one can usually hail them but delays may be encountered at rush hours. Taxis can also be booked by telephone. Most major car hire and motor camper hire firms have offices at the airport or in central Miami. Many provide a drop-off service in other parts of the State. Major hotels can often arrange immediate car hire.
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