This Popular Florida Airport Isn't Worth Flying Into To Save Money On Your Trip To Miami

When planning a trip to explore the hottest tourist attractions in Miami, you may be tempted to take advantage of cheaper fares offered by Spirit, JetBlue, and other airlines flying into nearby Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport (FLL). Avoiding the larger and busier Miami International Airport (MIA) makes sense on paper, but there are other factors to consider, such as an infamous stretch of highway.

Let's say you are escaping the cold this winter and your final destination is Downtown Miami. FLL is merely 26 miles away, so the drive should take roughly 45 minutes. The unknown element here is traffic — and sheer chaos. During rush hour, this particular stretch of the I-95 highway gets extremely congested, which would throw your timing out the window. Even during off-peak times, this road is known for being particularly dangerous, mostly due to the high volume of traffic and huge trucks, as it is a major north-south throughway, creating frequent incidents that can bring vehicles to a complete halt — not ideal when you have a plane to catch.

For a ride share, such as Uber or Lyft, fees start at around $53 and can get much higher depending on demand. You can split this cost if you are traveling in a group, but if you are traveling solo, this alone could outweigh any savings. Keep in mind that for comparison purposes, we are looking to go to Downtown Miami, whereas if you're headed to the northern districts closer to FLL, such as Bal Harbour or Aventura, the ride would be cheaper and shorter.

The highway is not the only option, as long as you have time to spare. A free shuttle brings you from FLL to the train station in about 10 minutes. From there the cheapest of two trains is the Tri-Rail, which gets you to Downtown Miami in around an hour and 15 minutes, at an unbeatable fare between $3 and $6, with a change of trains at Metrorail Transfer Station — unless you are lucky enough to catch the once daily express service. Then there's the Brightline intercity high-speed train on the Orlando-Miami line. This modern service gets you there in 40 minutes, starting from $15 one-way, depending on the time of year and the specific train.

If you could put a price on all the walking, waiting, and figuring out the shuttles and transfers, particularly if you are carrying luggage, the ride-share prices suddenly start to seem a little more attractive. To compare, the Metrorail train from MIA whisks you into Downtown Miami in 15 to 30 minutes for $2.25 per person.

Opinions vary as to which is the better airport. While a February 2024 survey of business travelers by Business Financing ranked FLL as the worst airport in the U.S., one Redditor disagreed, saying they prefer it to MIA because the smaller scale means that you can get through airport security and to your gate faster. If you are considering traveling to Miami via Fort Lauderdale airport, make sure the cash savings are significant enough to justify all these variables.