FLL Airport Terminals, Ground Transport, and the Miami Connection

Why Your Miami Flight Lands in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport (FLL) sits 25 miles north of downtown Miami. A large share of passengers landing here are headed south. The reason is cost. FLL is a low cost carrier stronghold. Spirit, Frontier, Southwest, Avelo, and Allegiant all operate from FLL. On overlapping domestic and Caribbean routes, FLL tickets undercut Miami International Airport (MIA) fares by a margin that covers the ground transfer cost plus a drink. For a traveller whose final destination is South Beach, downtown Miami, or Port Miami, the savings per ticket can be substantial. The trade off is a 35 to 60 minute ride south, depending on traffic, via ride hail, taxi, or the Brightline train.

The Four Terminal Layout at FLL

Who Flies From Where

FLL has four terminals arranged in a loop off Terminal Drive. They are colour coded. Terminal 1 is the Yellow Terminal. It handles Allegiant, Azul, Avelo, Condor, Frontier, Norse Atlantic, Southwest, and Sun Country. Terminal 2 is the Red Terminal, serving Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. Terminal 3 is the Purple Terminal, home to American Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit Airlines. Terminal 4 is the Green Terminal, for Bahamasair, Caribbean Airlines, Flair Airlines, Porter Airlines, Silver Airways, Tropic Ocean Airways, and Western Air.

Security and Overnight Rules

All four terminals open their TSA checkpoints at 04:00. Peak queue times run 05:00 to 07:30 and 11:00 to 13:00. TSA PreCheck is available in every terminal. CLEAR is available in all four. If you arrive at 01:00, you cannot remain airside. Terminals are not closed overnight, but once the last departure departs, you must exit to landside. There is no 24 hour food option either airside or landside. The nearest 24 hour hotels are a 1 to 2 mile ride on SE 17th Street or Federal Highway.

Ground Transport to Fort Lauderdale and Miami

Ride Hail and Taxi

Ride hail pick up zones are on the arrivals level outside each terminal. From FLL to the central Fort Lauderdale beach area, a ride hail trip takes 15 to 25 minutes and costs $25 to $40. A taxi to downtown Fort Lauderdale costs $20 to $25. A taxi to South Beach Miami costs $70 to $85. If you are heading to Miami, a ride hail car will cost roughly the same as a taxi. Surge pricing can push it higher during cruise ship and flight bank arrivals.

The Route 1 Bus: A False Economy

Broward County Transit Route 1 runs from the Rental Car Center to the central bus terminal in about 30 minutes for a $2.00 fare. Do not use it with luggage. The bus has no dedicated luggage racks, stops frequently, and the walk from the bus stop to most hotels is substantial. The $2 saved versus a ride hail is not worth the friction. Use a ride hail or a taxi.

Brightline Train

The Brightline station is at 101 NW 2nd Avenue, 4 miles from the airport. There is no direct rail link. You need a ride hail, taxi, or shuttle to reach it. From Fort Lauderdale station to Miami, the 2024 fare range was $10 to $40 one way, varying by class and booking window, and the travel time is 35 to 40 minutes. Brightline is the best option if you are going to downtown Miami and can book ahead. To West Palm Beach, the 2024 fare range was $10 to $35 one way, with the same travel time.

Port Everglades Transfer

Port Everglades is 2 miles from FLL. A taxi costs $10 to $15. A ride hail costs $8 to $14. Some cruise lines and hotels offer dedicated shuttles, but there is no public airport to port shuttle. If you are on a cruise, check with your line before arrival. The 17th Street Causeway area becomes gridlocked during Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show week in late October and early November. Allow an extra 20 minutes.

Rental Car Center

The Rental Car Center is at 600 Terminal Drive, connected to all terminals by a free shuttle bus running every 5 to 10 minutes. Brands include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, and Thrifty. The shuttle stop is clearly marked outside baggage claim.