How to Get to Miami from Orlando

Orlando and Miami are two of the most touristic cities in Florida. The first is known for its varied and huge theme parks, the second for its beaches and for its leisure and entertainment offer. Therefore, if you travel to Florida, it is recommended that you take the opportunity to visit both regions.

There are several methods at your disposal to get from Orlando to Miami. All of them have advantages and disadvantages and are more convenient or not depending on your needs and preferences. If you have already enjoyed the best things to do in Orlando and want to get to know the fun and paradisiacal city of Miami, keep reading.

Undoubtedly, the most flexible way to travel from Orlando to Miami is by car. This type of trip is ideal for you if you are traveling with the whole family. This way, you will be able to take advantage of certain stops and enjoy the best plans in Orlando with kids, such as the visit to the Kennedy Space Center, or the best plans in Miami with kids.

In case you do not have your own vehicle, you can rent one from one of the many car rental companies that are available. In fact, this is something I recommend for your entire trip, as you will be able to visit different places and save time on public transportation.

To get from Orlando to Miami by car you will have to take the interstate highway I-4 East towards Florida 's Turnpike South. Once you have reached the Turnpike South, take the exit to I-95 South, which will take you to Miami. The trip usually takes about 3 to 4 hours, depending on the traffic at that time.

Beyond being a very flexible option, the drive from Orlando to Florida is really nice. As you drive away from the city, you will enter the heart of Central Florida, an area of grasslands with lush trees and lots of vegetation. You'll also see Lake Okeechobee, which ranks as Florida's largest freshwater lake. If you need to stop and stretch your legs, do so here and keep your camera handy.

• Price: It varies depending on the car rental company you choose, the current price of fuel, or where you're starting from and where you're headed. However, in general terms, the cost ranges from 144 euros to 164 euros.
• Travel time: About 3 to 4 hours, depending on the stops you make.
• Advantages: This is the most flexible option, you can make stops where and when you want and take the route you like best.
• Disadvantages: You will not be able to rest during the trip and you may have problems finding parking.

Although travel by car is the most flexible, it is true that it offers certain disadvantages. During the vacations it is normal to do all kinds of activities and plans, so fatigue is usually quite common. Therefore, it is normal that you do not want to drive for 3-4 hours. In that case, I recommend that you make the trip by bus.

There are several companies that offer the Orlando-Miami service. The bus usually departs from the Orlando bus station, which is located in the center of the city. It then follows the same route as the car trip, along Florida's Turnpike South. The bus will drop you off in downtown Miami, which is where the station is located. This way, you can enjoy the same panoramic views that I mentioned in the car trip, with the difference that you will not have to keep your eyes glued to the road.

Being a medium distance trip, most companies offer buses with reclining seats and air conditioning, so you can enjoy a pleasant experience. In addition, in some cases premium seats are also offered. On the other hand, since the trip takes about 4-6 hours, there are usually certain stops for passengers to rest. These are short, so they will not make the trip much longer.

My advice is to take advantage of your trip from Orlando to Miami to visit the Everglades, where you will find the best airboat tours in Orlando. If you don't know how to get from Orlando to the Everglades, you'll be happy to know that you have several options.

• Price: Between about 17 and 42 euros per ticket, depending on whether you choose a premium seat or not.
• Travel Time: About 4-6 hours, depending on traffic, stops and company.
• Advantages: You will be able to enjoy the views and rest until you reach your destination.
• Disadvantages: It is the slowest option.

Undoubtedly, the train is one of the best ways to travel. It is a comfortable and fast option that offers all kinds of services. Currently, there is only one train that connects Orlando with Miami, although it is expected that the Brightline company will operate a line connecting both cities.

At the moment, the only train available is the Silver Service/Palmetto, of the Amtrak company. This train departs from New York, but makes several stops until it reaches Miami, one of them being Orlando. It is a daily service, so you will surely have no problem to adjust to their schedules.

One of the greatest benefits of this option is the comfort it offers. The large windows of the cars offer great panoramic views of the scenery characteristic of this area of Florida. In addition, the reclining seats will help you rest and take a nap if you want to.

Of course, the company equips its trains with power outlets and Wi-Fi. Also, in certain cases, there are multimedia devices, such as individual screens. Finally, there is a catering service in case you want to have a drink. So, if you are tired after enjoying the best things to do in Orlando, this is your best option.

• Price: Between 35 and 70 euros per ticket, depending on whether you choose a premium seat or not.
• Travel time: About 5 hours or so.
• Advantages: It is the most comfortable way to travel from Orlando to Miami. Trains offer all kinds of services to enhance the experience, so you can rest or entertain yourself during the trip.
• Disadvantages: There can be delays, so keep this in mind when booking activities in Miami so you don't catch your fingers.

Of course, if you want to save time on the journey, the most convenient option is to go by plane. It is even more necessary if you make a trip to Orlando in 3 days or any other short period of time. This way, you can enjoy the time you save doing other activities, such as some of the best tours in Orlando or visiting one of the best theme parks in Orlando.

To fly from Orlando you have two options. On the one hand there is the Orlando International Airport, which is the main airport of the city and therefore the largest. This makes it offer a great variety of connections as well as schedules. On the other hand, there is also the Sanford International Airport, which is smaller than the previous one. The great advantage of this second airport is that it usually has cheaper flights, since low-cost airlines operate there.

Miami also has more than one airport. The main one in the region is Miami International Airport, one of the airports with the most daily departures and arrivals in the United States. It is located in the northwest of the city and is the main airport. On the other hand, there is also Miami-Opa Locka Executive which, although it focuses on business flights, offers cheap flights.

The most common way to get from Orlando to Miami is from Orlando International to Miami International. The flight time is usually one hour and there are several airlines that offer this connection, such as American Airlines or Delta Air Lines. My advice is to buy the flight in advance to find cheaper options. Also, check the transfers between the airport and Miami for your arrival.

• Price: It all depends on how far in advance you buy the tickets, as well as the airline you choose and the season in which you travel. Generally, the price is between 50 and 200 euros.
• Travel time: Approximately one hour.
• Advantages: It is the fastest way to get from Orlando to Miami.
• Disadvantages: It is the most expensive option of all, unless you can find a cheap flight.

The options I have mentioned above are the conventional and most common ones. However, there are other alternatives to go from Orlando to Miami. One of them is by boat. There are many tourist cruises that make this route. The vast majority of them depart from the port of Cape Canaveral, which is about an hour's drive from Orlando.

Since they are tourist cruises, they do not make the trip directly. Depending on the company you choose, you will make more or less stops in different ports. Thus, it will take you several days to get from Orlando to Miami. Therefore, it is not an option to consider if you are short on time or if you need to get to Miami in a matter of hours.

It is an activity in itself, in which you will enjoy all kinds of leisure and entertainment activities. These cruises have several restaurants, swimming pools, entertainment staff, solariums or even a movie theater. In addition, excursions are organized in the cities of passage. If you are interested in this option, I recommend you to take a look at the best cruises in Miami.

Another way to get from Orlando to Miami is by taking an organized excursion with a tour company. These, in addition to the transfer from one city to another, include various activities for all tastes.

The most important thing when making any kind of trip is the organization. Therefore, the first thing you should do is ask yourself what your priorities are: economic savings, time savings, comfort, flexibility... Depending on what they are, one type of trip or another will suit you better. In this line, it is also important that you make an intensive search of the best companies in the sector, whether they are train companies, airlines or car rental companies.

You should also plan your itinerary in advance, so you can buy tickets in advance and get them cheaper. Find out what are the best things to do in Miami at that time of the year. Guides such as 10 things to see and do in Miami in summer or 10 things to see and do in Miami in winter will be of great help.

If you can, make a stop on your trip and take advantage of it to visit other cities in this area of Florida, such as Kissimmee, Melbourne or Palm Bay. This way, you will be able to visit a greater number of places and take advantage of your trip to a greater extent.

It all depends on what your preferences and tastes are. You may prefer cooler climates and quieter places or you may be inclined towards more festive and lively atmospheres. However, in my opinion, the best time to go from Orlando to Miami is in spring or fall.

In these months of the year, both cities are usually quieter, as it is not high season. You will be able to do a great number of activities without having to worry about the capacity of the attractions. You will also be able to visit the cities at your leisure, without having to deal with annoying crowds. In addition, since it is not high season, prices are lower, so you will get a cheaper trip.

Beyond the above, both Orlando and Miami have subtropical climates, which makes them very hot and humid cities, especially in summer. If you go in spring or autumn you will enjoy pleasant temperatures, without being too hot or too cold. Thus, you can make all kinds of plans, some of them impossible to do in the summer months due to the temperatures.

As for the events held in both cities, these are regular during all months of the year. So, whatever time of year you travel to Orlando and Miami, you will always be lucky enough to stumble upon a festival or event. For example, in the spring, there is the Ultra Music Festival Miami, as well as Carnival Miami. As for Orlando, the city hosts during these months the Florida Film Festival or the May Fest in Downtown Orlando.