|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||
Getting Around
Miami-Dade County and Broward County encompass more than 3750 square miles of land! That's larger than the state of Delaware! There are plenty of ways to get around while you're on vacation here. Whether you drive here, rent a car, use taxis or our public transportation system, getting around is easy as can be.
305-681-8989
Rentals from economy to exotic. Fifteen passenger vans available; drivers 21+ okay!
305-770-3131
Metrobus provides bus service throughout Miami-Dade County, 365 days a year. Service is available from Miami Beach and Key Biscayne on the east side of the county, to Kendall and Westchester on the west end, and from as far north as Diplomat Mall in Broward County, to as far south as Homestead, Florida City, and the middle Florida Keys. Metrobus operates seven days a week. Some routes run 24 hours a day. The system, designed to intersect with Metrorail and Metromover, serves all major businesses, shopping, entertainment and cultural centers, as well as major hospitals and schools. All buses are wheelchair-accessible.
Metrobus fare: $2 each way. Transfers: 50¢ each.
The 7-Day Visitor Passport offers unlimited access to all Miami-Dade public transportation for seven consecutive days for only $26. Available at visitor centers and select area businesses. Call Miami-Dade Transit at 305-770-3131, or visit http://www.miamidade.gov/transit.
305-770-3131
Metromover is an automated people-mover system that serves downtown Miami from Omni to Brickell and connects with Metrorail at Government Center and Brickell stations. It connects with Metrobus at the Omni, Government Center and Brickell stations. In addition, several bus routes operate close to most of the 20 Metromover stations, one about every two blocks.
Metromover offers convenient access to many of downtown Miami's major office buildings, hotels, and retail centers, the Stephen P. Clark Government Center, the Cultural Plaza (Miami Art Museum, Historical Museum, Main Library), and the Brickell business district. Metromover’s inner and outer (Omni and Brickell) loops run from 5am to midnight, seven days a week. Trains arrive frequently. Service may be extended during special events. Metromover fare: free.
305-770-3131
Metrorail, Miami-Dade County’s 22-mile, elevated rapid-transit system, runs from the Kendall area in the southern end of the county north to the city of Medley. Its 22 stations provide a connection to major businesses, as well as cultural and shopping centers. Transit riders also can transfer to Tri-Rail at the Tri-Rail Metrorail station to travel north to Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Metrorail operates 5am to midnight, every day; on weekdays: trains arrive every 7 to 8 minutes during rush hours, every 15 minutes at midday, and every 30 minutes from about 7:30pm to midnight. On weekends, trains run every 30 minutes. Parking is available at most stations for $4 daily, including weekends and holidays. Metrorail fare: $2 each way. Transfers: 50¢ each.
The 7-Day Visitor Passport offers unlimited access to all Miami-Dade public transportation for seven consecutive days for only $26. Available at visitor centers and select area businesses. Call Miami-Dade Transit at 305-770-3131, or visit http://www.miamidade.gov/transit.
305-534-1100
305-535-1544
Rent daily or weekly, from economy to luxury, mini-vans, SUVs. Free pick up from Miami Beach hotels and Miami Airport. English, spanish and french are spoken here.
The South Beach Local
Runs every 10 to 15 minutes every day. See page 46 for routes and schedule. 25¢
Tri-Rail is the commuter rail system that links Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, providing free connecting shuttles to/from all three airports. Tickets must be purchased before boarding.
These shuttles depart from:
* Miami International-Lower level, Concourse E
* Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
Terminals #1, #2, #3, lower level.
* Palm Beach International-Palm Tran bus
#40 and #44 in front of baggage claim.
$3.50-$9.25/person, round trip; $2.00-$5.50/person one way; Sat. and Sun., $4/person, $2 for children ages 5-12, seniors age 65+ and students.
1-800-TRI-RAIL. www.tri-rail.com
SunPass offers a convenient, pre-paid option for most tolls in Florida, at a discount. It is REQUIRED to use the new Express (two left) lanes on I-95 in Miami-Dade County. SunPass is available for $4.99 at Publix, CVS and turnpike plazas and includes a $4.99 credit for tolls. For more info, see www.sunpass.com.
Biking is the perfect way to get around Miami Beach! It’s easy, fun, and friendly to the environment. Bike and Roll offers a variety of bikes for rent by the hour, day, or week. Located in the heart of South Beach at 210 10th St. 305-604-0000, www.bikeandroll.com.
The Coral Gables Trolley is a convenient and free mode of transportation that runs through downtown Coral Gables and surrounding areas. A North/South Ponce de Leon Boulevard route runs along Ponce de Leon Boulevard from the Douglas Road Metrorail Station to SW Eighth Street. This service runs every 10 to 15 minutes from 6:30am to 8pm, Monday-Thursday and until 10pm on Friday.
For more information, please call 305-460-5070.
Streets and Terraces
generally run east-west. Avenues, Places and Courts are aligned north-south. But look carefully in other areas that have their own street systems: Hialeah, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Opa Locka, Key Biscayne and Miami Beach. Miami is divided into four sections, with Flagler Street marking the north and south sectors and Miami Avenue dividing the city into east and west.
North-South
• I-95 is the major north-south expressway providing access to Miami from Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. It runs through downtown Miami and into U.S.1 (also called South Dixie Highway).
• U.S.1 is a main thoroughfare that runs all the way to Maine. From downtown Miami to NE 213th Street (northern Miami-Dade), it is called Biscayne Blvd. In parts of Broward County, it is called Federal Hwy. Heading south, U.S.1 continues to the Florida Keys.
• Florida’s Turnpike extends north to central Florida from State Road 836 in the southwest part of Miami. The Homestead Extension of the Turnpike is located in the western part of the county and continues south until it merges with U.S.1 in Homestead. This is a toll road.
• From Kendall to the northern part of Miami, State Road 826 (Palmetto Expressway) runs north-south, then runs east-west, connecting with I-95 at the Golden Glades Interchange.
• A1A (Collins Avenue in Miami Beach) runs north- south for 52 miles along Florida’s east coast.
East-West
• State Road 836 (Dolphin Expwy, $1.25 toll eastbound) is the major east-west expressway connecting Florida’s Turnpike (Homestead Extension) to State Road 826, I-95 and Miami Beach (via I-395).
• State Road 112 ($1.25 toll eastbound) leads to/from Miami Int’l Airport to/from I-95 and on to Miami Beach via (I-195). Toll is $1 with SunPass.
• In the northern part of the county, SR 826 (Palmetto Expwy.) runs east-west and connects with I-95 at the Golden Glades Interchange.
• Gratigny Expressway runs east-west between Palmetto Expwy. and NW 32nd Ave. ($1.25 toll).
• Eight causeways link the mainland and the beaches.
Rickenbacker to/from Key Biscayne ($1.50 toll)
I-395 (MacArthur Cswy.) to/from 5th Street
Venetian Cswy. to Dade Blvd. ($1.50 toll)
I-195 (Julia Tuttle Cswy.) to/from 41st Street
Kennedy Cswy. to/from 79th Street
Broad Cswy. to/from Bay Harbor/Bal Harbour ($1 toll)
Sunny Isles Cswy. to from 163rd Street
William Lehman Cswy. to/from 192nd Street