Miami Airport to South Beach: Bus, Taxi or Uber

Cost: Route 150 bus vs taxi from Miami airport to South Beach

The Route 150 bus is the cheapest way from Miami airport to South Beach, at $2.25 each way. Miami-Dade Transit's fare page lists that full fare for Metrobus and Metrorail. Transfers between bus and rail are free, and the fare is capped at $5.65 a day on the same card or wallet.

The study puts the airport fare in plain numbers. In the 2026 Miami Travel Cost Study, the public fare from Miami International Airport was $2.25 one way per person, as read on 23 October 2026.

You need a way to pay. Metrorail gates do not take cash, and the county accepts contactless bank cards and digital wallets. An EASY Card costs $2 and is sold at vending machines in the Miami Intermodal Center. The county has approved a rise to $2.75 from January 2027.

A taxi costs more, and the airport lists no flat rate. The meter starts at $2.95 for the first 1/6 mile, adds $0.85 for each 1/6 mile up to one mile, and then $0.55 for each 1/6 mile. There is also a $2.00 airport fee and a $15 minimum fare, according to the airport's taxi and shuttle page. SUVs and vans add 30 percent to the meter.

A rental car has no official daily price. The airport does not publish one, and each company at the Rental Car Center sets its own rate. Parking in South Beach comes on top.

An Uber has no published fixed price either. The app shows a price before you confirm, and that price moves with demand. A guide that quotes a flat "$35 taxi to South Beach" does not match the airport's metered rules, so we left it out.

Time: Route 150 bus vs Metrorail, taxi and Uber

The Route 150 bus takes about 45 minutes from the airport to the south end of South Beach. The county timetable shows about 19 minutes to 41st Street and Alton Road, 36 minutes to Washington Avenue and Lincoln Road, and 46 minutes to South Pointe Drive at midday. The route runs express over the Julia Tuttle Causeway to Mid Beach, then stops along Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue.

The bus runs every day. It makes 37 trips a day toward Miami Beach, from about 5:22 a.m. to about 11:17 p.m. That is roughly one bus every 30 minutes, with gaps from 22 to 34 minutes. Check the county's Route 150 page or the GO Miami-Dade Transit app before you leave.

Metrorail does not go to South Beach. Its Orange Line takes you from the airport to Government Center in 15 minutes and to Brickell in 17 minutes on weekdays. That helps if your hotel is downtown. For South Beach you would still need a bus, so Route 150 is simpler.

On weekends, the Orange Line runs only a shuttle between the airport and Earlington Heights. You change trains there. After about 8 p.m. on weekdays, the same shuttle applies.

A taxi or Uber is usually faster than the bus because you skip the wait and the MIA Mover. No official page publishes a typical Uber or taxi time to South Beach. The bus timetable is the best official guide: about 36 minutes to Lincoln Road at midday on the same causeway. A car makes no stops, so expect less than that outside rush hour. Leave extra time at rush hour, because causeway traffic changes the trip a lot.

Key Takeaway Route 150 reaches Washington Avenue and Lincoln Road in about 36 minutes for $2.25, but only a taxi or Uber takes you door to door.

Pickup: where to catch the bus, taxi and Uber at MIA

You catch the bus at Miami International Airport Station, the airport's Metrorail station. It sits inside the Miami Intermodal Center, and the free MIA Mover takes you there. The airport says the MIA Mover is on the third level, between the Dolphin and Flamingo garages. Follow the signs for Miami Central Station and the Miami Intermodal Center. Buy your EASY Card or use a contactless card at the station.

Taxis wait at designated stands on the arrivals (ground) level, outside the baggage claim. You do not need to book. Ask the driver to use the meter.

For an Uber, the airport says ride-app pickup zones are on the arrivals (ground) level, outside the baggage claim areas. Your app shows the exact door number, so check it before you walk out. If you want to compare uber miami fares with buses and rail for the rest of your trip, our transport guide covers them.

Pro Tip Order your ride when you reach the curb, not while you wait at baggage claim, so the price and the pickup door match what you see.

Luggage and late arrivals: bus vs taxi, Uber and rental car

A taxi or Uber is the better choice when you land late or carry large bags. The Route 150 bus runs until about 11:17 p.m., and the MIA Mover adds a walk with your bags. If your flight lands after 10 p.m., plan for a ride.

A rental car is the right choice only if you leave the city. The free MIA Mover also takes you to the Rental Car Center, whose customer service lobby is reached the same way as the Metrorail station. Many visitors do not need a car in South Beach, where the free trolley and your feet cover most trips. The Miami Beach trolley runs from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., about every 20 minutes.

The catch with a car is parking. South Beach hotels and city garages charge for it, and street meters fill up. Our guide to a parking garage in Miami Beach shows the city's rates.

The best way into a city is the one that fits your bags and your arrival time.

A bus is the wrong choice if you have a lot of luggage, small children or a late flight. The stairs and the walk to the stop add effort that a curb pickup does not.

Where to head: choosing an area in South Beach

South Beach runs from 5th Street at the south end to about 23rd Street, and the bus stops along Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue. Pick the stop closest to your hotel before you board. The county's route page lists the stops from 41st Street down to South Pointe Drive.

Your choice of area decides your stop. Ocean Drive is where the Art Deco buildings face the beach. Collins Avenue is a block or two back and a little quieter. Our guide on where to stay in Miami compares the areas, and three South Beach hotels we checked on Booking.com are Cardozo Hotel on Ocean Drive, Viajero Miami on Collins Avenue and Nassau Suite South Beach on Collins Avenue.

Your first afternoon in South Beach: tours and walks

After you drop your bags, a short tour is a simple way to learn the area. Best Things to Do in Miami's count of GetYourGuide listings in October 2026 found that 30 of the 285 listings include hotel pickup. So most tours start where you meet them, and you travel there yourself.

The hop-on hop-off bus tour, from €40 per person, is run by Big Bus Tours - Miami. It has 10 stops, is rated 4.1 from 4,056 reviews and has free cancellation. Hotel pickup is not included, and the meeting point is 333 Biscayne Boulevard. The ticket is valid for 2 days, and group size is not listed. You get unlimited rides on the open-top bus, audio commentary in English and Spanish and a free 1-hour bike rental. A boat cruise and a night tour come only with the options that include them. Food and drinks are not included.

The Miami Beach highlights bike tour, from €55 per person, is run by Unlimited Biking Miami. It lasts 2 hours, takes up to 15 people and is rated 4.8 from 79 reviews. Cancellation is free, and the tour meets at 1149 Washington Avenue. The price covers a licensed local guide, a bike or e-bike, a helmet and a bike bag. The ride passes Ocean Drive, Española Way and the Holocaust Memorial. Tips, food, drinks and hotel pickup are not included.

The South Beach Segway tour, from €75 per person, is run by Miami Beach Bike Rentals & Tours. It lasts 1.5 hours and is rated 5.0 from 27 reviews. Cancellation is free, and the tour meets at 233 14th Street in Miami Beach. Children under 12 cannot join, and the group has up to 10 people. The price buys a local guide, the Segway, a helmet and bottled water, and local taxes are included. The listing names nothing as excluded, and it shows no hotel pickup. Prices are from GetYourGuide, checked on 23 October 2026.

You do not need a tour. Ocean Drive, the beach and the Art Deco buildings are free to walk. Doing it yourself is enough if you just want the beach and the pastel buildings. A tour wins if you want a guide to explain what you see, or wheels to cover more ground in a short time. For a longer list, see South Miami Beach FL on our Art Deco tours page, and for an open-top overview see our page on hop-on hop-off buses in Miami.