How to Get to Miami from Orlando

Orlando and Miami are two of the most touristic cities in Florida. The former is known for its huge and varied theme parks, the latter 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 get to know both regions.

There are several ways 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, read on.

Without a doubt, the most flexible way to travel from Orlando to Miami is by car. This type of trip is ideal for you if you are travelling with the whole family. This way, you can 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 don't 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 transport.

To get from Orlando to Miami by car you will need to take Interstate I-4 East towards Florida's Turnpike South. Once you've reached the Turnpike South, take the exit onto I-95 South, which will take you to Miami. The drive is usually about 3 to 4 hours, depending on traffic at the time.

Apart from being a very flexible option, the drive from Orlando to Florida is really nice. As you drive away from the city, you'll enter the heart of Central Florida, an area of grasslands with lush trees and 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 going. However, generally speaking, the cost ranges from 144 euros to 164 euros.
• Journeytime: Around 3 to 4 hours, depending on how many stops you make.
• Advantages: This is the most flexible option, you can stop wherever and whenever you want and take the route you like.
• Disadvantages: You won't be able to rest along the way and you may have trouble finding parking.

Although travelling by car is the most flexible, it is true that there are some drawbacks. During the holidays it is normal to do all kinds of activities and plans, so fatigue is quite common. Therefore, it is normal that you don't want to drive for 3-4 hours. In this case, I recommend that you make the journey 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 city centre. It then follows the same route as the car journey, along Florida's Turnpike South. The bus will drop you off in downtown Miami, which is where the station is located. You'll be able to enjoy the same panoramic views as on the car trip, except you won't have to keep your eyes on the road.

As this is a medium-distance trip, most companies offer buses with reclining seats and air-conditioning for a pleasant experience. In some cases, premium seats are also available. On the other hand, since the journey takes about 4-6 hours, there are usually certain stops for passengers to rest. These are short, so it won't take much longer than that.

My advice is to take advantage of your trip from Orlando to Miami to visit the Everglades, where the best airboat tours in Orlando are located. 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'll be able to enjoy the views and rest until you reach your destination.
• Disadvantages: It is the slowest option.

The train is undoubtedly 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 Brightline is expected to launch a line connecting the two cities.

For the time being, the only train available is the Silver Service/Palmetto, operated by Amtrak. 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 should have no trouble keeping to the schedule.

One of the biggest benefits of this option is the comfort it offers. The large windows in the carriages offer great views of the scenery that is characteristic of this area of Florida. Plus, the reclining seats will help you rest and take a snooze 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.
• Journeytime: About 5 hours or so.
• Advantages: It is the most comfortable way to travel from Orlando to Miami. Trains offer all kinds of amenities to enhance the experience, so you can relax or be entertained during the journey.
• Disadvantages: There can be delays, so keep this in mind when booking activities in Miami so you don't get your fingers caught.

Of course, if you want to save time on your journey, the most convenient option is to fly. This is even more necessary if you are travelling 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 taking one of Orlando' s best tours or visiting one of Orlando's best theme parks.

There are two options for flying from Orlando. One is Orlando International Airport, which is the city's main airport and therefore the largest. This means that it offers a wide variety of connections and schedules. On the other hand, there is also Sanford International Airport, which is smaller than the former. The big advantage of Sanford International Airport is that it tends to have cheaper flights, as it is served by low-cost airlines.

Miami also has more than one airport. The main airport in the region is Miami International Airport, one of the busiest daily arrival and departure airports 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 route from Orlando to Miami is from Orlando International to Miami International. The flight time is usually one hour and several airlines offer this connection, such as American Airlines or Delta Air Lines. My advice is to buy your flight in advance to find cheaper options. Also, check airport transfers between the airport and Miami for your arrival.

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

The above options are the conventional and most common. However, there are other alternatives for getting from Orlando to Miami. One of them is by boat. There are many tourist cruise ships that travel 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 journey directly. Depending on the company you choose, you will make more or less stops at different ports. Thus, it will take you several days to get from Orlando to Miami. So it's not an option to consider if you're short on time or need to get to Miami in a matter of hours.

It is an activity in itself, where you will enjoy all kinds of leisure and entertainment activities. These cruises have several restaurants, swimming pools, entertainment staff, solariums and even a cinema. In addition, excursions are organised in the cities you pass through. If you are interested in this option, I recommend that you take a look at the best cruises in Miami.

Another way to get from Orlando to Miami is by taking an organised 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 organisation. Therefore, the first thing you should do is ask yourself what your priorities are: saving money, saving time, comfort, flexibility... Depending on what they are, one type of trip or another will suit you better. Along these lines, it is also important that you make an intensive search for the best companies in the sector, whether they are train companies, airlines or car hire companies.

You should also plan your itinerary in advance, so that you can buy your tickets in advance and get them cheaper. Find out what are the best things to do in Miami at that time of 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 get the most out of your trip.

It all depends on your preferences and tastes. 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 autumn.

During these months of the year, both cities tend to be quieter, as it is not the high season. You will be able to do a lot of activities without having to worry about the capacity of the attractions. You'll also be able to visit the cities in peace and quiet, without having to deal with annoying crowds. Also, since it's not high season, prices are lower, so you'll get a cheaper trip.

In addition to the above, both Orlando and Miami have subtropical climates, which makes them very hot and humid, especially in summer. If you go in spring or autumn you will enjoy pleasant temperatures, without being too hot or too cold. Thus, you will be able to 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'll always be lucky enough to stumble across a festival or event. For example, in spring, there is the Ultra Music Festival Miami, as well as Carnival Miami. As for Orlando, the city hosts the Florida Film Festival or the Mayfest in Downtown Orlando during these months.