Transportation Resource
Commute & Transportation Guide
Highways, public transit, airport access, and drive times from Florida to major East Coast cities.
The routes that matter
Drive Times from Florida
Florida moves on four wheels, two rails, and three airports. Whether you are commuting between Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, making the weekend run to Orlando, or flying back to New York for work, the region's highways, trains, and air service are better connected than most relocating families expect. This guide lays out the routes, the times, and the communities that make the commute work, so you can match where you live to how you actually travel.
| Destination | Distance | By Car | By Flight / Public Transit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | ~70 mi from West Palm Beach | ~1 hr 15 min via I-95 or the Turnpike | Brightline ~1 hr 10 min; Tri-Rail ~1 hr 45 min | MIA is American Airlines’ gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean. |
| Fort Lauderdale | ~44 mi from West Palm Beach | ~50 min–1 hr via I-95 | Brightline ~35 min; Tri-Rail ~1 hr | FLL is a JetBlue focus city with more than 100 daily departures. |
| West Palm Beach | ~70 mi from Miami | ~1 hr 15 min–1 hr 30 min via I-95 or the Turnpike | Brightline ~1 hr 10 min; Tri-Rail ~1 hr 45 min | PBI is the closest airport to the Treasure Coast. |
| Orlando | ~170 mi from West Palm Beach via the Turnpike | ~2.5–3 hr from West Palm Beach; ~3.5–4 hr from Miami | Brightline ~2 hr from West Palm Beach, ~3 hr from Miami | Brightline links Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando. |
| Tampa | ~280 mi from Miami | ~4–4.5 hr via I-75 across Alligator Alley | ~1 hr flight from MIA or FLL; Amtrak Thruway bus via Orlando | The cross-state drive crosses the Everglades on Alligator Alley. |
| Key West | ~160 mi from Miami | ~3.5–4 hr down US-1, the Overseas Highway | ~1 hr flight from MIA; no rail | The Overseas Highway’s water crossings are some of the most scenic miles in the country. |
| Jacksonville | ~330 mi from Miami | ~4.5–5 hr straight up I-95 | Nonstop ~1 hr 20 min from FLL or MIA; Amtrak Silver Service via Orlando, about 7 hr | I-95 connects the two metros, and JAX is the gateway to Northeast Florida. |
| New York City | ~1,100 mi by air from Miami | ~17–18 hr by car; not recommended for routine travel | ~3 hr nonstop from PBI, FLL, or MIA to JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark | The three-hour flight is why relocating families keep their NYC ties. |
Drive times below are approximate and vary with traffic, especially along I-95 and the Florida Turnpike at peak hours. Add 30 to 60 minutes at rush hour, and check a live traffic app before you commit to a route. Distances and times are measured from the region's main anchors: regional routes from West Palm Beach, long-haul routes from Miami, and flight times as published nonstop schedules. All figures approximate.
Source: driving distances and times per Google Maps routing (2026); flight times per published nonstop airline schedules from Palm Beach International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, and Miami International airports.
Know the roads
Major Highways
Nine routes carry nearly every commute in the region. Here is what each one does.
I-95
The primary north-south coastal corridor, running from Miami through Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and the Treasure Coast north to Jacksonville.
Florida's Turnpike
The toll route that bypasses coastal congestion and is the fastest way from Florida to Orlando and Tampa.
I-75
The western corridor: Alligator Alley across to Naples, then north through Fort Myers to Tampa and Jacksonville.
I-595
Fort Lauderdale's east-west connector, tying I-95, the Turnpike, I-75, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International together.
Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869)
Broward’s western bypass, linking Coral Springs, Sunrise, and Weston to I-595 and points south.
Palmetto Expressway (SR 826)
Miami's western beltway, circling the metro from I-95 to the Turnpike and Miami International.
US-1 / A1A
The coastal alternatives: US-1 parallels the rail line through every downtown, while A1A hugs the beach.
SR 836 Dolphin Expressway
Miami's east-west expressway from downtown to Miami International and the Turnpike.
SR 528 Beachline
The Orlando-area connector from I-95 near Cocoa to Orlando International Airport and the theme-park district.
Beyond the car
Public Transit & Airport Access
Rail, bus, and three international airports give Florida a transit network most Sun Belt metros envy.
Tri-Rail
Commuter rail with 18 stations linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, ending just north of the county line at Mangonia Park.
Brightline
Intercity rail connecting Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach, with Orlando service on the same corridor.
Miami Metrorail & Metromover
The free Metromover loops plus the Metrorail tie together downtown Miami, Brickell, the hospitals, and the airport connector.
Broward County Transit
The county bus network that connects Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and the western suburbs to Tri-Rail stations.
Palm Tran
Palm Beach County's bus system, linking West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Wellington, and the western communities.
Miami-Dade Transit
Metrobus plus Metrorail and Metromover, the largest public transit system in the region.
Amtrak Silver Service
The Silver Star and Silver Meteor run Miami to New York along the coast, stopping in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Ride-sharing: Uber and Lyft operate across all six counties, with dedicated pickup zones at PBI, FLL, and MIA. Most inter-metro rides land well below the cost of parking a car at the airport for a week.
Palm Beach International
The Treasure Coast’s closest gateway, about 45 to 55 minutes from Stuart and Port St. Lucie, with nonstops on multiple carriers including JetBlue.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
A JetBlue focus city and one of the country’s fastest-growing airports, about 1.5 hours north of the Treasure Coast on I-95.
Miami International
American Airlines’ primary hub for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the region’s busiest international gateway.
Match the town to the commute
Best Communities for Commuters
Live on the right side of the route and the commute disappears into the background. These are the communities Michael steers commuters toward, by where they work.
Commuting to Miami
- Aventura Upscale coastal city on the Miami-Dade line, moments from Aventura Mall and an easy I-95 or Turnpike shot south. View Aventura
- Hollywood Beachfront Broward city with a walkable Broadwalk and a straight I-95 run into Miami. View Hollywood
- Pembroke Pines Family-friendly Broward suburb with quick Turnpike and Sawgrass access into western Miami-Dade. View Pembroke Pines
- Doral Miami-Dade's booming job hub, ideal when the office sits on the west side of the metro. View Doral
Commuting to Fort Lauderdale
- Plantation Central Broward suburb with quick access to I-595, the Turnpike, and the Sawgrass Expressway. View Plantation
- Davie Western Broward with easy rides to both Fort Lauderdale and Miami via I-595 and the Turnpike. View Davie
- Pompano Beach Coastal Broward town between Fort Lauderdale and Boca, minutes from I-95 and Tri-Rail. View Pompano Beach
- Coral Springs Residential Broward suburb with Sawgrass Expressway access straight to Fort Lauderdale. View Coral Springs
Commuting to West Palm Beach
- Wellington Equestrian country with a clean Turnpike entrance and gated-community living. View Wellington
- Royal Palm Beach Quiet western growth area with easy access to the Turnpike and downtown West Palm Beach. View Royal Palm Beach
- Palm Beach Gardens North Palm Beach jobs, golf communities, and minutes to PBI and I-95. View Palm Beach Gardens
Remote workers
- Stuart Walkable river-town downtown, strong fiber, and the Treasure Coast’s best coffee-shop district. View Stuart
- Palm City Tree-lined Martin County family town with solid fiber and an easy PBI commute. View Palm City
- Jupiter Coastal village with marinas, Abacoa, and a slower pace for work-from-home life. View Jupiter
- Delray Beach Atlantic Avenue's cafes and arts district make the office optional, not missed. View Delray Beach
Keep planning the move
More Relocation Resources
Where will the commute take you?
Let's find the home that fits your real life commute
Michael “Wiz” Wisniewski is The Life Transition Specialist, a Certified Real Estate Planning Advisor and Certified A.I. Real Estate Advisor with The Complete Real Estate Team, powered by Dalton Wade Real Estate, serving clients from the Treasure Coast to Florida. Florida DRE #3301665.
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