Guests have many choices for getting between and around Florida’s pristine coastlines, swampy lagoons and massive-time cities.

Whereas the sprawl of Florida makes it a automotive-centric place, you can see a rising variety of choices for exploring the Sunshine State. You crisscross the state by airplane, catch a practice alongside the southwest coast, or Key-hop by way of water taxi. 

Wherever your journey might take you, this is easy methods to get around Florida.

Arrive in Florida by airplane at one among its 131 airports

If you happen to’re visiting Florida from some place else in the USA (or overseas), there is a good probability you may be flying in. In complete, the state has 131 public airports (24 of them worldwide), with hubs in Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Seashore, Tampa and Jacksonville. 

A number of airways present flights inside Florida, together with American Airways, United Airways, Miramar-primarily based operator Spirit Airways and Fort Lauderdale–primarily based Silver Airways.

Together with most US airports, main holidays (eg, Thanksgiving and Christmas) can deliver main congestion and longer wait instances at Florida’s airports, significantly as northern residents escape the colder temperatures.

Taking the practice in Florida is a breeze in comparison with driving

Maybe surprisingly, Florida boasts in depth passenger practice service. Amtrak has 19 complete stations in the state, serving three principal routes that typically run north to south.

With 14 complete stops, the Silver Meteor route begins in Jacksonville, runs to Orlando in Central Florida after which south alongside the Atlantic Coast by means of West Palm Seashore and to Miami.

The Silver Star route has 18 complete Florida stops, additionally beginning in Jacksonville earlier than hitting Orlando, operating west to Tampa and Winter Haven after which winding again to the Atlantic Coast by way of Fort Lauderdale to Miami.

For vacationers both beginning or ending an East Coast practice journey in Florida, Amtrak’s Auto Prepare is a singular providing. This in a single day route between Sanford, FL, and Lorton, VA – with no stops in between – permits you to take your automotive or bike on board. Don’t be concerned: you’ll be able to calm down in the eating and lounge automobiles slightly than having to sit down in your auto the complete time. 

Additionally working throughout the state is Brightline, the fashionable and opulent excessive-velocity passenger rail system that has stops in Orlando, West Palm Seashore, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami. A trip from Fort Lauderdale to Miami takes 30 minutes, and a one-method journey from West Palm Seashore to Miami takes an hour. Amid usually heavy visitors and rush hour in South Florida, this serves as a stellar choice for shaving a while off a visit, with stations conveniently positioned in the center of every vacation spot’s downtown. A visit from Miami to Orlando takes roughly three hours, making journeys to Florida theme parks and Orlando Worldwide Airport a breeze in comparison with driving.

Florida has two commuter rail methods. Tri-Rail has 18 stations in South Florida, operating from simply north of West Palm Seashore south to Miami Worldwide Airport. A number of stations provide native bus routes that connect with their closest downtowns.

SunRail is Orlando’s commuter-rail system, with 18 stations operating from DeBary south to the Poinciana station in Kissimmee – offering a simple option to discover all that Central Florida has to supply. As of 2023, there are plans to construct a brand new station in DeLand, too.

Planning tip: Tri-Rail has a cease at Miami Worldwide Airport for optimum comfort.

Uncover the pleasure of touring in Florida by boat

Lined with white-sand seashores and turquoise waters, Florida is a boating utopia. Its principal cruise ports are among the many busiest in the world, together with these in Jacksonville, Cape Canaveral, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Miami – all with simple transportation connections to go to close by cities.

Cruise liners depart incessantly for locations in the Caribbean, Mexico and past, with journeys lasting from a weekend to a number of weeks.

Inside Florida, quite a few ferry and water-taxi choices present tranquil and sometimes scenic journeys. The Yankee Freedom III ferry in Key West is the one public transportation choice for accessing distant and delightful Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park, a seven-island park that is 70 miles off the coast of the Florida Keys.

Water taxis are widespread in areas with coastal and river terrains. You may hail an aquatic trip with St. John’s River Taxi in Jacksonville, the Pirate Water Taxi in Tampa, the Naples Bay Water Shuttle, Fort Lauderdale’s Water Taxi and in Destin on the Panhandle.

For a splurge, boat rental and personal constitution all through the state additionally beckon. Be suggested that in addition to any hourly or each day rental charges, further fees for a captain’s providers, crew, gasoline, in a single day dockage and extra might apply. You may wish to type out as many charges as attainable up entrance to keep away from any shocks if you’re again on land.

Hit the highway to discover Florida by automotive

Florida’s roads run the gamut from State Highway A1A – which hugs the Atlantic Ocean from Fernandina Seashore all the best way right down to Key West – to main highways. A number of of the state’s main interstates have tolls – together with the Florida Turnpike (Ocala to Homestead), the stretch of Interstate 75 between Miami and Naples and the Bee Line Categorical between Orlando and Cape Canaveral. As toll cubicles have turn out to be a factor of the previous, tolls are collected by way of radio tag or billed by mail, so in case you’re renting a automotive, think about renting a Sunpass tag, too, to keep away from further admin charges.

Automobile leases are extensively obtainable all through the state to these 21 and older. (These beneath 25 must pay a surcharge.) All automotive renters in Florida are required to have a sound driver license from their state or nation of residence and could also be required to buy insurance coverage upon arrival.

If you happen to do not wish to get behind the wheel, taxis and trip-share corporations like Lyft and Uber function all through the state.

Planning to hit the highway in Florida? Save these high 5 highway journeys

Shuttles and buses are additionally an choice

A number of cities and areas all through Florida have their very own shuttle or trolley methods as properly. Notably, Gainesville has an autonomous, self-driving system that shuttles of us alongside one among its principal streets. Trolleys all through the Sunshine State embrace Clearwater’s Jolley Trolley, St Petersburg’s Seashore Trolley and Tallahassee’s free StarMetro.

For exploring past a single city or area, buses stay a seamless choice for these on a price range. Along with nationwide staple Greyhound, operators like FlixBus and GotoBus provide routes throughout the state.

No matter how it’s possible you’ll navigate the state’s roads, anticipate heavier-than-standard congestion from October by means of April. This era is named “Snowbird Season,” when an inflow of parents from colder factors settle in for the winter to take pleasure in Florida’s hotter temperatures.

Accessible transportation in Florida

Florida caters properly to these with accessibility wants. All through the state, actions and assets – together with wheelchairs, autos and guides – are extensively obtainable. Worldwide vacationers should buy a disabled parking cross for $15 to make use of throughout any Florida journey.

Preserve planning your journey to Florida:

These locations needs to be in your itinerary
From seashores to theme parks, do not miss Florida’s high experiences
This is when the Sunshine State will get essentially the most sunshine (and different nice instances to go to)
Take a look at these price range-pleasant suggestions earlier than you ebook