Arrival
Getting to Florida
Florida is a big state with many front doors. Most visitors fly into one of the major hubs - Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, or Tampa - then either drive or, on the southeast coast, take Brightline rail. Which airport you choose should follow the region you are visiting, because the peninsula is long and the drives between coasts and cities are real.
Which airport for which region
Florida has no single gateway. For the southeast coast and the Keys, Miami International (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) are the closest large airports, with Palm Beach International (PBI) serving Worth Avenue and the northern Gold Coast. For the Gulf coast, Tampa International (TPA) covers Ybor City and St. Petersburg, while Southwest Florida International (RSW) near Fort Myers is the gateway to Naples, Sanibel, and Captiva. St. Armands and Sarasota are served by Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ) as well as Tampa.
For the historic northeast, Jacksonville International (JAX) is the closest major gateway to St. Augustine and Amelia Island. Orlando International (MCO) is another major gateway, including for some coastal trips; compare the onward drive with airports nearer your destination. Key West has its own airport (EYW), but many visitors instead fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale and drive the Overseas Highway.
Driving in and the interstate spine
Interstate 95 runs the full length of the Atlantic coast, linking Jacksonville, the Space Coast, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Interstate 75 runs down the Gulf side through Tampa and Fort Myers, then turns east across the Everglades as Alligator Alley toward Fort Lauderdale. Florida's Turnpike is a tolled shortcut from Miami up through Orlando, and Interstate 4 connects Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona Beach across the middle of the state.
The single road to Key West is U.S. 1, the Overseas Highway, which island-hops roughly 113 miles from the mainland over a series of bridges including the Seven Mile Bridge. It is scenic but slow and has few alternatives, so allow well over three hours from Miami and more on holiday weekends.
Rail: Brightline and Amtrak
Brightline runs higher-speed intercity trains along the southeast coast connecting Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach, and continues to Orlando. It is a genuine car-free option between the Gold Coast cities and, for Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas district, drops you near downtown.
Amtrak's Silver Meteor connects New York and Miami. The Floridian currently combines the former Silver Star and Capitol Limited, linking Chicago and Miami through Washington, DC, with Florida stops including Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach. Auto Train carries passengers and their vehicles nonstop between Lorton, Virginia, near Washington, and Sanford, near Orlando. Check the specific train's stations, current schedule and vehicle requirements before booking.
Sources
Reviewed source trail
- Miami International Airport - official site - checked 2026-09-12
- Brightline - routes and stations - checked 2026-09-12
- Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FDOT) - checked 2026-09-12
- Amtrak - Florida routes - checked 2026-09-12
- Amtrak — Floridian route and current service - checked 2026-09-12
- Amtrak — Silver Meteor and Palmetto - checked 2026-09-12
- Amtrak — Auto Train between Lorton and Sanford - checked 2026-09-12