Getting to Fort Lauderdale

Major airports, main roads and highways,
bus and train information that will get you here

Getting to Fort Lauderdale is very easy and convenient. Since it has become a popular tourist destination, several major airlines service its airport as well as other airports nearby.

Here's a list of the major airports and roads in and around the area that will lead you here. There are train and bus information near the end of the page for those who prefer these kinds of transportation.

Getting to Fort Lauderdale and its surrounding area is super easy. Most travelers to Fort Lauderdale most often get here by airplane or car. Here is a list of the major airports in or near the area and the major roads that lead to the city.

AIRPORTS:

If you’re flying from another city in the US or from overseas to Fort Lauderdale, here are the closest airports you can fly into:

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (Airport Code - FLL)is the closest one to the city, only about four miles away. Conveniently located and accessible from I-595, I-95 and US 1, this is the best airport to get to Fort Lauderdale not only because it’s the closest one, but probably one of the cleaner and more pleasant airports to land or to wait in. According to the airport’s website, there are currently non-stop flights from 55 cities in the United States and provides international service to and from Canada, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, Latin America and South America.

  The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport also has plenty of on-site and off-site parking. Shuttles can take you directly from the terminal to the rental car center, which is conveniently located within the airport grounds or to the off-site parking areas. This service is free and usually run every 5-10 minutes approximately.

• Miami International Airport (Airport Code - MIA)Located about 30 miles south of Fort Lauderdale off of the Dolphin Expressway (State Road 836, this is a toll road, meaning you have to pay in some portions of the road). MIA is the largest airport in the South Florida community and one of the busiest airports in the United States, ranking third after New York and Los Angeles in welcoming international passengers from around the world. According to the airport’s website, it services over 80 airlines to about 150 destinations all over the world. No doubt this airport is huge and a good alternative to Fort Lauderdale International airport. Wherever you are coming from, you’re sure to find a great deal flying into MIA.

• West Palm Beach International Airport (Airport Code - PBI) This is the third alternative as far as airports are concerned when getting to Fort Lauderdale Florida. It’s located about 44 miles north of Greater Fort Lauderdale. It is easily accessible from I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. This is a smaller airport but it serves about 6 million passengers a year. Bruce V. Pelly’s welcome message in the airport’s website (he’s the Director of the Department of Airports) says that PBI was voted the third best US airport and the sixth best worldwide according to readers of the premier magazine, Condé Nast Traveler. You’ll be in good hands flying into this airport.

MAJOR ROADS:

Driving to Fort Lauderdale is uncomplicated and very convenient. Here’s a list of the major roads that lead access to the city and the surrounding areas:

• Florida State Road A1A (SR A1A or just plain A1A or Ocean Drive in some parts)
  A1A is a North-South route and in the Fort Lauderdale area is usually the road closest to the beaches. This is the same route we took from north to south in Broward County on our Beaches Road Trip from Deerfield to Hillsboro, to Pompano, to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, to Fort Lauderdale, to Dania, to Hollywood and finally ending in Hallandale. The most scenic portion is in Fort Lauderdale where you have an unobstructed view of the Atlantic Ocean.
• U.S. Route 1 (US1)This road also runs North-South and starts in Key West, Florida and ends in Kent, Maine near the Canadian border. This road is located west of A1A.
• Interstate 95 (I-95) runs North-South and is the major road that connects South Florida to the rest of the United States.
• Florida’s Turnpike (http://www.floridasturnpike.com/ ) is the main toll road (meaning you have to pay in some parts) that goes North-South from Miami in the south and Orlando to the north. From the Fort Lauderdale area, this is probably the fastest way to get to the Disney theme parks and other attractions in Orlando.
• Interstate 595 (I-595) runs East-West from US1 and ends somewhere in Weston where the road turns into Interstate 75 (I-75). It also has access to Interstate 95 (I-95).
• Interstate 75 (I-75) East-West. In the Fort Lauderdale area it starts at right about Weston all the way to the west coast of Florida and then beyond all the way to the Canadian border. The portion of I-75 between Weston to Naples is still fondly called Alligator Alley because you can still find alligators from time to time in the waterways along this route (there’s a fence that protects travelers).
• Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) is a toll road contained in Broward County. It runs from Deerfield Beach in the north and ends in I-75.

FORT LAUDERDALE MAP

The Fort Lauderdale area (also known as Broward County or Greater Fort Lauderdale) spans from Deerfield Beach until Hallandale on its eastern side.

On the western side, it starts from Parkland and ends at Pembroke Pines. Miramar is the last town in Greater Fort Lauderdale before Miami-Dade County in the southern end.

Boca Raton signals the beginning of Palm Beach County just north.

TRAIN:

Want to take the scenic route? Consider taking the train! The Amtrak website lists routes, timetables, destinations and even menus on their various trains across the United States.

Here are the Amtrak Stations in the Fort Lauderdale area:

Fort Lauderdale
200 Southwest 21 Terrace
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
1-800-872-7245

Deerfield Beach
1300 West Hillsboro Boulevard
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
1-800-872-7245

Hollywood
3001 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, FL 33021
1-800-872-7245

BUS:

Perhaps the least used way of getting to Fort Lauderdale. If you're not too pressed for time and on a budget, bus travel is a great alternative.

Recently, the Greyhound Express began serving routes from South Florida. These routes are faster and more direct by skipping stops in between.

Greyhound Fort Lauderdale
515 NE 3rd Street,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Tel: 954-764-6551

RedCoach USA is a luxury alternative to bus travel. Its buses accommodate less people and are more expensive than the Greyhound buses but the wide and comfortable seats and perks like Wi-Fi and electrical outlets may be worth it. www.redcoachusa.co