Let’s go ahead and get this out there: Miami is HUGE. Its metropolitan area expands up to West Palm Beach and includes Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Hollywood Beach, plus tons of other cities, towns, and beaches in between. Lots of people drive and commute around here too, so you’re likely to experience quite a bit of traffic in the city and surrounding areas during your visit – especially during an event as big as the Super Bowl.
While Miami isn’t world renowned for its public transportation system, it’s probably a good idea to get the hang of it while you’re here. It’s cheap, effective, and, hey, some of it is even FREE! And they’ve got monorails and trolleys! Here’s how to use Miami public transportation during the Super Bowl.
FYI, watch the news for changes in Miami’s public transit schedules, routes, and offerings during Super Bowl week. Miami is certain to ramp things up and work out something special for Super Bowl visitors who plan on using the city’s public transportation system while they’re here, so stay tuned for updates, apps, and more!
Shop Fan Hospitality’s Super Bowl Packages which include your hotel for four nights, tickets, and round-trip transportation to the stadium, plus extras!
The Metrobus
Let’s start with the one you’re used to: Public buses. These Metrobuses run all over Miami, the surrounding counties, and the beach.
First off, you’ll need what’s called a transit pass to use them. You can purchase these at several stations around Miami at ticket vending machines. Grab an EASY card for multiple trips since you’ll likely be around Miami for a few days – they cost $2 and you can reload them. You can get one-day passes for $5.65 and seven-day passes for $29.25.
There’s also an EASY Pay App if you prefer to use your smartphone. You just download the app, purchase your transit pass online, and then tap into public transportation using your phone. (The app comes with a handy trip planner feature.)
If you’re only going to be riding infrequently, you can just purchase individual EASY tickets as you need them. Fares are $2.25.
Public buses in Miami run every day of the year and there are over 95 routes. If you need a cheap and easy ride from the airport to your hotel in Miami Beach, take a look at Miami Beach Bus Route 150 – it leaves from MIA Airport every 30 minutes. If you want to hit all the areas of the beach while you’re there, use the circulator Route 120.
To be honest, the Metrorail (covered below) will probably be easier than figuring out the buses, but if the rail won’t get you there, take a look at all the Miami bus routes and schedules.
The Metrorail
After you get your transit pass, you can also use it to ride the Metrorail around Miami and the surrounding areas. Fares are $2.25. (No, you can’t pay cash!)
The Metrorail is a great, simple way way to get around town. It’s an elevated rail (like a monorail but with two tracks) so you’ll feel like you’re in Disney World. It spans 25 miles and you can take it all the way from the MIA Airport to Downtown Miami to South Beach. Check out a map of all the Metrorail Routes.
The Metrorail also connects to the Tri-Rail trains if you need a ride out of town to, say, Broward or Palm Beach.
The Metromover
If you’re just bouncing around Downtown Miami, use the free Metromover! This little train system makes three major loops through Downtown and Brickell. It’s technically supposed to help you get between the Metrobus and Metrorail routes, but it’s also a convenient way to get around these two busy neighborhoods while avoiding traffic.
The Metromover makes stops at the AmericanAirlines Arena, the Perez Art Museum, and Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, among other sights, shopping centers, and restaurants, so it’s super practical for tourists looking to explore this area!
Tri-Rail Trains
The Tri-Rail Trains are the rail system used by the entire South Florida region, running from West Palm Beach to the MIA Airport and beyond. These commuter trains would be a great way to get into Miami if you play to stay up in one of the beach towns north of the city, like Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Delray Beach, or Pompano Beach.
One-way fares to the Miami Metrorail Transfer are super affordable (under $7 on weekdays) and trains depart every 40 minutes to an hour, depending on the day. They’ll also get you to MIA Airport. If you’re staying outside the city, Tri-Rail Trains definitely take longer than an Uber, but they avoid traffic and they’re massively cheaper.
Miami Trolleys
Sure, they’re a bit touristy and quirky, but – get this – they’re free! They make stops all over the city and beaches, frequently at museums, parks, hotels, and neighborhoods that you’ll want to check out.
The City of Miami Trolleys run from 6:30AM to 11PM for most routes on weekdays and Saturdays. On Sundays, they run from 8:00AM to 8:00PM on limited routes. Check the city’s website for exact routes and times.
The most popular trolley route is the loop around Downtown and Brickell, but you can also take it to Wynwood and the Design District. These trolleys generally run every 15 to 30 minutes. Some folks complain they don’t stick to the schedule, while others use them for their daily commute to work. There’s a Trolley Tracker to help you see when the next trolley arrives, and they have a Miami Trolley App too!
On Miami Beach, these cute little trolleys run Monday through Saturday from 6AM to midnight and Sunday from 8AM to midnight. These beach trolleys travel along four different routes through South Beach, Mid-Beach, and North Beach, and you can catch one every 15 minutes.
Oh, and Coral Gables, Doral, and Miami Gardens all have their own free trolleys too. Apparently, they’re a big thing around these parts! Read more about how to use them here.
It’s likely that Miami will expand its trolley schedule for the Super Bowl just as it does for other special events like Art Basel and Miami Heat games, so keep an eye out.
Rally
Well, this is new and fun. Rally is a bus rideshare site for groups heading to big events – in this case, Hard Rock Stadium for the Super Bowl on February 2nd. No driving, parking, no navigating necessary!
You’ve gotta download the Rally app (obvi) to get started. As of now, Rally buses will be leaving from 25 designated Rally points in Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and lots of Miami suburbs. There are even a few leaving from farther away cities like Naples, Vero Beach, and Fort Myers. They use high-end motorcoaches to get you there, which often have all sorts of fancy amenities like wifi, outlets, and bathrooms.
If you want a ride, you’re supposed to gather your friends and/or join a group. If enough people book, your bus will be confirmed a few days out from the Super Bowl. For instance, the Rally bus from Boca Raton needs 25 riders at $30 a piece by January 26th (at the latest) to confirm. Interesting… and a pretty good deal!
Don’t want to worry about transportation to the game? We hear you. Shop Fan Hospitality’s Super Bowl Packages which include round-trip transportation to Hard Rock Stadium on game day, plus a pregame party, Super Bowl tickets, and your hotel room for 4 nights!
We do not sell your information to third parties