Major domestic carriers offering Florida
flights include American, Continental, and Northwest/KLM,
and United. International airlines with Florida flights
include British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Major discount
airlines include Southwest and JetBlue.
Regular Florida flights arrive daily at Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Ft. Lauderdale. Sprawling Orlando International Airport (MCO) runs Disney-style monorail service to baggage claim areas. Miami International Airport (MIA), one of the world’s busiest airports, is under renovation and prone to traffic gridlock. If traveling to north Dade County, try Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport instead.
Getting there by car
If you’re not taking your own car Florida rental options in major cities include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty. Be wary of “unknown” rental agencies. For cheap car rental options, ask about possible AARP, Costco, or AAA discounts.
Interstate highways to Florida include I-95 from the Northeast, I-75 from the Midwest, and I-10 from the West Coast. Traffic within Florida can be heavily congested in urban areas, during rush hours, and at peak tourist seasons.
Florida by train
From New York via Washington, DC, and Charleston, Amtrak's Silver Meteor and Silver Star run twice daily to Miami or Tampa. From Los Angeles via Houston, Amtrak’s Sunset Limited runs three times a week to Orlando. If you’d like to safely stow along your car, motorcycle, or personal watercraft, Amtrak’s Auto Train runs daily from the Washington, DC area to greater Orlando.
Florida Cruise ships
Major cruisehips, such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean, offer 3-9 day itineraries including popular Florida destinations. In fact, the Port of Miami is the world's busiest cruise-ship port. Norwegian Cruise Lines offers cruises from New York to Florida and the Bahamas. Disney offers cruises on two ships. Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, arguably the world’s grandest luxury liner, homeports in Ft. Lauderdale in winter.
Getting around by air
Both major and regional carriers offer flights to Florida
destinations within the state. US Airways and Delta have
an extensive connection network within the state. Regional
carriers connecting the Florida mainland with the Florida
Keys include Cape Air and Paradise Aviation.
Getting around by car
In general, the best way to get around Florida is by car. Florida car rentals can be quite affordable, starting as low as $30 a day plus 6% tax for an economy car with air conditioning. From Orlando, I-4 heads west to Cape Canaveral and east to Tampa, while the Florida Turnpike heads southeast to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. Speed limits are 30 mph in cities, 55-70 on interstates and turnpikes. Always use seatbelts and appropriate child restraint devices. And be sure to jot down where you parked in the massive theme parks lots.
Taxis are available at major airports. From Orlando International, expect a fare of $25 to the International Drive Area. From Miami International, flat-rate fares to South Beach run $24, including tolls. Walt Disney World offers free ground transportation between its sites for multi-day passport holders and those staying at Disney hotels.
