How to Get From Miami to Orlando (2026)

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I took this trip in 2023, picking up a one-way rental car at Miami International Airport after a cruise and driving 235 miles up to Orlando. That journey was before Brightline opened the Miami-Orlando high-speed rail in September 2023, which is the option I’d suggest now if travelling solo or as a couple.

For families of three or more, the per-person economics of a hire car still tend to win. There are five main ways to make this trip, depending on whether time or cost matters more.

At-a-Glance Comparison

Method	Cost	Time
Brightline	$59 to $199	3h 30m
Car rental	$50 to $180 + drop fee	3h 52m
Bus	$23 to $55	4h to 5h
Flight	$60 to $250	2h 35m
Private transfer	$190 to $320 per vehicle	3h 30m

Brightline (Train)

💵 Cost: $59 to $199 per person one-way
⏰ Time: 3h 30m city-to-city
🏆 Best for: solo travellers and couples

Brightline is Florida’s privately-owned high-speed rail, and the Miami-Orlando extension opened in September 2023.

Trains run from Miami Central station to a station inside Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C, with stops at Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach along the way. The Orlando station is the only US airport directly served by intercity passenger rail.

Book at gobrightline.com. Fares are cheapest booked at least seven days ahead and most are refundable up to 15 minutes before departure. Around 10 round-trips run each way per day at intervals of 90 minutes to two hours (reduced from hourly in October 2025). Smart Class is the base fare; Premium adds wider seats, complimentary food and drink, and lounge access at the stations.

I haven’t been on the Brightline myself. My last Miami-Orlando trip was in 2023, before the route opened. Wanderu reviews are strong though (4.8/5 timeliness, 4.9/5 train condition), and the MCO Terminal C connection means you can step off the train and be at your Orlando airport hotel or rental car desk within minutes. If you are staying at Disney or Universal, you will still need an onward transfer from MCO, typically an Uber or Lyft ($35 to $55) or a pre-booked shuttle.

Tips for Brightline:

• For groups of three or more, check the per-person total before booking. At $59 to $199 each one-way, a family of four hits $236 to $796, usually more than a one-way rental.
• Smart Class is fine for the 3h 30m journey; Premium is worth the upgrade if you’re working en route or want lounge access at the stations.
• Book at least seven days ahead for the lowest fares.
• Miami Central station is in downtown Miami at 600 NW 1st Avenue, about 15 minutes from MIA airport by Uber (around $20 to $30) or 30 minutes by Metrorail ($2.25 per person).

One-way Car Rental (Drive)

💵 Cost: $50 to $180 per vehicle + drop fee
⏰ Time: 3h 52m direct driving
🏆 Best for: families of three or more

It’s a 235-mile drive from Miami to Orlando via Florida’s Turnpike, a journey that should take around 4 hours of driving. When researching transport methods for this route I was initially put off renting a car at the thought of a high one-way drop fee.

However, that wasn’t the case. In fact, we were only charged around $50 for a Hyundai Santa Fe one-way. It seems northbound MIA to MCO rentals often run cheap because companies want to reposition cars north.

We opted for this method as a family of three in 2023 (before Brightline opened). We took an Uber from PortMiami to MIA’s rental car desks (around 20 minutes, $25), picked up the car and drove the 235 miles up to Orlando. We dropped our bags at our hotel (Universal’s Aventura), I dropped the car off at MCO and got an Uber back to the hotel.

Northbound MIA to MCO rentals often run cheap because rental companies are repositioning cars. Beyond the headline rate, plan for the one-way drop fee ($50 to $150), tolls (around $14.50 via SunPass or $18 via toll-by-plate), and fuel ($25 to $35). Realistically the drive runs 4h to 4h 30m with a stop for lunch or a bathroom break.

Even with Brightline now open, the convenience of a rental car with a young child (our son Oliver was about 18 months at the time) and a lot of luggage was worth it, and the price per person was competitive.

Tips for driving:

• Use SunPass or toll-by-plate (rentals come with this enabled by default). There are no cash booths on the Florida Turnpike.
• For UK drivers used to British roads, US highways feel wider and the 70 mph speed limit feels fast. Take it steady if it’s your first time driving in Florida.
• If you’re doing a one-way rental, get quotes from at least three companies. The drop fee can vary by $100 or more between them for the same dates.
• Children’s car seats add around $15 to $20 per day to most rentals. If you’re flying in with your own, most US airlines check car seats free.

Bus

💵 Cost: $23 to $55 per person one-way
⏰ Time: 4h to 5h typical (3h 40m on RedCoach First Class)
🏆 Best for: solo budget travellers

Three main intercity bus operators run the Miami to Orlando route. RedCoach, FlixBus and Greyhound all serve it daily.

wanderu.com aggregates all three operators in one search, or book direct at redcoachusa.com, flixbus.com or greyhound.com. RedCoach Premium Economy fares start from $24.99; Business and First Class run higher. FlixBus is often the cheapest at $29 to $50 booked in advance, with the lowest fares 17+ days out. Miami pickup points vary: some operators leave from MIA airport, others from the Florida Mall area. Orlando drop-off is typically downtown Orlando or near MCO airport.

I’ve taken both Greyhound and FlixBus elsewhere in the US, though not between Miami and Orlando. This method was off the table for us since we were travelling with a young child. But if you’re travelling solo or as a couple, it’s the cheapest way to go, though it takes 30 minutes to 90 minutes longer than Brightline depending on the operator.

Tips for the bus:

• If you’re travelling with a baby or toddler, bring your own car seat. Operators don’t always provide them, even when free.
• RedCoach First Class is worth the upgrade if travel time matters. It’s the only bus option that competes with Brightline on speed.
• Wanderu’s cancellation flexibility is more generous than the operators’ direct sites; book through them if you’re not sure on dates.

Flight

💵 Cost: $60 to $250 per person door-to-door
⏰ Time: 1h 10m flight time, 2h 35m door-to-door
🏆 Best for: travellers with airline status or a flight credit

Since first researching this journey in 2023, the number of airlines flying direct between Miami and Orlando has reduced to just two. American Airlines and Southwest now operate the route.

Delta ended service in October 2025, Spirit ceased operations entirely in May 2026 and Frontier dropped the route in March 2025. The scheduled flight time is around 1h 10m, but the door-to-door time including security, baggage and ground transport on both ends works out to roughly 2h 35m.

With a journey time similar to Brightline that’s often more expensive and has more transitions, I wouldn’t be surprised to see American Airlines and Southwest also cut this route in the near future.

Search Google Flights, Skyscanner or book directly with the airline. Compare both the base fare and the bag fees, since basic-economy fares can double once you add a checked bag and seat selection. Southwest’s two free checked bags can swing the math on family travel; American charges for bags on basic economy. Make sure you arrive at Orlando International Airport with plenty of time if you are taking a flight rather than staying in Orlando.

Tips for flying:

• The cheapest flights are usually mid-week. Watch the bag fees, which can double basic-economy ticket prices.
• Flight time savings versus Brightline are minimal once you account for airport transit. Don’t pay a premium for the airtime when you’ll lose it all in security and baggage.
• If you’re flying into Miami already (cruise plus Walt Disney World combo), staying on Brightline or driving avoids the second airport transit hassle.
• Make sure you arrive at Orlando International Airport with plenty of time if you’re taking a flight rather than staying in Orlando.

Private Transfer or Sprinter Van

💵 Cost: $190 to $320 per Sprinter van (10 to 15 pax)
⏰ Time: 3h 30m to 4h door-to-door
🏆 Best for: groups of five or more with luggage

The most convenient, hassle-free way of travelling from Miami to Orlando is by private transfer. It’s a door-to-door service, meaning you’ll be picked up at your Miami hotel, the airport or the cruise terminal and dropped off at your destination in Orlando. Companies serving this route include Orlux Rides, A Family Limo and other licensed operators.

Book direct with the operator (Orlux Rides, A Family Limo, etc.) or through aggregators like Mozio. Book at least a week ahead, since same-day rates are higher. Luxury black-car service runs $300 to $600. Per person, a family of eight splitting a Sprinter often comes out cheaper than eight Brightline tickets.

I haven’t used a private transfer for this route, but I can see the appeal. The per-person price works out great on groups of five or more, but even for smaller groups and families, the convenience of door-to-door transport may be worth the premium, especially once you’ve added on the cost of Ubers from the airport to your hotel in Orlando.

Tips for private transfer:

• For groups of eight or more post-cruise, get a Sprinter quote before assuming Brightline is cheapest. The math often flips.
• Confirm the pickup point when booking, since many operators charge extra for cruise port pickups versus hotel pickups.
• Car seats are free with most operators, but confirm at booking.

Map of the Miami to Orlando Route

All five transport methods plotted on one map, with the key Miami and Orlando endpoints (MIA airport, PortMiami, Miami Central station, and Orlando International Airport) marked along the way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the questions readers ask most often about getting from Miami to Orlando.