Miami International Airport (MIA), featuring outstanding connections to domestic locations, the Caribbean and Latin America, is America's 12th busiest passenger airport. It is also confusing to navigate between terminals. Don't wing it. Check the airport directory and ask an airport attendant. As it opens in phases between 2012-15, Miami Intermodal Center will feature an Automated People Mover connecting MIA terminals to Metrorail heavy rail transit system, Tri-Rail commuter rail transit, Greyhound, and a Rental Car Facility. Miami Amtrak Station will move to the intermodal center.

Miami Intermodal Center under construction

Car Rentals: Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National or Value are usually well stocked at the rather large car rental center. When exiting the rental center, carefully follow signs to the Dolphin Expressway (Tollway) for the seven-mile trip to Downtown or a few miles further to South Beach. Near Downtown, you can exit onto I-95 Freeway to other points of the compass in Miami-Dade County. Taxis: A taxi and shuttle dispatcher is always on duty. A ride to downtown Miami costs $17, while South Beach costs $25. Yellow Cab/Checker (954-565-5400). Shared-ride costs are available on the Tri-County Airport Express, ask the dispatcher for more info. Super Shuttle within Dade and Broward Counties ranges from $9 to $100. It costs $20 from MIA to downtown Miami. When at Miami Beach Convention Center, there’s a free shuttle to many points of interest in Miami Beach.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is America's 23rd busiest passenger airport with plenty of connections throughout North America and the Caribbean. Car Rentals are available Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, and Hertz. Centrally located FLL is only seven minutes away from downtown Fort Lauderdale, the beaches and Port Everglades cruise port. Taxi stands are centrally located at the airport and major hotels. Fares are $2.45 for the first mile, $1.75 for each additional mile. Yellow Cab/Checker (954-565-5400) is located at kiosks outside of each baggage claim area. SuperShuttle within Broward and Dade Counties costs from $9 to $100.  $20 should get you to Fort Lauderdale.

Amtrak Miami station is at 8303 NW 37th Ave near the Miami Metrorail/Tri-Rail transit station and Amtrak Fort Lauderdale station is at 200 SW 21st Terrace.  Both stations serve a two-times daily, very slow Amtrak route:

Silver Meteor: DC-Richmond-Raleigh-Jacksonville-Orlando-Ft. Lauderdale-Miami

Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Orlando-Jacksonville is a U.S. High Speed Rail Corridor designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. For context about this important development, see this important article about Interstate High Speed Rail.

Metrorail is a 21-mile elevated heavy rail transit system that serves Downtown Miami and extends northwest to Hialeah and south to Kendall, with stops approximately every mile. Metrorail construction is underway for a 2.4-mile extension from Earlington Heights Station to the Miami Intermodal Center, with service slated to begin in 2012. Metromover automated people mover interconnects Metrorail downtown and features plenty of views on its 4.4-mile elevated track looping Downtown, the busineses of Brickell Avenue and Omni Business District.

Tri-Rail, a 67-mile commuter rail transit system, has 15 stations throughout Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. This commuter rail transit features double-decker cars and free shuttle buses connecting to MIA, FLL and Palm Beach airports. More commuter trains per day are being added to meet demand. FLL Airport Station shared by Amtrak and Tri-Rail, is being enhanced to intermodal transportation center status to host bus rapid transit and more taxis.

Broward County Transit offers a trolley bus throughout downtown Fort Lauderdale, including to Broward Performing Arts Center and Las Olas Boulevard. Trolley service is FREE. The transit agency is planning to build a Streetcar route through downtown and many Bus Rapid Transit routes from downtown to all points of the compass in Broward County.

Miami-Ft. Lauderdale Freeway & Tollway Network is grid-like. If you drive long enough east or west, you will intersect with a freeway or tollway. The tollways cost $1, so be sure to have you cash ready before leaving the car rental center. Several causeways are notable for having islands that you can stop by and sight see the beautiful mansions. Main freeways, tollways and scenic highways are:

A1A State highway, a scenic way up Florida's east coast
  41   US Route & causeway, connects downtown with South Beach
  75   Interstate freeway from Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa
  95   Interstate freeway, extends up the Atlantic seaboard
  91   State Route and Florida's Turnpike
195   Interstate freeway, connects SR 953, I-95 and Miami Beach
595   Interstate freeway, connects I-75 with SR 91 and I-95
821   Homestead Tollway connects I-75 and SR 874
826   Palmetto Expressway connects I-95 with SR 874 and 836
869   Sawgrass Tollway connects I-75 with SR 91
874   Don Shula Expressway/Tollway, connects with SR 826
913   Rickenbacker Tollway connects I-95 with Key Biscayne
924   Gratigny Tollway connects I-75 with North Miami suburbs