From Miami to West Palm Beach: 5 Best Ways to Get There
Author Shandley McMurray has spent years traveling on trains, planes, and automobiles throughout Florida.
While Miami is known for its buzzy scene, West Palm Beach offers a more laid-back vacation filled with natural attractions and tasty food. In Miami, tourists can soak up the glamorous beaches and in West Palm Beach, they'll come face to face with panthers and manatees, as well as eclectic shops.
Traveling from Miami to West Palm Beach is a great way to round out a Florida vacation, offering tourists the best of both worlds. Luckily, it's also an easy destination to reach in a multitude of ways.
The cheapest way to get from Miami to West Palm Beach is by train, but taking a bus is a close second. The fastest way to travel is by plane, as long as you charter a private aircraft, that is.
Our list of the best ways to get from Miami to West Palm Beach will help you choose the perfect route.
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1. From Miami to West Palm Beach by Car
The best way to get from Miami to West Palm Beach is by car. This is also one of the most scenic ways to travel, especially if you choose to stay on the A1A for as long as possible. You'll have to veer off a bit, heading west to US-1 between Dania Beach and Fort Lauderdale, but you can hook back up with the state's most scenic oceanside road just south of Las Olas Beach.
Following the A1A route will subject you to tolls and a much longer journey (about three hours without traffic) than sticking to the more straightforward Florida Turnpike, but the ocean views are breathtaking, and there are plenty of spectacular beaches to stop at along the way.
Not in a rush? Stop to see the attractions in Fort Lauderdale before settling on the sand at one of this chic East Coast town's best beaches. Or grab lunch at one of the great restaurants in Pompano Beach before enjoying a respite in Deerfield Beach.
Following the I-95 isn't the most scenic route, but it's certainly the fastest. Without traffic, tourists can expect to cover the 71 miles from Miami to West Palm Beach in about one hour and 12 minutes. There are tolls on this route as well, so check your rental car company's policy on tolls before you leave. Many of them charge an additional fee, so you'll want to be prepared or possibly buy a Sun Pass of your own.
The most popular car rental companies used in Miami include, Sixt, Hertz, and Enterprise. If you've always dreamed of driving a Rolls Royce alongside the A1A's oceanfront mansions, you can do so with a plush rental from Miami Luxury Auto Rent.
2. From Miami to West Palm Beach by Train
The cheapest way to get from Miami to West Palm Beach is by train. Tri-Rail is the most economical option—a one-way ticket will cost between $4.25 and $8.75 during the week and between $2.50 and $5 on weekends.
Travelers can easily board a Tri-Rail train at the Miami International Airport and head straight to the Amtrak/Tri Rail station at West Palm Beach. There are multiple departures on offer.
Brightline offers a "Smart" fare of $15 to $22 per person or a "Premium" fare for $42. They, too, have many departure times to choose from, and they take about one hour and 12 minutes with one stop. The Brightline Miami Central Station sits at 600 North West 1st Avenue and the West Palm Beach station lies at 501 Evernia Street.
Amtrak is another popular train company offering the same route for between $22 and $382 one-way, depending on which class you choose to travel. Amtrak's 98 Silver Meteor train will speed its travelers to their destination in about one hour and 32 minutes, offering free Wi-Fi, a café, and checked baggage along the way.
Amtrak trains leave from the Miami Amtrak station at 8303 NW 37th Avenue, and arrive at the Amtrak/Tri-Rail Station at 209 South Tamarind Avenue in West Palm Beach. There's often only one train a day, leaving Miami at 8:10am.
3. From Miami to West Palm Beach by Bus
Taking a bus is the second cheapest way to get to West Palm Beach from Miami. Depending on the date and time they choose, tourists could pay as little as $9 for a one-way trip or as much as $42 on a Greyhound bus. That includes a carry-on bag, one "under the bus bag," free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and onboard entertainment.
Buses leave from the Miami Intermodal Center at the Miami International Airport and arrive at the Greyhound Bus Station at 205 South Tamarind Avenue in West Palm Beach. The trip will take anywhere from one hour and 40 minutes to three and a half hours, depending on transfers and traffic.
Flixbus also offers transportation at a reasonable rate. Travelers can ride for as low as $8.99 to $13.99. Their buses also pick up from the Miami Intermodal Center, as well as a downtown location at Bayside Marketplace and a Miami Beach location outside the Best Western Plus hotel. They drop off at the Amtrak/Tri Rail Station in West Palm Beach.
4. From Miami to West Palm Beach by Plane
Hoping to take to the skies for your journey from Miami to West Palm Beach? Flying is certainly the fastest way to get there, or at least you'd think it would be. Problem is, commercial airlines can take anywhere from seven to 16 hours to reach West Palm Beach, and they include between one and two stopovers. Flying isn't so attractive now, is it?
Don't worry, there's a solution!
Chartering an aircraft is a quick and efficient way to travel from Miami to West Palm Beach. It will cost you, though. Flights on Evojets rack up between $5,800 and $28,100 per person, depending on what type of plane you choose.
The "heavy jet" (e.g., a Gulfstream G-IV) is the most expensive option and takes 12 minutes of flight time.
An "executive turboprop" is the cheapest bet and takes about 19 minutes in the air. Flights leave from Miami International Airport and fly into Palm Beach International Airport or one of three smaller, private airports in the area.
5. From Miami to West Palm Beach by Boat
Cruising by boat is not the easiest nor the fastest way to get from Miami to West Palm Beach. It is, however, a very scenic way to travel. While there is no ferry on hand to take tourists to this destination, those with an affinity for braving the high seas can rent a boat from companies like Monet Yacht Charters to make the journey. They won't come cheap, but some of the luxury yachts come complete with a captain, so that's a plus.
