Fort Lauderdale · United States
FLL — Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International
Closer to the cruise port than any airport has a right to be
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood sits between Miami and Palm Beach and serves as a genuine alternative to Miami International, particularly for low-cost carriers and for travel to the Caribbean and Latin America. Fares from here are frequently lower than from Miami on the same routes.
Its other distinguishing feature is proximity to Port Everglades, one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, which is about ten minutes away. For a cruise passenger this is about as convenient as airports get.
Terminals and how they connect
Four terminals
Terminals 1 through 4 are arranged in a horseshoe around the access roads. They are connected landside by walkways and a shuttle; airside connections between all of them are not guaranteed, so a terminal change may mean re-clearing security.
Getting into Fort Lauderdale
Times below are realistic ranges rather than best cases. Rail journeys keep to a timetable; road journeys do not, and treating the two the same is how people miss flights.
Taxi or ride-hailing
10–20 minutes to Fort Lauderdale beach or downtown
Quick, because the airport is close to the city. Designated ride-hailing pickup areas are signposted from each terminal.
To Port Everglades
About 10 minutes
Exceptionally short. Cruise transfers, taxis and ride-hailing all cover it, and the journey is barely longer than getting out of the terminal.
Tri-Rail and Brightline to Miami
45–90 minutes to Miami depending on the service
A shuttle connects the airport to the Tri-Rail commuter station, which runs down to Miami cheaply but slowly. Brightline's Fort Lauderdale station is in the city rather than at the airport and is considerably faster.
Connecting through FLL
Fort Lauderdale is primarily an origin-and-destination airport. If you are connecting, check whether both flights use the same terminal — the horseshoe layout means a change can involve going landside, and the walk between the far terminals is longer than it looks on a map.
Worth knowing before you fly
Compare it against Miami before booking
The two airports are around forty minutes apart and serve many of the same destinations. Fares from Fort Lauderdale are often lower, particularly on Caribbean and Latin American routes and on low-cost carriers, so it is worth checking both.
It is the obvious airport for a cruise
Port Everglades is roughly ten minutes away. Against Miami's port, which is a longer drive from its airport, this is a meaningful difference on embarkation day.
The Caribbean network is deep
Service to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Bahamas and Central America is substantial and competitive, reflecting South Florida's communities rather than tourism alone.
Terminal assignments, transit timetables and fares all change. Confirm the details that matter to your trip with the airport or transport operator before you travel.
Routes through FLL
Flying from Fort Lauderdale
FAQ
FLL — common questions
Terminals, transfers and getting into the city.
Is Fort Lauderdale airport a good alternative to Miami?
Often, yes. The two are around forty minutes apart and overlap heavily on destinations, and Fort Lauderdale fares are frequently lower, especially on Caribbean and Latin American routes. Checking both before booking is worth the minute it takes.
How far is Fort Lauderdale airport from the cruise port?
Port Everglades is about ten minutes away, which is unusually close. It is one of the main reasons cruise passengers choose Fort Lauderdale over Miami.
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