Free Ride: Miami Beach To Miami Via Bus

Miami offers a variety of public transportation options, including buses, trolleys, trains, bikes, and ride-sharing services. While renting a car is a good option for extended stays, public transportation is ideal for exploring the city's best neighbourhoods, such as South Beach and Brickell. Miami Beach provides a free trolley service that operates 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a 20-minute average service frequency. This trolley service provides a reliable transportation alternative, connecting to regional transit routes and improving the mobility of residents and visitors. In this context, let's explore how to cross from Miami Beach to Miami using the free bus service.

The Miami Beach Free Trolley

The trolley service is also bicycle-friendly, with racks available for storage. Service dogs are also allowed on board but must be harnessed, leashed, and under control at all times. All other animals must be in carriers that can fit underneath the trolley seats. For the safety and comfort of all passengers, no loud music, food, or drinks are allowed on board.

To ensure a smooth and efficient ride, the Miami Beach Trolley Tracker is available to help riders plan their trips. While the Miami Beach Gov app is currently undergoing improvements, riders can download the Transit App to track trolleys in real time and access additional features designed to improve their commuting experience. Alternatively, riders can contact the customer service team to get trolley ETAs directly or text the stop ID number to receive arrival times via text message.

The Metrobus

Miami-Dade County's Metrobus public bus system is designed to connect with Metrorail and Metromover. It can take you to all major shopping, entertainment, and cultural centers in Greater Miami and Miami Beach. Metrobus routes serve areas of the city that the rail doesn't, including Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, Homestead, Fort Lauderdale, and the Florida Keys.

Metrobus operates more than 95 routes with close to 1,000 buses covering 29 million miles per year, 365 days a year. Bus rides start at $2.25 per single trip. The easiest way to pay for a bus ride is with an EASY Ticket, which can be purchased at select stations, or a rechargeable EASY Card, which can be purchased via the GO Miami-Dade Transit app for a contactless experience. Another benefit of opting for contactless payment is the daily fare cap of $5.65 no matter how many times you ride. Some bus routes operate 24 hours a day, but it's a good idea to check individual route schedules for hours of operation and specific schedules.

If you're in Miami Beach and heading to Miami International Airport, the Miami Beach Airport Express provides an inexpensive express connection. Route 120 is the circulator route preferred by South Beach visitors and residents. It runs from Aventura Mall to the Downtown Miami Bus Terminal, where you'll find easy access to the Main Library, HistoryMiami Museum, Government Center Metrorail station, Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus, and the Omni Bus Terminal.

You can track Miami public transportation's Metrorail and Metromover in real time, access bus schedules, and get connecting route information directly from your phone. Download the GO Miami-Dade app or send a text message with the bus ID number to 46638.

The Metrorail

To identify which line a train is serving, look for the GREEN LINE or ORANGE LINE electronic sign at the front of an approaching train. Also, look for a green or orange digital square on the electronic destination signs outside and inside each train.

There are designated Priority Seating Areas inside each Metrorail car for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. Please do not sit in these areas unless you are elderly or have a disability. While on the Metrorail platforms, remember to keep a good grip on strollers, luggage, hand carts, and other wheeled items to prevent them from rolling or blowing onto the tracks. Be sure to remain behind the yellow safety line at the platforms.

For safety and comfort, smoking, vaping, eating, drinking, and playing music without wearing headphones are prohibited on the Metrorail. All pets must be in a properly enclosed container, except for guide or service animals accompanying customers with disabilities. Service dogs must wear a leash in accordance with Miami-Dade County's Leash Law.

The Metromover

The three loops that make up the Metromover system are the Onmi Loop, Inner Loop, and Brickell Loop. The Downtown (Inner) Loop serves all Downtown stations except the Third Street station. The Outer Loop (Brickell and Omni Loops) runs counterclockwise and shares tracks around the downtown area, serving all stations except for the Miami Avenue Station. The Brickell Loop runs a line into the Brickell area to the south of downtown, while the Omni Loop contains a line with stations in the Arts & Entertainment District neighbourhood north of Downtown.

With its convenient stations, efficient loops, and connections to other transportation systems, the Metromover is a valuable component of Miami's public transportation network, providing a free and reliable way to navigate the city.

The Tri-Rail

Tri-Rail is a commuter rail service linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach in Florida. The Tri-prefix in the name refers to the three counties served by the railroad: Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade. The rail service is managed by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) and connects directly to Amtrak, Metrorail, Miami Airport Station, MiamiCentral, and Brightline.

The 80-mile-long system has 19 stations along the Southeast Florida coast. In 2023, the line had a ridership of 4,402,300, or about 15,900 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024. The fare is divided into six zones for 24-hour passes, ranging from $2.50 to $8.75, with fares calculated based on the number of zones traveled through and whether the trip is one-way or round trip. On weekends, a $5 all-day pass is available for all zones, although trains only run hourly.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) has begun an overhaul process with their Brookville locomotives, which is expected to be completed by 2025. The SFRTA has also received federal funding to replace a third of the aging fleet of railcars with new ones, which are expected to enter service in the coming years.

Tri-Rail service to MiamiCentral (Tri-Rail Downtown Miami Link) began on January 13, 2024. The station, located in Downtown Miami, provides direct access to Brightline and Miami-Dade Transit services. The initial service consists of a shuttle between the Metrorail Transfer station and MiamiCentral, requiring a transfer to continue traveling north or south. This marks the first time Tri-Rail trains have used the Florida East Coast's trackage for service.

Frequently asked questions