Quick answer: Taxis at Miami International Airport are metered, not flat rate. Miami-Dade County abolished the old flat fares in July 2022, so any site still quoting a "$35 flat to South Beach" is out of date. The meter starts at $2.95, works out to roughly $3.30 per mile after the first mile, and every trip from MIA carries a $15 minimum plus a $2.00 airport origination fee. In practice that means about $30-40 to downtown Miami and $45-60 to South Beach, before tolls and tip. Uber and Lyft usually run cheaper off-peak but surge above taxi prices during rush hour and big events. Full meter breakdown and a fare calculator live on our Miami airport taxi page. Taxis wait on the arrivals (ground) level outside baggage claim; app rides pick up on level 1 or 2 depending on your app's instructions.
Taxis at MIA: where to find them
You don't need to book anything in advance. Licensed Miami-Dade taxis line up at marked stands on the arrivals (ground) level, directly outside the baggage claim areas of every concourse. A dispatcher is usually on duty at the busier stands. Follow the "Taxis" signs after you collect your bags, join the line, and take the next cab in the queue. Drivers are not allowed to pick and choose passengers by destination.
Waits are normally a few minutes. Late at night the line of cabs thins out but service runs around the clock, which is one real advantage over the train: if your flight lands at 2 a.m., the taxi stand is still working.
How the meter works in 2026 (flat rates are gone)
This is the part most travelers get wrong, because the internet is full of outdated advice. Until 2022, Miami-Dade used flat zone fares from the airport to popular areas like Miami Beach. The county eliminated all flat fares in July 2022, and since then every taxi trip from MIA runs on the meter. The official rates:
- $2.95 for the first 1/6 mile (the "flag drop")
- $0.85 per additional 1/6 mile up to one mile
- $0.55 per additional 1/6 mile after that , about $3.30 per mile
- $0.40 per minute waiting/slow-traffic charge ($24 per hour)
- $15 minimum fare for any trip starting at MIA
- $2.00 airport origination fee added to every pickup at the airport
- +30% surcharge if you take an SUV or van (does not apply to wheelchair-accessible vehicles serving wheelchair users)
There is no extra charge for luggage or additional passengers. Road tolls are added on top of the meter. If a driver offers you a "special flat price" instead of running the meter, that's against county rules. Politely insist on the meter or take the next cab.
What a taxi actually costs from MIA
Real fares depend on traffic, which in Miami can double your ride time between 4 and 7 p.m. These are realistic 2026 ranges including the airport fee, before tolls and tip:
- Downtown Miami / Brickell (7-8 miles): about $30-40, 15-25 minutes
- South Beach (11-12 miles): about $45-60, 20-35 minutes
- Mid-Beach / North Beach: about $55-70
- Coral Gables (5-6 miles): about $22-30
- PortMiami cruise terminals (~8 miles): about $30-40 (full route options in our MIA to PortMiami guide)
Sailing from Fort Lauderdale instead? A taxi that far north gets expensive fast; compare the cheaper options in our MIA to Port Everglades guide.
Uber and Lyft at MIA
Both apps operate at the airport around the clock. Pickup zones are on the first level (arrivals) and second level (departures), and the exact door depends on your concourse. Request the ride after you have your bags, then follow the door number the app shows you. Miami-Dade adds a small per-pickup airport surcharge for rideshares (about $3), which is already baked into the upfront price you see.
Typical UberX/Lyft upfront prices in 2026: roughly $20-30 to downtown and $30-45 to South Beach in normal conditions. The catch is surge pricing: during weekday rush hours, cruise turnaround mornings, and events like Art Basel or Spring Break, the same South Beach ride can jump past $60-80. Taxis never surge, so during peak demand the meter is often the better deal.
Taxi vs Uber vs the train: at a glance
| Option | To downtown | To South Beach | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi (meter) | $30-40 | $45-60 | Late arrivals, surge periods, no app needed |
| UberX / Lyft | $20-30 | $30-45 | Off-peak trips, upfront pricing |
| Metrorail Orange Line | $2.25 | $2.25 + transfer | Light luggage, daytime, tight budget |
All prices are per vehicle for taxis and rideshares (not per person), and per person for Metrorail.
Tolls, tips and payment
Several fast routes out of MIA use SunPass electronic tolls , there are no cash toll booths in Miami-Dade. In a taxi, tolls are added to the meter total; in Uber or Lyft they're included in the upfront price. Tipping 15-20% is standard for taxi drivers, same as elsewhere in the US. Most Miami-Dade cabs accept credit cards, but it's still smart to confirm with the driver before you set off, especially for short minimum-fare rides.
The cheap alternative: Metrorail for $2.25
If you're not in a hurry and travel light, take the free MIA Mover people-mover from level 3 of the terminal to Miami Central Station, then the Metrorail Orange Line downtown. Trains run roughly every 15 minutes from about 5 a.m. to midnight, the ride to downtown takes around 15 minutes, and a single fare is $2.25 paid with an EASY Card or the transit app. For South Beach you'd need an onward bus or a short rideshare hop from downtown, so with heavy bags the math usually favors going door-to-door from the airport.
Landing at Fort Lauderdale instead of MIA? The Brightline and Tri-Rail options are covered in our FLL to Miami guide.
Practical tips before you ride
- Skip the touts. Anyone approaching you inside the terminal offering a "taxi" or "limo" is not the official queue. Licensed cabs wait only at the marked curbside stands.
- Check the meter is running. It should start at $2.95, not a number a driver invents.
- Ordered an SUV-size cab for 2 people? You'll pay the 30% large-vehicle surcharge. A regular sedan takes 4 passengers and standard luggage with no extra fees.
- Long layover, not staying? You can still do a quick beach run between flights; see whether it's worth leaving MIA during a layover.
- Staying near the airport? Many airport-area hotels run free shuttles, which beats any taxi fare; here are the best hotels near MIA.
About the author
Daniel Reyes is the Miami Airport editor of this guide. He has spent years navigating MIA's concourses, curbsides and ground-transport quirks, and test-rides the routes he writes about. His goal is simple: numbers you can trust before you land.
