By Daniel Reyes, airport editor · Updated July 2026
Quick answer: Brickell sits about 7 miles from Miami International Airport, and unlike South Beach it has a direct train. The Metrorail Orange Line runs from the airport station straight to Brickell station for $2.25, no transfers, about 20 minutes on the rails and 40-45 minutes door to door. A taxi runs on the meter, roughly $30-35 and 15-25 minutes depending on traffic; Uber or Lyft usually lands between $25 and $35 outside surge hours. The old airport flat fares are gone: Miami-Dade abolished them in 2022, so every cab ride is metered.
At a glance: MIA to Brickell in 2026
| Option | Cost | Time (door to door) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metrorail Orange Line | $2.25 | 40-45 min | Solo travelers, light luggage, daytime |
| Uber / Lyft | $25-35 | 15-25 min | Groups, families, late arrivals |
| Taxi (metered) | ~$30-35 + tip | 15-25 min | No-app travelers, curb pickup |
| Private transfer | Fixed, booked ahead | 15-25 min | Fixed price, meet and greet |
Is there a train from Miami Airport to Brickell?
Yes, and it is the best rail connection the airport has. The Metrorail Orange Line starts at Miami Airport Station and stops at Brickell station without a single transfer. That makes Brickell one of the few Miami neighborhoods where the train genuinely competes with a car: $2.25 against a $25-35 rideshare, with no risk of I-95 traffic. If you are heading to South Beach instead, the picture is different, because Metrorail does not cross the bay; see our South Beach guide for that route.
Brickell station sits in the middle of the financial district, directly across the street from the Brickell City Centre mall. Most Brickell hotels and apartment towers are within a 5-15 minute walk, and the free Metromover loop connects the station to the rest of the district if you want to skip the walk in the heat.
Metrorail step by step: MIA Mover plus Orange Line for $2.25
The airport terminal does not have the Metrorail platform inside it; you reach it with a short free ride:
- Follow the "MIA Mover" signs to Level 3 of the terminal. The MIA Mover is a free automated train that leaves every few minutes and reaches Miami Airport Station (the Miami Intermodal Center) in about 5 minutes.
- Pay at the Metrorail gate. Tap a contactless bank card or phone, or buy an EASY Card / use the GO Miami-Dade Transit app. One ride is $2.25 (reduced fare $1.10).
- Board an Orange Line train toward Dadeland South. All trains leaving the airport are Orange Line, so you cannot board the wrong color here. Trains run roughly every 15 minutes.
- Ride 8 stops to Brickell, about 20 minutes, passing Government Center in downtown on the way.
Service runs from about 5:00 am to midnight daily. Trains have space for suitcases and the stations are elevator equipped, so a standard roller bag is not a problem. After midnight the train is not an option, which is exactly when a rideshare earns its price.
Taxi: metered fares, no more flat rates
Taxis wait at marked curbside stands outside every arrivals area. Since Miami-Dade County abolished airport flat fares in 2022 (Resolution R-700-22), every ride from MIA runs on the meter. For Brickell, expect roughly $30-35 before tip: the meter includes a $2 airport surcharge, the county minimum from the airport is $15, and the fare lands just above the ~$29 that a typical downtown Miami ride shows, because Brickell sits one river crossing further south. The drive takes 15-25 minutes, mostly on SR-836 and I-95, and the same trip in the evening rush can stretch past 30.
If a driver offers you a "fixed price" to Brickell, decline it. Old guides still quote flat rates that no longer exist, and the meter is both the legal and usually the cheaper option. For a deeper cost comparison, see taxi vs Uber at MIA.
Uber and Lyft: door to door for $25-35
Rideshare is the default choice for most Brickell-bound travelers with more than one bag. A standard UberX or Lyft to Brickell typically costs $25-35 and takes about 20 minutes; late-night airport surges and event evenings can push it toward $40-50. Follow the ride app pickup signs from arrivals, request the car only when you are at the curb area, and check that the tower address is set exactly, because "Brickell" in the app can mean anything from the City Centre to the far end of Brickell Avenue.
One Brickell-specific note: if you are staying on Brickell Key (the small island with the Mandarin Oriental), rail does not help you. The island is connected by a single bridge with no Metrorail or Metromover stop, so a rideshare, taxi or hotel car is the practical way in.
Which should you choose? Four scenarios
Solo with a carry-on, daytime arrival: Metrorail. You save about $30 over a car, avoid traffic entirely, and Brickell station drops you in the heart of the district. Total time 40-45 minutes.
Family with luggage or a late flight: Uber, Lyft or a taxi. Splitting $30 between three or four people costs little more than the train, and after midnight the meter or the app is the only option anyway.
Brickell Key hotels: car only. Take a taxi or rideshare straight from the curb; the train cannot reach the island.
Fixed budget, fixed price: book a private transfer in advance. You pay a set amount regardless of traffic, the driver meets you in arrivals, and it removes the surge-pricing lottery on busy nights.
Getting back to the airport from Brickell
From Brickell station, board a northbound Orange Line train marked "Airport". This is the one moment where the line color matters: northbound Green Line trains share the same platform but branch off to Palmetto and never reach the terminal. Check the destination sign on the train before boarding; if it says Palmetto, let it go and wait for the next Orange. Leave about an hour before you want to be at check-in: 20 minutes on the train, the MIA Mover ride, plus a buffer for the walk and security lines. For meter rides back, hotel doormen can call a cab, or use the apps as usual; expect the same $25-35.
Related: MIA to Downtown Miami · Taxi vs Uber at MIA · Miami Airport Taxis
