Air Travel

Average flying time to Florida's international airports is 3 hours from New York, 4 hours from Chicago, 2¾ hours from Dallas, 4½–5½ hours from Los Angeles, and 8–8½ hours from London.

Airports

Florida has 21 commercial airports; the busiest are Orlando International Airport (MCO), Miami International Airport (MIA), Tampa (TPA), and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Flying to alternative airports can save you both time and money. Fort Lauderdale is close to Miami, Palm Beach International (PBI) is close to Fort Lauderdale, and Sarasota Bradenton International (SRQ) is close to Tampa. FLL is a 30-minute drive from MIA. And what you might lose in driving time between Sarasota and downtown Tampa you'll make up for in spades with shorter security lines and fewer in-terminal navigation woes at SRQ.

Flying to secondary airports can save you money, so price things out before booking. Sometimes one-way car rentals in Florida can be more cost-effective than shared van shuttles.

Airport Information

Daytona Beach International Airport. Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB)—southwest of the city and next to the international speedway—has service from American, Delta, Silver Airways and Sunwing.ca. Car rentals from Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty are available, as well as other transport from assorted cab companies, shuttle services, and Votran, the Volusia County bus transit. You can park just steps from the terminal and your gate, or take advantage of curbside pickup or drop-off. Senior discount info is available at the information booth on the first floor. 700 Catalina Dr., Daytona Beach, Florida, 32114. 386/248–8030; www.flydaytonafirst.com.

Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL) offers more than 700 flights a day, including nonstop flights to over 100 U.S. and international cities. South of downtown Fort Lauderdale and north of Hollywood, it's adjacent to Port Everglades, the major cruise complex that hosts approximately 4 million passengers a year. Many airlines serve FLL, and the airport offers free Wi-Fi, along with the free FLL Airport App for weather updates, flight and parking information, an airport guide, and Greater Fort Lauderdale's Playbook. All major car-rental companies are represented and app-based rideshare services like Lyft and Uber are available. There are four pet relief stations outside each terminal's baggage claim area. You must stow your luggage before boarding the trolley at the Bags to Go kiosk in baggage claim. There's an app for this, too. 100 Terminal Dr., Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33315. 866/435–9355; www.broward.org/airport.

Jacksonville International Airport. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), minutes north from downtown and the beaches, offers free Wi-Fi, convenient parking, and an array of shopping and dining options. It is served by many major airlines and car-rental companies, with Gator City Taxi and Go Airport Shuttle & Sedan of Jacksonville also authorized on-site. Uber and Lyft are approved ride share companies; look for "App-Based Rides Service" signage outside Baggage Claim 3 for the designated pickup location. JAX'is the closest airport to St. Augustine. 2400 Yankee Clipper Dr., Jacksonville, Florida, 32218. 904/741–4902; www.flyjax.com.

Key West International Airport. About 2 miles east of downtown's Duval Street and the southernmost airport in the continental United States, Key West International Airport (EYW) is a single-runway facility serving carriers large and small. There are more than a dozen car-rental options on arrival. 3491 S. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, Florida, 33040. 305/809–5200; eyw.com.

Miami International Airport. Subtropical, and often chaotic, Miami International Airport (MIA) is known as the gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, a hub for American Airlines, and the third-busiest airport for international travelers. The Miami International Airport Hotel (MIA Hotel) is within Concourse E and has 260 soundproof rooms. The MIA Mover, an elevated people-mover system, connects to the Miami Car Rental Center, where nearly two dozen rental agencies await. There are pet relief stations, VIP lounges, a yoga room, contemporary art installations, nursing pods for moms, and even a program providing therapy dogs to stressed-out travelers. 2100 N.W. 42nd Ave., Miami, Florida, 33142. 305/876–7000; 800/825–5642; www.iflymia.com.

Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), opened in 2010, with service from several major airlines including American, Delta, Southwest and United. There is free Wi-Fi, and major car-rental companies operate out of the terminal. 6300 W. Bay Pkwy., Panama City, Florida, 32409. 850/763–6751; www.iflybeaches.com.

Orlando International Airport. Florida's busiest airport, Orlando International Airport (MCO) seems to be in a constant state of upgrades, to wit: The South Terminal Complex, scheduled to open in late 2021, will add 19 gates capable of accommodating at least 24 aircraft, which, over the course of a year, means Orlando can welcome 10 million more arriving guests. OIA is served by all major domestic and many international carriers and has an extensive car-rental facility, as well as a bus terminal for the Walt Disney World resorts. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminals. It's the closest airport to the major cruise terminal at Port Canaveral, about an hour away. 1 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando, Florida, 32827. 407/825–2001; www.orlandoairports.net.

Palm Beach International Airport. Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) sits about 2½ miles west of downtown West Palm Beach and offers 200 daily flights on 12 airlines with nonstop flights to 34 destinations. PBI has parking at assorted pricing levels, including an economy lot. Fares for reaching South Florida airports can vary greatly, so it might pay to check out this smaller, comparatively serene airport if you're heading south to Fort Lauderdale, which is about an hour away. Palm Beach International Airport, 1000 Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida, 33406. 561/471–7400; www.pbia.org.

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. Straddling Sarasota County for its terminal and Manatee County for its airfield, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) offers free Wi-Fi and has service from several major airlines, as well as major car-rental companies. 6000 Airport Cir., Bradenton, Florida, 34243. 941/359–5200; www.srq-airport.com.

Southwest Florida International Airport. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), operated by the Lee County Port Authority, serves Fort Myers and nearby communities and hosts more than a dozen carriers that offer both domestic and international service. The LeeTran bus stop is on the arrivals level and an on-demand taxi fleet can take you as far as Everglades City. 11000 Terminal Access Rd., Fort Myers, Florida, 33913. 239/590–4800; www.flylcpa.com.

St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport. St. Petersburg–Clearwater International Airport (PIE) has service from a few smaller domestic carriers; it also has car-rental offices and offers free Wi-Fi. United Taxi, Yellow Cab, and Super Shuttle serve the airport. 14700 Terminal Blvd., Clearwater, Florida, 33762. 727/453–7800; www.fly2pie.com.

Tampa International Airport. Tampa International Airport (TPA), 6 miles west of downtown, is sometimes used as a convenient alternative arrival point for travelers heading to Orlando, about an hour east. TPA connects with more than 80 domestic and international destinations and is a hub for Silver Airways. 4100 George J. Bean Pkwy., Tampa, Florida, 33607. 813/870–8700; www.tampaairport.com.

Ground Transportation

SuperShuttle service operates from several Florida airports: Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota Bradenton, St. Petersburg–Clearwater, Tampa, and the Palm Beaches. That said, most airports offer some type of shuttle or bus service.

If you book a shuttle from your hotel to the airport, allow at least 24 hours, and expect to be picked up at least 2½ hours before your scheduled departure.

Cab fares from Florida's larger airports into town can be high, and there can be a departure fee from an airport. (In Fort Lauderdale, that airport departure fee is $3.) Note that in some cities airport cab fares are a single flat rate; in others, flat-rate fares vary by zone; and in others still, the fare is determined by the meter. Private car service fares are usually higher than taxi fares.

Shuttle Service

Flights

American Airlines. American flies to Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key West, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, Panama City, Pensacola, Sarasota/Bradenton, Tallahassee, Tampa, and West Palm Beach. 800/433–7300; www.aa.com.

Delta. Flies to Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key West, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, Panama City, Pensacola, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, and the Palm Beaches. 800/221–1212; 800/241–4141; www.delta.com.

Frontier. The low-cost carrier flies to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa. If you time your trip right, you can score affordable fares and even use miles to pay for them. Despite being a budget airline, Frontier offers amenities like pre-reclined seats with extra cushioning. 800/432–1359; www.frontierairlines.com.

JetBlue. JetBlue flies to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Key West, Sarasota, Tampa, and the Palm Beaches. Fares are on the more affordable side, especially when there are flash sales, and the onboard experience is one of the most comfortable in coach thanks to extra legroom, free Wi-Fi, complimentaray drinks and snacks, and seatback entertainment. 800/538–2583; www.jetblue.com.

Silver Airways. Silver Airways offers 100 daily flights between gateway cities in Florida like Key West, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach and the Bahamas. The airline has codeshare partnerships with United, JetBlue and Avianca and offers the lowest pet fares in the industry. 801/401–9100; www.silverairways.com.

Spirit Airlines. Spirit flies to Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando, Tampa, and the Palm Beaches. 801/401–2200; www.spirit.com.

United. Flies to Daytona, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key West, Miami, Orlando, Panama City, Pensacola, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, and the Palm Beaches. 800/864–8331; 800/538–2929; www.united.com.