Train Travel

New, privately operated high-speed Brightline service began in summer 2017, connecting downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. The trip from downtown Miami to Fort Lauderdale takes about 30 minutes; it's another 30 minutes to West Palm Beach.

Amtrak provides service from 500 destinations to the Greater Miami area. The trains make several stops along the way; north–south service stops in the major Florida cities of Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale, but stations are not always conveniently located. The Auto Train (where you bring your car along) travels from Lorton, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., to Sanford, Florida, just outside Orlando. From there it's less than a four-hour drive to Miami. Fares vary, but expect to pay between around $275 and $350 for a basic sleeper seat and car passage each way. You must be traveling with an automobile to purchase a ticket on the Auto Train.

Contacts

Brightline. Service began in summer 2018, connecting downtown Miami with Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. The connection between Miami and Fort Lauderdale is about 30 minutes, and the trip to West Palm Beach will be another 45 minutes, cutting travel time along the route by almost a third and allowing you to visit all three cities without a car. This is significantly faster than the current Tri-Rail service, though the latter has stations at the airports in all three cities. MiamiCentral Station, 600 N.W. 1st Ave., Downtown, Miami, Florida, 33136. 888/448--8491; www.gobrightline.com.