How to take the train from Orlando to Miami?

Plenty of families staying near the theme parks want a taste of Miami too, whether it is one city day or a few beach nights at the end of the trip. Since 2023 there has been a direct train between the two cities, and for a lot of people it beats the drive down the Turnpike. The schedules below come from Brightline’s official schedule feed, checked on October 6, 2026.

How does the Orlando to Miami train work?

The train is run by Brightline, a private company connecting Orlando with South Florida. The line has six stations: Orlando, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami.

The Orlando station is inside Orlando International Airport (MCO). A pedestrian bridge links it to Terminal C, and the station entrance is on Level 5. In Miami, trains arrive at MiamiCentral downtown, close to Kaseya Center and Bayside Marketplace, with connections to Metrorail and Metromover.

There are two classes. SMART is the main cabin, with free Wi-Fi, a power outlet at every seat and food for purchase. PREMIUM is first class: 21-inch leather seats with extra legroom, a lounge at the station, complimentary food and drinks and one free standard checked bag.

How long is the train from Orlando to Miami?

The ride takes 3 hours 25 minutes to 3 hours 36 minutes station to station, depending on the train. Most trains stop at every station. A few skip Boca Raton.

In October 2026 there are 10 departures in each direction Tuesday through Thursday, 11 on Monday, 12 on Friday and Saturday and 13 on Sunday. The first and last trains are the same every day:

Direction	First train	Last train	Departures per day
Orlando to Miami	leaves 5:40 a.m., arrives 9:16 a.m.	leaves 8:55 p.m., arrives 12:31 a.m.	10 to 13
Miami to Orlando	leaves 5:45 a.m., arrives 9:19 a.m.	leaves 8:45 p.m., arrives 12:19 a.m.	10 to 13

Source: Brightline official schedule feed (GTFS), checked October 6, 2026. Times change on holidays and through the year, so check your exact date before you buy.

How much is the Brightline train from Orlando to Miami?

There is no fixed fare. Prices move with the date, the departure time, how far ahead you book, the class and the fare type, so the only way to know is to search your date on the Brightline website or app.

Each class has fare options. SMART comes as Saver (no cancellations, no changes, one carry-on), Select (cancel for a 75% Brightline credit) and Flex (full refund and one large checked bag). PREMIUM comes as Select and Flex.

Two details help families. Kids 2 and under ride free. For ages 3 to 12, Brightline advertises up to 50% off Kid SMART fares when you buy any adult SMART fare at least 10 days ahead for travel between Orlando and South Florida. Brightline notes offers can change or end at any time.

How do you get from your vacation home to the train station?

By car, the station is about 30 minutes from the US-192 tourist corridor in Kissimmee with no traffic, using SR 417, a toll road. From the ChampionsGate area of Davenport, plan on about 40 minutes. How tolls are billed is covered in how tolls work in Orlando.

Brightline asks you to reach the airport at least 1 hour 30 minutes before departure if you are parking. The airport’s own options are:

• Parking Garage C, next to the station. From Level 5 of the garage, a skybridge gets you to the train in about 5 minutes. Drive-up parking tops out at $24 per 24 hours. A reservation costs $32 per 24 hours and guarantees a space.
• Surface Lots Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis, open-air lots beside the station, at $20 per 24 hours. Entry is by E-PASS or SunPass Plus transponder only. If you are in a rental car, check first whether its toll device qualifies.
• South Park Place Economy Lot, at $14 per 24 hours, with a free shuttle to Terminal C. From the terminal it is about a 13-minute walk to the train.

For Uber or Lyft, use 10705 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando, FL 32827. The driver drops you at the station entrance, and elevators or escalators take you up to Level 5. When a rideshare makes more sense than driving is covered in is Uber worth it in Orlando.

How much luggage can you bring on Brightline?

Each rider can bring up to two carry-on bags and one personal item, such as a backpack or purse, at no charge. The SMART Saver fare includes just one carry-on plus the personal item. Carry-ons can weigh up to 50 lb and measure up to 24 x 16 x 10 inches.

Between Orlando and Miami, anything larger has to be checked at the Guest Services counter at least 30 minutes before departure, for a fee. Checked bags max out at 70 lb. PREMIUM includes one standard checked bag, and Flex fares include one large bag. Boca Raton and Aventura do not handle checked bags.

Strollers, car seats and booster seats ride free and do not count as carry-ons.

Train, car or plane: what is the best way from Orlando to Miami?

If you are staying near the parks, the train is usually the least stressful choice. Driving gives a big group with lots of luggage more flexibility. Flying rarely pays off on a trip this short.

Option	Travel time	What to factor in
Brightline train	3 h 25 min to 3 h 36 min station to station	About 30 minutes to the airport, plus arriving 1 h 30 min early if you park
Car	about 4 h 15 min with no traffic, 224 miles (361 km)	Florida’s Turnpike tolls and Miami traffic at the end
Plane	short hop from MCO to Miami International (MIA)	Arriving early, security, and the ride from MIA to where you are going

Sources: Brightline official schedule feed; OpenStreetMap (OSRM) route from US-192 in Kissimmee to downtown Miami, no traffic.

Driving there and back in one day means more than eight hours behind the wheel. On the train you can nap, work or hand the kids a tablet on the free Wi-Fi. If you plan to fly home from Miami, Brightline runs a shuttle from MiamiCentral to Miami International from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., at $12 per person plus a $3 fuel surcharge.

Is a day trip from Orlando to Miami by train realistic?

It works, but it is a long day. Take the 7:20 a.m. train and you are in Miami at 10:56 a.m. Catch the 6:45 p.m. back and you reach Orlando airport at 10:19 p.m., which puts you home around 11 p.m. That is almost eight hours in Miami and a little over seven hours on the train.

It suits adults who want downtown, Bayside or some shopping near a station. Brightline lists Aventura Mall among the attractions near its Aventura station. Miami Beach is across the bay, so you still need an Uber or local transit, and the day gets tight. Shorter outings are in the best day trips from Orlando.

In practice: for a day trip, the most useful pair is the 7:20 a.m. out and the 6:45 p.m. back. With young kids, or if the goal is the beach, one night in Miami makes the outing far less tiring.

How do you split a trip between Orlando and Miami?

A common pattern is parks first and Miami at the end, or the other way around. Because the Orlando station sits inside the airport, the train fits either direction.

If you fly into Orlando, you can stay in a vacation home in Kissimmee for the park days, return the rental car at the airport and ride the train south. If you fly into Miami, reverse it and fly home from Orlando. With a lot of luggage, remember that larger bags must be checked and cost extra. Getting from the airport to the house is covered in how to get from Orlando airport to your vacation home, and whether you need a car for the stay in do you need a car in Orlando.

Does Brightline go to Disney World or Tampa?

No. As of October 2026, Brightline runs only between Orlando International Airport and Miami. There is no station at Disney or in Tampa, and the Tampa extension is still in development with no opening date.

A new station is planned in Cocoa, on the Space Coast. The project won federal funding in August 2026, and local press reports a target opening around 2030.

In September 2026, Brightline announced a financial restructuring of its parent holding companies. The company says train operations continue as normal.