Things to do in Florida – Page 2 – Endless Summer Florida

While common in a number of major metro areas in the U.S., high-speed rail service is relatively new to Florida. Originally opened in 2018 in the South Florida area, the Brightline is the Florida's first express passenger train operating at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour. Brightline is a privately owned venture that currently runs between downtown Miami and downtown West Palm Beach, with a stops in Boca Raton, downtown Fort Lauderdale and Aventura. Passengers can make connections to public bus transportation, the Tri-Rail commuter rail service, trolley service and light rail service in the greater Miami area. As of September 2023, the service has expanded to the Orlando International Airport. Approximately 170-miles of rail track has been laid which runs along Florida's east cost before turning west near the City of Cocoa and travel along Florida State Road 417. With its reliable and punctual service, passengers can rely on a Brightline schedule and prices that cater to their needs. To plan your trip, you can easily find Brightline train Miami to Orlando price details online or through the Brightline app. This platform allows you to explore different ticket options and compare Brightline ticket prices, ensuring you find the best fit for your budget. About Brightline How much does the Brightline train cost? At this time prices on the South Florida route (Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach) vary depending on individual days as well as the final destination but start from approximately $12.00 per seat for a one-way "Smart" ticket on weekdays to more than $50.00 for a "Premium" ticket on weekends. Multi-trip travel packs and monthly/annual pass are also offered. Prices for the Miami to Orlando route also vary by the individual day but are around $79.00 per seat for a one-way "Smart" ticket to $149.00 per seat for "Premium" tickets. How long is does Brightline take to get from Miami to West Palm Beach? The Brightline train travels at speeds of up to 79 miles per hour in the South Florida area so travel time is fairly quick between stations. It takes approximately 30 minutes of travel time for the Brightline train to go from the station in Miami to the station in Fort Lauderdale. There is an additional 30 minutes of travel time to go from the station in Fort Lauderdale to the station in West Palm Beach. There are also stops in Aventura (northern Miami Area) as well as Boca Raton (southern Palm Beach County). How long is does Brightline take to get from Miami to Orlando? The transit time between Miami and Orlando is approximately three hours and thirty minutes which is fairly close to the time needed to travel between each by car without traffic delays. Where are the Brightline train stops? As of September 2023 there are six stops including an all new stop at the Orlando International Airport. South Florida stations are located in downtown Miami, Aventura (north Miami area) downtown Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, downtown West Palm Beach and at the Orlando International Airport. Are there bathrooms on the Brightline trains? Every Brightline train includes spacious restrooms that feature a touch-free experience. Is there Wi-Fi service on the Brightline trains? Complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi is offered on all Brightline trains and power outlets / USB ports are available at the seats. Are pets allowed on the Brightline trains? The Brightline trains are pet friendly for dogs and cats with restrictions. Pets must be either leashed or crated at all times when on the train or within the station. Pet relief areas are available outside of the both the West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale stations. Are food & beverages offered on the Brightline trains? Smart passengers can purchase snacks, non-alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverages while aboard Brightline trains. Snacks and drinks are included with the fare for Premium passengers. Is parking available at the Brightline stations? For the South Florida stations, parking is available at at each the station and costs ranging from $5.00 for commuter parking to $40.00 for overnight parking. Monthly parking passes range from $90.00 to $150.00 depending on the individual station. Parking at the Orlando station is in Parking Garage C of the Orlando International Airport. Fees range from $2.00 for 21 to 30 minutes, increasing $1 for each additional 15 minutes up to a daily (24-hour) rate of $19.00. Economy lots are also available for $10.00 per day. How much are change and cancellation fees for Brightline tickets? Brightline does not have any change or cancellation fees, however there are both refundable and non-refundable tickets offered. Passengers changing their booking will be responsible for any fare increases. What is Brightline+? Brightline+ is a complimentary (for Premium tickets) shuttle service which takes passengers to from one of the Brightline stations within a 5-mile radius to their final destination for the West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale and Miami stations. Event shuttles are also offered during select games (Miami Heat, Miami Dolphins & the Florida Marlins) as well as special events. The Miami, Aventura and Fort Lauderdale stations have direct shuttle service to the local airports and other select destinations. which runs on an hourly basis. As of the opening of the Orlando station in September 2023, Brightline+ service has not been added. The Brightline Trains Designed by the Rockwell Group, Brightline operates some of the most modern & luxurious commuter rail trains throughout the U.S. Trains are powered by biodiesel electric engines for reduced noise and lower emissions. Onboard passengers enjoy hand-stitched leather seats in a two or four person table seating configuration, the ability to check extra luggage and have access to a variety of onboard amenities. At this time there are are two classes of tickets - Smart and Premium. The "Smart" class is a business-class option that offers a selection of amenities as well as the ability to purchase food & beverages. The "Premium" class provides complimentary snacks, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages along with a premium lounge, complimentary business services and a pre-boarding experience. Brightline Onboard amenities include: Free high-speed Wi-Fi service Power and USB outlets at each seat Snacks & drinks available for purchase (complimentary for Premium) Hand-stitched leather seats (19 inch for Smart and 21 inch for Premium) Lounge access and business services (Premium passengers only) On-site parking at the stations (additional fee required) Brightline is pet friendly (with restrictions) and passengers can bring aboard bicycles, golf clubs and large suit cases. Each train is fully ADA-accessible and features spacious restrooms with a touchless experience. Brightline Stations As of December 2023, there are six interconnected Brightline stations, five of which are located in the South Florida area with the sixth being located at the Orlando International Airport. Details on these individual stations are shown below: Miami Station The Miami Station is located in downtown Miami at 600 NW 1st Avenue and within a short distance to the American Airlines Arena, the US Courthouse, the Miami-Dade Courthouse, the Government Center, Bayside Marketplace and the downtown business district. Connections to the Metrorail, Metrobus, MetroMover and the Miami Trolley system are convenient from the station. Passengers can also utilize the Brightline+ service to get to the Miami International Airport and Miami Beach. Check out our post on the cost of a three-day weekend in Miami Beach Fort Lauderdale Station Located in downtown Fort Lauderdale at 101 Northwest 2nd Avenue just adjacent to Broward Boulevard, the Fort Lauderdale Station is within walking distance to the Broward County Governmental Center, Fort Lauderdale City Hall and Las Olas Boulevard. Also in a short distance is the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and the Broward County Courthouse. Connections to the Broward County transit bus system and the Sun Trolley are fairly convenient. Passengers can also utilize the Brightline+ service to get to the Fort Lauderdale International Airport and the Fort Lauderdale beaches. West Palm Beach Station The West Palm Beach Station is located in downtown West Palm Beach at 501 Evernia Street and within a short distance to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, the US Courthouse, the Palm Beach County Courthouse, the Government Center and The Square shopping & entertainment district. Connections to the Palm Tran bus system, the Tri-Rail and the Palm Trolley are fairly convenient. Passengers can also utilize the Brightline+ service to get to Palm Beach and most of the downtown area. Boca Raton Station Located just north of Palmetto Park Road along Dixie Highway, the Boca Raton Station is the newest station in the South Florida area. Situated at 101 NW 4th street, the stop is close to the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Mizner Park and the "downtown" area of Boca Raton. Passengers can also utilize the Brightline+ service to get to most of eastern Boca Raton. Aventura Station The Aventura Station is located at 19796 West Dixie Highway just a few blocks to the Aventura Mall. The station is also close to the Turnberry Isle Country Club, Gulfstream Park Racing and the JW Marriott Miami which features the Tidal Cove Waterpark. Complimentary shuttle service is available to and from the mall and shuttles pick up passengers at the mall's bus terminal just outside of the JC Penny store. Orlando Station The 37,350 square foot Orlando Station is located in the Orlando International Airport's train station facility that is adjacent to Terminal C. Scheduled to open for travelers in the summer 2023, this all new station has an in-station bar call Mary Mary, a marketplace and a premium lounge. Free Wi-Fi is also available within the station. There are 16 daily round trips between Orlando and South Florida. It takes approximately two hours of travel time for the 170-mile segment between West Palm Beach and Orlando. From Miami it takes approximately three and one-half hours of travel time. The Orlando Brightline station is about a 15 minute drive to the Orange County Convention Center & SeaWorld Orlando, 20 minutes to the Universal Orlando Resort and 25 to 30 minutes to Walt Disney World. Future Expansion (Tampa) Brightline is also planning to building a route between Orlando and Tampa. Further details on this route have yet to be announced but it is anticipated that this line will not be open until at least 2025. Brightline+ Brightline+ is a complimentary shuttle service that is being offered for a limited time. Passengers can use Brightline+ to travel from one of the three South Florida area Brightline stations anywhere within a 5-mile radius. Brightline+ includes both pick up and drop off service all included with the purchase of a seat on a Brightline train. At this time there are "Private Rides" using a ride sharing service as well as "Shared Rides" in a shuttle bus. In addition, passengers can borrow a "BrightBike" bicycle for a tour around the area (West Palm Beach station only). There are "Fixed Route Shuttles" that operate on an hourly basis that take passengers from the Miami Station to the Miami International Airport and from the Fort Lauderdale Station to the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. There are also shuttles to Miami Beach and to the Aventura Mall. The cost for the shuttles is $10.00 one-way for the first guest and $5.00 for each additional rider (within the same traveling party). Passengers seeing to use Brightline+ will need to make reservations for this service after purchasing seats on the Brightline train. Booking must take place at least two hours in advance of the ride from Brightline+. Brightline Cost The cost of using the Brightline high-speed rail service varies by day & time, location & destination and class of fare. The following chart outlines a variety of different fares, locations and classes for Brightline tickets. One Way Fares 10/15/2023 WPB to Miami - Smart $17.00 - $34.00 WPB to Miami - Premium $42.00 - $57.00 Ft Lauderdale to Miami - Smart $10.00 - $29.00 Ft Lauderdale to Miami - Premium $32.00 - $44.00 Ft Lauderdale to WPB - Smart $10.00 - $29.00 Ft Lauderdale to WPB - Premium $32.00 - $44.00 WPB to Orlando - Smart $79.00 - $99.00 WPB to Orlando - Premium $149.00 - $189.00 Miami to Orlando - Smart $79.00 - $99.00 Miami to Orlando - Premium $149.00 - $189.00 PREMIUM fares from South Florida to Orlando including a complimentary meal, priority boarding, checked luggage and snacks & beverages while in transit. Click here to purchase tickets at the Brightline web site. Need More Florida Travel Ideas? Is the Brightline Worth Taking to Orlando When traveling from South Florida to Orlando, it appears that taking a Brightline train appears to be considerably more economical for a solo traveler as compared to traveling with a family of four based on the following cost estimates: Driving Cost - Miami to Orlando (one way) Rental car: $65.00 Gas: $45.00 Tolls: $17.63 (Dolphin Center to Interstate 4) Total Cost: $127.63 Brightline - Miami to Orlando (one way) Smart: $79.00 to $99.00 (one adult) Premium: $149.00 to $189.00 (one adult) Smart: $59.25 to $74.25 (two adults & two children) Premium: $149.00 to $189.00 (two adults & two children) Lowest Total Cost for a Solo Traveler: $79.00 Lowest Total Cost for a Family of Four: $237.00 Need More Florida Travel Ideas? Florida Theme Parks: Learn more about all the amazing theme parks in Florida including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando. Florida Hotels & Resorts: Check our our suggestions for some of the best hotels and resorts throughout the State of Florida including our 12 best beachfront resorts. Florida Vacation Homes: Do you enjoy vacationing in Florida? Maybe it's time to take the plunge and purchase a vacation property in the sunshine state.