Driving out of Miami Airport

Off_PeakReturn

Can anyone on this forum who has recent driving experience of Miami Airport tell me whether all roads are toll roads in the immediate vicinity of the airport and if there is a toll-free alternative route to head to the Tamiami Trail? Thanks.

richardw

It's very easy to end up on a toll road, so well worth looking at things on maps.google.com and use the directions feature to look at the best route and perhaps print some details.

lazyjack

It looks like you can avoid the toll roads by driving south down 42nd Ave (S Le Jeune Road), then miss the Dolphin Expressway and continue down to 8th Street, which is the Tamiami Trail.

EDIT: By the way, we drove the Tamiami Trail from Naples to Ft Lauderdale in November and if you want to see plenty of gators, try pulling into the Oasis Visitor Center in the Big Cypress National Preserve (it's on the Tamiami Trail). Just looked and you can even see the gators on Google streetview !

NFH

lazyjack wrote: »

Just looked and you can even see the gators on Google streetview !

Did Google blur out their faces?

victor2

Got caught on a toll road with unmanned booths some years back when leaving Orlando airport. I stopped, asked the car behind me if they had change - it was another tourist just arrived, who didn't. The car behind had a local in it who said to just drive through as you're allowed one infraction before they do anything. Of course, she probably just wanted to get home, but I went through, it beeped and presumably took a picture of the number plate. I never heard anything, and was there for 2 more weeks.
Always brought some US coins back home with me for subsequent visits.

longforthesun

[/QUOTE]The car rental places, except hertz, are a little way from the airport, you get on a shuttle bus from arrivals, but they are in an ok spot to start a journey from.[/QUOTE]

Not now the airport is linked by a monorail and takes about 2 minutes and is very handy. Takes you into a large hall with all the car hire companies.

longforthesun

Also be carefull if you do end up on a toll road, Miami are making all tolls cash free not sure when they start but worth mentioning to car hire company.

Off_PeakReturn

I've checked Google maps and there does appear to be an alternative route to toll road from MIA to the Tamiami Trail.

One Tripadvisor member recommends taking the SR 836 West (Dolphin Expressway) to SR 826 South (Palmetto Expressway) and exiting at Tamiami Trail.

Re the alligators on Tamiami Trial - last summer I had to avoid a small alligator as it was right in the centre of the road!

OPR

zaax

Beware the non toll roads have traffic lights every 100yds. So it will take twice as long to get there.