Miami Grand Prix F1 Travel Guide ⋅ Getting to the Track
Plan
Your
Miami
Grand Prix
DESTINATIONS
Miami Gardens, a neighbourhood, about 15 miles north of downtown Miami is the location for the Miami Grand Prix. Miami’s F1 circuit winds its way through the grounds of the Hard Rock Stadium, a venue that is no stranger to hosting large events. And the experience shows – in past years, most fans found that getting to the track and getting parked were a breeze.
Flying to Miami for the Miami Grand Prix
Miami International Airport (MIA) is just west of downtown Miami. The airport is one of the world’s busiest and handles many flights from North and South America, as well as major European airports.
From the terminal make your way on foot to the MIA Station. From here you can hop on a free monorail shuttle (MIA Mover) that connects visitors to the Miami Intermodal Center.
Once there, car rental, commuter trains (Tri-Rail), buses (Metrobus), elevated rail (Metrorail) and taxis are available for onward travel.
If you plan to go directly to or from the Grand Prix circuit, other than a hire car or taxi/rideshare your best option is the Tri-Rail. Keep reading to find out more about public transport in Miami.
Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) to the north is very slightly closer to the circuit, but further from Downtown. It has fewer international flights so it can be easier and quicker to navigate. Being a hub for many domestic, low-cost carriers means flights can be cheaper too.
Public transit connections from FLL to elsewhere in Miami are more limited here than at MIA. Outside the terminal, look for the Transportation Podium where you can order a taxi or ride-share. For a ride to Downtown Miami expect to pay about $70 and $80 will get you to South Beach.
There’s a free shuttle bus from terminals 2 and 4 that you can take to the nearest Tri-Rail station. Ride the Tri-Rail train ($3.75) to the Metrorail transfer station to make use of Miami’s elevated rail system. Or continue two stops further to Miami Intermodal Center for more options. Departures are every 15-20 minutes and it should take about 40 minutes to an hour (not including waiting time).
Alternatively, Flix Bus operate direct transfers to both Miami Intermodal Center and downtown Miami. The downtown bus stops at Bayside Marketplace on Biscayne Blvd.
If there’s a service that suits your time of arrival this is the best balance of convenience and affordability. The journey time is about an hour. Tickets cost $9-12 and can be booked in advance at Omio.
Parking and Shuttles – Getting to the Miami Grand Prix by Car
Parking at the circuit for the Miami Grand Prix
There is ample official parking provided for the Grand Prix. Parking lots are allocated depending on where your grandstand is, ensuring minimal distance on foot between your car and your seats. For more distant parking lots a free shuttle is provided. Depending on your specific parking lot, expect the walk to your gate to be between about half a mile and a mile.
Your tickets will be either digital tickets on your phone or physical tickets if you received them in the mail. At the entrance, just present these for the staff to scan.
Entry and exit to car parks is usually swift and well-organised but be prepared for some delays at peak times (ie. don’t book your return flight for straight after the race). Rest assured though, it’s a far cry from the usual parking situation at COTA.
Car Park Opening Times
- Friday: 11:00am
- Saturday: 9:30am
- Sunday: 9:30am
Where to buy parking passes
All official parking passes must be booked in advance and it won’t be possible to buy parking passes on-site on race weekend. If parking has sold out, have a look on reseller sites like Stubhub, or you can try your luck with unofficial parking spaces.
Unofficial Parking
You may be able to find private parking offered at a lower cost ($20-50/day) by nearby residents and businesses. This is a common practice when there’s a Dolphin’s game on at the stadium and F1 fans have reported finding private parking when attending the Grand Prix. Look out for signs at premises within a couple of miles of the circuit.
Miami Grand Prix Shuttle Buses
Depending on which lot you’re in you may need to take one of the free shuttle buses from the car park to the circuit gates. Free Shuttle buses serve parking lots 60, 62, 70, and 95.
At the circuit, the pick-up and drop-off point for Lots 60, 62 and 70 services is Lot 14 (Gate 14). The Lot 95 service terminates at Lot 16. Buses will depart every 10 minutes during operating hours.
Shuttle bus operating times for lots 60, 62 and 70
- Friday: 11:00am-8:30pm
- Saturday: 9:30am-7:30pm
- Sunday: 9:30am-7:30pm
Shuttle bus operating times for Lot 95
- Friday: 11:30am-10:00pm
- Saturday: 9:30am-8:00pm
- Sunday: 10:30am-9:00pm
Public transport in Miami – Getting to the Miami Grand Prix Without a Car
For a US city, Miami has good public transport but there isn’t nearly enough coverage to rely solely on one transit network.
Carless visitors can use the elevated rail to go from one district to another, but may also need to use a taxi to complete the trip. Likewise, the trolley or monorail are useful for getting around within neighbourhoods. But for trips from one locale to another, you’ll need a bus or train.
Taxi and Rideshare
If you’re visiting Miami without a car you’ll almost certainly need a ride at some point. Outside of rush hour, taxis are easy to find, as are rides with Uber and Lyft which tend to be less expensive.
These are one the best options for getting to the Grand Prix if you aren’t driving, so be prepared to spend a lot on taxis and rideshare services over the weekend.
If you’re travelling to and from the Miami GP by taxi or rideshare (or even a friend), you won’t be able to get dropped off at the circuit gates. There are designated lots for all drop-offs and pick-ups from where you will either walk or take a free shuttle bus.
At peak times, such as after the race on Sunday, expect long wait times and surge pricing. Generally speaking, from downtown or South Beach to the Grand Prix an Uber will set you back about $60-100.
See below for guidance on the best rideshare lot to use depending on which direction you’re coming from. For hours of operation see the Miami Grand Prix Shuttle Buses section above.
From the East
Aventura Station (Shuttle Bus)
- Location: 19796 West Dixie Highway, Miami, FL 33180
- Entry Gate: Gate 3
Lot 22 (Walk)
- Location: 695 NW 199 St. Miami, FL 33169
- Entry Gate: Gate 14B
- Distance to Circuit: 1.4 miles
From the South
Lot 95 (Shuttle Bus)
- Location: 16000 NW 7th Avenue, Miami, FL 33169
- Circuit Drop-off/Pick-up Point: Lot 15/16
- Entry Gate: Gate 3
Lot 43 (Walk)
- Location: 2775 NW 183rd Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
- Entry Gate: 5 or 3
- Distance to Circuit: 1.3 miles
From the North
Lot 70 (Shuttle)
- Location: 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, FL 33314
- Entry Gate: Gate 14
Lot 35 (Walk)
- Location: 21001 NW 27th Avenue, Miami Gardens, FL 33056
- Entry Gate: 8
- Distance to Circuit: <1 mile.
Brightline
Brightline is an intercity railway connecting Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Unless you intend to visit one of those cities while you’re here it’s of limited interest to most visitors.
However, with Brightline’s Aventura station just over six miles away from the circuit and a free shuttle bus to get you there, it’s a convenient way to go to and from the track if you don’t have a car.
Brightline’s Miami Central Station is in downtown Miami and connects well to other public transit (Metrorail, Metrobus, MetroMover and Miami Trolley). There is even an airport shuttle to this station, making it possible to fly in and go straight to the circuit.
Book your tickets online and look for the times labelled Hard Rock Connect – other times don’t connect with the Grand Prix shuttle bus.
Shuttle Details
- Departure from Aventura: Shuttles leave around 10 minutes after each train arrives and you can use any bus, regardless of the time of your scheduled train.
- Return from the circuit: Shuttles back to Aventura depart approximately 1 hour before the scheduled train departure.
- Drop-off and pick-up at the circuit: Lot 16, a short walk from gate 3.
Brightline Schedule
- Friday: Arrivals: 11:00 – 16:00 | Departures: 17:00 – 21:00
- Saturday: Arrivals: 09:00 – 14:00 | Departures: 16:00 – 20:00
- Sunday: Arrivals: 10:00 – 14:00 | Departures: 16:00 – 21:00
Metrorail
Metrorail is Miami’s elevated rail and is useful for reaching some tourist spots in the city and travelling to and from the airport. Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and South Miami are all accessible by Metrorail. A map of the 23 Metrorail stops can be found here.
There are no stations near the circuit but if you plan to use the Tri-Rail, transfer at the Tri-Rail station on the green line. The 2 lines (green and orange) operate from 5am to midnight.
Tri-Rail
The Tri-Rail is a commuter train that services Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach. Unless they’re flying via FLL most tourists are unlikely to use it on their stay in Miami.
If you’re going to the Miami Grand Prix without a car though, the Tri-Rail is about the easiest and most budget-friendly way. Save all those Uber fares for a better grandstand and hop on the train to Golden Glades.
This stop is the closest one to the circuit and is next to rideshare lot 95. From here you can take a free shuttle bus to the circuit.
You can easily transfer between the Metrorail and Tri-Rail at the station marked Tri-Rail or at the Miami Airport station. Going to the Grand Prix, head north towards Magnolia Park.
Metromover
The Metro Mover is a free monorail, aimed mainly at tourists but it can get crowded with commuters during rush hour. The monorail is a good way to see the city skyline. With loops in Downtown Miami and Brickell, they are some of the easiest ways for visitors to explore these areas.
Trolleys
Another free way to get around in Miami (and Miami Gardens) is the colourful hybrid-electric buses known as trolleys. For seeing the city, there are handy routes in Downtown Miami, Brickell, Wynwood and the Design District.
There are three trolley routes in Miami Gardens with stops at the F1 circuit, though using the rideshare lots is probably easier.
About Me
I’m Danny, an incurable Formula 1 fan for over 35 years and founder of The F1 Spectator. My aim is to inform and inspire, arming you with helpful tips and advice for your next F1 trip.
