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

Most fans who attended the 2022 Miami GP found entry and exit to car parks swift and well-organised. Always be prepared for some delays (ie. don’t book your return flight for straight after the race). But rest assured, it’s a far cry from the parking situation at COTA.

There is ample official parking provided for the Grand Prix. This year parking lots are allocated depending on where your grandstand is. Gates for the parking lots open at 8.30 on Saturday and Sunday (11.30 on Friday). At the entrance, just present your digital tickets for the staff to scan.

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, try reseller sites like Stubhub. Otherwise, you may have some luck finding unofficial parking spaces but your best option would be to use rideshare.

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 reported finding private parking for the race in 2022. 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, 70, 80, 90, and 95. Buses will depart every 10 minutes, starting from when the parking lots open (11.30 on Friday and 8.30 on Saturday and Sunday).

Returning in the evening, shuttles will leave the circuit until 9.30 pm on Friday and 8.20 pm on Saturday and Sunday. At the circuit, the pick-up and drop-off points are at gates 3, 5, 13, and 14B, and Lot 16.

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 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. There are two designated areas near the circuit for rideshare users. Lot 43, which is within walking distance to the circuit gates and lot 95 for which there’s a free shuttle bus.

From downtown or South Beach to the Grand Prix an Uber will set you back about $60-100. Or, catch a ride to and from the Golden Glades Tri-Rail station (see below) and save a few bucks.

You’re free to use whatever rideshare app you prefer as well as regular taxis. If you’re being dropped off by a friend, these are also the recommended drop-off and pick-up points for private cars.

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.

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. A map of the 23 Metrorail stops can be found here.

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 30 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.

Follow @thef1spectator