Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) Terminal Guide 2026
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is South Florida's budget-friendly alternative to MIA — home to Southwest and Spirit hubs, one of the world's busiest cruise ports next door, and a gateway to Miami Beach, Boca Raton, and Palm Beach. Here's everything you need to navigate FLL.
FLL vs MIA: The South Florida choice
FLL is typically 30-40% cheaper than MIA for domestic flights and is the hub for Southwest and Spirit. It's also just 1.5 miles from Port Everglades cruise terminal — unmatched for cruise travelers. The tradeoff: FLL is farther from Miami Beach (28 mi vs MIA's 15 mi) and has fewer international flights than MIA. Car service from FLL to South Beach is $85; from MIA it's $65.
Tri-Rail: Limited usefulness for most travelers
Tri-Rail commuter rail has a station near FLL (1-mile free shuttle), but it does not directly serve Miami Beach, Boca Raton oceanfront, Palm Beach, or most resort/hotel destinations. The total transit journey from FLL to Miami Beach via Tri-Rail + Metrorail + bus takes 90+ minutes. For anything south of downtown Miami or north of Delray Beach, car service is the only practical option.
FLL Quick Facts
FLL Terminals 1-4: Airlines by terminal
| Terminal | Airlines | Key Routes | Lounge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Delta, JetBlue, Air Canada, WestJet | Atlanta, NYC JFK, Boston, Toronto, Montreal, Cancun, Caribbean | Delta Sky Club (T1) |
| Terminal 2 | American Airlines | Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, Philadelphia, New York JFK, Chicago, London (LHR) | Admirals Club (T2) |
| Terminal 3 | Spirit Airlines (hub), Silver Airways, Bahamasair | Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Orlando, Nassau, Freeport, Bahamas islands | None |
| Terminal 4 | Southwest Airlines (hub), United Airlines | Chicago Midway, Denver, Baltimore, Nashville, Houston, Las Vegas, Orlando, NYC LaGuardia, Newark | United Club (T4) |
FLL pickup note: All four terminals are on a single lower roadway loop. Detailed Drivers chauffeurs meet passengers at the baggage claim level of your arriving terminal with a name sign. The terminals are not far from each other — if you need to connect or meet a traveling companion arriving at a different terminal, the walk between adjacent terminals is under 5 minutes.
Port Everglades: The cruise-to-airport advantage
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is one of the world's three largest cruise ports, handling more than 4 million passengers per year from major cruise lines including Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Its proximity to FLL is the main reason many cruisers fly into Fort Lauderdale rather than Miami.
Pre-cruise and post-cruise service: Detailed Drivers provides meet-and-greet service for cruise travelers — your chauffeur meets you at baggage claim, transfers luggage to the vehicle, and delivers you directly to your assigned cruise terminal at Port Everglades. After your cruise, same-day airport transfers available with no advance notice surcharge.
| Cruise Line | Terminal | FLL Sedan Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Cruise Line | Terminals 2, 18, 19, 21, 26 | $45 |
| Celebrity Cruises | Terminal 25 | $45 |
| Holland America | Terminal 26 | $45 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | Terminal 29 | $45 |
| Princess Cruises | Terminal 2 | $45 |
| Royal Caribbean | Terminal 18 | $45 |
Flat-rate car service pricing from FLL
All FLL pricing is flat rate — no surge pricing, no I-95 tollway surprise, no meter running in Broward traffic. Prices are all-inclusive for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan (up to 3 passengers). Cadillac Escalade SUV pricing is approximately 30% higher.
| Destination | Distance | Sedan | SUV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Everglades (cruise) | 1.5 mi | $45 | $58 |
| Downtown Fort Lauderdale | 4 mi | $48 | $62 |
| Fort Lauderdale Beach | 5 mi | $52 | $68 |
| Aventura / Sunny Isles | 15 mi | $70 | $91 |
| South Beach / Miami Beach | 28 mi | $85 | $110 |
| Downtown Miami / Brickell | 26 mi | $80 | $104 |
| Coconut Grove / Coral Gables | 30 mi | $88 | $114 |
| Boca Raton | 22 mi | $80 | $104 |
| West Palm Beach | 46 mi | $120 | $156 |
| Palm Beach Island | 50 mi | $130 | $169 |
| Key Biscayne | 33 mi | $95 | $124 |
| Miami International Airport (MIA) | 23 mi | $80 | $104 |
All-inclusive pricing. Florida tolls (I-95, Turnpike) included. No surge pricing during Spring Break, Art Basel, Ultra, or any South Florida event. Book at detaileddrivers.com/reservations or call (888) 420-0177.
South Florida events — book car service early
South Florida's event calendar drives massive spikes in airport traffic through FLL and MIA. Ride-share surge pricing during these periods can be extreme — 5-8x base rates are common during Art Basel or Spring Break peak days.
Art Basel Miami Beach (December)
The most important contemporary art fair in the Americas draws 80,000+ collectors, curators, and billionaires to Miami Beach in early December. Book 3-4 weeks ahead. FLL to South Beach during Art Basel runs $85 flat — same price as any other day.
Spring Break (March)
Fort Lauderdale Beach and Miami Beach see enormous volumes in March. FLL passenger counts spike 30-40% above normal. Rental cars sell out weeks ahead. Ride-share is unpredictable — flat-rate car service is the safest option.
Ultra Music Festival (March)
Ultra Music Festival at Bayfront Park in Miami draws 165,000+ attendees over 3 days. Downtown Miami traffic becomes gridlocked. FLL to Brickell/downtown pricing during Ultra weekend remains $80 flat rate.
Miami Open Tennis (March)
The Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium draws top players and 300,000+ spectators over two weeks. FLL to Hard Rock Stadium is $70 flat rate — no surge pricing on match days.
Miami Grand Prix F1 (May)
The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium is one of the most glamorous events on the F1 calendar. Book 4-6 weeks ahead. Car service to Hard Rock Stadium from FLL is $70 flat rate.
Cruise season peaks (Jan-April)
Port Everglades sees its heaviest turnaround days on weekends from January through April. If you're departing on a Saturday cruise, arrive to FLL the day before — turnaround day congestion at Port Everglades can significantly delay transfers.
FLL airport frequently asked questions
What terminals does FLL airport have?
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has four terminals: Terminal 1 (Delta, JetBlue, international carriers), Terminal 2 (American Airlines), Terminal 3 (Spirit Airlines hub, Silver Airways, Bahamasair), and Terminal 4 (Southwest Airlines hub, United Airlines). All terminals share a single lower-level roadway and pickups for all terminals follow the same process.
Is FLL or MIA better for Miami Beach?
It depends on your airline and trip purpose. FLL is home to Southwest and Spirit, which often have significantly cheaper fares, and it's only 1.5 miles from Port Everglades for cruise travelers. MIA is closer to South Beach (15 miles vs 28 miles). For a pure Miami Beach trip on a legacy carrier (American, Delta, United), MIA saves you $20 in car service. For budget flights or cruises, FLL is the better choice.
Is there light rail from FLL to Miami or Fort Lauderdale?
Tri-Rail commuter rail has a station about 1 mile from FLL connected by a free shuttle. However, Tri-Rail does not directly serve Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Boca Raton oceanfront, or Palm Beach. The total trip from FLL to South Beach via Tri-Rail and Metrorail takes over 90 minutes. For beach destinations, resorts, and most business locations, car service is significantly faster.
How far is FLL from Port Everglades?
Port Everglades cruise terminal is approximately 1.5 miles from FLL — a 5-8 minute drive. Detailed Drivers charges $45 flat rate for a sedan transfer. This makes FLL the closest major airport to a major cruise terminal in the United States, which is why many cruise passengers prefer flying into Fort Lauderdale over Miami.
How far is FLL from Boca Raton?
Boca Raton is approximately 22 miles north of FLL on I-95 North. Off-peak, the drive takes 25-35 minutes. During I-95 rush hour (4-7 PM), allow 40-60 minutes. Detailed Drivers charges $80 flat rate for a sedan transfer between FLL and Boca Raton — no surge pricing regardless of traffic.
Does FLL have an international terminal?
FLL does not have a separate dedicated international terminal. International flights arrive and depart from the existing terminals, primarily Terminal 1 (Air Canada, WestJet, Caribbean carriers) and Terminal 2 (American Airlines international). U.S. Customs and Border Protection is processed at the international arrivals gates within Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.
Book car service at FLL — no surge pricing, ever
Flat-rate transfers from FLL to Port Everglades, South Beach, Boca Raton, Palm Beach, and all South Florida destinations. Same price during Art Basel as a quiet Tuesday.