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Miami
ℹ️ There is no direct ferry from Miami to the Bahamas.
The nearest departure point is Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Terminal 21), approximately 30–40 minutes north by car or rideshare — or about 30 minutes on the Brightline train plus a short taxi to the port. From there, Baleària Caribbean fast ferries reach Bimini in ~2 hours and Freeport (Grand Bahama) in ~3 hours.
About Miami, Florida
Miami is one of the most iconic coastal cities in the world — and, by happy geography, the closest major U.S. city to the Bahamas. The city sits at the southeastern tip of Florida, straddling Biscayne Bay between the Atlantic Ocean and the Everglades. It draws visitors from across the Americas and Europe with its combination of year-round sunshine, turquoise water, Art Deco architecture, Latin American culture, world-class food, and a nightlife scene that runs until sunrise. And then there are the beaches. Miami's 35+ miles of coastline make it one of the best beach destinations in the entire United States.
For Bahamas-bound travelers, Miami's location is a major advantage. Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades — the only U.S. mainland ferry terminal with regular fast-ferry service to the Bahamas — is just 30 to 40 minutes north by rideshare, making a Bahamas day trip from Miami genuinely easy. The ferry departs at 9 a.m., which means leaving your Miami Beach hotel around 5:30–6:00 a.m. to reach Port Everglades in time for the 3-hour check-in window. It sounds early, but the reward is arriving in Bimini by 11 a.m. — with the entire Caribbean morning ahead of you.
Miami is served by two major airports: Miami International (MIA), 8 miles west of Downtown, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL), 30 miles north — significantly closer to Port Everglades. If you're flying in specifically for the ferry, FLL cuts the transfer to the terminal down to about 15 minutes.
Miami Beach
Miami Beach is a barrier island separated from the mainland by Biscayne Bay, connected by a series of causeways. It is both a city in its own right and the most famous part of greater Miami — home to the world-renowned South Beach, the Art Deco Historic District, Lincoln Road Mall and the Miami Beach Boardwalk. Most international visitors base themselves here, and it's the ideal starting point for a Bahamas day trip: a rideshare from Miami Beach to Port Everglades typically takes 35–45 minutes depending on traffic.
South Beach (SoBe)
South Beach, the southernmost stretch of Miami Beach, is one of the most photographed urban beaches in the world. The wide, white-sand beach — facing east for spectacular Atlantic sunrises — is lined with colorful lifeguard towers that have become an icon of Florida beach culture. The main strip along Ocean Drive is equally famous: a parade of pastel-colored Art Deco buildings facing the ocean, packed with restaurants, bars and hotels that fill with people from morning to well past midnight.
Beyond Ocean Drive, Collins Avenue and Washington Avenue run parallel through the heart of SoBe with boutique hotels, clubs, restaurants and shops. The Miami Beach Boardwalk, stretching from 21st to 46th Street along the ocean, is perfect for a sunrise run or an evening stroll with views of the Atlantic. For a quieter beach experience, locals recommend heading north from the busy Ocean Drive strip — the beach gets progressively more relaxed above 23rd Street.
Art Deco Historic District
Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District is one of the largest concentrations of Art Deco architecture in the world — over 800 buildings constructed between 1923 and 1943, all within a single square mile. The buildings' characteristic pastel colors, neon trim, porthole windows and streamlined curves were restored in the 1980s thanks to the Miami Design Preservation League, and today they form one of the city's most distinctive visual identities. Walking tours depart from the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive and are one of the best ways to understand the neighborhood's architectural heritage.
The adjacent Lincoln Road Mall — an eight-block outdoor pedestrian promenade — is the area's social and shopping hub, lined with flagship stores, independent boutiques, art galleries, cafes and some of the best people-watching in South Florida. The Holocaust Memorial Miami Beach, the New World Center concert hall and the Bass Museum of Art are all within easy walking distance.
Miami: neighborhoods to explore
Wynwood
A former industrial warehouse district turned world-famous arts hub, Wynwood is the most visually arresting neighborhood in Miami. The Wynwood Walls — an open-air gallery featuring floor-to-ceiling murals by internationally acclaimed artists — anchor a district overflowing with galleries, indie boutiques, artisan coffee roasters, craft breweries and creative restaurants. Best explored on foot, especially on weekend evenings when the galleries open and the streets fill with people. Admission to Wynwood Walls is $12, or $20 with a guided tour.
Little Havana & Calle Ocho
Little Havana is the heart of Miami's Cuban-American community, centered on Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street). Stroll past Domino Park where elders play dominoes under the shade trees, grab a ventanita café cubano from a walk-up window, visit the Calle Ocho Walk of Fame, and catch live salsa and son music spilling from open doorways. The neighborhood's colorful rooster murals, cigar shops, and authentic restaurants make it one of the most culturally rich blocks in Florida. The annual Calle Ocho Festival in March is the largest Hispanic street festival in the U.S.
Downtown Miami & Brickell
Downtown Miami combines big-city cultural landmarks with waterfront energy on Biscayne Bay. The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), the Frost Museum of Science (with its aquarium and planetarium), and the Bayside Marketplace — an open-air shopping and entertainment complex right on the bay — are all walkable. The Metromover, a free automated elevated train, connects the area's major stops. Just south, Brickell is Miami's financial district by day and a restaurant and cocktail bar destination by night, anchored by Brickell City Centre. The Brightline MiamiCentral station — your connection to Fort Lauderdale and the ferry — is right in the heart of Downtown.
Coconut Grove & Coral Gables
Coconut Grove is Miami's oldest neighborhood — a lush, tree-canopied village on Biscayne Bay with a relaxed, bohemian atmosphere, waterfront parks, independent restaurants and boutiques. Nearby Coral Gables is one of the wealthiest and most architecturally distinctive neighborhoods in the country, designed in the 1920s by George Merrick in a consistent Mediterranean Revival style. Don't miss the Venetian Pool — a 1920s swimming pool carved from a coral rock quarry, fed by natural springs and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a spectacular Italian Renaissance-style villa on the bay, is one of Miami's most visited cultural sites.
Day trip to the Bahamas from Miami
Ferry to the Bahamas from Miami: day trip guide
Miami has no direct ferry to the Bahamas — but its neighbor Fort Lauderdale does. Baleària Caribbean operates fast ferries from Port Everglades (Terminal 21) to Bimini (~2 hours) and Freeport, Grand Bahama (~3 hours). The port is just 30–40 minutes from Miami Beach or Downtown by rideshare — making a Bahamas day trip from Miami one of the most rewarding and underrated Florida experiences.
From Miami, head 30–40 min north to Port Everglades — the departure point for Baleària Caribbean ferries to the Bahamas. 
Port Everglades Terminal 21: the actual ferry departure point, ~30–40 min from Miami. Routes from Fort Lauderdale accessible from Miami
| Ferry departure port | Port Everglades, Terminal 21 · 2021 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 |
| From Miami Beach / Downtown | ~30–40 min by rideshare or car (I-95 North) | ~45–50 min via Brightline + taxi |
| Route to Bimini | Fort Lauderdale → Bimini · approximately 2 hours · see schedules & prices |
| Route to Freeport | Fort Lauderdale → Freeport (Grand Bahama) · approximately 3 hours · see schedules & prices |
| Operator | Baleària Caribbean | passport required for both routes |
1) Which ferry route is best from Miami?
Bimini — best for a day trip
- Crossing: ~2 hours each way
- Best for: day trips, beach escapes, snorkeling, first-time visitors to the Bahamas
- Why from Miami: the total day — port transfer + ferry + island time + return — fits comfortably in a single day
- Typical schedule: depart 9 a.m., arrive Bimini ~11 a.m., return by 9 p.m.
- Island: North Bimini, Alice Town area (Resorts World Bimini, Radio Beach, snorkeling)
Freeport (Grand Bahama) — best for overnight
- Crossing: ~3 hours each way
- Best for: weekend trips, more island exploration, Lucayan National Park, Gold Rock Beach
- Why from Miami: the 6-hour round trip leaves limited island time for a single day — overnight stays recommended
- Typical schedule: Tuesdays & Saturdays (seasonal)
- Island: Grand Bahama, Freeport/Lucaya area (Port Lucaya Marketplace, beaches, diving)
2) How to get from Miami to Port Everglades (the ferry)
The ferry departs from Port Everglades, Terminal 21 in Fort Lauderdale — not from Miami. Here are your options, from most practical to least:
🚗 Rideshare / taxi — easiest option
- From Miami Beach or Downtown: ~35–45 min (traffic-dependent)
- Estimated cost: $50–70 one way (up to 4 people, same fare)
- Best for: groups of 2–4, heavy luggage, early departures
- Book rideshare the evening before and again on the morning to compare prices — surge pricing applies at early hours
- Drop-off at port perimeter; follow signs for Terminal 21
🚆 Brightline train + taxi — smartest option
- Brightline: MiamiCentral → Fort Lauderdale station, ~30 min · fares from ~$17–28
- Then: short rideshare from Fort Lauderdale station to Terminal 21, ~18 min / ~$19
- Total travel time: ~50 min door-to-terminal (plus time to get to MiamiCentral)
- Best for: solo travelers and couples without heavy luggage
- Note: factor in getting to MiamiCentral first — allow an extra 15–20 min from Miami Beach hotels
- Book Brightline tickets at gobrightline.com
🚙 Drive yourself — most flexible
- Route: I-95 North from Miami → Port Everglades exit → Terminal 21
- Drive time: 30–40 min (add significant buffer for morning rush hour)
- Parking: available at Port Everglades, ~$20/day
- GPS address: 2021 Eller Drive, Terminal 21, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Best for: families, multi-night trips to Freeport, those staying in Fort Lauderdale-area hotels
- Open map to Terminal 21
❤ I Love Ferry tip
- The Bimini ferry typically departs at 9 a.m. from Port Everglades — and check-in opens 3 hours before, meaning you should be at the terminal by 6 a.m. If you're staying in Miami Beach, plan to leave your hotel by 5:15–5:30 a.m. It's an early start, but arriving in Bimini by 11 a.m. with crystal-clear water and a beach all to yourself makes every minute worth it.
3) Sample day trip timeline from Miami (Bimini)
| 5:00–5:30 a.m. | Leave your Miami Beach or Downtown hotel. Order rideshare or take pre-booked taxi to Port Everglades. |
| 6:00 a.m. | Arrive at Port Everglades Terminal 21. Check-in opens 3 hours before sailing. Get through security and immigration. |
| 7:50 a.m. | Terminal doors close. Be on board before this time — no exceptions. |
| 9:00 a.m. | Ferry departs Fort Lauderdale for Bimini. |
| ~11:00 a.m. | Arrive in Bimini. ~5–6 hours of island time: Radio Beach, Resorts World Bimini, snorkeling, fresh conch. |
| Return ferry | Return sailing timing varies — confirm on your booking. Arrive back at Port Everglades in the evening. |
| Evening | Rideshare or taxi back to your Miami hotel. Total trip: roughly 16–17 hours door to door. |
4) Terminal & check-in rules (Port Everglades)
The ferry terminal is at Port Everglades, Terminal 21 — not in Miami. Baleària Caribbean's check-in rules are strict and apply equally whether you're traveling from Miami or Fort Lauderdale.
Terminal address
- Port Everglades · Terminal 21
- 2021 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
- Terminal number may vary on certain dates — always confirm on your booking confirmation
- Open in Google Maps
Check-in cut-offs (Baleària Caribbean)
- Check-in opens: 3 hours before departure
- Terminal doors close: 1 hour before sailing
- These are strict deadlines — no exceptions for late arrivals
- For a 9 a.m. departure: be at the terminal by 6 a.m.
Documents required
A valid U.S. passport or passport card is required for all passengers, including children. These are international crossings to the Bahamas — a U.S. driver's license is not sufficient. Keep your passport and booking confirmation (QR/PDF) accessible and downloaded offline.
Parking at Port Everglades
If driving from Miami, paid parking is available at Port Everglades near Terminal 21 — approximately $20 per day. Allow extra time for port entry security checkpoints on the way in.
5) Practical info for Miami travelers
- Passport card accepted (in addition to passport book)
- USD accepted in both Bimini and Freeport — no exchange needed
- Parking at port: ~$20/day (Terminal 21 area)
- FLL Airport (Fort Lauderdale): closer to the port than MIA — ~15 min vs ~45 min
- Brightline MiamiCentral station: NW 1st Ave & NW 8th St, Miami (Downtown)
- Sunscreen: bring your own — the Bahamian sun is intense even on the ferry
- Book ferry tickets in advance — popular sailing days (Fri, Sat, Sun) sell out
- Kids under 2 travel free on Baleària Caribbean
6) Boarding tips for Miami day-trippers
- Plan your transfer early: the ferry typically departs at 9 a.m. — from Miami Beach, you need to leave your hotel no later than 5:30 a.m. Rideshare prices can spike at that hour, so check pricing the night before.
- Passport ready: international crossing — passport (or passport card) required. Download your ticket QR offline too.
- Respect the terminal cut-offs: check-in opens 3 hours before and doors close 1 hour before sailing. Traffic on I-95 in the morning can be unpredictable — add a buffer.
- Pack light for a day trip: a small backpack with sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, water, meds and a charger. You won't need your full luggage.
- Confirm terminal number: Terminal 21 is standard, but Baleària notes it may vary on certain dates — check your booking confirmation the evening before.
7) FAQs & quick questions (Miami to Bahamas by ferry)
Is there a ferry from Miami to the Bahamas?
No direct ferry operates from Miami. The nearest departure point is Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Terminal 21), about 30–40 minutes north by rideshare.
How long does it take to get from Miami to the Bahamas by ferry?
Transfer to Port Everglades (~35–45 min) + crossing to Bimini (~2 hours) = roughly 2.5–3 hours total from Miami Beach to Bimini beach. For Freeport: add another hour for the longer crossing.
Can I do a day trip to the Bahamas from Miami?
Yes — Bimini is perfect for it. Leave Miami at 5:30 a.m., take the 9 a.m. ferry, arrive in Bimini by 11 a.m., enjoy ~5–6 hours of island time, and return to Miami in the evening. A long but very rewarding day.
Quick question: what's the #1 mistake Miami tourists make?
Underestimating the travel time from Miami Beach to Port Everglades. Add the check-in window on top of that, and a 9 a.m. sailing means a 5–5:30 a.m. hotel departure. Those who arrive late miss the boat — literally.
8) Quick checklist — Miami to Bahamas day trip
- ✅ Ferry tickets booked — book in advance, especially for weekends and holidays.
- ✅ Passport (or passport card) packed and accessible — not in your check-in luggage.
- ✅ Ticket/QR downloaded offline on your phone.
- ✅ Transport booked: rideshare pre-arranged OR Brightline ticket bought at gobrightline.com.
- ✅ Hotel departure time set: leave Miami Beach by 5:15–5:30 a.m. for a 9 a.m. sailing.
- ✅ Terminal confirmed: Port Everglades, Terminal 21 (2021 Eller Drive) — GPS saved offline.
- ✅ Day bag packed: swimwear, towel, sunscreen, water, snacks, meds, charger/power bank.
- ✅ USD cash on hand — accepted everywhere in Bimini and Freeport, no exchange needed.