The comprehensive guide to Fort Lauderdale Airport
Quick insights
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is one of four commercial airports in the Miami metropolitan area.
- FLL is located three miles southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale and 21 miles north of Miami.
- It has four passenger terminals that operate both domestic and international flights.
Fort Lauderdale is home to 24 miles of beaches and is located near the Everglades. This makes it a popular destination for tourists as well as those headed out on a cruise.
Its main airport, FLL, is the primary airport for the Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Coral Springs and Boca Raton areas. It’s also about 30 miles away from Miami International Airport (MIA), which makes it a secondary airport for many in the greater Miami area.
Read on to learn about Fort Lauderdale Airport ground transportation, parking options, terminal details and more before your next flight.
Navigating to and from Fort Lauderdale Airport
Headed to or from FLL during your next trip? You'll have various options for transportation:
- Taxi: Taxis are available outside each terminal’s baggage claim area.
- Rideshare: Rideshare pickup and drop-off areas can be found between Terminals 1 and 2/between Terminals 3 and 4.
- Bus: Broward County Transit bus route 1 connects FLL to the Broward County Central Terminal in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Buses depart from the Rental Car Center (RCC).
- Train: The Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport at Dania Beach train station is a Tri-Rail commuter rail station near FLL. There is a shuttle bus that runs between the station and three locations at the airport (the west end of Terminal 1; between Terminals 2 and 3; and between Terminals 3 and 4).
- Rental car: The RCC is a short walk from Terminal 1 and accessible via airport shuttle from the other terminals.
Parking options at Fort Lauderdale Airport
There are three parking garages that offer short-term parking, long-term parking and valet options: Cypress, Hibiscus and Palm:
- Short-term parking is available on level 2 of the Hibiscus garage and level 1 of the Palm garage.
- Long-term parking is available in all three garages.
- Valet parking is accessible through the upper-level roadway of Terminals 1 and 4.
- The cell phone lot is located near arrivals and provides free parking for those picking up passengers.
There is a complimentary inter-garage tram that runs between the Palm and Hibiscus garages to get passengers to their terminals faster.
How early to get to Fort Lauderdale Airport
According to many airport officials, travelers should arrive two hours prior to departure for domestic flights and three hours prior for international flights. You may want to arrive earlier if you are flying on a holiday or during peak travel hours.
Travelers who want to potentially save time in the security line may want to consider programs like TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry.
Fort Lauderdale terminal information
FLL’s road system resembles a rectangle, with parking/ground transportation on the inside and terminals on the outside. While Terminals 3 and 4 are connected to each other, Terminals 1 and 2 are stand-alone buildings.
Each terminal has a corresponding color. Signage throughout the airport is color-coded by terminal:
- Terminal 1: Yellow
- Terminal 2: Red
- Terminal 3: Purple
- Terminal 4: Green
To travel between terminals, passengers can either use the terminal shuttle bus or the garage tram.
Are there Priority Pass lounges at Fort Lauderdale Airport?
As of August 2024, there are no participating airport lounges in the Priority Pass™ network. However, Priority Pass members may be eligible for benefits like preferential rental car rates, advance duty-free shopping and retail offers at select airport stores. Members can review additional Priority Pass travel-related benefits before their next visit to FLL.
If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve® credit card or are interested in applying for one, you may be eligible for complimentary Priority Pass membership as a credit card benefit (note that the card has an annual fee).
While there are no in-network lounges at FLL, there’s a variety of things you may want to do if you’re there between flights.
Things to do at Fort Lauderdale Airport
If you have a layover at FLL, there are plenty of things you may want to consider doing in the surrounding area.
- Head to the beach: Want to take a quick trip to the beach before your flight? Take the Broward County Transit route 1 bus to nearby Dania Beach. Stroll the boardwalk, stroll in the sand or even take a dip if you have your bathing suit on hand. Dania beach is approximately 10 minutes from FLL.
- Rent a canoe or kayak: West Lake Beach is about 45 minutes from FLL. Travelers with lengthy layovers can explore the area and stay cool by renting a canoe or kayak.
- Go on a family-friendly excursion: The Museum of Discovery and Science in downtown Fort Lauderdale provides a range of kid-friendly activities roughly 10 minutes from FLL. A few highlights include interactive exhibits, a hurricane simulator, indoor nature center, IMAX theater. Note that visitors may need to purchase tickets for entry.
Whether your leave the airport or simply don’t want to carry your bags during your layover, you can use the luggage storage in terminal one. Just be sure that the storage facility will be open when you need to retrieve your bags. Visitors must pay a fee for luggage storage. If paying in person, they’ll need to use cash.
Even if you choose to stay in the airport, there are plenty of shops and restaurants to help you pass the time.
In summary
FLL is near downtown Fort Lauderdale, so there are plenty of classic Florida excursions available to travelers with layovers. Thanks to its various public transportation options, FLL could be an easily accessible airport for both arriving and departing passengers.
This article contains the most up-to-date information at the time of publication. Details since publication are subject to change. Visit Priority Pass' official website for the most up-to-date benefits information.
