Miami airport garages full from record spring break crowds. Here’s how to get there
Spring break crowds have packed Miami International Airport, with crowds so large that parking garages were full by mid-morning Friday, leaving long lines of frustrated drivers.
The airport is already seeing a record flow of passengers this month and this could be a peak weekend. Fort Lauderdale is also seeing a surge of spring breakers but parking isn’t quite as scarce.
Miami International’s garages were full by 10:30 a.m. Friday and police set up barricades around the garages and were turning drivers away. MIA says it’s been averaging 153,000 passengers per day this month, about 13% above pre-pandemic levels.
There are alternatives to on-site parking at MIA:
The airport recommends that travelers get dropped off instead of driving to the airport, especially this weekend. Family, friends or public transportation like the Metrorail Ubers and Lyfts and taxis are the best bets.
Another alternative is to use cheapairportparking.org. The website lists nearby hotels that offer parking for MIA travelers. You pay for the hotel parking, just like you would at the airport, and then take a shuttle to the airport. Parking prices vary by hotel and some may be out of parking too.
No matter how you plan to get to the airport, keep in mind that you need to check in and go through security too. Airport officials are recommending people get to the airport at least three hours before their domestic flight and at least three and a half hours before an international flight. You should also check in with your airline online before arriving at MIA.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport says it is also seeing large crowds this month, with its parking garages fuller than usual on the weekdays and at near capacity on weekends. At 1 p.m., the airport announced that valet parking was full and temporarily closed until spaces became available. Self-parking options were still available Friday.
“Watch for signage along #airport roadway for valet updates and self-parking directions,” the airport said in a social media post.
The airport says it hasn’t hit full capacity yet for parking options in recent weeks, though this could change if demand holds steady through Easter.
It’s expecting to see 2.9 million passengers this month, up 25% compared to last year though it’s still about 21% less than what it saw pre-pandemic in March 2019.
Miami Herald staff writer Carli Teproff contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 11:39 AM.
