Heading to the airport for holiday travel? Check parking issues at MIA and FLL

There’s some good news and bad news about parking at the airport during the Christmas week travel crunch. While lots are likely to fill up at both MIA and FLL, a new parking garage just opened, offering thousands of new spaces just in time for the seasonal swarm of travelers.

If you think flying is hectic this time of year, parking at Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport can be just as frustrating. The airports encourage travelers to take ride-sharing vehicles or get dropped off by family or friends.

But if you’re planning to park and fly, we’re breaking down what to expect and offering some guidance on how to navigate the lots and garages like a pro:

Miami International Airport

New garage: The new Ibis garage gives the airport an additional 2,240 parking spaces on seven levels. The garage parking opened Dec. 19, “just tin time for the holiday travel season,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. The Ibis dedicates 50 spaces for electric-vehicle charging.

SunPass: The parking payment system SunPass may not be back in time for Christmas, but it will return as an option by early January 2026, MIA’s Chin said. The airport stopped accepting the prepaid electronic toll system used on highways in much of the state in 2022.

Reserved Parking: Since June 2025, travelers can pre-pay for reserved parking inside MIA’s Flamingo or Dolphin garages. For more information, visit the Reserved Parking web page.

Remote Lot: Half-price parking is available at MIA’s remote Economy Park and Ride lot. The 460-space lot provides monitored parking and a free shuttle service to the MIA terminal every 15 minutes for $12 per day – less than half the $25 maximum daily rate at MIA’s Dolphin and Flamingo garages. Located at 1350 NW 45th Ave., the Economy Park-and-Ride lot is accessible from either Le Jeune Road or Perimeter Road. Credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PaybyPhone are accepted.

Parking shuttles: Shuttle service pick-up and drop-off locations are on the Departures level across from doors 3, 11, and 26. For more information, visit the MIA Parking web page.

Valet parking: The valet lot is across from the check-in area at doors 4 and 20 in the Dolphin and Flamingo garages. Valet parking attendants take a driver’s vehicle and park it in one of 225 dedicated spaces on the Departures or arrivals level. Rates are $25 for under three hours, $39 for the first three to 24 hours and $39 each day after. Maximum stay is 20 days.

Electrical vehicles: Parking for electrical vehicle charging is available 24/7 at Arrivals, First Level, inner loop between Terminals E and G. And Departures second level, valet parking at the Dolphin and Flamingo garages.

Nearby parking: MIA’s website lists several “off-airport” options. Read those sites carefully. One site called Cheap Airport Parking lists nearby hotels and parking lots that offer parking for travelers. You make a reservation, just like you would for a rental car. Most hotel parking lots you’ll find on this site are generally open around the clock, have security and offer a free shuttle to the airport, plus cancellations, according to the website’s FAQ guide. Parking prices and shuttle times vary.

Picking up a passenger: MIA’s Cell Phone Waiting Lot has 60 free parking spaces for non-commercial users waiting to pick up travelers. It’s just off Le Jeune Road and Northwest 31st Street, accessible from Le Jeune heading north or south.

Airport garages: MIA’sgarages are expected to fill up early. Dolphin garage serves Concourse D and E. Flamingo garage serves Concourses E-J. The new Ibis garage just opened in time for holiday travelers. If you park in one of the garages, expect to pay $2 every 20 minutes. If your car is parked for more than four hours, you’ll be charged the maximum daily rate of $25, according to the airport. Your car can stay in the garage up to 45 days, except where “no overnight” is listed. After 45 days, your car will be towed. Accepted payments: cash, credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover), Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. The airport no longer uses SunPass but plans to bring it back by early January 2026.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Onsite: Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has three garages and an overflow lot that opens at peak travel times during the holidays or when the garages are full. Follow the orange signs when going to that offsite lot.

Alternatives: There’s a cellphone parking lot where people can park for free while waiting to pick someone up from the airport. FLL has curbside valet, too. With the ongoing high demand for curbside valet service and self-parking options at FLL this year, especially during the holidays, airport leaders recommend getting dropped off by family, friends, or a ride-share service (Uber, Lyft, etc.) because the airport’s onsite garages are likely to be filled.

Trams: FLL has inter-garage trams that operate from stops in the Hibiscus and Palm garages to transport passengers between terminals 1 and 4.

Helpful tools:

▪ Use the FLL app to see real-time parking availability and to help locate your car if you forget where you parked.

​▪ To find the closest parking location to your terminal, visit FLL’s website.

Use Space Finder to check available spaces in the garages.

Off-site parking if airport lots are full: Park ‘N Go, 1101 Eller Dr. in Fort Lauderdale, and Self Park FLL, 901 Old Griffin Rd. in Dania Beach, are self-parking lots that offer shuttles to and from Fort Lauderdale’s airport. Park ‘N Go’s website notes that during peak times, the lot may occasionally switch to valet parking. To check prices, availability and cancellation policies for Park ‘N Go, visit gator.bookparkngo.com/. For Self Park FLL, visit selfparkfll.com