Got a flight while Inter Miami debuts new stadium? Here’s when to get to airport
Travelers using Miami International Airport on Saturday or into the early hours of Sunday should plan for major traffic snarls because of Inter Miami’s debut match at its new stadium.
That’s according to multiple new advisories, including two issued just 24 hours before kickoff. American Airlines informed customers on Friday: “We encourage you to plan ahead and consider arriving early to the airport. If you’re connecting through MIA and leave the airport between flights, be sure to allow for extra commuting time around the airport.” A copy of the message sent to travelers was obtained by the Miami Herald.
“Given its proximity to MIA, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) anticipates increased traffic at and around the airport on match days,” American warned. “Traffic impacts will likely start several hours before the match and last after the match ends.”
The Miami Police Department also came out with a warning on Friday, telling the public to “expect major delays before and after the match.”
Friday’s warnings come after MIA issued an advisory earlier in the week: Inter Miami CF’s debut match at Miami Freedom Park’s Nu Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Saturday will likely result in traffic jams on streets near MIA from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. If you are traveling out of MIA during that window, head in early, the airport warned.
“MIA passengers, employees, and visitors are urged to allow extra travel time when heading to or from the airport during these hours,” Greg Chin, communications director for Miami-Dade Aviation Department, said in an email to the Miami Herald.
The game “is expected to generate heavy vehicle traffic on Le Jeune Road and Douglas Road,” he noted.
Stadium parking opens at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Entrances for stadium parking are on the northbound side of Le Jeune road across from MIA, on Northwest 14th Street and on Douglas Road, so travelers and soccer fans will be using the same highway exits and entrances from the Dolphin Expressway.
The airport didn’t officially recommend other options besides allowing for extra time. However, one alternative for those heading to MIA — or to the soccer match — is to take the Metrorail Orange Line.
On game days, Metrorail will be running trains approximately every 15 minutes, with service running from 5 a.m. until midnight, according to Maria Budet, chief external affairs officer at the County Department of Transportation & Public Works.
The Orange Line provides direct local service from Dadeland South to Miami International Airport Station, while passengers on the Green Line need to transfer to the Orange Line at Earlington Heights to reach MIA, she said.
It costs $2.25 each way. Keep in mind that due to construction, riders may encounter some delays.
Metrobus offers a variety of routes traveling to Airport Station: 7, 20, 36, 37, 42, 57, 150, 338, and the Flagami Route.
Inter Miami has suggested fans also take public transportation as an option.
For people attending Saturday’s game, consult the Herald’s on parking guide. A parking pass must be purchased in advance.
The soccer debut is a long time coming: 12 years after David Beckham touched down in Miami and six years after Inter Miami started playing at its temporary home in Fort Lauderdale.
The stadium location was not the club’s first choice. Given its proximity to MIA, questions abound on the impact it’ll have on traffic, both generally and for those who use or work at MIA, one of the county’s biggest employers which is currently in the middle of a $9 billion upgrade.
This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 4:21 PM.