Need a ride to and from Ultra? Miami has Metrorail and other options
Before you can party all night at Ultra, you gotta get there first.
And guess what: There’s no designated parking for people attending the music festival at Bayfront Park this weekend.
This means you’ll either have to hunt for parking elsewhere in downtown (while maneuvering street detours and closures) or hitch a ride with a taxi, Uber or Lyft. You can also use one of Miami’s public transportation options.
Some transit services like Metrorail are operating on extended hours this weekend so you can drop it like it’s hot, and not worry about missing your ride back.
Here’s a list of choices to consider:
Metrorail and Metromover
Metrorail runs along a 25-mile dual track with service to Miami International Airport, and stretching from Kendall through South Miami, Coral Gables and downtown Miami; to the Civic Center/Jackson Memorial Hospital area; and to Brownsville, Liberty City, Hialeah and Medley in Northwest Miami-Dade. Metrorail stations have free Wi-Fi.
The Metrorail connects to the Metromover station, which circles downtown Miami and extends to Brickell and Performing Arts areas. It has a stop at Bayside Marketplace, which is next to Bayfront Park. That’s where Ultra is.
Cost: Metrorail costs $2.25 each way or $5.65 for a one-day pass. If you want to park at a Metrorail garage or surface lot, it costs $4.50. The Metromover is free.
Hours: Both have extended hours this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, the Metrorail and Metromover will run from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. the following day. On Sunday, it will run from 5 a.m. to midnight.
How to get to Ultra:
Take the Metrorail to the Government Center Station. Then, get on the Metromover’s Omni loop and get off at the College/Bayside, First Street or Bayfront Park Metromover station. Another alternative is to get on the Metromover’s Inner Loop and get off at the Bayfront Park Metromover station.
Some tips:
Miami-Dade Transit offers several reduced fare options for groups of people, including college students. Miami-Dade residents whose annual income is $19,321 to $25,760, for example, can ride Metrobus and Metrorail for half price with the Commuter-Reduced Fare EASY Card.
▪ Miami-Dade residents whose annual income is less than $19,320 may be eligible for free rides on Metrobus and Metrorail with the Transit Mobility EASY Card.
▪ Want to do contactless payment? You can pay your fare through the GO Miami-Dade app or other contactless options, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Fitbit Pay.
Metrobus
Metrobus routes run across Miami-Dade County and into Broward and the Keys, including Miami Beach, Liberty City, Little Haiti, Little Havana, Key Biscayne, Miami Gardens, West Miami-Dade, Homestead and Florida City. Buses have free Wi-Fi.
Cost: Fare is $2.25 each way or $5.65 for a one-day pass. Just like with the Metrorail, there are reduced fare options for groups of people, including college students.
Hours: The buses run from 5 a.m. to midnight daily, including holidays, with some routes providing overnight service. Some routes will have detours due to Ultra.
How to get to Ultra:
You can use any of the Metrobus routes that stop at Stephen P. Clark Government Center (Government Center Station) and take a free Metromover to College/Bayside, First Street or Bayfront Park. For route information to help plan your trip, visit Miami-Dade Transit’s website or download the GO Miami-Dade Transit app.
Brightline
The high-speed train service runs across South Florida, with stations in downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
Stations: MiamiCentral Station, 600 NW First Ave.; Fort Lauderdale at 101 NW Second Ave.; West Palm Beach station at 501 Evernia St.
Cost: Prices vary depending on when you plan to travel and if it’s a one-way or round trip. Brightline also has travel packs and group discounts. Check prices at gobrightline.com
Hours: Trains depart hourly. Late trains will depart at 1 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. A late train will also depart at 11 p.m. Sunday.
How to get to Ultra:
MiamiCentral Station has connections with Metrorail, Metrobus, Metromover and Tri-Rail. You’ll want to get on the Metromover’s Brickell or Inner loop to go to the Bayfront Park Metromover station.
Tri-Rail
The commuter train runs through 18 stations across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The rail runs from Miami International Airport through Golden Glades in Miami-Dade County, Hollywood, the Broward airport, Deerfield Beach, and Boca Raton through Mangonia Park in Palm Beach County.
Cost: Ticket prices on Friday will vary depending on where you’re going and if it’s a one-way or round trip. If you’re planning to do a round trip, prices range from $5 to $17.50. One-way tickets range from $2.50 to $8.75. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a daily flat fare of $5.
Hours: Tri-Rail is operating on extended hours this weekend. An extra northbound train will depart from the Miami International Airport station at 1 a.m after Friday and Saturday’s concerts. A second train will also depart at 2:30 a.m. to meet the last Metrorail train in service those nights. After Sunday’s concert, a train will leave at 11 p.m. Sunday and 12:45 a.m. Monday.
Getting to Ultra:
You’ll need to take the Tri-Rail to the Metrorail Transfer station or to the station at Miami’s airport. Then you’ll have to get on the Metrorail southbound to the Government Center Station and then get onto the free Metromover to go to the station at Bayfront Park or to the College Bayside Station.
Miami Herald staff writer Devoun Cetoute contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 2:24 PM.
