Skip to content
Travel

South Florida Airports: Which One to Fly Into for Downtown West Palm Beach

By the Clematis Street editorial team · October 14, 2026 · 8 min read

South Florida Airports: Which One to Fly Into for Downtown West Palm Beach

The three airports at a glance

Hey, neighbor. If you are headed to downtown West Palm Beach, the closest airport is the one that used to be called PBI, and as of August 18, 2026 its code is DJT. Fort Lauderdale and Miami are both farther south, but each connects to West Palm Beach by train.

AirportCodeDistance and drive to West Palm BeachTrain and transit link
President Donald J. Trump International (formerly Palm Beach International)DJT (formerly PBI)About 4 miles, about 9 minutesFree Tri-Rail Commuter Connector shuttle to the West Palm Beach Tri-Rail station
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood InternationalFLLAbout 51 miles, about 57 minutesFree shuttle to Tri-Rail; Tri-Rail to West Palm Beach in about 1 hour 2 minutes for $5 to $8
Miami InternationalMIAAbout 73 miles, about 86 minutesFree MIA Mover to Tri-Rail; Brightline airport shuttle to MiamiCentral

Drive times come from Uber’s route pages, which use recent averages for West Palm Beach in general, and the Tri-Rail time is approximate data from December 2024, so treat them as a guide and check the live schedule.

Palm Beach’s airport: now DJT

The airport formerly known as Palm Beach International is now President Donald J. Trump International Airport. The name took effect July 9, 2026, and the airline code changed from PBI to DJT on August 18, 2026. Book flights under DJT, since the code drives reservations, check-in, and baggage tracking. The county still owns and runs the airport, and officials say flights and services are unaffected.

It is the closest airport to Clematis Street, with one terminal, and the airport’s address is 1000 James L. Turnage Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33406. Rideshare pickup is on the outer curb of the third-floor Departure Level. For the full breakdown of rides, trains, and shuttles, see our dedicated guide to getting from the airport to Clematis Street (link coming once that page is live).

Fort Lauderdale and Miami: getting to West Palm Beach

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) is about 51 miles and roughly 57 minutes by car from West Palm Beach, according to Uber’s route data. A free shuttle from FLL’s ground transportation level takes you to a Tri-Rail station, and Tri-Rail then runs hourly to the West Palm Beach station in about an hour for $5 to $8. Tri-Rail also has an express to MiamiCentral that stops at the Fort Lauderdale airport area in Dania Beach.

Miami International (MIA) is the largest of the three. By train, the Tri-Rail Express between West Palm Beach and MiamiCentral in downtown Miami takes 95 minutes, though it does not stop at the Miami airport station, and when it launched in 2024 it ran one morning departure from West Palm Beach and one evening departure from Miami. Brightline connects MiamiCentral (600 NW First Ave) and downtown Fort Lauderdale to West Palm Beach, and Brightline offers shuttles linking its stations to the airports. See our Brightline guide for the West Palm Beach station.

Once you reach the West Palm Beach train station, our car-free guide covers the last mile into downtown.

Which airport should you choose?

For a trip centered on downtown West Palm Beach, choose the Palm Beach airport (DJT) when a good flight exists, and use Fort Lauderdale or Miami when it does not.

If you want to…Fly intoWhy
Be at Clematis Street fastDJT (formerly PBI)About 3 miles away, one terminal, little congestion
Avoid renting a carDJT, or FLL with the Tri-Rail shuttleA free shuttle from DJT to Tri-Rail; a free shuttle from FLL to Tri-Rail, then an hourly train
Fly internationally with the most choicesMIAThe largest and busiest airport in South Florida, with the most international flights
Combine a stay in Fort Lauderdale or Miami with West Palm BeachFLL or MIA, then BrightlineBrightline links downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach

The DJT airport’s one-terminal layout and smaller crowds are the main reasons locals like it. Fort Lauderdale is easy to navigate and has cheaper parking, and Miami can feel overwhelming at peak times.

Your options from each airport to West Palm Beach

Rideshare is the fastest and simplest from all three airports, and the train is the cheapest from Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Times and prices below are averages, and your ride will vary with traffic and demand.

AirportRideshare or carTrainOther
Palm Beach (DJT, formerly PBI)About 4 miles and 9 minutes; Uber average $18Free Tri-Rail Commuter Connector shuttle to the West Palm Beach Tri-Rail stationPalm Tran shuttle from the Amtrak station; hotel courtesy shuttles
Fort Lauderdale (FLL)About 51 miles and 57 minutes; Uber average $91, typically $71 to $197Free Tri-Rail shuttle to the airport station, then Tri-Rail to West Palm Beach, about 1 hour 2 minutes for $5 to $8Taxi estimate to the Palm Beach airport area: $135
Miami (MIA)About 73 miles and 86 minutes; Uber average $133MIA Mover to the Tri-Rail Miami Airport station, then Tri-Rail north, about 2 hours 15 minutes with a transfer for $5 to $10Brightline shuttle to MiamiCentral: $12 with a same-day Brightline ticket, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Uber’s figures are for West Palm Beach in general, not a specific downtown address, and the train times are approximate data from December 2024. Check the live Tri-Rail schedule before you plan around it.

What visitors should know

Fort Lauderdale (FLL)

  • Rideshare pickup is on the lower arrivals level, with different spots by terminal. Terminals 3 and 4 use the first floor of the southern Palm Garage. Curbside pickup areas GTA-2 and GTA-4 were closed until further notice, so follow the signs.
  • The free Tri-Rail shuttle serves the airport terminals and runs about every 15 to 20 minutes during train hours to the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport station at 500 Gulf Stream Way in Dania Beach.
  • Brightline runs an airport connector shuttle every day, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., from its South Florida stations to FLL, for a flat per-person fare.
  • The Rental Car Center is at 600 Terminal Drive, next to Terminal 1, and a free shuttle runs from the other terminals every 10 minutes.

Miami (MIA)

  • Rideshare pickup is on the arrivals level, and an airport fee applies.
  • The free MIA Mover connects the terminals to the Metrorail and the Tri-Rail Miami Airport station.
  • Brightline has no station at MIA, but a shuttle links the airport and MiamiCentral from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Palm Beach (DJT)

  • Rideshare pickup is on the outer curb of the third-floor Departure Level.
  • The airport lists a nonstop service page, a 13-work art exhibit in the main terminal, and construction on Concourse B and a terminal connector, so expect some work in progress.
  • Call the airport at (561) 471-7400.

For everyone: book your flight under the correct code (DJT for Palm Beach), and confirm the pickup spot at FLL and DJT on arrival, since signage and construction change.

Quick answers

Which airport is closest to downtown West Palm Beach? The Palm Beach airport, now President Donald J. Trump International (DJT), is about 4 miles and 9 minutes away by rideshare, based on Uber’s averages.

Is the airport code PBI or DJT? DJT. The code changed from PBI on August 18, 2026, and the airport’s website is now flydjt.org. Use DJT when you book.

Can I get from Fort Lauderdale airport to West Palm Beach by train? Yes. A free Tri-Rail shuttle takes you from the terminals to the airport station, and Tri-Rail runs from there to the West Palm Beach station in about an hour for $5 to $8.

Does Brightline go to the airports? Not directly. Brightline runs airport connector shuttles to FLL, and a shuttle between MIA and MiamiCentral, and its own trains serve downtown stations including West Palm Beach.

What is the cheapest way from Miami airport to West Palm Beach? Take the free MIA Mover to the Tri-Rail Miami Airport station and ride Tri-Rail north. Uber’s data shows about 2 hours 15 minutes with a transfer and a $5 to $10 fare, versus about 86 minutes and a $133 average by rideshare.

How do I get from the West Palm Beach train station to Clematis Street? See our car-free guide for the West Palm Move bus and app rides, and our parking guide if you are driving.

Sources

All facts below were read on 2026-10-14.

Café Centro
 View Listing → ← More Stories