FLL is one of the easiest major airports in the country to get out of. About 25 minutes from baggage claim to a Las Olas dinner table on a normal afternoon. Here are the three best ways to do it.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) sits about 7 miles south of downtown Fort Lauderdale and 5 miles south of the beach. Three transportation options handle 95% of arrivals. Here's how I tell my guests to pick.
Uber & Lyft (Rideshare)
The default choice and almost always the right one. Pickup is well-signed in the ground transportation zone at each terminal. Both Uber and Lyft work the same way — request the ride after you have your bags, walk to the rideshare zone, and you're in a car within 5 minutes most of the day.
Brightline
The option most travelers miss. Brightline is a high-speed rail service that runs from a station 2 miles east of FLL into downtown Fort Lauderdale (and on to Miami, West Palm, Boca, Aventura, and Orlando). A free shuttle runs from FLL to the Brightline FLL Station every 15 minutes. From Fort Lauderdale Station, it's a 5-minute Uber to most rentals.
Driving Yourself
If you're going to be in Fort Lauderdale for more than 3 days and plan to visit multiple beaches, the Everglades, or Miami, a rental car earns its keep. Rental counters are in a consolidated facility connected to all terminals by tram. From FLL, take I-95 North or US-1 (Federal Highway) and exit at Sunrise Boulevard for the Middle River Terrace / Las Olas / Beach area.
Arrival check for Jonathan's House guests: the door code and Wi-Fi password arrive 24 hours before your check-in time. There's a covered carport, so even if you arrive in a tropical downpour, you can unload bags dry. The pool heater is already on by the time you arrive.
If you arrive late and want to skip the airport food, the Floridian on Las Olas is open 24 hours and is about 8 minutes from the house. Best post-flight meal in town.