Drive, fly, or Brightline train Orlando to Miami?

On Sep. 22, 2023, the first passengers boarded Brightline trains between Orlando and South Florida finally began rolling, and we were among its opening weekend passengers. Locals and tourists alike have been anticipating Brightline’s arrival for years, but does it really benefit Central Florida’s locals, or visitors to its attractions and cruise ports? Here’s our first-hand look at the region’s new rapid rail system, to help you decide if it fits into your transportation plans.

In case you haven’t closely followed its construction over the past decade-plus, Brightline is a privately-owned railroad train capable of hitting speeds of higher than 120 miles per hour. It’s been operating between Miami and West Palm Beach since 2018, with additional stops in Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and Aventura. Most recently, the Brightline rail line along the Beachline was completed, and daily service began connecting the new Orlando station with the costal route.

Brightline Orlando Station

Brightline’s brand-new Orlando station is located in Terminal C at Orlando International Airport (MCO). An outdoor (for now) covered walkway connects the train station to the airport gates. They also share paid parking facilities, which means you’ll pay $19 per day to park at the station, unless you can find a friend or use a ride share service to take you (stay to the left on Station Loop Road for passenger drop-off).

That’s where the connection with MCO ends, however, because the check-in and boarding process is far easier than any airport. Passengers without luggage can scan the QR code on their Brightline smartphone app (the best way to buy and store tickets) and proceed through the automated turnstiles to enter without showing ID; if you’ve brought bags, the security scan is swift and doesn’t require removing your shoes.

Once inside Brightline’s Orlando terminal, you’ll be greeted with the brand’s signature cheerful yellow in the signage and decor, which includes a selfie-ready #407 sculpture (Orlando’s area code). While waiting for your train, you can pick up a souvenir or snack from the grab-and-go marketplace; order a drink or hot meal at the fully-stocked bar; or simply settle into a comfy lounge chair with ample power outlets (USB-A, UBC-C, and three-prong 120 Volt AC).

A private lounge with complimentary snacks and drinks is open only to those who purchase Premium tickets, which cost nearly double the standard Smart fare. Premium passengers also get a private car, but all passengers get reserved seating on the train.

Overall, the Orlando Brightline station is an unexpectedly attractive place to hang out, especially considering most passengers won’t stay there long. Doors leading to the downstairs platform are opened 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure, and boarding takes barely five minutes, so there’s no need to arrive at the station more than 15 minutes before your train.

Brightline Train On-Board Experience

Our round-trip from Orlando to Aventura took about three hours in each direction, and the Brightline train made those six hours pass surprisingly swiftly.

First and foremost, the seats are far more comfortable than your average airplane coach seat, city bus, or other forms of non-luxury transportation; the legroom is closer to first-class flight. The combination of a laptop-sized tray table and multiple power outlets makes Brightline ideal for getting work done, and I was able to type on my iPad while doing over 90 miles per hour on a wobbly stretch of track. Just be aware that the free Wi-Fi has limited bandwidth (we saw 20 mbps max) at best, and is especially spotty along the stretch closest to Orlando. There are also some seats at full tables, which are available at not extra cost, but are first come, first serve.

Cabin attendants roll through the coach cabins a couple times each trip vending beverages and cold bites from a trolley cart (sadly, no chocolate frogs) with prices ranging from $3-$4 for small snacks and sodas, to $12 for an Italian deli sandwich or Knob Creek old fashioned. Drinks and food are included for passengers in the Premium car; if you’re trying to save money, we had no problem bringing own food and drinks aboard.

Brightline Orlando Use Cases

Once at our destination, we discovered that not all Brightline stations are created equal, as the Aventura depot is far less grand than Orlando’s. However, it was clean and safe, and does have a free shuttle to the nearby Aventura Mall, which has hosted experiences like Miami Sweet and Stranger Things: The Store. Aventura also provides complimentary shuttles to select games and events at the Hard Rock Stadium in nearby Miami Gardens, where pre-paid parking normally costs $25.

Sports and concerts can be an ideal use case for the Brightline, if you want to attend an event in South Florida and return home to Orlando that night without having to drive on the turnpike. In addition to Aventura’s shuttle, West Palm Beach and Boca Raton have neighborhood electric vehicles for shuttling to the Kravis Center, Mizner Park, and other nearby attractions. Fort Lauderdale has complimentary shuttles to the Inter Miami CF matches at DRV PNK Stadium; and the Miami station does the same for Marlins games at loanDepot Park, and is walking distance from the Kaseya Center.

Another customer base for Brightline trains from Orlando could be cruise ship passengers. The Port of Miami is only a 10 minute ride away from the Miami Central Station, and the Ft. Lauderdale station is a similar distance from Port Everglades. Both ports charge $19 to $22 per day for parking, and charge a full day for both arrival and departure, so a seven-night cruise can cost over $175 in parking fees.

Although Orlando residents taking a multi-day vacation in South Florida will probably want the flexibility of driving their own car, thanks to Brightline, out-of-town visitors without rental vehicles can now conveniently tack a few days in Miami onto the end of their theme park vacation. This option should be especially appealing for European visitors on extended holiday in Central Florida, who are likely already accustomed to the civilized efficiency of train travel.

Finally, business travelers who are used to commuting between MCO and the Miami airport on short-hop flights — which can sometimes actually be cheaper than a Brightline ticket — are the target audience for this new train service, especially if they can expense the Premium fare. While flying might be quicker than the train on paper, TSA screenings and the other inevitable delays getting in and out of the airport makes the total door-to-door time roughly the same, assuming your plane takes off on time.

Brightline Orlando: The Bottom Line

When you factor in both the ergonomics and ecological impact, it’s clear that riding the Brightline train is better for both your mental health and your carbon footprint than either driving or flying from Orlando to Miami. As far as its impact on your wallet goes, base fares to and from Orlando and any of the other Brightline stations cost $79-$99 per person each way; kids ages 2-12 are half price with an adult, and kids under 24 months are free. Premium seats range from $149 to $229. Groups of four or more get a 25% discount, and groups 30 or more pay just $52 per person.

Compare those prices to driving the average car the 230-plus miles from Orlando to Miami, which would (according to TollGuru.com) cost approximately $32 is fuel and $19 in tolls, for a total of $52 each way. The same trip in a chauffeured sedan or van from Mears Transportation would run $800-$900, plus tip. Obviously, the more passengers you can cram into your personal car, the less cost effective Brightline’s alternative becomes. But for solo drivers, it may be well worth an additional $30-$50 to avoid the aggravation of navigating I-95, especially if you can get some work done along the way.