Driving from WDW to PortMiami on a Monday morning?

[Gentry2004]

Is this too risky? We are on a Magic cruise that leaves on the Monday before Easter and we are deciding if we should book our flight into MCO and spend a few days there and drive too Miami or just fly straight to Miami.

Miami hotels are so expensive and I think we’d have more fun in Orlando but worried about the drive and the traffic. Would we need to drive down the night before to be safe?

 

[MomOTwins]

It is about a 4 hour drive, so it is definitely doable. If I were doing it, I would leave EARLY in the morning just because with traffic you never know what can go wrong. I've had two hour drives turn into 7 hour ones when things go south.

 

[hrhdhd]

We live in Orlando, and when we cruise from PortMiami (or Port Everglades), we drive down at least part-way the night before. Sometimes we stay in West Palm Beach (lots of reasonably priced hotels near the airport, which is right off I-95), and sometimes a little further south.

The drive is doable, but I'd rather not have the worry. I'd also rather not get up so early; that makes for a long first day.

 

[Kadie]

We do the opposite. We live in Miami and cruise out of Port Canaveral. We always drive up the morning of. We leave our house around 6:30am and are usually there by 10:30am. No problems.

 

[lorimay]

Traffic in Palm Beach and Miami is horrible during rush hour.
Its certainly doable, but hit the road very early, just in case.
I like to be in the area the day before I board a cruise ship.

 

[MillauFr]

You will be able to get there before the ship leaves no problem. Just use the express toll lanes and the turnpike and avoid the free lanes as much as possible.

 

[Lynne G]

Yep, we flew into Orlando, as SW does not fly into Miami, and FLL was more money. Plus, we just had to go to the parks for a few days before leaving for the cruise. I have the Sun Pass, and used the turnpike, as it discounted my toll fee, no stopping to pay, and less traffic than 95. We stopped about half way, to use rest room, and food, as we left on a Sunday, and the traffic was not bad. We returned on a Friday, and while there was more traffic, we still made good time. Each time it took us about 4 and 1/2 hours. And about 20 dollars or so to use the turnpike. That was the 2nd week of January this year. And since we left the ship early, as we are early risers and kept luggage with us, we had parked at port, and were on the road by 8;30am. Got to Orlando around lunch time, and killed time until our flight after dinner.

Very doable, and from a local Miami friend, avoid 95 around Miami at all costs.

 

[Gentry2004]

Thanks all. I found a great price on a hotel in the Fort Lauderdale area for Sunday night so that is the plan.

 

[Capt_BJ]

I suggest that you skip the 'be first club' and allow the morning Miami rush hour to clear out ......

leaving Lauderdale after 9am (I'd wait til after 10) will make the transit MUCH easier . . . .
traffic will still be 'significant' on 95 .. but not as crazy as rush hours!

(former Miami resident who worked in the port)

 

[Gentry2004]

I suggest that you skip the 'be first club' and allow the morning Miami rush hour to clear out ......

leaving Lauderdale after 9am (I'd wait til after 10) will make the transit MUCH easier . . . .
traffic will still be 'significant' on 95 .. but not as crazy as rush hours!

(former Miami resident who worked in the port)

Thanks, this is what we will do. No desire to be first on the boat.

 

[hrhdhd]

We do the opposite. We live in Miami and cruise out of Port Canaveral. We always drive up the morning of. We leave our house around 6:30am and are usually there by 10:30am. No problems.

I am glad it has worked out for you. I'd just mention that traffic into Miami at 10:30 a.m. is a lot heavier than heading into Port Canaveral.