When most people think of intercity travel in the Sunshine State, they picture bumper-to-bumper traffic on choked highways—not surprising given that multiple Florida interstates rank among the most congested and most dangerous in the world.
The new Brightline train to Orlando, Florida’s first high-speed rail service, is trying to change that. The rail network first launched between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach in January 2018. Over the next five years, the routes opened in phases—culminating in the opening of the central Orlando station in September 2023. Today, the train offers 16 daily round trips between South Florida and Orlando, departing from the station at the Orlando International Airport and heading to Miami with stops in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Aventura along a 235-mile route.
“It's a seamless way to travel and less hassle than I-95 South or the Turnpike,” says travel specialist Jenn Greene. “In three hours you can now get from Orlando to Miami without the traffic and tolls or vice versa.” Depending on traffic, the drive between the two cities could easily take four hours or more.
Nearly a year after the Orlando hub’s inaugural opening, Brightline has proved popular among both Florida visitors and residents. Since 2023, daily bookings for the long-haul ride from central to south Florida have increased from about 2,800 in October 2023 to about 4,600 in March 2024. This year, Brightline estimates it will carry a total of 5.5 million annual passengers.
How Brightline is changing travel in Florida
Having carried passengers from over 100 countries, Brightline is an attractive option for international tourists who are accustomed to train travel and prefer not to rent cars, explains Dr. Stephen Pratt, Professor and Department Chair of Tourism, Events, and Attractions at Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. According to Orlando’s tourism board, the city welcomed 6.12 million international tourists in 2023, a 25% increase from 2022.
“We're not really used to trains [in Florida], but for a lot of the rest of the world, it's second nature to catch trains," he tells Condé Nast Traveler, adding that for local residents, high-speed rail infrastructure “opens up access for people who don't have their own cars.”
The short-haul flight from Orlando to Miami may be two hours shorter than the Brightline train, but when you calculate the time spent making your way to, from, and through the airport, “you can have a lot more time in the destination” when traveling between the two cities by train, Pratt says.
With onsite car rental and rideshare options, the Orlando Brightline Station also offers easy access to the city’s 18 theme parks—Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando Resort are only a 25-minute drive from the train station. And in smaller cities along the train’s route like West Palm Beach, the neighborhoods surrounding the train stations have seen new development of apartment buildings, restaurants, entertainment venues, and more.
"Since [Brightline] opened, it's given easy and convenient access between Miami and Palm Beach. It's very quick. It avoids traffic. And it's reliable and predictable," says Alan Hooper, a board member with the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority. “A lot of development is happening in and around all three Brightline stations.”
My experience on Brightline
But what is traveling on the new Brightline train route really like? I took the nearly three-hour journey from Orlando to Boca Raton to find out.
The Brightline Orlando station is located at the Orlando International Airport near the new Terminal C, though Brightline is in a completely separate building. Once inside the station, I went through a simple security check that did not include taking liquids or electronics out of my bag—and I was able to leave my shoes on.
Then I moved into the main hub of the station. This area includes a grab-and-go mart, a lively bar, and two lounge areas, one for Smart (the equivalent to economy seats) and one for Premium (or first-class seats). On the first leg of the trip, I was booked for Premium, which included access to a semi-private lounge with ample seating and charging ports. There were also complimentary snacks and drinks, which for my morning ride included pastries, cheese, fruit, coffee, and more.
When it was finally time to board the train, I took the escalator down to the 72,000-square-foot platform—the biggest for Brightline to date—and waited for the signal to board. Once I found my seat, I was surprised by how big and comfortable each one was. There were charging ports at each seat, large tray tables, and Wi-Fi supported by Starlink, allowing me to squeeze in a few hours of work. During the ride, I was offered a complimentary breakfast that included yogurt, fresh fruit, and a granola bar, plus any drinks I wanted (alcoholic or non-alcoholic).
Arriving in West Palm Beach, I quickly noticed how much smaller the station was compared to Orlando. What I loved about this station was its proximity to downtown, with local shops and restaurants—including an outpost of the iconic Harry’s in New York City—just a five-minute walk away.
After lunch, I got back on the train, this time in the Smart class to take the 20-minute ride to Boca Raton. The Smart class still has large chairs, but drinks and snacks are not complimentary (I mistakenly ordered a soda and was charged over $3 for a small can).
The Boca Raton station is also small and set up more for passengers to get from point A to point B quickly, rather than somewhere to hang out before getting on the train. The station is also centrally located; my harbor-side hotel was a 10-minute Uber drive away. The ride back to Orlando in Smart was smooth sailing, I was off the train and in my rideshare in less than 10 minutes after our arrival.
Would I take Brightline again?
As someone who frequently travels to South Florida to embark on cruises, Brightline has me covered for future trips. The Brightline Fort Lauderdale station is only 15 minutes from Port Everglades, while the Miami Brightline station is about 10 minutes from PortMiami, making both convenient for cruisers. Brightline recently launched a partnership with Princess Cruises called the Rail & Sail program where passengers can get the train to Orlando or Fort Lauderdale for a Princess cruise. After arriving at the embarkation port, a complimentary motor coach transports passengers to the cruise terminal.
As someone who dislikes driving to and around South Florida, taking the train made traveling to the area much easier without having to deal with the maddening I-95 traffic and tollways. My experience was so smooth that I would be willing to drive from my home in north Florida to the Orlando station, then hop on the Brightline to get me the rest of the way to South Florida.
How much is the Brightline train?
One-way tickets between Orlando and Miami currently range from $29 to $209, according to the Brightline website. The cheapest fare class Smart Saver auto-assigns seats with no changes or cancelations, while the Smart class includes complimentary seat selection, a 100% Brightline credit if you cancel up to 30 minutes before departure, and no change fees (but you'll still have to pay any difference in fare). The Premium fare class comes with the same benefits, plus extra perks like lounge access and free onboard beverages and snacks. For frequent train commuters, Brightline also offers 10-ride packs starting at $250.
How long is the Brightline train journey?
The Brightline train between Orlando and Miami takes 3.5 hours. The ride between Orlando and West Palm Beach takes approximately two hours.
Is Brightline adding more stops in Florida?
Brightline announced it will be adding a new stop in Stuart, Florida (located between West Palm Beach and Vero Beach), with plans to open the station in late 2026. There are tentative discussions in progress to expand the rail network to Tampa, which would connect Orlando to Florida's west coast.
