Getting in
- Miami International Airport: For the cheapest workable route, take the Metrorail Orange Line from Miami Airport Station to Brickell, then Miami-Dade Transit Route 102 over the Rickenbacker Causeway to Key Biscayne. Allow 60–90 minutes including the transfer and waits; budget roughly $4.50 if charged as separate fares. With bags, a rideshare is the actually comfortable option: roughly 30–50 minutes in normal traffic and about $35–60 before surge, tolls and tip. Avoid an airport shuttle marketed as a “Miami beach” transfer—it will not solve the final trip across the causeway.
- Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport: Use FLL only when the airfare saving is substantial. A direct rideshare to Key Biscayne is the least bad choice: about 50–90 minutes, longer in rush hour, and commonly $75–120 before surge/tolls. Public transport means airport transfer plus Tri-Rail or Brightline, then Miami transit and Route 102; it is a budget exercise, not a good arrival transfer, and can take two hours or more.
- Brightline MiamiCentral: From MiamiCentral, rideshare to Key Biscayne takes roughly 25–45 minutes and usually costs about $25–45 before surge/tolls. The cheap alternative is the free Metromover south to Brickell, then Route 102 to the island; allow 50–75 minutes total and pay the local bus fare. This is sensible with a small bag, not after a long flight.