last edited Dec 11, 2019
Getting to Florida by Land or Sea
Location Map of Florida
Florida
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By Land
Florida borders two other American states: Alabama and Georgia, both located to the north/northwest of Florida. There’s no issue arriving by road, as the state is connected by three "Interstate" highways (10, 75, and 95) and numerous major roads.
Public Transport
Greyhound and Megabus are the two major bus companies operating in and serving Florida from neighboring states.
As for rail, Amtrak trains coming from the North (Washington, New York, etc.) serve Florida, which actually acts as a terminus in Miami. Besides Miami, other major cities in the state (Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, etc.) are also connected to the national rail network. Note that while there is service along the Atlantic coast, there’s nothing along the Gulf of Mexico toward Louisiana and the West since the line was cut in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina.
By Sea
Ferries (International)
While ferry services to Cuba have been authorized since 2015, Florida currently serves mainly as the departure point for ferries to the nearby Bahamas.
To/From the Bahamas
The company Balearia Bahamas Express offers Fort Lauderdale–Freeport (Grand Bahama) routes with several weekly crossings. Expect a 3-hour journey and around $150 for a standard round-trip ticket, with additional special packages like "ferry + 1 hotel night" for $200 or a "day trip" for under $100.
Bimini SuperFast is another company operating Miami–Bimini routes. While it favors packages, you can also book standalone trips for $100 each, with several weekly crossings. Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to Florida, just 90 kilometers away.
Cargo
In Florida, the port of Tampa offers the best opportunities for cargo travel. Alternatively, Baton Rouge and New Orleans (Louisiana) or Savannah (Georgia) are among the country’s major ports and aren’t too far away.
Sailing
Cruises
Florida is undeniably the U.S. state for cruises and cruisers. Not only are its ports stops for liners, but they’re also departure points for many trips to the Caribbean and/or Central America, with companies that aren’t necessarily all American.
Miami and its two million passengers, along with Port Everglades and Port Canaveral—each exceeding one million annually—are the top U.S. cruise ports, while the region remains a global leader in departures. In short, you’ll have no trouble finding options from Florida, no matter which agency you contact.