Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is what Florida beach towns looked like before the towers arrived: a low-rise village wrapped around the intersection of Commercial Boulevard and El Mar Drive, with Anglin’s Fishing Pier pointing into the Atlantic and a living coral reef close enough to reach from shore. The town markets itself as the shore-diving capital of South Florida, and on calm mornings you will see snorkelers walking to the water with fins in hand like other towns carry beach chairs.
It is the farthest of our Fort Lauderdale-area destinations from Miami International, about 35 miles, and the ride takes 45 to 60 minutes. Drivers run I-95 North to Commercial Boulevard, then head due east until the road meets the sea. The last mile, over the Intracoastal bridge and into the village, drops your shoulders on its own. There is no meter running and no surge math, just a fixed fare from $99 agreed when you book.
The service is built for exactly this kind of trip: a driver inside MIA arrivals holding your name, up to an hour of included waiting when an international flight crawls through customs, room in a Business SUV for dive bags and beach gear, and a driver who knows that the Sea Ranch condo towers, the El Mar inns and the cottages off Bougainvilla Drive are all different drop-offs despite sharing a zip code.
Once you are in, the village runs on foot: coffee and pancakes at the plaza, pelican-watching at the pier, sunset at the pavilion. Many guests never move the whole week, then book one ride back to MIA at the end. If you do want a night out, Fort Lauderdale’s beach strip and Las Olas are twenty minutes south, and we run those hops too.
What to expect
- Route: I-95 North to Commercial Boulevard, east to the sea
- Room for dive and snorkel gear in SUV classes
- Drop-off matched to your exact inn, condo or cottage
- Longest city route, still a fixed fare from $99