Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: Terminals, Tips, and Everything To Know

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is one of South Florida’s budget-friendly gateways, a large, easy-to-navigate airport just three miles from downtown Fort Lauderdale. It handles more than 30 million passengers a year and is a favorite for travelers headed to the Caribbean, Latin America, and cruises.

Learn which terminal your airline uses, how to get to and from the airport, parking, security wait times, dining, and how FLL stacks up against Miami.

Fort Lauderdale airport at a glance

Here are the quick hits before we get into the details:

• Airport code: FLL
• Location: 100 Terminal Drive, about three miles southwest of downtown Fort Lauderdale
• Terminals: Four (1, 2, 3, and 4), color-coded, with more than 60 gates across seven concourses
• Focus city for: JetBlue, Southwest 
• Nearby: About two miles from Port Everglades cruise port, three miles from downtown, and roughly 28–30 miles from Miami and South Beach
• Good to know: Free Wi-fi throughout, and fares that tend to run cheaper than average. According to Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report, Fort Lauderdale is one of the most affordable mainstream US airports to fly from.

Which terminal is my airline in?

FLL has four color-coded terminals. Here’s where the major airlines currently operate.

IMPORTANT: Due to FLL’s ongoing construction and Spirit’s shutdown freeing up gates, terminal assignments at FLL are in flux. Always confirm your terminal with your airline or the official FLL website before you head out.

Terminals 1 and 2 are connected after security, and Terminals 3 and 4 are connected after security by a pedestrian bridge. There's no secure connection between Terminals 2 and 3, so if you need to move between those two, you'll have to exit and go back through TSA.

US Customs and Border Protection facilities are in Terminals 1 and 4.

FLL departures and arrivals: checking flight status

How to check real-time flight status

The fastest way to check your flight is your airline's app, which will push gate changes and delays straight to your phone. You can also check the official FLL website or the flight information display boards throughout each terminal. A quick search of your flight number on Google works too.

International arrivals and customs

All international arrivals clear US Customs and Border Protection, handled in Terminals 1 and 4. To speed things up, download the free Mobile Passport Control app, or use Global Entry if you're enrolled.

FLL has a Global Entry enrollment office (weekdays by appointment) and offers Enrollment on Arrival for conditionally approved applicants.

Baggage claim by terminal

Baggage claim is on the lower level of your arrival terminal, below the departure hall. Follow the signs from your gate. Carousels are assigned by flight, and screens above the belts confirm which one is yours.

Getting to and from Fort Lauderdale airport

Rideshare and taxi

Uber, Lyft, and taxis all pick up on the lower (arrivals) level. Taxis use zone-based fares, so you'll know the rough cost before you get in. It's the quickest door-to-door option to downtown, the beaches, or the cruise port.

Tri-Rail and Brightline

Tri-Rail is South Florida's regional commuter train, running seven days a week between West Palm Beach and Miami. A free shuttle connects the terminals to the FLL Tri-Rail station, making it a cheap way to reach Miami or Palm Beach without a car.

Brightline, the higher-speed train linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando, does not have a station at the airport itself. Its nearest stop is the Fort Lauderdale station downtown, about three miles away, which you can reach by rideshare or taxi.

Driving and highway access

FLL sits just off I-595, with quick connections to I-95 and US-1. If you're picking someone up, use the free cell phone waiting area near the entrance rather than circling the terminals.

Port Everglades cruise port connection

One of FLL's biggest advantages is how close it is to Port Everglades, only about two miles away, or roughly a ten-minute ride. Taxis, rideshares, and cruise shuttles all make the trip, which is why so many cruisers fly into FLL.

On busy turnaround days (winter and spring weekends especially), give yourself extra time, since airport and port traffic peak together.

Parking at FLL

Hourly and garage parking

FLL has three garages: Palm, Hibiscus, and Cypress, with more than 11,000 parking spaces combined. Palm and Hibiscus have space-finder technology that shows open spots by level. Short-term garage parking runs about $2 per 20 minutes, up to a $36 daily maximum, so the garages are best for pickups, drop-offs, and short stays. Rates can change, so check the official site before you go.

Economy and long-term parking

For longer trips, garage long-term parking runs around $20 a day. An overflow lot (about $10 a day, with a free shuttle) opens during peak periods like holidays, spring break, and busy cruise weekends, though it isn't always available. Off-site lots near the airport typically start around $8–$10 a day with free shuttles. Booking ahead is smart during busy seasons.

Rental car center

All the major rental companies are under one roof at the Rental Car Center, located next to Terminal 1. A free courtesy shuttle runs 24/7 between the terminals and the center, so returning a car and catching your flight is straightforward.

Security and TSA wait times at FLL

Typical wait times and when to arrive

Standard security lines at FLL average about 15 minutes, but they climb to 25 minutes or more during peak periods, typically weekday mornings around 5am and late afternoons (plus the busy winter tourist season, spring break, and summer).

Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight, and add a buffer during peak times. Check the MyTSA app for live wait times at your terminal before you leave.

TSA PreCheck and CLEAR

TSA PreCheck lanes operate at all four terminals, and they can cut your wait to well under ten minutes. CLEAR is available in several terminals and can be bundled with PreCheck for the fastest path through.

Food and dining at Fort Lauderdale airport

FLL's dining has improved a lot in recent years, especially in the newer Terminal 1, which has the widest range of options. You’ll find local favorites alongside national chains across the terminals. Here’s a sampling of what you can find:

Options rotate, so if you are looking for a specific meal, it’s worth checking the airport’s dining directory for your terminal before you fly.

Airlines and where you can fly

Top nonstop domestic routes

FLL offers nonstop domestic services, especially to the Northeast, Midwest, and other Florida cities. Some of the busiest routes include Atlanta, Newark, New York (LaGuardia and JFK), Baltimore, Charlotte, Boston, Chicago, and Washington, DC.

With JetBlue and Southwest anchoring the airport, there’s plenty of competition on these routes, which helps keep fares low for FLL.

Top nonstop international routes

FLL is a go-to airport for travel to the Caribbean and Latin America. Popular nonstop destinations include Nassau, Montego Bay, and Port-au-Prince, plus service to Toronto and cities across Colombia, Panama, and beyond.

The international network at Fort Lauderdale airport is smaller than Miami's, but for sun-and-sea trips, FLL is often the cheaper and more convenient choice.

Amenities and services

Wi-fi and charging

Free Wi-fi is available throughout all four terminals. Terminal 1 has the most modern seating, with USB and standard power outlets built into many gate areas.

Airport lounges

Lounge options include the United Club in Terminal 1, the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 2, and an Escape Lounge in Terminal 3 (accessible with eligible American Express cards or a day pass). 

Access depends on your airline, cabin, status, or card.

Family and accessibility services

FLL offers nursing rooms, family restrooms, and accessibility services, including ADA parking and assistance for travelers with mobility needs.

Terminal 1 (the newest) has the best family facilities.

Pet relief areas

Traveling with a pet or a service animal? FLL has designated pet relief areas both before and after security, so your furry friend can take a break between flights.

What's new at FLL

FLL is running a roughly $3.2 billion capital improvement program, which includes a new Terminal 5 and continued modernization of Terminal 1, aimed at adding gates and easing the crowding that Terminals 3 and 4 have been infamous for.

The biggest recent change, though, is the shutdown of Spirit Airlines in May 2026. Spirit was one of FLL's largest carriers, and its closure has reshaped Terminal 4 and the airport's route map as other airlines move in to fill the gap.

Due to these changes, terminal and gate assignments are more fluid than usual at the moment, so double-check your terminal close to your travel date.

Travel to and from FLL for cheap with Going

FLL is already one of the more affordable airports in the country, and the deals get even better when you let the alerts come to you. Going monitors thousands of routes and sends you a heads-up when fares to and from Fort Lauderdale drop to prices worth booking.

Set your home airport to FLL, pick your dream destinations, and let us watch the prices for you.