Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) serves as a gateway to the upscale communities and resorts of South Florida, including West Palm Beach, Palm Beach and Boca Raton. Despite its smaller size compared to other Florida airports, PBI is known for its lack of crowds and ease of use, which makes it favorable over nearby hubs like Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL). More than a dozen airlines fly into PBI from more than 40 domestic airports, as well as a few international locations.
What you need to know about PBI's terminal
PBI has a single, easy-to-navigate terminal divided into three concourses: Concourses A, B and C. The terminal is fairly compact, meaning short walking distances between security, gates, dining and shopping and security. If you're looking for a bite here, try local favorite Sam Snead’s Tavern. Right next to it, you'll find a nine-hole putting green. Prefer a lounge experience? There are two here.
How to get to downtown West Palm Beach from PBI
PBI is conveniently located just four miles from downtown West Palm Beach, making it easy to reach the city center. The quickest and easiest way to get to downtown West Palm Beach is by car. Taxis and rideshares like Uber and Lyft are readily available at the airport and can get you downtown in about 10 minutes.
For budget-conscious travelers, Palm Tran’s bus route 44 provides service between PBI and downtown West Palm Beach. The bus departs from the Ground Transportation Center outside baggage claim and takes about 30 minutes to reach the city center. And if your hotel happens to be downtown, see if they provide a complimentary airport shuttle.
How long are the TSA security lines at PBI?
One of the benefits of flying through PBI is its generally short security lines. While wait times can vary depending on the time of day and the season, it usually takes less than 15 minutes. During peak travel times, such as holidays, security lines may be longer. If you have TSA PreCheck and/or CLEAR, though, you can expedite security; PBI has lanes for both paid membership programs.
Alternative airports for West Palm Beach
While PBI is the primary airport for the West Palm Beach area, there are several reasonably close airports that offer additional flight options, particularly for international travel. Fortunately the commute is easy, thanks to the Tri-Rail and Brightline trains that allow you to bypass South Florida traffic and travel comfortably.
Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
FLL is located about 50 miles south of PBI in Fort Lauderdale, and it offers a wider selection of both domestic and international flights. FLL is a major hub for low-cost carriers like JetBlue, Spirit and Southwest, making it a great option for budget travelers. The airport is generally busier than PBI, but its variety of flights and competitive pricing make it a popular alternative.
Getting to FLL from West Palm Beach is pretty easy. You can drive, which takes about 50 minutes without traffic. Or you can take one of two trains. There's the Tri-Rail service, which is cheaper but takes about an hour, as well as the Brightline, which is more expensive but only takes 35 minutes.
Miami International Airport (MIA)
MIA is another alternative to PBI, located about 70 miles south. MIA is Florida’s busiest airport and serves as a major international gateway, particularly to Latin America and the Caribbean. But busy is the operative word here. This is a very big and crowded airport, so wait times are much longer here.
Driving from PBI to MIA takes about 70 minutes without traffic, but frequently takes more than 90. Alternatively, you can take the Tri-Rail train, which takes around two hours, or the Brightline train, which takes about an hour and 20 minutes. Because traffic can get pretty intense, the trains are usually a better option than driving.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Orlando International Airport (MCO) is located about 150 miles north of PBI and is another alternative for travelers seeking additional flight options. MCO serves a large number of domestic and international destinations, often with budget-friendly fares. It may be worth considering if you're looking for more flexible flight routes or cheaper prices.
The drive from MCO to West Palm Beach takes about 2.5 hours, so it's not a particularly close alternative. That said, the Brightline train does stop directly at MCO, traveling from there to West Palm Beach in about two hours. It's likely easier to look at FLL and MIA instead of MCO, but MCO is convenient if you plan to visit any of the Orlando theme parks on your Florida trip.
Things to do during a layover
West Palm Beach isn't a major airline hub, so layovers are usually few and far between. But if you have a layover that's longer than four hours, you do have time to venture out of the airport. Since downtown West Palm Beach is just a 10-minute drive from the airport, and Palm Beach proper is just a 15-minute drive, make these spots your destination if you only have a few hours to spare.
Consider visiting CityPlace, a popular shopping and dining district; Clematis Street, a historic commercial street known for its lively atmosphere; or Worth Avenue, which is lined with luxury boutiques. If you're an art and architecture lover, the Norton Museum of Art and the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum are worthwhile stops, too.
Elsewhere in the region, you can find the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society, the Tanger Outlets Palm Beach, the Manatee Lagoon and the Mounts Botanical Garden, all of which are within a 15-minute drive. And don't forget about the beaches! If you have a few hours to spare, you could always head to the beach for some sun and sand.
How to get to nearby attractions and transportation hubs
Everything in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach is pretty close to PBI, whether that's shopping or restaurants or the beaches. That makes it easy to take taxis or rideshares, though you might opt for a rental car if you plan on traveling around the coast. There's also the Palm Tran public transportation network for those looking to travel on a budget; bus route 44 connects PBI with downtown West Palm Beach.
Manatee Lagoon
The Manatee Lagoon, an educational center that offers wild manatee viewing, is located on the north side of West Palm Beach. It takes about 15 minutes to drive there with no traffic, but it can take up to a half hour with traffic. If you'd like to take the Palm Tran bus, you'll have to connect from route 44 to route 1, and the whole journey will take about 45 minutes.
Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society
The Palm Beach Zoo is only a 12-minute drive from PBI, though it's in the opposite direction of downtown West Palm Beach. It's easiest to take a taxi or rideshare to the zoo; you can take a Palm Tran bus, but it will take more than an hour to get there.
Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, so it only takes a 10-minute drive or a 20-minute bus ride on Palm Tran route 44 to get there. Once there, it's easy to walk to various downtown neighborhoods for restaurants and shopping.
Brightline West Palm Beach Train Station
The Brightline train whisks travelers from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale, Miami or Orlando. Some travelers fly into PBI before traveling to one of these cities, whether they're staying in the cities themselves or heading to a cruise port or theme park resort. But the Brightline train station in West Palm Beach isn't located at PBI; you'll find it downtown.
To get to the Brightline West Palm Beach Train Station, you'll either have to take a taxi or rideshare, which will take anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes depending on traffic, or the Palm Tran bus on route 44, which will take about 30 minutes. If you purchase a premium ticket, you'll be given a $10 Uber voucher to put towards a ride to the station.
Lounges at PBI
PBI has two airport lounges: Delta Sky Club, located in Concourse C, and the Escape Lounges – The Centurion® Studio Partner, located near the entrance to Concourse B. The former is open to eligible Delta passengers, while the latter is accessible to all passengers for a fee or for free with select credit card memberships.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
