Can you drive from Florida to the Bahamas?

You can drive a boat or an amphibious car but not a regular car as the Bahamas are islands about 90 miles from Florida.



No, you cannot drive a car from Florida to the Bahamas, as there are no bridges or tunnels connecting the United States to the Bahamian archipelago. The two are separated by the Florida Straits, a deep-water stretch of the Atlantic Ocean that is roughly 50 to 100 miles wide depending on your destination (Bimini being the closest). If you wish to have your own vehicle in the Bahamas, you must use a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferry or a specialized shipping service from ports like Fort Lauderdale, Miami, or Riviera Beach. However, for most travelers in 2026, shipping a personal car is prohibitively expensive and logistically complex due to customs duties and the fact that the Bahamas drives on the left side of the road, unlike the U.S. A much more common "driving" alternative is taking the Balearia Caribbean high-speed ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini or Grand Bahama; while you cannot bring your car on this passenger ferry, the journey takes only about two to three hours. For those who need a car upon arrival, rental agencies are readily available at all major Bahamian airports and ferry terminals.

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The distance between Bahamas and Miami is 154 miles.

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There are groups that make this ride regularly from Miami. Once you are fully prepared you need to decide on a route to The Bahamas. The most direct route is from Miami to Bimini. This route can take one and a half (1.5) hours.

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Bimini is the westernmost island of the Bahamas, situated about 80 km (53 mi) east of Miami, Florida, making it the closest point in the Bahamas to the US mainland.

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For a family of four, the average Bahamas trip cost is about $630 per day. Overall, the total budget for a week's trip should be around $5500, considering the flight, transport, food, entertainment and souvenirs??.

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Ferry from Florida to Bahamas The ferry crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport takes approximately 3 hours on ferries servicing this route. Fort Lauderdale to Freeport ferry duration can range between 3 hours and 3 hours 15 minutes depending on the operator that you decide to travel with.

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Low season, August to November, is best for budget travelers Fall is the cheapest time to visit the Bahamas.

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Yes, I would go back, for the price, the experience and Bimini has the most beautiful water, I have ever seen.

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General road rules Driving in Nassau Bahamas is on the left-hand side of the road. Overtaking is on the right-hand side of the road. Seat belts are mandatory for all occupants of the vehicle.

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Drinking Laws -- Alcohol is sold in liquor stores and various convenience stores; it's readily available at all hours, though not for sale on Sundays. The legal drinking age in The Bahamas is 18.

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Bahamas - Exercise a high degree of caution Exercise a high degree of caution in The Bahamas due to high rates of crime, especially in Freeport and Nassau.

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Things every first-time tourist needs to know:
  • English is actually the official language of the Bahamas, so it'll be spoken everywhere you go.
  • There's no need to get your currency exchanged, US currency is accepted. ...
  • Tips are king. ...
  • Cars don't drive on the right side of the road, they drive on the left.


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Cuba is the closest Caribbean island to Miami. Cuba's southern shore is on the Caribbean Sea. It is about 180 miles from Miami at its closest point on its northern shore. The Bahamas islands are much closer to Miami, but are located in the Atlantic Ocean, not the Caribbean Sea.

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On July 10, 1973, The Bahamas became a free and sovereign country, ending 325 years of peaceful British rule. However, The Bahamas is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and we celebrate July 10th as Bahamian Independence Day.

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