By Elizabeth Costa | Top Real Estate Agent in Doral & Miami | The Keyes Company
15+ years of experience · 300+ closed transactions · Bilingual: English & Spanish
Exclusive Member of Forbes Global Properties · Founding Member of Luxury Portfolio International

Last updated: October 14, 2026

How long is the commute from Doral to Brickell or Downtown Miami?
Doral sits next to Miami International Airport and about 12 miles from Downtown Miami. The average commute for Doral workers is 26.5 minutes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2020-2024). Drivers can use SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway), a toll road, and transit riders can take the Metrorail Green Line from Palmetto Station, with the free Doral Trolley's Metrorail connector routes. Actual times depend heavily on the hour you travel.

For many buyers moving to Doral, the commute is the deciding factor. Many buyers compare Doral homes with condos in Brickell or Downtown Miami, and they need to know what the drive or train ride will look like every day.

I am Elizabeth Costa, a Realtor with The Keyes Company in Doral. This guide covers the routes, tolls, and transit options from Doral, using official sources instead of guesses. It is part ten of my Doral series, after why Doral homes don't sell.

Where Doral Sits

Doral is a city in western Miami-Dade County. The Miami-Dade Beacon Council places it one mile from Miami International Airport and twelve miles from Downtown Miami.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports a mean travel time to work of 26.5 minutes for Doral workers (American Community Survey, 2020-2024). That average includes all Doral workers, wherever they work, so your own commute may be shorter or longer depending on your route and hours.

Routes to Brickell, MIA, and Broward

From Doral to Main driving routes Transit option Good to know
Downtown Miami and Brickell SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) Metrorail Green Line from Palmetto Station (check the county map for stops) SR 836 is a toll road managed by GMX
Miami International Airport (MIA) SR 836 or the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) MIA Mover from the Miami Intermodal Center to the terminals The Beacon Council places Doral one mile from MIA
Fort Lauderdale and Broward Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) or Florida's Turnpike Tri-Rail from the Miami Intermodal Center Tri-Rail runs toward Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach
  • SR 836 tolls: the Dolphin Expressway is a toll road managed by the Greater Miami Expressway Agency (GMX). For toll rates and SunPass questions, see GMX toll inquiries.
  • Where you live in Doral matters: your route and time change depending on the community, so compare homes on the same route at the same hour.

Transit: Metrorail, Doral Trolley, and Freebee

  • Metrorail: according to Miami-Dade County, the Green Line runs from Palmetto Station, the northernmost Metrorail station, to Dadeland South. Check the county's Metrorail map for the stops nearest your office.
  • Doral Trolley: the City of Doral Trolley offers free rides on four routes, including two Metrorail connector routes and an FIU connector, with weekday and Saturday service on most routes and a real-time tracker.
  • Freebee: the city's Freebee service offers free, on-demand rides in electric vehicles within Doral through the Ride Freebee app, and connects riders to the nearest trolley stop for the Palmetto Metrorail Station.
  • Airport and Broward: per Miami International Airport, the free MIA Mover links the terminals with the Miami Intermodal Center, where riders connect to Metrorail, Metrobus, and Tri-Rail toward Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Schedules change, so check the trolley and Metrorail schedules for the exact hours you need.

How to Test Your Commute Before You Buy

  1. Use real departure times. In your map app, set the departure time to your actual workday hour, both ways, on a weekday.
  2. Drive it once at rush hour. Before you make an offer, drive from the community to your office at the time you would leave.
  3. Compare two or three communities. A home a few miles east may save you more time than a bigger home farther west.
  4. Price the tolls. Estimate your monthly SunPass cost if you will use SR 836 daily.
  5. Try the transit option. If you could take Metrorail, test the trolley or Freebee connection to Palmetto Station.
  6. Check the community exits. Some gated communities have a single main entrance, which can add time at peak hours.

Choosing a Doral Community by Commute

Each Doral community has a different route to the highways and to transit. Downtown Doral is one of the Freebee points of interest listed by the City of Doral. Other communities to compare include Doral Park, Doral Estates, Doral Isles, and Islands at Doral. Test the commute from each one using the steps above.

Comparing city living? See my Brickell condos and Downtown Miami condos pages, or browse every community on my Doral, FL homes for sale page. For the buying process, see the buyer's guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Doral from Downtown Miami?

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council places Doral about twelve miles from Downtown Miami. Drivers can use SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway), a toll road, and transit riders can take the Metrorail Green Line from Palmetto Station.

How far is Doral from Miami International Airport?

Doral sits next to Miami International Airport; the Miami-Dade Beacon Council places it one mile from the airport. The free MIA Mover links the terminals with the Miami Intermodal Center, which connects Metrorail, Metrobus, and Tri-Rail.

What is the average commute time in Doral?

The U.S. Census Bureau reports a mean travel time to work of 26.5 minutes for Doral workers, based on the American Community Survey 2020-2024.

Is there a train from Doral to Brickell?

There is no Metrorail station inside Doral. The Metrorail Green Line runs from Palmetto Station to Dadeland South, and the free Doral Trolley has Metrorail connector routes. Check the Miami-Dade Metrorail map for stops in Downtown Miami and Brickell.

Is the Doral Trolley free?

Yes. The City of Doral Trolley offers free rides on four routes, including two Metrorail connector routes. Check the city's schedule for current hours.

Is SR 836 a toll road?

Yes. The Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) is a toll road managed by the Greater Miami Expressway Agency (GMX). See GMX for current toll rates and SunPass questions.

Find a Doral Home That Fits Your Commute

Tell me where you work and how you get there. I will shortlist Doral communities that fit your route, budget, and must-haves, and schedule tours at the times that matter. Bilingual EN/ES service.

Call or Text (786) 949-3971
Elizabeth Costa, Realtor | FL Lic. #3234205
The Keyes Company · Exclusive Member of Forbes Global Properties · Founding Member of Luxury Portfolio International
15+ years · 300+ closed transactions · Bilingual EN/ES
elizabethcosta@keyes.com · Schedule a Consultation · Free Home Valuation
Serving Doral, Miami, Coral Gables, Weston, Pinecrest, and surrounding South Florida communities
Elizabeth Costa, Top Real Estate Agent in Doral and Miami, Florida Elizabeth Costa, Realtor | FL Lic. #3234205
Top Real Estate Agent in Doral, Florida | The Keyes Company
☎ (786) 949-3971
✉ elizabethcosta@keyes.com
📅 Schedule a private consultation
15+ years · 300+ closed transactions · Bilingual EN/ES
Office: 4191 NW 107th Ave, Doral, FL 33178
Serving Doral, Miami, Coral Gables, Weston, Pinecrest, and surrounding South Florida communities
The Keyes Company: Exclusive Member of Forbes Global Properties · Founding Member of Luxury Portfolio International

This article is general information. Travel times, tolls, and transit schedules change; confirm them with the official sources linked above before you decide.