South Florida importers have two major ports 30 miles apart — PortMiami and Port Everglades. Most do not realize they have a choice. Picking the right one for your cargo can save days and hundreds of dollars per container.
South Florida Has Two World-Class Ports. Here Is How They Differ.
PortMiami and Port Everglades are two of the busiest container ports in the southeastern United States, separated by just 30 miles of I-95. Together they handle over 2 million TEUs per year and serve as the primary gateway for Caribbean, Latin American, and trans-Atlantic trade. But they are not interchangeable — each has distinct strengths, carrier concentrations, terminal operations, and infrastructure that make one or the other better suited depending on your cargo, carrier, and distribution requirements.
PortMiami: At a Glance
PortMiami is located on Dodge Island in Biscayne Bay, accessible via the Port Boulevard bridge and the MacArthur Causeway tunnel. It is one of the deepest ports in the southeastern US with a channel depth of 52 feet post-dredging, capable of handling post-Panamax and New-Panamax vessels.
Key carriers calling PortMiami
- MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) — dominant presence, largest TEU volume
- CMA CGM — strong Latin America and Caribbean services
- Hapag-Lloyd — Europe and Asia services
- Seaboard Marine — Caribbean and Central America specialist
- King Ocean — intra-Caribbean trades
PortMiami strengths
- Deepest draft capability in South Florida — can handle the largest vessels on the trans-Atlantic and Asia services
- Better highway connectivity to Miami-Dade warehousing corridors (Doral, Hialeah, Medley)
- Higher volume of Caribbean and Latin American services
- Seaboard Marine terminal — specialist in Caribbean reefer and project cargo
PortMiami limitations
- More congested terminal access — the Port Boulevard bridge creates a bottleneck
- Higher volume means appointment slots fill faster during peak season
- More complex CBP examination patterns on certain trade lanes
Port Everglades: At a Glance
Port Everglades is located in Fort Lauderdale and is administered by Broward County. It has excellent highway access via I-595 and US-1, making it ideal for Broward and Palm Beach County distribution. The port handles a mix of containers, petroleum products, and cruise ships across multiple dedicated terminals.
Key carriers calling Port Everglades
- Evergreen — strong Asia-Pacific service via Panama Canal
- Hapag-Lloyd — Europe services shared with PortMiami calls
- ZIM — Mediterranean and Israel trades
- OOCL — Asia services
- Tropical Shipping — Caribbean specialist
Port Everglades strengths
- Superior highway access via I-595 — easier in and out for truckers
- Better for Broward and Palm Beach County distribution without Miami congestion
- Less peak-season appointment congestion than PortMiami
- Strong Asia-Pacific carrier concentration — better for imports from China, Vietnam, and Korea
- Petroleum and liquid bulk terminal for fuel importers
Port Everglades limitations
- Slightly fewer Caribbean and Latin American direct services than PortMiami
- Farther from Miami-Dade industrial zones — adds 30 to 45 minutes for Doral-area warehouses
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | PortMiami | Port Everglades |
|---|---|---|
| Channel depth | 52 feet | 42 feet (expansion underway) |
| Annual TEU volume | ~1.1 million | ~1.1 million |
| Best carrier concentration | Caribbean, Latin America, MSC | Asia-Pacific, Europe |
| Highway access | Port Blvd bridge, I-395 | I-595 direct — easier egress |
| Best for distribution to | Miami-Dade (Doral, Hialeah) | Broward, Palm Beach, Orlando |
| Peak season congestion | Higher | Moderate |
| Reefer / cold chain | Strong (Seaboard Marine) | Available (Tropical Shipping) |
| Intermodal rail access | CSX Hialeah ramp (~10 miles) | CSX drayage to Hialeah (~20 miles) |
Which Port Should You Use? The Decision Framework
Use PortMiami if:
- Your ocean carrier calls PortMiami specifically (MSC, CMA CGM, Seaboard Marine)
- Your warehouse is in Miami-Dade County (Doral, Hialeah, Medley, Opa-locka)
- You import from the Caribbean or Latin America on direct services
- You are moving reefer freight on Seaboard Marine services
Use Port Everglades if:
- Your ocean carrier calls Port Everglades specifically (Evergreen, ZIM, OOCL)
- Your warehouse or distribution point is in Broward, Palm Beach, or central Florida
- You import from Asia via Pacific or trans-Pacific routes
- You want to avoid peak-season PortMiami appointment congestion
The reality: For most importers, the choice is made by the ocean carrier, not by you. Your carrier calls the port they call. The question then becomes: does your drayage carrier operate at both ports equally well, or do they have a strong presence at one and marginal capability at the other?
How Go Freight AI Covers Both Ports
Go Freight AI operates owned trucks and chassis staged at both PortMiami and Port Everglades. We have active terminal relationships, appointment access, and dedicated driver teams at each facility. Whether your vessel calls PortMiami or Everglades, we execute the pickup with the same owned-asset reliability and the same DispatchAI monitoring — no difference in service level regardless of which port your freight arrives at.
Importing through PortMiami or Port Everglades?
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Get a drayage quote →Frequently Asked Questions
Is PortMiami bigger than Port Everglades?
PortMiami and Port Everglades handle approximately the same TEU volume — around 1.1 million TEUs per year each. PortMiami has a deeper channel at 52 feet versus Port Everglades at 42 feet, which allows it to accommodate larger post-Panamax vessels. However Port Everglades has a larger total acreage and handles more petroleum and liquid bulk cargo in addition to containers.
Which South Florida port is better for imports from China?
Port Everglades generally has stronger Asia-Pacific carrier concentration with Evergreen, OOCL, and others operating direct services. PortMiami also has Asia services but is more dominant in Caribbean and Latin American trades. Check which carriers call which port on your specific Asia-to-Miami trade lane before committing to a routing.
Can I choose which port my container arrives at?
In most cases, the port is determined by your ocean carrier and the specific service they operate. However when buying ocean freight, you can request specific port routing and many carriers offer both PortMiami and Port Everglades on the same trade lane. If your distribution point is in Broward or Palm Beach County, it is worth asking your freight forwarder to route through Port Everglades to avoid the Miami-Dade drayage leg.
How long does drayage take from Port Everglades to Miami?
The drayage move from Port Everglades to a Miami-Dade warehouse (Doral, Hialeah) typically takes 60 to 90 minutes drive time plus appointment and gate processing. Total door-to-door from terminal availability to warehouse delivery is typically same-day or next-morning with a reliable carrier. The I-95 and I-595 interchange can add time during peak traffic hours.