Getting Around West Palm Beach Without a Car

A lot of our guests ask whether they need a rental car in West Palm Beach. The honest answer: it depends on your plans. A car is still the easiest way to mix downtown, Palm Beach island and the beaches in one day. But if you're staying close to the action, you can do a surprising amount on foot, by train and on the city's new shuttle. Here's how I'd get around without one.

Schedules and fares change, so check each official site before you head out.

Arriving by train: Brightline

Brightline has a station right in downtown West Palm Beach, a short walk from Clematis Street and the waterfront. Trains run south to Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura and Miami, and north to Orlando International Airport. Brightline says the ride is roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to Miami and a little over 2 hours to Orlando, with about 16 round trips a day.

That makes it a great option if you're flying into Miami or Orlando, or if you want a day in Fort Lauderdale or Miami without fighting I-95 traffic. Fares are priced by demand, so booking early usually helps, and Brightline doesn't take cash.

The new downtown shuttle: West Palm Move

If you visited before this summer, you may remember the free downtown trolley. That service is gone. The city replaced it in September 2026 with West Palm Move, an all-electric service with two parts:

Fixed route: a north–south line between the Norton Museum of Art and Northwood Village, with stops near downtown and Clematis, CityPlace, Palm Beach Atlantic University and Good Samaritan Medical Center. Vehicles come about every 10 minutes. It runs 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
On demand: book a ride in the West Palm Move app anywhere in the service area, which the city describes as generally everything east of I-95. Pickups are corner to corner, so you may walk a short way to a "virtual stop."

Fixed-route rides are $1 and on-demand rides are $2, and a trip that combines both is a flat $2. Tap a card or phone when you board; cash isn't accepted. It isn't free anymore, but for a dollar it's still the easiest way to get from dinner in Northwood to a show downtown.

Commuter rail: Tri-Rail

Tri-Rail is South Florida's commuter train. It runs 72 miles from Mangonia Park, just north of West Palm Beach, down to Miami, with 19 stations. The West Palm Beach station sits west of downtown at the city's Intermodal Transit Center, where it shares a hub with Palm Tran buses. Tri-Rail is slower than Brightline and makes more stops, but it's usually the budget pick for reaching Miami International Airport or towns along the way.

Getting to and from PBI

Palm Beach International Airport is only a few miles from downtown, so a rideshare or taxi is quick. If you'd rather take transit, Palm Tran's Route 2 now stops at the airport's Level 1 outer curb and connects to the West Palm Beach Tri-Rail station in about 10 minutes. Tri-Rail riders can ride that leg free with a valid Tri-Rail fare, and trips from the airport to the station don't need a fare. On weekdays the bus runs about every 30 minutes.

Bikes and your own two feet

BrightBike is the city's bikeshare, with stations around downtown, including at the Brightline station, the Tri-Rail/Palm Tran hub and the waterfront. It's a fun way to cruise the waterfront path along Flagler Drive on a cool morning.

And don't underestimate walking. Downtown is compact. The waterfront, Clematis Street, CityPlace and many restaurants are all close together, and the bridges over to Palm Beach island make for a nice walk when it isn't too hot.

When a car still makes sense

If your trip includes a beach day, a drive up to Jupiter, or a round of errands with kids and gear, a car is still worth it. A good middle ground is to rent one for just the days you'll need it and use the train, West Palm Move and your feet the rest of the time.

A few quick tips

Download the West Palm Move app before you arrive if you plan to use on-demand rides.
Bring a contactless card or phone. Brightline and West Palm Move don't take cash.
Plan around season. Winter and spring are busy, so trains and restaurants book up faster.
Ask us. If you're staying with West Palm BnBs, we're happy to share what works best from your rental.

However you get around, the best part of West Palm Beach is that so much is close by. Park the car, take the train in, and enjoy the walk to dinner.

Chris Linteris hosts guests through West Palm BnBs in West Palm Beach, Florida.