Art Basel Miami traffic is the one thing every visitor to Miami Art Week talks about. The main fair fills the Miami Beach Convention Center each December, and the satellite fairs, gallery dinners and parties spread across Miami Beach, Wynwood and the Design District.
Why Art Basel Miami traffic builds so quickly
Miami Beach connects to the mainland by a handful of causeways, and during Art Week they carry collectors, gallery teams, production crews and visitors all at once. The MacArthur, Venetian and Julia Tuttle causeways all slow down, especially from late afternoon into the evening.
On the beach itself, Collins Avenue and the streets around the Convention Center carry heavy traffic for most of the day. Short distances can take a long time, which is why the order of your plans matters as much as the plans themselves.
Planning your days around the traffic
Group your plans by side of the bay. Spend the morning at the main fair on Miami Beach, cross to Wynwood and the Design District in the afternoon, and come back for dinner once the evening rush has eased.
- Morning — the main fair, before the busiest crossings of the day.
- Afternoon — galleries and fairs on the mainland side.
- Evening — dinners and parties, with the car booked for the return.
Chauffeur tip — Tell us every stop on your list the night before. We will suggest an order that keeps you on the right side of the bay at the right time.
Drop-offs beat parking during Art Week
Parking near the fairs fills early and can be a long walk from the entrance. A chauffeur drops you at the door, waits nearby and collects you when you call, so the time you would spend parking goes back into your day.
Keeping a car on call for Art Basel week
Many visitors book a car by the hour for Art Week. Your chauffeur stays close between appointments, keeps shopping and catalogues in the car, and knows which entrance you will come out of.
For groups, a Mercedes Sprinter keeps up to fourteen people together, which helps when a gallery team moves between events. Our Art Basel transportation page has the full booking options.
Booking your car for Art Basel week
Send us your dates, your hotel and a rough plan for each day, and we will reply with a flat rate in writing, usually within the hour. The earlier you book, the more choice of vehicle you have.
