West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale commute cost: driving vs Tri-Rail vs Brightline
Tri-Rail from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale is 4 zones, $7 one way (fares effective Oct 1, 2026), or $121.00 a month for a 21-workday commute. Driving the ~44.7 miles costs $1,426.82 a month at the IRS rate or $298.96 for gas alone (verified Oct 23, 2026).
Last updated Oct 23, 2026 · Last verified Oct 23, 2026
What does the West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale commute cost per day, month and year?
| Option | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive: IRS full cost (76¢/mile) | $67.94 | $1,426.82 | $17,121.89 |
| Drive: gas only | $14.24 | $298.96 | $3,587.49 |
| Tri-Rail (4 zones, $7 one way, monthly pass) | $5.76 | $121.00 | $1,452.00 |
| Brightline SMART 40-ride pass rate | $17.95 | $376.95 | $4,523.40 |
21 workdays a month, 25 MPG and $0 tolls/parking are assumptions. Use the calculator below for your numbers.
What does Brightline cost from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale?
Brightline is private and changes prices often. These are its published Miami ↔ Fort Lauderdale or Fort Lauderdale ↔ West Palm Beach SMART pass prices as of Oct 23, 2026; each pass is valid 30 days from purchase. Single-ticket prices vary by train, so check current prices.
| Pass | Price | Per ride |
|---|---|---|
| 10 rides | $239 | $23.90 |
| 20 rides | $319 | $15.95 |
| 40 rides | $359 | $8.97 |
How much is Tri-Rail from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale?
$7 one way and $14 round trip (4 zones traveled, counting both end zones), or $121 for a monthly pass, under fares effective October 1, 2026.
How much does it cost to drive from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale?
About 44.7 miles each way station to station. At the IRS 76¢ rate that is $67.94 a day round trip; gas alone at 25 MPG and $3.981/gal is $14.24 a day, before tolls and parking.
Is it cheaper to take the train or drive from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale?
For 21 workdays a month, Tri-Rail costs $121.00 versus $298.96 for gas alone and $1,426.82 at the IRS full-cost rate, so Tri-Rail is cheaper before tolls and parking. Brightline at the 40-ride SMART pass rate is about $376.95 a month.
Where do I park for Tri-Rail?
Parking at both Tri-Rail stations is free (no 24-hour parking).
Can I change the numbers?
4 zones traveled: $7 one way
| Option | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drive: IRS full cost (76¢/mile) | $67.94 | $1,426.82 | $17,121.89 |
| Drive: gas only | $14.24 | $298.96 | $3,587.49 |
| Tri-Rail (4 zones, $7 one way, monthly pass) | $5.76 | $121.00 | $1,452.00 |
| Brightline SMART 40-ride pass rate | $17.95 | $376.95 | $4,523.40 |
Defaults: 21 workdays a month and 25 MPG are our assumptions; change them. Gas is EIA's Florida average for the week of Oct 19, 2026. Tolls default to $0 because Turnpike and I-95 Express tolls vary by route and time: enter yours from the Turnpike or 95 Express. See AAA for today's pump prices.
All commute routes and calculator →
Sources
- SFRTA Tariff Policy, October 2026 (Table 1 Zone Fare Structure; Figure 1 Zone Map; §8.15 Parking) (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- Tri-Rail: Calculating Your Fare (zone fares and monthly passes) (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- SFRTA press release, Sept. 23, 2026: Tri-Rail fares increase October 1, 2026 (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- IRS standard mileage rates: 76¢ per mile, July 1 – Dec. 31, 2026 (IR-2026-29) (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- EIA weekly Florida regular gasoline price, week of Oct 19, 2026: $3.981/gal (released Oct 20, 2026) (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- Brightline Passes (published SMART pass prices, as of Oct 23, 2026) (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- Brightline press release, Jul 8, 2026: West Palm Beach–Fort Lauderdale pass $239/$319/$359 (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- Driving distances: OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors), station to station, approximate (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- Florida's Turnpike toll rates (enter your own tolls) (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- 95 Express dynamic toll pricing (enter your own tolls) (verified Oct 23, 2026)
- AAA gas prices (Florida, for comparison; not used in our math) (verified Oct 23, 2026)
Last updated: Oct 23, 2026 · Next review: Nov 23, 2026 · Download CSV (fare and route tables) · Methodology