The Port of Miami is located on Dodge Island and is one of the largest cruise ports in the world. This half marathon route connects Downtown Miami, the Venetian Islands, and Miami Beach in one varied long run directly from the ship. Large parts of the route follow roads that are also used during the official Miami Marathon.
The route starts near the beginning of the bridge between Dodge Island and Downtown Miami. While crossing the bridge, there are impressive views of the Miami skyline and the port area.
After the bridge, the route turns right at the Kaseya Center, home of the NBA team Miami Heat. From there, the route follows the West Venetian Causeway Bridge toward Miami Beach and crosses several of the famous Venetian Islands.
At the end of the bridge, the route first turns right and then left onto Lincoln Road toward the beach. Lincoln Road is one of the best-known shopping streets in Miami Beach. Along the beach, the route partly follows the sand and partly the famous Miami Beach Boardwalk. The route switches between both surfaces and continues along the coast to the southernmost point of Miami Beach.
The return route follows the western side of Miami Beach along the water. Afterwards, the route heads back toward Downtown Miami via the MacArthur Causeway. The road has more traffic, but there is a sidewalk on the left side. Back in Downtown Miami, the route turns left and passes the Kaseya Center again before returning to the cruise port.
This route is one of the most spectacular long runs directly from a cruise port. Parts of the route follow larger roads, but the combination of the Downtown skyline, the Venetian Islands, and Miami Beach creates a very special running experience. The beach section in particular makes this route unique.
The tours presented here are not highly sporty activities, but they combine perfectly with a long run or a shorter easy run.
If you want to see as much of Miami as possible, a guided city tour is a great option. The tour starts near the port on the other side of the bridge close to the Kaseya Center and connects many of the city's famous highlights. Before or after the tour, there is still enough time for a run along Biscayne Bay or all the way to Miami Beach.
Another option is an excursion to the Everglades. The tour with transfer from the cruise port is especially suitable if your ship arrives early enough in Miami. After returning, this half marathon route is ideal for discovering Miami in a sporty way while enjoying the skyline, the Venetian Islands, and Miami Beach.
The route starts directly at the Port of Miami. Since Dodge Island is very large and has several terminals, you should allow some extra time depending on where your ship is docked.
You can either follow the route directly on the map on this page or import the GPX file into a navigation app such as Komoot. We recommend using the GPX file because it provides much more precise GPS navigation while running. Once the GPX file is saved in your app, offline navigation is usually possible as well.
We recommend testing the navigation beforehand in airplane mode without Wi-Fi to make sure it works without an internet connection.
Tip: It is still useful to have internet access while traveling. If your mobile provider offers expensive roaming in the USA, a global data plan for cruises can be a good solution, for example from eSIM.sm (advertisement).
Parts of the route follow larger roads, but mostly on wide sidewalks. You should still stay attentive when crossing larger streets and while running on the MacArthur Causeway. Apart from that, the route passes through very busy and lively areas. Especially around Miami Beach, there are many other runners, walkers, and tourists.
Especially for afternoon runs, plan enough time buffer before your ship departs. In Miami Beach, you can check whether another route brings you back faster to one of the bridges toward the cruise port. For emergencies, it is also recommended to save the ship's phone number in advance. Ride-share apps such as Uber or Lyft should also be installed and ready to use. They work very well in Miami.
Public toilets are available along Miami Beach and near the Boardwalk. Paid water refill stations ("Woosh") are available at the Boardwalk and accept card payments. There are also many other places along the route where drinks can be purchased.
The route mainly follows asphalt paths, promenades, and partly the sand at the beach. Regular road running shoes are sufficient. We also recommend sunscreen (ad), enough water, and a phone or sports watch for navigation. A payment option is useful as well, although in Miami you can pay almost everywhere by card or smartphone.