Fare is $2.25: Metrobus 238 for MIA–Dolphin Expressway motels
Route 238 East-West Connection links Miami International Airport (MIA) with budget hotels and workplaces along NW 72nd Ave, the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) corridor, and out toward Dolphin Mall. Standard Metrobus fare is $2.25 with contactless payment or EASY Card, and the route mainly serves airport-area staff and locals staying in cheaper properties west of the North, Central, and South terminals.
The bus starts from the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), not directly from the terminals. From any terminal (North, Central, or South), take the free MIA Mover train up one level to the MIA Station; the ride is about 3–4 minutes. Route 238 boards at the Metrobus bays at MIA Station, so factor in the short walk from the MIA Mover platform, usually under 5 minutes.
Service typically runs every 30–40 minutes during daytime hours, with reduced frequency in late evenings and on weekends; check the exact schedule for your day. The line connects MIA with neighborhoods like Doral and parts of the 836 corridor, hitting spots near NW 72nd Ave, 87th Ave, and 107th Ave. If your motel lists an address on NW 36th St or along Dolphin Expressway frontage roads, 238 is one of the few direct transit options.
Board at the front door and tap an EASY Card, EASY Ticket, or contactless bank card for the $2.25 fare; you can also pay cash, but exact change is required and drivers do not give change. Travel time from MIA Station to the western end of the route can run 25–45 minutes depending on traffic on SR 836 and local stop delays along the way.
If you’re connecting between airport jobs, off-airport parking, or motels scattered along NW 36th St and the Dolphin corridor, Route 238 avoids a rideshare that could easily hit $20–$30 during peak hours. Combine it with other routes at key intersections like NW 72nd Ave or transfer at the MIC to Tri-Rail, Metrorail, or additional Metrobus lines for deeper connections into Miami and Miami Beach.
Practical tip: Look up the exact street address of your motel along NW 36th St or NW 72nd–107th Ave first, then match it to a 238 stop on the map so you don’t overshoot a stop on a 30-minute headway.