Rachel Romens dances as Armin van Buuren performs during Ultra Music Festival’s 25th anniversary at Bayfront Park on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in downtown Miami, Fla.
Photo by Matias J. Ocner
mocner@miamiherald.com
The Ultra Music Festival merrily rolls along in its 26th year Friday through Sunday at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami.
A few million have attended Ultra in Miami since its inception in 1999. It may seem every one of these people has returned to Biscayne Boulevard this weekend.
That Bayfront area also encompasses the Miami Heat’s Kaseya Center home arena. The basketball team is away this weekend. But Latin rockers Maná play two concerts there at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts is down the block, where “Merrily We Roll Along,” a revived 1981 Sondheim musical is playing this week while Ultra headliners Major Lazer and Armin Van Buuren groove across the street.
So, if you are descending on downtown for any of the events, including the electronic dance music festival, expect traffic and altered street plans. Here are details on how to navigate Miami streets on one of the busiest weekends of the year:
When is Ultra? 
Armin Van Buuren amps the crowd at Ultra Music Festival in Bayfront Park on Friday, March 18, 2016. MATIAS J. OCNER mocner@miamiherald.com
This year’s three-day Ultra hours March 27-29:
Friday: 4 p.m.-midnight.Saturday: noon-midnight.Sunday: noon-10 p.m.Road closures and detours
Miami police posted planned road closings and detours. They begin around 9 p.m. Thursday to get things ready, and remain in effect until about 7 a.m. Monday, several hours after the beats end — but maybe not the reverberations.
Biscayne Boulevard northbound traffic re-routes to the southbound lanes at Southeast First Street, returning to normal traffic flow at Northeast Fourth Street.Biscayne Boulevard southbound traffic will be re‑routed westbound at Northeast Sixth Street, with the option to continue southbound via Northeast Second Avenue and/or North Miami Avenue.No southbound traffic on Biscayne Boulevard from Northeast Sixth Street.PortMiami access remains available via Northeast Fifth Street. Police recommend using the PortMiami Tunnel, accessible from I‑395, to avoid congestion.
Take note: Bayfront Park has closed until April 9. Bayfront’s Dog Park and Kid’s Playground remains closed until April 4.
Take note: No Kings protests will not be at the Torch of Friendship this year. The main protest has moved to Tropical Park, with other sites in Coral Gables, Miami Beach, Little Havana, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Coral Springs.
Public transportation
Miami-Dade Transit has several options to whisk fans to Ultra:
Metrorail and Metromover: Service starts at 5 a.m. Friday March 27, and runs through 2 a.m. the following morning on Saturday, March 28. On Sunday, March 29, service ends at midnight.Parking at any Metrorail garage or surface lot is $4.50 for the day and remains open into the following day given the long hours of Ultra.Cost and where to disembark: Metrorail is $2.25 for a one-way trip or $5.65 for a one-day pass to the Government Center station. From there, transfer to Metromover’s Inner Loop (free) and disembark at the College/Bayside, First Street or Bayfront Park Metromover station. When leaving the festival, board the Metromover Inner Loop or Brickell Loop at First Street, College/Bayside or Bayfront Park. Return to Government Center for Metrorail connections. Downloading the GO Miami-Dade Transit Mobile app may save you time at the turnstiles.Tri-Rail: Tri-Rail has 19 stations across South Florida. Drop-off for Ultra is the MiamiCentral Station, about a half-mile walk from Bayfront Park. Special late-night trains depart about an hour after each show on each day of the music festival.Brightline: Final late-night trains depart MiamiCentral Station after Friday and Saturday’s Ultra at 12:45 a.m. and 1 a.m.(That’s technically early Saturday and Sunday morning.) After Ultra’s last set Sunday, the last Brightline train leaves MiamiCentral at 12:45 a.m. (Technically early Monday morning.)Uber and Lyft: The rideshare companies haven’t released information about Ultra. But there is no set drop-off point. Rideshare users’ advice on several social media sites, including Reddit, is to set your drop-off point at least a block or two away from the main entrance — perhaps near the Frost Museum or Arsht Center — and that can help drivers get to you. Remember, Biscayne Boulevard will be closed or re-routed during the festival. When you leave, it’s also recommended that you walk several blocks west toward Second Avenue or Miami Avenue or take the free Metromover a few stops away from the venue before calling your ride. This could help you bypass the most congested areas and maybe even reduce surge costs.Waymo: If you managed to get off the waitlist and are a Waymo user, you know that downtown Miami is one of the driverless service regions. But as with traditional rideshares, several streets are closed or re-routed, so autonomous cars aren’t going to be able to drop you off at the entrance. If you are so inclined, set your drop-off point farther away, perhaps a Metromover station. Also keep in mind the longer ride times because Waymo currently doesn’t take expressways and sticks to surface roads.Parking
Parking. Are you kidding? Ultra and Miami officials recommend public transportation because lots tend to fill. And you’d have to navigate to get to them. They are also more expensive than taking Metrorail — at least $30 flat rate all day, no in and out. Still insist on driving yourself? Miami Parking Authority garages include:
The College Station garage at 190 NE Third St. About 600 spaces.Lot 92 at 233 NE Fifth St. — the Miami Dade College lot — has 225 spaces. 
A woman climbs a tree to watch Armin van Buuren perform during Ultra Music Festival’s 25th anniversary at Bayfront Park on Saturday, March 29, 2025, in downtown Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com Safety Walk
Feel uneasy walking alone during Ultra? Miami’s Downtown Development Authority ambassadors Safety Walk program provides directions, assistance and support with extended hours during Ultra until 2 a.m. each day of the festival. Call 305-415-3896 to request a safety walk. A DDA ambassador can meet you and walk you to your destination at no charge.
Arsht Center events 
John Reed, Alex Jorth, and Joline Mujica play three best friends trying to make their dreams come true in Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” now at Zoetic Stage through Sunday, April 5. Photo by Justin Namon, courtesy of Arsht Center
In addition to Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” this weekend at the Arsht the performing arts venue has the Cleveland Orchestra performing Mark Knopfler’s score from “The Princess Bride,” and the Miami City Ballet also has “Carmen” booked.
“Our usual advice remains,” says Arsht spokeswoman Suzette Espinosa Fuentes. “Arrive at least an hour prior to curtain for the most stress-free experience,” she said. You can pass the time at the on-site Teatro restaurant, Accent Cafe or at lobby concessions that are open 90 minutes before each show. There is also seating on the outdoor Thomson Plaza where guests can catch the Miami breeze blowing Ultra’s music your way until curtain.
She also suggested reserving parking in advance through arshtcenter.org/parking. And one more tip: “Arriving to the Arsht from the north is also advisable as we have seen that most of the Ultra traffic remains south of I-395,” Espinosa Fuentes said.
Weather
Sunny days around 80 Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with nights in the low 70s. Rain chances in the Miami area are 20% Friday and Saturday, building to 30% Saturday night.
You may get wet Sunday at Ultra as some rain moves in along with wind gusts up to 25 mph around 9 a.m. and hits it peak between 3 and 6 p.m. on Ultra’s last day. Thunderstorms are possible. Sunday rain chance is 40%.
READ MORE: Miami weather’s simply ultra for the music festival. Its last day could change
Need more information?
The Ultra Community Hotline for any questions about the event is up and running until April 8 at 786-767-7272 or visit ultramusicfestival.com.
Miami Herald
Miami Herald consumer trends reporter Howard Cohen, a 2017 Media Excellence Awards winner, has covered pop music, theater, health and fitness, obituaries, municipal government, breaking news and general assignment. He started his career in the Features department at the Miami Herald in 1991. Cohen is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Communication.
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