Sleeping in Miami Airport

Whether your situation calls for a short nap or an overnight slumber, this sleep guide will give you the essential information needed to prepare you for sleeping in Miami Airport.

Our guide is updated with the help of airport sleepers who tell us about their experiences at Miami Airport. If you have a tip or photos to share, please take a moment to write a review to help us keep this sleep guide up-to-date!

Read the latest traveller reviews.

Sleeping in Miami Airport

Locations & Seating

Sleeping on Miami Airport Floor — Airside sleepers. Photo by SleepingInAirports.net / 29Aug2008

Seating is plentiful, though most seats, if not all, are equipped with armrests. If you want to stretch out for some rest, the floor is your best bet. Travellers recommend Terminal D the most, particularly for carpeted corners. Extra layers will provided some cushion and warmth, too.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

The International Arrivals area, near baggage carousels 1-6 and the popular Besame Mucho flower artwork, has some slim red couches that are comfortable enough for some sleep.
In the North Terminal, there’s a quieter, carpeted area just outside the Auditorium.
In Terminal D, a small, carpeted nook is located above Gate D15, near the Admiral’s Club. You’ll also find connected padded benches near TGIFridays (after gate D34).
In Terminal H, in the Yoga room (baggage claim area). A reader (2019) reported getting a good nap in here. Bring a towel with you to make your stay more comfy (no carpet) and to look more the part.
In Terminal J, Level 4 may have some red, thin, starfish-shaped couches.

Rest Zones

At the time of this update, there are no designated rest zones within the airport outside of the lounges. A reader tells us that the Admirals Club at D30 has a quiet area with 10 lounge chairs, although they tend to be full.

Temperature

Travellers report freezing temperatures throughout the airport. Arrive prepared with a blanket or even a sleeping bag. A hoodie provides extra warmth if the terminal gets even colder.

Lighting

At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal brightness. Come prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.

Noise

Depending where you rest for the night, do anticipate noise. Travellers who sleep in the pre-Security areas seem to report more announcements, blaring TVs and music, and general commotion than those who found corners in the Secure areas. Occasional cleaning crews may make noise as they move past you. We definitely recommend bringing along earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones.

Weather Delays

Miami Airport sees more than its fair share of flight cancellations due to bad weather. When mass cancellations happen at Miami Airport, cots are available for stranded passengers who opt against getting a hotel room. To find them, ask an airline or airport employee or use a courtesy phone to reach someone who has access to this information.

Please note that these cots cannot be reserved in advance and they are not available except for mass cancellations. That means you cannot access them simply because you chose to stay the night in the airport instead of getting a hotel room.

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Locations: Admirals Club Lounge, NOTE, a ticket with American Airlines is required. See our Miami Airport Guide for locations and details.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors: Dunkin’ Donuts and Cafe Versailles (Central Terminal, pre-Security, Concourse F), Subway (Central Terminal, pre-Security, Concourse E), Einstein Bros. Bagels (North Terminal, near Gate D26), and Earl of Sandwich (South Terminal, near Gate J8).

Hotels

Prefer the privacy and comfort of a hotel room? Luckily, a good solid sleep between flights isn’t too far away, with the Miami International Airport Hotel located inside the airport. The hotel offers overnight rooms as well as day rooms between 10:00AM – 6:00PM. Location: Central Terminal Concourse E, Level 2. (It is located pre-Security, so you’ll have to re-enter the Secure zone for your next flight). Several other hotels are located within a short 8-minute drive of the airport. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations or visit Tripadvisor to find hotels deals at Miami Airport.

Lounges

Miami Airport has several lounges, and at least one of them has a quiet area with recliner seats. A reader tells us that the Admirals Club at gate D30 has quiet area with 10 lounge chairs suitable for sleeping. If you just want to relax in a comfortable environment, check out this list of lounges in our Miami Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Security & Safety

Airport staff seem to tolerate sleepers in the airport, though they may wake you in the middle of the night to check IDs and tickets.

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Miami Airport. As a precaution, here are a few tips to ensure you have a safe airport sleeping experience:

Know Where Security is Located. Whether you are sleeping in the airport by yourself or with friends, it is good to know where security is. Know where their office is located and look for video cameras in the spot you decide to stay the night. Ask security where it is safe to spend the night. They’ve probably seen many airport sleepers before you and they will direct you to a safe spot.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you are travelling alone we recommend that you sleep near other travellers or close to security.
Hide Your Valuables. Don’t leave all your mobile devices out in plain view. We have received reports from people who woke up with earphones and no ipod and a laptop bag strap and no laptop bag (or laptop). Same goes with important documents and money. Keep these secure on your body, so that no one can get them without waking you up.
Secure Your Bags. If you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something. If your bags have zippers turn the bag upside down (zippers to the floor) or sleep with your bag up against the wall, so that it would be hard for someone to access.
Choose to Stay Alert. If you don’t feel safe, drink coffee and stay awake and be alert. You can always sleep on the plane!

Pro-tip: If you are sleeping in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds waking people up as travellers begin to arrive for morning flights.