Planespotting Miami — KMIA
Miami is the hinge between the United States and Latin America, and that is exactly what makes it worth the flight. Alongside the American Airlines hub you get carriers from almost every country between Mexico and Argentina, plus one of the largest international cargo operations in the US, with 747s, 777Fs and 767Fs from operators you rarely see in Europe. The airport has four runways: 08L/26R, 08R/26L and the crosswind 12/30 on the north side, and the long 09/27 on the south side. Easterly trade winds dominate, so on a typical day 08L, 08R, 12 and 09 are all active at once — northern runways for most departures, arrivals split across all four, with South American and much of the European traffic landing on 09. The airport tolerates spotting and even cut photo holes in a perimeter fence. Winter is prime time: drier air, lower sun and less haze than the wet, sticky summer.
- N533QS C68A 7 925 ft
- SKX5595 A20N 3 700 ft RWY 12
- FTO339 C208 2 925 ft
- LRC604 A320 2 825 ft RWY 08L
- AAL1347 B738 2 300 ft RWY 08L
- N786JM GLF5 1 525 ft RWY 08L
- AAL1852 A321 1 300 ft RWY 08L
- AAL2017 A321 400 ft RWY 08L
Conditions right now
Runways
- 09/27 3,959 × 45 m · 12,989 × 148 ft asphalt
- 08R/26L 3,198 × 60 m · 10,492 × 197 ft asphalt
- 12/30 RWY 30 2,852 × 45 m · 9,357 × 148 ft asphalt
- 08L/26R 2,619 × 45 m · 8,593 × 148 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 17:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody52%
- Widebody22%
- Cargo18%
- Bizjet4%
- Turboprop4%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
The Holes (NW 25th Street, by the Customs building)
Miami's official spotting location: a row of camera holes cut into the perimeter fence on the cargo side of the airport. Runway 12 traffic happens almost in front of you, and you can also cover 08L and 08R movements, with the downtown skyline in the background on clear days. The holes sit fairly high, so a small step helps.
- Getting there
- From the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826) take the NW 25th Street exit and head east; the holes are just southeast of the U.S. Customs building. Parking in the driveway towards the Customs building has been tolerated, but keep wheels off the grass. No shade, food or toilets on site.
- Best time
- Easterly operations (08L/08R/12). Runway 08 traffic is shootable most of the day except late summer afternoons; runway 12 gets good light from late morning onwards.
- Lens
- 24–105 mm for runway 12, 300 mm or more for 08L. Expect heat haze over the taxiways at midday.
El Dorado (end of NW 72nd Avenue)
The most popular spot at Miami and the place to be for runway 09, where most of the Latin American passenger flights and many freighters arrive. You overlook the threshold, so you get both landings and line-ups on the same runway. A rock and a low barrier help you clear the fence for departure shots.
- Getting there
- Named after the El Dorado furniture store at NW 72nd Avenue and NW 12th Street. Drive north on NW 72nd Avenue to the dead end by the railway tracks and park there. Without a car, rideshare to the furniture store. A gas station and convenience store are across the intersection.
- Best time
- Easterly operations (09 arrivals and departures). You face north, so in winter the sun is behind you from sunrise to sunset; in summer it works best from late morning to early afternoon.
- Lens
- 70–200 mm covers almost everything; around 50 mm for an A380 side-on.
Hilton Miami Airport Blue Lagoon
The spotting hotel at Miami. Upper-floor rooms on the northeast corner look over runway 30 arrivals, 27 departures and the taxiways, and the lagoon-side garden gives a lower angle on 30 arrivals. Staff are used to guests with long lenses.
- Getting there
- Blue Lagoon Drive, just south of the airport off NW 57th Avenue. Ask for a high, northeast-facing room and, if possible, one without balcony insect screens.
- Best time
- Westerly operations (27/30). Runway 27 works for most of the day; runway 30 from around midday to sunset.
- Lens
- 100–300 mm from the rooms and garden.
NW 47th Avenue cul-de-sac
A dead-end street south of the airport where you can photograph arrivals on runway 27 and runway 30. It is a local hangout, so it can get busy, and the canal edge comes with iguanas and the occasional alligator.
- Getting there
- From NW 7th Street, drive north on NW 47th Avenue to the end and park in the cul-de-sac. The nearest toilets and drinks are at the gas station on NW 7th Street.
- Best time
- Westerly operations. Runway 27 arrivals work all day in winter; runway 30 from late morning to sunset.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm; heat haze is possible on 27 arrivals.
Cell Phone Waiting Lot (off NW 42nd Avenue)
The free waiting lot between the airport entry road and NW 42nd Avenue (Le Jeune Road) looks at arrivals on 26L and 26R and departures from 08L and 08R. Airport police patrol the area because of the restricted zone to the north, so stay by your car.
- Getting there
- Follow airport signs for the cell phone lot; parking is free. Buses 37, 42 and 110 stop nearby, but there is no crosswalk on Le Jeune Road, so drive if you can.
- Best time
- Mostly backlit — it only works for an hour or so on long summer evenings when 26L/26R are landing.
- Lens
- 35–100 mm for runway traffic, 70–200 mm for ground movements.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
American Airlines dominates with A321s, 737s, 787s and 777-300ERs, plus regional jets to the Caribbean. The variety comes from the south: LATAM, Avianca, Copa, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Aeroméxico, Bahamasair, Caribbean Airlines and Cayman Airways, and smaller Venezuelan and Caribbean operators. European and Middle Eastern carriers arrive in an afternoon wave. Cargo runs around the clock, peaking at night: Atlas, Kalitta, Amerijet, LATAM Cargo, Avianca Cargo, UPS and FedEx, plus 747-8Fs from overseas carriers and older types on Caribbean runs. December to March is peak season.
FAQ
What's that plane over Miami?
Open Spotterra's live map to see every ADS-B aircraft over Miami-Dade with type, registration and route — handy for telling an Avianca A330 from a LATAM 767F before it reaches the holes. Free, no app required.
Where is the official spotting area at MIA?
The Holes on NW 25th Street: camera holes in the fence near the Customs building, facing runway 12 and the 08 runways. El Dorado at the end of NW 72nd Avenue is the unofficial favourite for runway 09.
When do the freighters come through?
Cargo flies around the clock, with the heaviest flow at night and early morning. Schedules shift constantly — Spotterra's alerts tell you when a 747F or 777F is inbound so you are in position when the light is right.
Do I need a car to spot in Miami?
It helps a lot, but El Dorado and The Holes are both within rideshare range of the airport hotels on NW 12th Street and NW 25th Street. Public transport to the spots is poor.
Spotterra watches the sky over Miami
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