If your group is headed to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center for a conference, trade show, or corporate event, the logistics question that trips up organizers every time is the same one: where exactly does the bus drop everyone off, and what happens to the vehicle while your group is inside? It is the detail most transportation pages never answer clearly — and the one that decides whether 40 attendees walk straight into registration or spend 20 minutes sorting out where to reassemble in a parking garage with a 6’8″ clearance that no charter bus can enter.

This guide answers it directly, using the convention center’s own published information and the logistics of the new Bypass Road that opened in October 2025. We also walk through everything else a group trip to the BCCC needs: which vehicle fits your party size, how pricing works, how close Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport actually is, and which annual events spike demand — so you know exactly when to book early. A Davie-to-convention-center bus rental should be the easy part of your event planning.

This guide makes sure it is.

Address

1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Phone

954-765-5900

Total space

1.2 million sq. ft. after 2025 East Expansion

On-site parking garage

1,500 spaces, 6’8″ clearance — charter buses cannot enter

From FLL Airport

~2–3 miles · ~5-minute drive

From Davie

~13–15 miles via I-595 East · ~20–30 minutes off-peak

What and Where Is the Broward County Convention Center?

The Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center (1950 Eisenhower Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316) sits along the Intracoastal Waterway near Port Everglades, roughly two miles from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and 1.5 miles from Fort Lauderdale Beach. That waterfront position is part of the appeal for conference planners, and also the source of the routing confusion groups run into: access has historically funneled through Port Everglades security corridors, adding time and confusion for vehicles unfamiliar with the area.

In October 2025, Broward County opened the Convention Center Connector — a $55 million elevated bypass road that changed everything about how groups reach the building. The new connector runs directly from US-1 and State Road 84 to the convention center without requiring vehicles to navigate Port Everglades security checkpoints. For a charter bus routing down I-595 from Davie, that means a direct, uncomplicated approach: I-595 East to US-1 North to the connector, and your group is at the front entrance — no badge checks, no detours through the port.

The facility itself just completed a significant transformation. The East Expansion added 525,000 square feet of new event space, bringing the total to over 1.2 million square feet, making it one of the largest convention venues in the Southeast. A new 65,000 square foot waterfront ballroom and the adjoining Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel (801 rooms, 29 floors) now connect directly to the convention center complex.

For groups shuttling attendees between an event at the BCCC and nearby hotel blocks, that connection means you don’t need a separate stop.

Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Blvd — accessible via the new Convention Center Connector from US-1 and SR-84, which opened October 2025.

Charter Bus Drop-Off at the Broward County Convention Center: Here’s the Honest Picture

Here is the part most transportation pages skip — and the part that matters most to whoever is coordinating 40 attendees from three different Broward County hotels.

The on-site parking garage at the BCCC connects to the second floor of the convention center via a covered, air-conditioned skywalk. That garage has 1,500 spaces and a clearance of 6′8″ — which means no charter bus, minibus, or full-size motorcoach can enter it. Period.

Groups that attempt to drive their bus into the garage get turned away at the entrance.

What this means in practice: your bus drops your group curbside on Eisenhower Boulevard at the convention center entrance. The group walks in directly from the curb. The bus then moves to off-site parking — typically a designated commercial vehicle or oversized parking area outside the garage, which the venue’s event coordinator or the on-site parking team can direct your operator to depending on your specific event.

Always confirm the exact waiting area with the BCCC’s event team before your date by calling 954-765-5900, because large events like the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show reconfigure the entire surrounding lot system.

The one fact that changes your plan: the on-site garage at the BCCC has a 6′8″ clearance. No charter bus enters it. Your group unloads curbside on Eisenhower Boulevard and walks straight in from the curb.

Confirm where your bus will wait with the venue before your date — the setup shifts by event.

For the departure pickup, arrange a meeting point with your group before they go inside — either the same Eisenhower Boulevard curbside drop zone or a designated spot the venue’s event team recommends. Convention center exits spread across multiple hall exits depending on which sessions let out, so telling everyone the curb meeting spot in advance is what keeps a 50-person group from scattering in four directions at 5 PM. We confirm that detail with your group when you book so nobody is texting “where are you” at pickup time.

The Bypass Road: How to Use It, and Why It Matters

Before October 2025, reaching the Broward County Convention Center by vehicle meant threading through Port Everglades access roads — a frustrating experience involving security signage, unfamiliar turns, and the general anxiety of a large bus trying to navigate infrastructure built for freight traffic. The Convention Center Connector solved that. The new elevated, two-lane road runs directly from US-1 (Federal Highway) and State Road 84 to the convention center, with a secure fenced perimeter separating it from the Port itself.

For a group coming from Davie or anywhere west via I-595, the approach is now clean: I-595 East → US-1 North → Convention Center Connector → Eisenhower Boulevard. No port security. No wrong turns.

The connector also improves access from Fort Lauderdale Beach via A1A connecting to SE 17th Street, for groups shuttling between the BCCC and beachside hotel blocks.

One note on the SE 17th Street drawbridge: the bascule bridge just north of Port Everglades opens for marine traffic on a regular schedule, but since February 2026, weekday openings have been suspended at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. to ease commuter congestion. For a bus making a morning conference drop-off or an afternoon pickup, the approach via the Convention Center Connector from US-1 sidesteps the 17th Street bridge entirely. That is the cleaner route for an oversized vehicle regardless of the time of day.

Drive Times to the BCCC: Davie, Airport Transfers, and Beyond

Groups coordinating bus rentals in Broward County come from a wide range of starting points. Here is an honest look at what to expect, using off-peak times as the baseline — add 10–20 minutes during the morning and evening rush on I-595 and I-95.

From… Approx. distance Typical drive time (off-peak)
Davie ~13–15 miles 20–30 minutes
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) ~2–3 miles 5–10 minutes
Downtown Fort Lauderdale ~2.5 miles 8–15 minutes
Fort Lauderdale Beach / A1A ~2 miles 8–15 minutes
Pembroke Pines / Cooper City ~12–16 miles 20–30 minutes
Miami (Brickell / Downtown) ~30–35 miles 40–55 minutes
Boca Raton ~25 miles 30–40 minutes
West Palm Beach ~46 miles 55–70 minutes

The FLL proximity is the single biggest logistical advantage the BCCC has over most convention venues in South Florida. At two to three miles, an airport-to-convention-center bus transfer is a 5–10 minute straight shot up US-1 North. For out-of-town attendees flying into Broward, there is no reason to book a rideshare caravan or a shared shuttle — one bus picks up the full group at baggage claim, takes the Convention Center Connector in, and drops them curbside at registration.

The 17th Street hotel corridor (Hilton Marina, Hyatt Regency, Renaissance, and others along SE 17th) is also under three miles, making hotel-block-to-venue shuttle loops short, predictable, and very easy to schedule.

The Davie to BCCC run — roughly 13–15 miles via I-595 East and US-1 North, 20–30 minutes off-peak. The new Convention Center Connector means no port checkpoint navigation on arrival.

Which Vehicle Fits Your Group?

A charter bus to a convention center is a different logistics problem than a game-day party bus — and the right vehicle depends on your headcount, your luggage load, and whether you are running a single transfer or a multi-hotel shuttle loop.

Vehicle Typical capacity Luggage / gear Best for
Sprinter van / 14-passenger Sprinter limo Up to 14 Modest — carry-ons and a few bags Executive transfers, VIP speakers, small delegations
15–35 passenger minibus ~15–35 Good — overhead storage Mid-size groups, hotel-to-venue loops, school field trips
40–56 passenger charter bus Up to 56 Excellent — deep undercarriage bays Large conference delegations, corporate shuttles, exhibit equipment

For convention transportation specifically, the 40–56 passenger charter bus earns its keep on the equipment front: undercarriage bays swallow presentation gear, display materials, banners, and rolling cases that would never fit in a rideshare. Climate control and reclining seats make a post-keynote afternoon ride back to the hotel feel like a debrief lounge rather than a packed van. For smaller delegations or VIP movements — speakers arriving from FLL, executive roundtable participants, board members — a Sprinter limo or a 15-passenger minibus handles the job cleanly without paying for 40 empty seats.

ADA-accessible vehicles are available — just mention that when you book and we will confirm the right vehicle is ready. Convention attendees have equipment, carry-on luggage, and long days on their feet; a bus with real seating and climate control is the difference between a comfortable commute and 20 people crammed into back-to-back rideshares hoping nobody’s surge-priced out at 6 PM.

How Much Does a Bus Rental to the Broward County Convention Center Cost?

Convention transportation pricing shapes around three variables: your vehicle size, the total hours the bus is reserved for your group, and whether you are running a single transfer or a multi-day shuttle loop for a multi-day event.

For real ranges to anchor your planning: Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; 15–35 passenger minibuses run $150–$300/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day. A single airport-to-convention-center transfer for a group of 40 is a short-mileage, limited-hour booking — very different from a three-day conference shuttle contract running morning and evening loops. Both are straightforward to quote once we have your headcount, your dates, and your hotel block.

Here is the per-person math that settles most corporate conversations. A 56-seat charter bus for a half-day convention shuttle might run $900 all-inclusive — split across 40 attendees, that is $22.50 per person, round-trip, with everyone moving together and no expense-report drama from individual rideshares. Compare that to 10 Ubers at $25+ each way during event congestion, and the bus wins before you factor in the organizational headache.

Call 305-443-8831 for an all-inclusive quote built around your specific event dates and headcount.

Annual Events That Affect Availability and Booking Timing

The BCCC is one of the most active convention venues in the Southeast, and several recurring events create genuine transportation demand spikes around Fort Lauderdale that affect parking, rideshare pricing, and bus availability. Know these before you book.

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) — Late October/Early November

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is the world’s largest in-water boat show, drawing well over 100,000 attendees across five days in late October or early November. The BCCC functions as the show’s official transportation hub: with over 3,000 parking spaces and $20 daily parking, it becomes a gathering point for shuttle buses and golf cart circuits connecting to all seven show locations (Bahia Mar Yachting Center, Hall of Fame Marina, Las Olas Marina, 17th Street Yacht Basin, Pier 66 Marina, and the Superyacht Village at Pier 66 South). During FLIBS, the entire 17th Street Causeway corridor turns into one of South Florida’s worst traffic choke points — the BCCC lot fills before midday, and rideshare surge pricing along SE 17th Street starts before the show gates open.

If your event or conference overlaps with FLIBS dates, book your bus rental months out. The Broward vehicle supply tightens quickly once the show’s corporate exhibitors start reserving their fleet. And if your group is attending FLIBS, a private bus rental drops your party at the BCCC hub on arrival and retrieves them at day’s end — no parking gamble, no bridge backups, no trying to find eight rideshares at 5 PM when every other attendee is doing the same.

South Florida Travel & Adventure Show — Late January

The South Florida Travel & Adventure Show typically runs at the BCCC in late January, drawing thousands of attendees over a weekend. It is a high-attendance consumer event, not a ticketed corporate conference, which means the parking situation is exactly what you would expect: the garage fills by mid-morning and the surrounding streets around Eisenhower Boulevard see real congestion. For club groups, travel agencies, or school groups attending together, a dedicated bus makes the timing flexible — drop in early before the crowds peak, stay as long as you want, and leave without hunting for a rideshare in a lot that is already full.

Corporate Convention Season — January Through March

South Florida’s convention sweet spot runs January through March, when national organizations flood the BCCC calendar to escape northern winters. The 1.2-million-square-foot facility can run multiple large conferences simultaneously after the East Expansion, which means Eisenhower Boulevard and the surrounding hotel blocks on SE 17th Street can be busy with multiple groups moving at the same time. If your organization is one of several conferences running the same week, a private bus rental with a reserved schedule is what keeps your group’s movement separate from the general convention crowd.

We recommend booking any January–March conference shuttle at least six to eight weeks out to lock in a vehicle during the peak season.

The Booking-Urgency Sentence That Matters

For FLIBS specifically: Broward County’s bus and minibus supply for the October/November window is meaningfully smaller than demand once exhibitors start reserving vehicles in August. If your conference or corporate event lands within two weeks of the boat show’s dates, treat it as a peak-season booking and lock in your vehicle as soon as the event is confirmed. Waiting until three weeks out during that window typically means higher pricing or unavailability for the right-size vehicle.

Call 305-443-8831 the moment your event date is confirmed and we will hold the right vehicle for your group.

Trip Types We Coordinate to the BCCC

Different groups, same core need: everyone arrives at Eisenhower Boulevard together, on time, without a parking nightmare at the end of the day. The runs we coordinate to the Broward County Convention Center most often:

  • Conference shuttle loops: Morning and evening transfers between the SE 17th Street hotel corridor (Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Hyatt Regency, Renaissance, Marriott Harbor Beach) and the convention center entrance — a 2–3 mile loop that runs on a published schedule so attendees know exactly when to be at the curb.
  • Airport-to-venue transfers: FLL is two to three miles away. One bus collects the full delegation from baggage claim and delivers them curbside at registration — no shared shuttles, no split rideshares, no one arriving 30 minutes after the keynote started.
  • Corporate and VIP executive transfers: Sprinter limos or executive minibuses for speakers, board members, and senior leadership who need a clean, quiet transfer without a full-size coach.
  • Multi-day conference contracts: Scheduled morning and afternoon loops running across the full conference dates, with a single point of contact and a locked itinerary so your event coordinator stops worrying about transportation the moment we confirm.
  • Exhibit and equipment transfers: Charter buses with deep undercarriage bays for rolling cases, display systems, and presentation materials that cannot fit in standard vehicles.
  • Trade show groups: FLIBS, boat show, and large consumer events where a private bus drops your group at the hub entrance and retrieves them at a set time — no parking gamble, no 17th Street bridge backup on the way out.

Bus vs. Rideshare for a Convention Group: The Honest Comparison

We are a bus company, so make of this what you will — but here is an honest read. For a single traveler or a pair of colleagues who landed at FLL and need to get to the BCCC, a rideshare at 9 AM on a Tuesday works fine. The math changes the moment your group gets bigger.

Option Best group size Equipment / luggage Arrive together? End-of-day pickup
Private charter bus or minibus 15–56 Excellent — undercarriage bays Yes — one vehicle, one arrival Waiting at your named pickup point
Rideshare (Uber / Lyft) 1–4 per car Carry-on only No — multiple cars, multiple ETAs Surge pricing during convention exit hour
Hotel shuttle (where available) Shared seating Limited No — fixed stops, fixed schedule Fixed times, often one final run
Rental cars (caravan) 1–5 per car Limited per vehicle No — caravans split up Everyone parks separately and drives separately

The rideshare problem at a convention center exit is a specific, predictable pain: when a 1,000-person conference ends its afternoon session at 5 PM, every attendee opens Uber simultaneously. Surge pricing on SE 17th Street and Eisenhower Boulevard during peak convention exit hours in Fort Lauderdale can push individual fares well above a private bus split across a group — and your team is still competing for cars while your bus is already waiting curbside. For groups of 15 or more, the bus is nearly always the simpler and more cost-effective answer once you run the per-head math.

Booking Tips for Broward County Convention Center Transportation

A few things every organizer should know before confirming a group bus rental to the BCCC:

  • The on-site parking garage has a 6′8″ clearance. No charter bus, minibus, or full-size Sprinter van enters it. Curbside drop-off on Eisenhower Boulevard is the standard approach. Confirm where your bus will wait with the venue event team at 954-765-5900 before your date, since large events reconfigure the surrounding lot system.
  • Use the Convention Center Connector from US-1 or SR-84. The new bypass road opened October 2025 and cuts out the need to route through Port Everglades security corridors. It is the standard approach for any bus coming from I-595 or the western suburbs — including Davie.
  • Establish a named pickup point before your group goes inside. The convention center has multiple hall exits, and a 40-person group without a named curb meeting spot will scatter. Pick a specific spot on Eisenhower Boulevard and tell everyone before they walk in.
  • Build in buffer for the 17th Street bridge on your return route. If your return takes you east across the SE 17th Street causeway toward the beach, note the bridge’s current restricted schedule (no openings at 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. on weekdays). The Convention Center Connector toward US-1 and I-595 westbound avoids the bridge entirely.
  • For FLIBS and peak-season events, book early. October/November and January–March are the BCCC’s two busiest stretches. If your dates overlap with FLIBS or a major trade show, the Broward vehicle supply tightens fast.
  • We recommend verifying event-specific parking and drop-off protocols directly with the BCCC team before your event at the official Broward County Convention Center site — large events routinely change the approach and lot assignments for that week.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly does a charter bus drop off at the Broward County Convention Center?

Curbside on Eisenhower Boulevard at the main convention center entrance. The on-site parking garage has a 6′8″ clearance that no charter bus can enter, so the standard approach is a curbside unload on Eisenhower Boulevard and the bus moves to off-site or designated oversized vehicle parking. For your specific event, confirm the exact drop-off zone with the BCCC team at 954-765-5900, since large events like the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show reconfigure the surrounding lots.

What is the best route to the Broward County Convention Center for a bus coming from Davie?

I-595 East to US-1 North to the Convention Center Connector — the new $55 million bypass road that opened October 2025 connects directly from US-1 and SR-84 to the convention center without requiring navigation through Port Everglades security checkpoints. From Davie, that is a clean, uncomplicated approach that takes 20–30 minutes off-peak.

How far is Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from the convention center?

Approximately 2–3 miles — a 5–10 minute drive under normal conditions. It is the closest major convention venue to FLL in South Florida. A bus rental that collects your full delegation at FLL baggage claim and drops them at BCCC registration is a more practical option than any combination of shared shuttles or rideshares for a group of 15 or more.

How much does a bus rental to the Broward County Convention Center cost?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, total hours reserved, and your dates. Sprinter limos run $170–$344/hour; minibuses run $150–$300/hour; and 40–56 passenger charter buses run $150–$300/hour or $1,200–$2,500/day for longer events. A short FLL-to-BCCC transfer for a group of 40 is a very different booking from a three-day conference shuttle contract — call 305-443-8831 with your headcount and dates for an all-inclusive quote.

What is the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and how does it affect transportation?

FLIBS is the world’s largest in-water boat show, held across seven Fort Lauderdale venues in late October or early November. The Broward County Convention Center serves as the show’s transportation hub, with over 3,000 parking spaces and shuttle circuits connecting all show locations. During FLIBS week, the entire SE 17th Street corridor experiences significant congestion, parking fills early, and rideshare surge pricing begins before the show opens.

If your conference or corporate event falls near FLIBS dates, treat your bus booking as a peak-season reservation and confirm as early as possible.

Can a charter bus navigate Port Everglades to reach the convention center?

Since the Convention Center Connector opened in October 2025, there is no reason to route through Port Everglades at all. The new bypass road connects directly from US-1 and SR-84 to the BCCC without any port security checkpoint navigation. Use that route.

It is cleaner, faster, and built specifically to cut out the routing confusion that made pre-2025 charter bus access to the convention center unnecessarily complicated.

How far in advance should we book a conference shuttle for the BCCC?

For most events outside the peak windows, four to six weeks is workable. For January–March conference season and any dates near the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (late October/early November), book six to twelve weeks out. The Broward vehicle supply is meaningfully smaller than demand during FLIBS week in particular, and the right-size vehicles for large conference groups go first.

Call 305-443-8831 the moment your event date is confirmed.

Do you handle multi-hotel shuttle loops for multi-day conventions?

Yes. Multi-day conference contracts with scheduled morning and afternoon loops between the SE 17th Street hotel corridor and the BCCC entrance are one of our most common arrangements. We lock in the itinerary, the vehicle, and the schedule so your event coordinator has a single point of contact and a confirmed plan from the first conference morning to the last session day.

Tell us your hotel block locations, your conference dates, and your approximate headcount and we will build the loop from there.

Book Your Broward County Convention Center Bus Today

The BCCC’s curbside drop on Eisenhower Boulevard is straightforward, the new Convention Center Connector has made routing from Davie and western Broward genuinely easy, and the FLL proximity makes airport-to-venue transfers some of the most efficient in South Florida. The one part that requires planning — vehicle size, event date, staging confirmation, and pickup logistics — is exactly what we handle when you book. Whether it is a single airport pickup for a 40-person delegation, a three-day conference shuttle loop between SE 17th Street hotels and the BCCC entrance, or a last-minute group transfer during a busy trade show week, Party Bus Davie has the right vehicle ready.

Call 305-443-8831 any time for an all-inclusive price quote — or use our online tool for instant availability.

Sources & Last Verified

Transportation details, parking clearances, road access, and event information for the Broward County Convention Center were verified in June 2026. Venue-specific drop-off zones and lot assignments change by event; always confirm with the BCCC before your date.