Miami Beach’s most iconic street may once again receive the traffic-free treatment. In a unanimous 7-0 vote earlier this September, city commissioners agreed to request that Miami-Dade County close Ocean Drive to vehicles for months at a time.
The move would see the 10-block stretch between 5th and 15th streets — which fronts Lummus Park and contains the densest concentration of hotels and sidewalk cafes — to become pedestrian-only from Thanksgiving through March 31 every year.
The original proposal suggested reopening the street to cars after Valentine’s Day, but commissioners amended it to extend through March, keeping the area pedestrianized while visitors are in town for spring break.
During the 2020 pandemic, Ocean Drive closed to cars to allow for outdoor dining and promote social distancing. Since then, the city has experimented with partial closures and temporary pedestrianization for events like the World Cup, with local businesses remaining divided on whether closing the street helps foot traffic or hurts revenue by limiting hotel access and bringing congestion to parallel roads.
What’s next to keep Ocean Drive car-free?
Looking ahead, the move now falls on Miami-Dade County, alongside the Florida Department of Transportation, to review and permit the seasonal closure.
If the county gives the green light, locals and visitors are looking at a different South Beach experience this winter, one that’s more walkable and bike-friendly.
