Waymo has arrived in Miami! A spinoff of Google based in California, Waymo is the first company in…read morethe United States to offer fully autonomous rides, meaning no driver behind the wheel to paying passengers. In January of this year, Miami became the sixth U.S. city to offer Waymo service.
Each Waymo vehicle is equipped with 29 cameras, six radars, and five lidar sensors to calculate distance. As of July 2025, the company reported more than 100 million miles driven autonomously without a human behind the wheel and no fatalities.
Waymo initially launched service only on city streets but has since expanded to major highways, including Interstate 95, the Dolphin Expressway (State Road 836), and the Palmetto Expressway (State Road 826). The service area now includes Miami Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour, as well as Downtown Miami, Brickell, Wynwood, Edgewater, Coral Gables, South Miami, and Dadeland. Waymo has also expanded to Orlando, although service does not currently include Universal Orlando or Walt Disney World.
Using the service is simple. You summon a Waymo through the app, which shows the nearest available vehicle. You can enter your destination and manage your route directly within the app. When the vehicle arrives, it remains locked until you select your ride in the app. Once confirmed, the door handles extend and unlock, allowing you to begin your trip.
While visiting the Design District, I saw a Waymo vehicle in operation for the first time, although I had previously seen one on display at the Revs Institute in Naples. Watching a car drive down the street with no one in the driver's seat was a little disconcerting at first, but I appreciate the convenience.
Finding parking in Miami can be both difficult and expensive, making Waymo an appealing alternative. It seems especially useful during major events or for tourists visiting without a vehicle. Potential drawbacks include longer wait times in some areas and fares that can be higher than those charged by Lyft or Uber. Another limitation is that the service does not currently operate at Miami International Airport. Still the arrival of autonomous ride-hailing marks an exciting new chapter in transportation. So tell me, will you Waymo?