Dolphins Game Days at Hard Rock Stadium: Traffic and Safety in Miami Gardens
When the Dolphins play at home, more than 60,000 fans head into Miami Gardens over a few hours, then leave all at once. The roads around Hard Rock Stadium go from quiet to gridlocked, and fender benders pile up in the stop-and-go traffic. Our Miami Gardens clinic has been on County Line Road since 1986, a few miles from the stadium, and we see the results every season.
Remaining home games at Hard Rock Stadium
Date | Opponent | Kickoff (ET) |
|---|---|---|
Sunday, November 1 | New England Patriots | 4:25 p.m. |
Sunday, November 8 | Detroit Lions | 1:00 p.m. |
Sunday, November 29 | New York Jets | 1:00 p.m. |
Sunday, December 13 | Chicago Bears | 1:00 p.m. |
Sunday, December 27 | Los Angeles Chargers | 1:00 p.m. |
Sunday, January 3 | Buffalo Bills | 1:00 p.m. |
Kickoff times can change with the NFL’s flexible scheduling, so check before you head out.
Getting around on game day
Even if you’re not going to the game, you’ll feel it. NW 199th Street, NW 27th Avenue, Florida’s Turnpike and the Palmetto (SR 826) all back up for hours before kickoff and after the final whistle.
Run errands early or late. Plan around the three hours before kickoff and the two hours after the game ends.
Expect sudden stops. Most game-day crashes are low-speed rear-end collisions. Leave extra space and keep your eyes up.
Watch for pedestrians. Fans walk between lots and along roads near the stadium, often in the dark after late games.
Never drive after tailgating. Use a rideshare or designate a sober driver. Police patrol the area heavily on game days.
Put the phone down, especially while inching through traffic. Distraction causes many of the crashes we treat.
If you’re in a crash near the stadium
Move to a safe spot if you can, call 911 and get a police report. Take photos of the vehicles, the scene and the other driver’s insurance card. Then get checked, even if you feel fine. Whiplash and other soft-tissue injuries often take a day or two to show up.
Florida PIP requires initial medical care within 14 days of the accident to use your benefits. Here’s how the 14-day rule works.
Minutes from the stadium
Dr. Elliot Cintron, D.C., and our Miami Gardens team see accident patients without an appointment, with digital X-rays on site. We bill your PIP insurer directly, and you can start care with or without an attorney.
For more on stadium traffic, see our World Cup traffic guide.
This article is general information, not legal or medical advice. County Line Chiropractic is not affiliated with the Miami Dolphins or the NFL.