Everglades National Park protects one of the largest subtropical wilderness areas in the United States and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors often come for wildlife viewing, including alligators, crocodiles, manatees, birds, and many wetland species.
Covering more than 1.5 million acres of predominantly tropical and subtropical habitats, the park boasts some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, and after Everglades National Park was authorized in 1934 and later dedicated in 1947, it became one of the most popular national parks.
Because of the large number of wetland preserves in the park, travel is spread across several road-accessible areas, walking trails, tram tours, paddling routes, boat tours, and scenic drives.
If you are also planning to visit the Everglades National Park, this article can surely help you.
Table of Contents
Points of Interest in Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is one of North America’s most important subtropical wilderness areas and is home to an abundance of wildlife that you’ll see on your hiking, biking, driving, or boating excursions, with alligators being the most prominent feature, and you may even come across a sunbathing alligator on the hiking trails, which is thrilling, but at the same time you have to marvel at the wonders of nature. It’s a thrilling experience, but at the same time you can’t help but marvel at nature.
In addition to alligators and crocodiles, you will also see a wide variety of birds, and the large wetland reserve here provides an ideal habitat for a wide range of bird species.
Others may also foresee snakes, turtles, panthers, and many other wild animals that can be experienced in a very pure wild ecosystem.
From the east to the south side of the park, you can take driving tours, and from the south to the northwest, it’s mostly a paddling tour, where you can explore the mangrove forests by canoe or kayak, provided you have enough time.
Upon entering Everglades National Park:
- The fee for a private vehicle or private boat is $30;
- Motorcycles cost $25;
- The fee for pedestrians or bicyclists is $15;
- Tickets are valid for 7 days and you can purchase them online.
- Also, you can purchase an annual park pass, or a U.S. National Parks annual pass to access the parks.
Best time to visit Everglades National Park?
The overall natural climate of Everglades National Park is divided into rainy and dry seasons.
The dry season is from November to about April when the climate is dry and comfortable and wildlife is more active, so this is the prime time to visit Everglades National Park.
The rainy season is from May to around October when the weather is hot and humid, mosquitoes are very common and the experience can be quite bad.
Temperature variations throughout the year in Everglades National Park are shown below:
Which planes fly directly to Everglades National Park?
The major commercial airports around Everglades National Park are:
- Miami International Airport (MIA): It takes about 45 minutes to drive to the park;
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL): It takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive to the park;
- Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW): It takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive to the park;
- Palm Beach International Airport (PBI): It takes about 2 hours to drive to the park;
Miami International Airport (MIA)
The Everglades National Park is a 45-minute drive from Miami International Airport by rental car.
Below is information on airlines in the United States that offer direct flights to Miami International Airport:
| Direct Flight City (airport code) | flight time | direct airline |
|---|---|---|
Dallas, Texas (DFW) | 2 hours 54 minutes | American Spirit |
Houston, Texas (IAH) | 2 hours 36 minutes | American Spirit United |
| 5 hours, 17 minutes. | American Delta JetBlue |
San Francisco, CA (SFO) | 5 hours 47 minutes | American United |
Boston, MA (BOS) | 5 hours 03 minutes | American |
New York, NY (EWR) | 3 hours 05 minutes | American Spirit JetBlue United |
| 3 hours 04 minutes | Delta JetBlue American |
Boston,MA (BOS) | 3 hours 39 minutes | American Delta JetBlue Spirit Frontier |
| 2 hours 55 minutes | American Spirit Frontier |
| 1 hour 55 minutes | American Delta Southwest Spirit Frontier |
| 4 hours 31 minutes | American |
St. Lous, MO (STL) | 2 hours, 46 minutes. | Southwest American |
| 3 hours 48 minutes | American United Southwest Spirit Frontier |
San Antonio (SAT) | 3 hours 02 minutes | American |
Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 3 hours 59 minutes | American |
Louisville (SDF) | Chicago, IL (ORD) | American |
Dallas (DAL) | 2 hours 40 minutes | Southwest |
New Orleans (MSY) | 1 hour 57 minutes | American Southwest Spirit |
Chicago,IL (ORD) | 3 hours, 10 minutes. | American Spirit United |
Orlando (Intl), FL (MCO) | 1 hour 07 minutes | Delta American Frontier Spirit |
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport to Everglades National Park in a rental car.
Below is airline information for those offering direct flights to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport within the United States:
| Direct Flight City (airport code) | flight time | direct airline |
|---|---|---|
Dallas, Texas (DFW) | 2 hours 54 minutes | American Spirit |
Houston, Texas (IAH) | 2 hours 44 minutes | Spirit United |
| 5 hours 19 minutes | American JetBlue Delta JetBlue Spirit |
San Francisco, CA (SFO) | 5 hours 16 minutes | Alaska JetBlue United |
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) | 4 hours 44 minutes | Alaska JetBlue |
New York, NY (EWR) | 3 hours 15 minutes | Spirit JetBlue United |
| 3 hours. | Delta JetBlue American |
| 3 hours 36 minutes | Delta JetBlue Spirit |
Philadelphia,PA (PHL) | 2 hours 49 minutes | American Spirit Frontier JetBlue Southwest |
| 1 hour 48 minutes | Delta Southwest Spirit Frontier JetBlue |
| 4 hours 03 minutes | Southwest JetBlue |
St. Lous, MO (STL) | 2 hours and 40 minutes. | Southwest Spirit |
Denver, CO (DEN) | 3 hours 40 minutes | United Southwest Spirit |
Austin (AUS) | 2 hours 39 minutes | Southwest Spirit JetBlue |
Myrtle Beach (MYR) | 1 hour 56 minutes | Spirit |
Louisville (SDF) | 2 hours and 28 minutes | Allegiant Spirit |
| 2 hours 30 minutes | Southwest |
New Orleans (MSY) | 1 hour 51 minutes | JetBlue Southwest Spirit |
Chicago, IL (ORD) | 2 hours and 53 minutes | American Spirit United JetBlue Southwest |
Orlando (Intl), FL (MCO) | 1 hour 20 minutes | Southwest Spirit |
Fort Myers Airport (RSW)
It takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to drive from Fort Myers Airport to Everglades National Park in a rental car.
Below is information on airlines in the United States that offer direct flights to Fort Myers Airport:
| Direct Flight City (airport code) | flight time | direct airline |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours 31 minutes | American |
| 2 hours, 22 minutes. | United |
Los Angeles, CA (LAX) | 4 hours 37 minutes | Alaska United |
| 5 hours 16 minutes | United |
| 3 hours, 12 minutes. | JetBlue United |
New York, NY (JFK) | 3 hours, 16 minutes. | Delta JetBlue |
Boston, MA (BOS) | 3 hours 40 minutes | Delta JetBlue Spirit |
Philadelphia, PA (PHL) | 2 hours 55 minutes | American Spirit Frontier |
Atlanta,GA (ATL) | 1 hour and 40 minutes | Delta Southwest |
St. Lous, MO (STL) | 2 hours and 25 minutes. | Southwest Spirit |
Denver, CO (DEN) | 3 hours 47 minutes | United Southwest Frontier |
Austin (AUS) | 2 hours 35 minutes | American |
Louisville (SDF) | 2 hours and 25 minutes | Southwest |
Dallas (DAL) | 2 hours, 20 minutes. | Southwest |
Chicago, IL (ORD) | 2 hours and 49 minutes | American Spirit United Southwest |
Orlando (Intl), FL (MCO) | 1 hour | Southwest |
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
A rental car from Palm Beach International Airport is a 2-hour drive to Everglades National Park.
Below is information on airlines within the United States that offer direct flights to Palm Beach International Airport:
| Direct Flight City (airport code) | flight time | direct airline |
|---|---|---|
Dallas, Texas (DFW) | 2 hours 53 minutes | American |
Houston, Texas (IAH) | 2 hours, 24 minutes. | United |
| 4 hours 48 minutes | JetBlue |
New York, NY (EWR) | 2 hours 59 minutes | JetBlue United |
| 3 hours 19 minutes | Delta JetBlue |
| 3 hours 15 minutes | Delta JetBlue |
Philadelphia,PA (PHL) | 2 hours and 42 minutes | American Southwest Frontier |
| 1 hour and 45 minutes | Delta Southwest |
| 2 hours 55 minutes | American United |
What are the transportation and road conditions in Everglades National Park?
A. Three entrances to the park
There are three entrances to Everglades National Park:
- The Main Entrance, also known as the Homestead Entrance, is located in Homestead and is accessible via State Route 9336.
- The Shark Valley Entrance, also known as the Miami Entrance, is located on US 41 in Miami.
- The Gulf Coast Entrance, also known as the Everglades City Entrance, is located on Oyster Bar Lane in Everglades City.
The three entrances are not connectable within the park, and one must exit one and follow an exterior road to reach the other.
B. Roads in parks
The main road in the park is the section of road that enters from the Main entrance and follows State Route 9336 to the southernmost part of the park at the Flamingo Visitor Center.
Road conditions at roads or entrances may be temporarily closed due to construction, etc. Check the park’s latest status information before traveling to determine road conditions, speed limits, etc.
How are lodging arrangements made in Everglades National Park?
There are no hotel/motel accommodations within Everglades National Park, offering only two campgrounds, and a variety of accommodations outside the park.
A. Off-park accommodation
Homestead
#1. Hilton Garden Inn Homestead, Fl ⭐⭐⭐ 8.6 /10.0 338条评价
#2. Fairfield Inn & Suites Homestead Florida City ⭐⭐⭐ 8.6 /10.0 210条评价
#3. Best Western Gateway To The Keys ⭐⭐⭐ 8.0/10.0 2,026条评价
#4. Travelodge by Wyndham Florida City/Homestead/Everglades ⭐⭐⭐ 8.4/10.0 1,905条评价
#5. Fairway Inn Florida City Homestead Everglades ⭐⭐⭐ 8.1 /10.0 4,891条评价
#6. Hampton Inn and Suites Miami-South/Homestead ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.3/10.0 455 reviews
#7. TownePlace Suites by Marriott Miami Homestead ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.0/10.0 378 reviews
#8. Courtyard by Marriott Miami Homestead ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.7/10.0 522 reviews
Everglades City
#9. Everglades Adventures Hotel Suites by Ivey House ⭐⭐⭐ 8.5 /10.0 497条评价
#10. River Wilderness Waterfront Cabins 8.7/10.0 205 reviews
#11. Everglades City Motel – Everglades Adventures Inn ⭐⭐ 8.1/10.0 931 reviews
B. Camping in the park
RV campsites, drinking water, flush toilets, and showers are available in both of the park’s campgrounds.
#12. Long Pine Key Camping 4.6/5.0 316 reviews
Located near the Homestead entrance, it is open seasonally from November through April on a first-come, first-served basis.
#13. Flamingo Campground 4.2/5.0 294 reviews
Located 38 miles south of the Homestead entrance, it is open year-round, with reservations required during the peak season, November through April, and on a first-come, first-served basis the rest of the year.
What are some good restaurants in Everglades National Park?
Food and drink in Everglades National Park is very limited, with only a few snacks or drinking water available at visitor centers or stores, and the park recommends that visitors bring their own food and drinking water. Outside the park, however, a variety of restaurants are offered to choose from.
A. Stores in parks where food can be bought
#1. The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center bookstore 4.6/5.0 (1,672 reviews) map
#2. The Royal Palm Visitor Center bookstore 4.6/5.0 (531 reviews) map
#3. The Flamingo marina store 4.5/5.0 (419 reviews) map
#4. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center store 4.4/5.0 (467 reviews) map
B. Restaurants outside parks
Homestead
#5. Everglades Gator Grill 4.5/5.0 (773 reviews) map
#6. El Tacazo Taco Shop 4.2/5.0 (471 reviews) map
#7. Schnebly Redland’s Winery & Brewery 4.7/5.0 (3,917 reviews) map
#8. White Lion Cafe 4.6/5.0 (519 reviews) map
#9. Shiver’s BBQ 4.6/5.0 (3,196 reviews) map
#10. Krispy Kreme 4.3/5.0 (977 reviews) Map
#11. Mike’s Pizzeria 4.2/5.0 (126 reviews) map
#12. Capri Restaurant 4.3/5.0 (613 reviews) map
Everglades City
#13. The Diving Pelican Restaurant & Bar 4.2/5.0 (149 reviews) map
#14. Island Cafe 4.3/5.0 (1,125 reviews) map
#15. Hole in the Wall Pizza. 4.7/5.0 (92 reviews) map
#16. City Seafood 4.3/5.0 (1,016 reviews) map
Safety Tips
- Keep a distance of more than 4.5 meters from all wildlife encountered in the park, especially crocodiles, which may suddenly attack you even if you appears to be asleep.
- If you are traveling with children, please be sure to supervise your children.
- Do not feed any wildlife, they remain natural in the park and have no experience of being fed by humans. If randomly fed, they may associate humans with food and later pose a threat to both wildlife and humans.
- Swimming or snorkeling in all waters of the park is prohibited
- Vultures in the park often cut the rubber on top of your vehicle’s windshield, sunroof, or windshield wipers, damaging your vehicle, so the park provides free tarps and elastic cords in the Royal Palm parking lot, where accidents often occur, so you can use these to protect your vehicle if you’ll be parking it there.
- Spray with mosquito repellent promptly; mosquitoes are present in Everglades National Park almost year-round and are ridiculously abundant in the summer.
What equipment do I need to bring to visit Everglades National Park?
WATERPROOF BOOTS: There are both paved and more primitive trails in the park, and there’s a good chance that you’ll be involved in boating activities, so consider wearing waterproof boots.
Anti-mosquito spray: Because it is a temperate zone wetland environment, there will be a lot of mosquitoes, be sure to spray anti-mosquito spray on your exposed skin and clothes before you go out.
Camera: With one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, you’ll encounter a wide range of wildlife on your journey, and see unique delicacies such as underwater forests that are rarely seen regularly while visiting attractions such as the mangrove forests.
Sunscreen: Near the coast, the sun is more intense, so it is recommended to apply enough sunscreen before traveling.
Water Bottle: Hiking tours in the park are shorter in distance, but paddling tours can be more time-consuming, so it’s recommended to fill up your water bottle before heading out.
Itinerary and Attractions
When visiting Everglades National Park for the first time, schedule a two-day trip, with one day focused on land and one day focused on water.
Day 1
Enter the park at the Shark Valley entrance and follow the road to the Shark Valley observation tower.
Then take this exit to leave the park and drive east, approaching Highway 997 for an airboat tour (Airboat Tours).
Along the way you will also see many advertisements for crocodile wrestling shows, so if you have the time and interest, head over and watch.
Afterward, you enter the park through the Main Entrance and follow the road along which many hiking trails lead you to different attractions such as Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail, Long Pine Key, Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower and Mahogany Hammock Trail, etc. You may choose to follow the descriptions below as well as your physical condition. （You can choose a few of them based on the following descriptions and your physical condition, such as the Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower and the Mahogany Hammock Trail, where you can also ride a bicycle on Long Pine Key.
Finally, make your way to the Flamingo Visitor Center, the southernmost point of the park, and camp at the campground there. Also near the campground are two trails that can be ridden or hiked if you have the time.
Day 2
On this day, you can sign up for different boat tours from Everglades Guest Services or rent a canoe or kayak for free excursions.
Explore the West Coast’s waterside area from Flamingo Marina.
Take a break for lunch at the park’s Gulf Coast entrance and eat in Everglades City just outside the entrance.
In the afternoon, you will travel again by water to the Flamingo Marina, return to the campground, and drive away to end the trip.
Shark Valley Tower
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (1,385 reviews)
This is the premier attraction in the Shark Valley area, and you may encounter a variety of wildlife such as crocodiles, turtles, and snakes on your way to the observation tower from the visitor center.
To get to the observation tower, you can choose to take a paid tour bus in the park, which is easier and safer, but you can’t get a close-up view of the scenery along the way.
You can also choose to ride a bike or hike, bikes can be rented in the visitor center, they are more strenuous and can be dangerous as you may suddenly come across alligators or snakes crawling out of the bushes next to you, etc., but that’s what makes exploring Everglades Park so magical.
Airboat Tours
Map of locations represented by Gator Park
This is one of the more iconic local recreational offerings, with three park-authorized airboat operators, Gator Park, Everglades Safari Park,and Coopertown Airboats, operating along the Tamiami Trail.
This activity features a unique airboat ride for a quick trip down the river, which may not allow for wildlife viewing but makes for a very special excursion experience.
Everglades Trail
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 8/ 5.0 (2,044 reviews)
This is one of the most popular trails in the park, with a round-trip distance of around 0.8 miles, and has a paved template so it’s a very easy walk. Along the way, you can see the surrounding swamp scenery and may encounter wildlife such as alligators and turtles.
Okra Edge Trail
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 6/ 5.0 (107 reviews)
A short trail not far from the Everglades Trail, with a round trip distance of only 0.4 miles, this area features a tree called the Gumbo Limbo, which serves as a quick-hit tourist attraction.
Long Pine Key
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7 / 5.0 (16 reviews)
Not only does it offer trails, but it also allows bicycling.
There are relatively rare views of rock forests in the landscape, which are unique views of forest trees and large rocks interlocking and overlapping each other, and it is worth entering to hike around and take magical images of the landscape.
Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 6/ 5.0 (460 reviews)
The Pa-Hay-Okee Observation Tower can be reached via the Pa-hay-poker Trail, a super-short hiking trail from Highway 9336 with a round-trip distance of only 0.16 miles, from which you can get a much more expansive view of the Everglades, and also see a lot of birds hanging out amongst the Everglades.
Mahogany Hammock Trail
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4. 6/ 5.0 (486 reviews)
This is a trail with a round trip distance of only 0.5 miles with a paved boardwalk and alternating views of marshland and dense forest along the way.
Flamingo Visitor Center
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.2 / 5.0 (880 reviews)
The park’s southernmost attraction, with nearby campgrounds, is arguably the southernmost campground on the North American continent.
Everglades Guest Services here will offer a wide range of water activities, including guided sightseeing cruises or rentals of houseboats, canoes, kayaks, and more, so you can tailor your excursions to your physical abilities.
It’s a good idea to check the park’s boat route map before you leave or consult with a ranger at the Visitor Center who will be able to advise you on the proper tour for your situation.
Bicycling
There are five trails for bicycling in Everglades National Park:
- Shark Valley Tram Road, the most popular and tiring trail, is around 15 miles round trip.
- L-67 Canal Road, which is around 6.4 miles round trip, has a creek next to it, so the probability of encountering wildlife is higher.
- Long Pine Key Nature Trail, round trip distance is around 14 miles, a dirt road through the woods.
- The Snake Bight Trail, which is around 3.2 miles round trip, offers a variety of trees and birds along the way.
- Rowdy Bend Trail, a round trip distance of around 5.2 miles, is a dirt road that weaves through grassy areas with more mosquitoes.
Crocodile wrestling show
Near several entrances to the park, you’ll see tons of advertisements for crocodile-related activities, the most classic of which is the thrill of watching a crocodile wrestling show.
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