Everglades Trip Planning

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode:

If you’ve been dreaming of a warm, sunny escape in the middle of winter, Everglades National Park is calling your name! This unique ecosystem in southern Florida is unlike any other place in the United States. With endless sawgrass prairies, mangrove forests, alligators basking in shallow water, and colorful bird species flying overhead, it’s truly a special place for nature lovers and families looking for adventure.

Podcast Episode Overview

Are you ready to start trip planning for the Everglades? 

We love talking about trip planning, and we are so excited to help you make your trip happen. This national park is amazing because it’s a great place to visit during the winter when you’re tired of the cold weather. It’s warm, beautiful, and a really cool place to visit! 

Join us as we talk through everything you need to know about visiting the Everglades so that you can make your trip a reality. 

In this episode, we cover: 

• Where the Everglades is located 
• Must-do activities in this park
• Crowd levels to expect
• Travel tips
• What you need to know about closures
• The best time to visit
• How many days to visit
• Other things to see in the area
• The best places to stay
• The coolest ranger programs in this park

There is so much for you to try out on your trip to the Everglades! If you want some more guidance on your options, make sure to check out my resources at DirtInMyShoes.com. I created an article that splits up the different activities so that you can choose exactly what you’re looking for. I also have plenty of other in-depth articles about the Everglades to assist you every step of the way!

Ready to make your trip to Everglades a reality? Check out the Ultimate Everglades Trip Planning Guide!

Why visit the Everglades

Everglades National Park sits at the southern tip of Florida, just an hour from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. It’s one of the few national parks that’s best explored during the winter months, making it a great place to visit when you’re craving sunshine and cooler temperatures. The park is famous for its alligators, airboat tours, and incredible birdwatching opportunities. You can easily see all three during a short day trip.

Established on December 6, 1947, the Everglades became the 32nd park in the National Park Service system. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance. Covering 1.5 million acres, it’s the third-largest national park in the contiguous United States, behind Death Valley and Yellowstone. Because so much of the Florida Everglades is wilderness, it feels wild and untouched despite being so close to major cities in southern Florida.

The park’s landscape is nearly flat. The highest elevation you can reach by road is zero feet above sea level, and the highest point on foot is 70 feet at the Shark Valley Observation Tower near the Shark Valley Visitor Center. From the top, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of the “river of grass,” one of the best spots to appreciate the park’s vast wetlands and water levels.

When to visit and how long to stay

The Everglades is open year-round, but the best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from December through April. During this time of year, the weather is mild and comfortable, the water levels are lower, and wildlife viewing is excellent. Ranger-led programs, tram tours, and guided tours are most active during these months, making it a great way to experience the park.

The wet season runs from May through November and brings high humidity, frequent rain, and hurricane season risks. This is when mosquitoes are most active, and hurricanes can impact access to certain areas. While the park remains open, it’s not the best time for comfort or wildlife viewing. If you must visit in the summer, aim for May or June, before the storms and heat peak.

For the best experience, visit during the dry season, especially in January or February for prime wildlife viewing. April and November are great shoulder months with fewer visitors and lower entrance fees. Holiday weeks like Christmas or spring break tend to be the park’s peak season.

You can see highlights of the Everglades in one day, but three days is the best way to experience everything. Because the park is so large and roads are limited, travel time between areas can be significant.

Spend your first day driving the main park road from the Coe Visitor Center down to the Flamingo Visitor Center. Along this scenic drive, you’ll find small trails, ponds for birdwatching, and historic sites like the Nike Missile Base. The Flamingo Campground and Long Pine Key Campground are available for overnight stays, though Long Pine Key closes seasonally during the wet season.

Dedicate your second day to exploring Shark Valley. The Shark Valley Visitor Center offers tram tours and bike rentals, and the observation tower provides panoramic views of the river of grass. The parking lot here fills quickly, so arrive early to secure a spot.

On your third day, visit the Gulf Coast area near Everglades City. This region is filled with mangrove forests and canoe trails that weave through the Ten Thousand Islands. You can join boat tours or kayak tours to explore the area and maybe even spot dolphins or manatees.

If you have extra time, Big Cypress National Preserve is right next door and offers beautiful hardwood hammock trails and wet walks. Biscayne National Park, another great place to explore, is only 30 minutes from the Homestead area. And for a true tropical adventure, drive through the Florida Keys to visit Dry Tortugas National Park, located off Key West.

Where to stay

We usually stay in Homestead or Florida City, both of which are close to the Homestead Entrance. These towns have great lodging options, from Airbnbs with pools and hot tubs to hotels on a first-served basis. If you prefer city life, Miami offers more choices, but Homestead’s proximity to both Everglades and Biscayne makes it the best spot for convenience.

If you plan to explore the Gulf Coast area, you can split your stay by spending a couple of nights in Homestead and a couple in Naples or Everglades City. Naples is a great place for beach lovers, with sandy shores, turquoise water, and plenty of amenities. It’s also a good starting point if you want to continue your road trip through southern Florida.

If you’re heading to Dry Tortugas, plan to stay in Key West, which is about a three to four hour drive from Homestead through the Florida Keys. The ferry or seaplane to Dry Tortugas leaves from Key West, so staying nearby makes logistics easier.

Things to do in the Everglades

One of the best things about visiting the Everglades is how many ways there are to experience it. Hiking is limited due to the park’s wetlands, but that just means you’ll spend more time on the water.

Get out on the water. The Everglades is best seen by boat ride, canoe, or kayak. The park has marked canoe trails through ponds and mangroves, especially near Flamingo and the Gulf Coast. Kayak tours and airboat tours are available both inside and outside the park, and these guided tours are a great way to see wildlife and learn from local experts.

Go birdwatching. More than 360 bird species, including wading birds and endangered species like the elusive Florida panther’s prey, make this park a birdwatcher’s paradise. You’ll spot great blue herons, roseate spoonbills, and egrets across the wetlands. The Anhinga Trail near Royal Palm is one of the best spots for birdwatching, especially during the dry season.

Join ranger programs. The National Park Service offers some of its most adventurous ranger-led programs in the Everglades. You can join a ranger-led canoe trip, bike ride, or even a slough slog, also called a wet walk, where you wade through shallow water. Many programs provide equipment for free and offer a great way to explore safely.

Take a tram or boat tour. Tram tours at Shark Valley are a classic way to see wildlife without paddling. Boat tours depart from the Flamingo area and Gulf Coast Visitor Center, offering close-up looks at mangroves, alligators, and even dolphins in Florida Bay.

---

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Shark Valley Observation Tower
• Death Valley
• Yellowstone
• Everglades
• Miami Airport
• Fort Lauderdale Airport
• Shark Valley Tram Hours
• Biscayne
• Dry Tortugas
• Homestead
• Everglades City
• Naples
• 10 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to the Everglades
• Canoe Trails
• Bird Watching
• Ranger Programs
• Everglades Ultimate Trip Planning Guide

Are you hoping to visit all of the national parks? Sign up for your FREE NATIONAL PARKS CHECKLIST so you can easily see where you’ve been and where you still need to go!