Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park protects about 1.5 million acres of sawgrass marsh, mangroves and pine forest at the southern tip of Florida, and its closest entrance is about an hour from downtown Miami. It is worth visiting for easy wildlife viewing, including alligators, turtles and wading birds, especially in the dry season from December to April.

Which Everglades entrance should you use from Miami?

For most Miami visitors, Shark Valley is the best choice for a half day, while the Homestead main entrance is better for a full day of boardwalks and a drive to Flamingo. The park's three main areas are not connected by roads inside the park, so pick one per trip.

Shark Valley

Shark Valley sits on Tamiami Trail, the straight road west from Little Havana. The entrance gate is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and no vehicles can enter after 6 p.m. A paved 15-mile loop leads to an observation tower over the sawgrass.

The easiest way to see it is the two-hour narrated tram. Prices listed in October 2026 were $36 for adults, $27 for seniors 62+ and $19 for children 3 to 12, plus the park entrance fee. From May to mid-December trams run five times a day; in winter they run hourly, and they sell out on weekends. Bikes are a good alternative if you can handle 15 flat, exposed miles.

Homestead main entrance and Flamingo

The main entrance near Homestead is open 24 hours, with the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center just outside the gate. A few miles in, the short Anhinga Trail boardwalk is one of the most reliable wildlife walks in the park. The road continues 38 miles to Flamingo on Florida Bay, where the Guy Bradley Visitor Center, a 24-room lodge and 90-minute backcountry and Florida Bay boat tours operate.

Gulf Coast

On the west side, the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center in Everglades City opened in December 2025, replacing a temporary trailer used since Hurricane Irma. Ninety-minute Ten Thousand Islands boat tours run from this area. It is a long drive from Miami, so most people combine it with Naples.

How much does Everglades National Park cost?

A private vehicle pays $35 for a pass valid seven consecutive days at all park entrances; a motorcycle pays $30, and people on foot or bike pay $20 each, with children 15 and under free. The park does not take cash: pay by card at the gate or buy a digital pass on Recreation.gov.

Non-US resident surcharge: Since January 1, 2026, visitors who are not US residents and are 16 or older pay an extra $100 per person on top of the entrance fee. It is not charged if you enter with an annual pass, such as the $250 non-resident America the Beautiful pass, and it also applies to members of commercial tour groups. If you book a guided tour that enters the park, ask whether the surcharge is included.

US residents can buy the park's own $70 annual pass or the $80 America the Beautiful pass, which covers all national parks.

Can you take an airboat ride in the Everglades?

Yes, but not from the main park entrances. Airboats are not used at Shark Valley, along the Homestead to Flamingo road or at the Gulf Coast visitor center. Instead, the rides you see advertised run from private parks along Tamiami Trail, east and west of Shark Valley.

The National Park Service lists three authorized airboat operators, Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park and Gator Park, all on Tamiami Trail. Other companies, including the airboat rides at the Miccosukee Indian Village, operate on tribal land or state-managed water conservation areas outside the park. All of them give a similar experience: a fast ride through sawgrass, a wildlife stop and often an alligator show. See our Everglades airboat tours guide for how they compare.

South of Miami, the Everglades Alligator Farm near Homestead also runs airboat rides and combines well with the main entrance. Guided nature and wildlife tours from Miami often bundle hotel pickup, an airboat ride and a stop at Shark Valley.

Where can you eat near the Everglades?

There are very few places to eat inside the park, so bring lunch and plenty of water. On the Homestead side, the seasonal farm stand Knaus Berry Farm is known for cinnamon rolls and strawberry milkshakes in winter, and Schnebly Redlands Winery makes tropical fruit wines. Along Tamiami Trail, the airboat parks have snack bars.

Where should you stay for the Everglades?

Most visitors stay in Miami and drive out for the day. For an early start at the main entrance, Homestead and Florida City have chain motels, and Flamingo Lodge inside the park has 24 units with kitchenettes. Flamingo also has a campground; book ahead in winter.

Practical tips for visiting the Everglades

• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are intense in the wet season, roughly May to October. Bring strong repellent and long sleeves even in winter for evening walks.
• Keep at least 15 feet from alligators and never feed wildlife.
• There is no public transit to the park, and cell service is patchy. Download maps offline.
• Bring water, sun protection, binoculars and a full tank of gas.
• On winter weekends, a free trolley from Homestead runs to the main entrance.

The area pairs well with Biscayne National Park, just east of Homestead, if you want a second national park in one trip.

When is the best time to visit the Everglades?

December through April is the best time to visit: the dry season concentrates wildlife around the remaining water, ranger programs run, temperatures are mild and bugs are far fewer. From late spring to October it is hot and humid with daily storms and heavy mosquitoes, and hurricane season runs June through November. Visitor center hours are generally 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to March and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the wet season.

Everglades quick facts