Everglades National Park protects about 1.5 million acres of sawgrass marsh, mangroves and cypress, the famous "river of grass" at the southern tip of Florida. Alligators, turtles and wading birds such as herons, egrets and roseate spoonbills are easy to see, and the park is close enough to Miami for a day trip.
Which entrance to use
The park has several entrances, and they are not connected to each other inside the park, so pick one:
- Shark Valley, about an hour west of Downtown Miami on Tamiami Trail (SW 8th Street / US-41), is the closest to the city. A flat 15-mile paved loop leads to an observation tower; explore it on a two-hour guided tram tour, by rented bike or on foot.
- The main entrance near Homestead, about 50 miles south of Downtown Miami, leads to boardwalk trails such as the Anhinga Trail and the long road to Flamingo on Florida Bay.
Airboat tours
Airboat rides are not run inside the national park itself but by operators along Tamiami Trail on the park's edge. Many combine a ride through the sawgrass with an alligator show. Guided day trips from Miami often include hotel pick-up and an airboat ride.
When to go and what to bring
The dry season, roughly December to April, is best: wildlife gathers around the remaining water and there are far fewer mosquitoes. There is no public transport to the park and cell coverage is patchy, so drive or book a tour. Bring water, sun protection, insect repellent and binoculars.