Everglades
A vast subtropical wetland of sawgrass, mangroves and alligators at the tip of Florida
- Hours
- Main entrance open 24 hours, all year
- Entry
- $35 per car
- Reservations
- Not required
- Size
- 1.5 million acres
Everglades Weather Now
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Everglades National Park protects the southern end of a slow-moving 'river of grass' that flows from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. It is the largest subtropical wilderness in the US and the only place on Earth where American alligators and American crocodiles live side by side. The park was authorized in 1934 and dedicated in 1947, the same year Marjory Stoneman Douglas published The Everglades: River of Grass. It is also a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance.
The park has three separate areas that do not connect by road: the main Homestead entrance with Royal Palm and the drive to Flamingo, Shark Valley on Tamiami Trail west of Miami, and the Gulf Coast area at Everglades City for boat trips into the Ten Thousand Islands. Most of the park is water, so a boat tour, kayak or canoe opens up places you cannot reach on foot. Flamingo got a new 24-room lodge built from shipping containers in late 2023. Elevation in most of the park is only a few feet above sea level.
The park and surrounding area
- Park boundary
- Other parks
- Major highway
- Road
- Rivers and lakes
- Town
Plan your trip
- Best time to go
- December through April is the dry season, with mild temperatures, few mosquitoes and wildlife gathered around the remaining water.
- How long to stay
- One full day covers Royal Palm and the drive to Flamingo; add a second day for Shark Valley or the Gulf Coast.
- Getting there
- Miami (MIA) is about 1 hour from the Homestead entrance and 45 minutes from Shark Valley; Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is about 1 hour 15 minutes, and Southwest Florida (RSW) in Fort Myers is about 1 hour 15 minutes from Everglades City.
- Wildlife
- Look for alligators, American crocodiles, manatees, anhingas, roseate spoonbills, wood storks, herons, turtles and, rarely, a Florida panther.
Plan and book
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Where to stay
Tours and activities
- Guided tours on Viator (opens in a new tab)Day trips, wildlife, photography
- Tours on GetYourGuide (opens in a new tab)Compare options and reviews
- Campsites on Recreation.gov (opens in a new tab)Official federal booking site
What to pack for Everglades
- Insect repellentMosquitoes can be intense, especially from May to November.
- Wide-brim sun hatTrails and boardwalks have little shade under strong Florida sun.
- BinocularsWading birds and gators are often across the water or out in the sawgrass.
- Lightweight rain jacketAfternoon thunderstorms are common in the wet season.
- Insulated water bottleHeat and humidity make it easy to get dehydrated on a long day.
A first day, start to finish
- Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
- Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm
- Pa-hay-okee Overlook
- Mahogany Hammock
- Flamingo boat tour and sunset over Florida Bay
Don't miss
- Anhinga TrailA 0.8-mile paved path and boardwalk at Royal Palm, about 4 miles from the main entrance, where alligators, anhingas, herons and turtles are often just feet away.
- Shark ValleyA paved 15-mile loop you can bike or ride by narrated tram, with a 45-foot observation tower at the halfway point overlooking the sawgrass.
- Pa-hay-okee OverlookA short boardwalk to a raised platform with a wide view of the 'river of grass' and scattered dwarf cypress.
- Mahogany HammockA half-mile boardwalk through a shady tropical hardwood hammock that holds the largest living mahogany tree in the US.
- FlamingoThe end of the 38-mile Main Park Road on Florida Bay, with boat tours, kayak rentals, a lodge, and manatees and crocodiles often seen near the marina.
Know before you go
Do
- Bring a card or digital pass, because the park does not take cash.
- Visit in the dry season (December to April) for the best wildlife viewing and fewer mosquitoes.
- Carry plenty of water and sun protection, since there is little shade on most trails.
Don't
- Feed or approach alligators or crocodiles, and stay at least 15 feet away.
- Leave rubber or soft items exposed on your car at Royal Palm, where vultures pull them apart.
- Expect to buy an entrance pass at the Gulf Coast visitor center; buy it online or at Homestead or Shark Valley.
The park is open every day of the year. The main Homestead entrance near the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and the Gulf Coast area at Everglades City are open 24 hours, while the Shark Valley gate on Tamiami Trail is open 8:30 am to 6 pm. Visitor centers generally open 9 am to 5 pm in the wet season (April to October) and 8 am to 5 pm in the dry season. As of fall 2026, the East Everglades Day Use Area is closed for construction and a few wilderness campsites and the Halfway Creek paddling route are closed or partly impassable.
Walk the Anhinga Trail right after sunrise in winter, before the tour buses arrive, when birds and gators are most active.Trekker's tip