Welcome to Everglades National Park! This National Park is one of three national parks in Florida. (The others are Biscayne Bay and Dry Tortugas). And is a mix of marshes and sawgrass swamps. You can find an abundance of wildlife here including the American Alligator. You can also spot tropical birds, snakes, and sea creatures. Explore this park by canoe, airboat, or boardwalk. Visit all year long, but keep in mind even in September the temperatures can reach into the 90s!
Where To Find It
Everglades National Park is a 1.5-million-acre wetland preserve on the southern tip of the state of Florida. Often compared to a grassy, slow-moving river, the Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes, and pine Flatwoods that are home to hundreds of animal species. Among the Everglades’ abundant wildlife are the endangered leatherback turtle, Florida panther, and West Indian manatee.
About an hour’s drive from Miami, it is the perfect day or weekend trip. I recommend renting a car or a camper van or RV to experience this park to the fullest! The entrance fee is $30 per vehicle (good for 7 consecutive days).
Where To Stay
There are no hotels or lodges directly in the park. There is the option to camp at the Everglades. However, I would consider the time of year you want to go as well as the abundance of bugs.
Long Pine Key – Only a few miles from the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm, near the Long Pine Key Trail and a fishing pond, the Lone Pine Key Campground provides all the essentials required for getting yourself in tune with nature. Amenities include restrooms, cold showers, a dump station, and freshwater fill-ups. All tent and RV spaces are on a first come first serve basis.
Flamingo – The Flamingo Campgrounds offer an unforgettable year-round experience on a beautiful open field with a refreshing breeze fueled by the winds of Florida Bay. The campgrounds have showers, two dump stations, picnic tables, grills, and an amphitheater for winter programs. Flamingo accommodates both tent and RV campers.
If you do not like camping, there are several hotels located outside the park. The closest is Homestead, a 30-minute drive to the park entrance. Or Miami, an hour’s drive to the park entrance.
Where To Eat
If you plan to spend a day or two in the park, I recommend packing food. Stop by any local grocery store in Homestead or Miami, before heading into the park. There is a very limited variety of food offered at the visitor centers throughout the park. But plenty of picnic tables. So bring a packed lunch and don’t forget water!
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It is so important to have extra water on hand in case of any emergency. I love my Hydro Flask. It keeps my water cool and sometimes the ice doesn’t even melt until the end of the day! And it fits perfectly in any car cup holder.
Climate and Best Time To Go
The Everglades is open every day, including holidays. However, the following visitors are open, varying on the season:
Ernest F. Coe – 8 or 9 am to 5 pm. (As I was exploring this visitor center, a park ranger pointed out a baby alligator hiding in the bushes!)
Flamingo – 8 am to 5 pm. During times of limited staffing, the visitor center may be closed from noon to 12:30 pm.
Shark Valley – 9 am to 5 pm
Gulf Coast – 8 am to 5 pm. During times of limited staffing, the visitor center may be closed for up to 30 minutes for staff lunch breaks.
Florida’s subtropical climate is characterized by warm, humid, rainy summers and mild, dry, pleasant winters with periodic incursions of cool air.
Wet Season (April – October) – Although summers are hot and humid, the high temperatures are tempered by frequent thunderstorms. The summer wet season temperatures range into the low 90s (30 to 35 degrees Celsius). The majority of the year’s average annual rainfall (nearly 60 inches, or 152 cm) falls during the wet season. The largest amounts of rainfall typically are associated with tropical storms and hurricanes.
Dry Season (November – March) – The winter dry season temperatures range from the low 50s to upper 70s (12 to 25 degrees Celsius) and low humidity. Often-breezy winter weather conditions can create a wind chill factor that makes perceived temperatures feel considerably cooler than what the thermometer reads. South Florida receives only about one-quarter of its average yearly rainfall during the winter dry season. From late fall through early spring, continental cold fronts periodically plunge southeastward through the state, sweeping away any warm, humid air.
Bucket List Activities
The Everglades are full of adventures, here are a few you need to check off your bucket list! Look out for wildlife on the Anhinga Trail boardwalk. See the crooked trees on the Gumbo Limbo Trail.
Climb the Shark Valley Lookout Tower and soak in the 360 views of the Everglades from above.
You cannot go to the Everglades without getting on an airboat. We scheduled ours through Captain Jack’s Airboat Tours. We were able to enjoy two airboat rides where we saw 6 alligators. The tour package also included the swamp tour where we were able to glide across the swamp and see an owl!
Instagram Worthy Spots
This incredible park had so many photos ops, it was hard to narrow down my favorite. One of the most unique spots was the boardwalk. Take a stroll on the boardwalk of Pa-hay-okee overlook for some epic views! Or Mahogany Hammock for an alternate route. But keep in mind the mosquitos can be intense, I literally could hear them swarming! Be sure to wear bug spray!
Bonus Travel Tips
Hat and Sunglasses- these will keep the sun off your face and out of your eyes. Making your outdoor adventures must more enjoyable.
Sunscreen – no one likes to get sunburned on their weekend getaways. Apply sunscreen in the morning and be sure to reapply if needed. This is my favorite kind.
Aloe – in case you do miss a spot with your sunscreen bring aloe to soothe those burns.
Thank you for reading!
If you have any specific questions, do not hesitate to comment down below! Or you can email us!
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