Florida is more than Disney, clubs, and beaches.
In fact, most of the state is covered in swamp and marsh land. It’s wild and begging to be explored by any nature lover who finds themselves in the Sunshine State.
If you want an unforgettable experience away from the hustle and bustle of the A1A and Highway 95, then adding an Everglades visit to your Florida itinerary is an absolute must.
Everglades National Park is a park that can be seen in just one day, but to truly appreciate and soak in this unique park, it’s best to spend a weekend here.
What can you do in a weekend in Everglades National Park?
What should I not miss on my first visit to Everglades National Park?
Is Everglades National Park pet-friendly?
We’ll answer those questions right here!
Things to know
When to visit
It’s no secret that Florida in the summer is not for the faint of heart. It’s hot, humid, and the mosquitoes are borderline unbearable in the Everglades.
In fact, Flamingo is well-known for its mosquito population and the Guy Bradley Visitor Center has a Mosquito Meter that tells you whether the “skeeters” are Enjoyable all the way to Insane. No joke. You’ll see it for yourself.
With that being said, peak visiting season is Winter and early Spring when the weather is cooler and dryer.
When’s the best time of year to see alligators and crocodiles?
Gators and crocodiles are coldblooded animals, they love the heat. On the rare days when Florida experiences a cold snap or freezing temperatures, these creatures will stay underwater for longer period of times.
We were told on an airboat tour that if it’s below 65°F your chances of seeing one greatly diminish, so try to time your visit on a pleasant day!
Entrance Fees
To access the park you will need to have a National Park Pass or pay an Entrance Fee ranging from $20 – $30 (2024) via debit/credit card (no cash) at a collection station.
If you wish to camp in the park, backcountry permits and campground sites are a separate fee.
Is Everglades National Park Pet Friendly?
Short answer, not really. Gators and fur kids don’t really go paw in claw if you will.
Now, that doesn’t mean you have to do leave Fido at home on this adventure, it just means you have to plan your days a bit differently.
No trails inside the park boundaries are pet friendly. So if you do plan to do some hiking, it’s best to leave the fur baby in the RV.
Florida is called the Sunshine State for a reason, most days are warm and sunny so leaving your dog or cat in the car for a short hike isn’t recommended unless it’s a very unusually cold day.
However, your Adventure Pup or Kitty can enjoy a scenic drive on the Main Park Road or a leashed walk in the campground or on paved roads. For more information about Pet regulations or Service Animal exceptions, visit the National Park’s website here.
What to bring
Before you hit the road, here’s a quick list of gear you should bring with you to Everglades National Park to make your visit comfortable, safe and more enjoyable!
- Water-resistant hiking boots
- Bug spray
- Water
- SPF & bug resistant clothing and hat
- Binoculars
- Bicycles or E-bikes
- Kayak
Where to camp
Everglades National Park offers two developed campgrounds inside the park limits. They’re operated through a company called Flamingo Adventures which unfortunately results in the prices being far higher than you’d normally find in a campground.
For example, we paid for a dry campground in the Grand Canyon for $18 a night, in the Everglades it cost $40.
Reservations are highly recommended, especially in peak season, as sites tend to book up quickly! It is Florida after all!
Long Pine
Long Pine Key campground is open November 1st through April 30th and offers dry-camping sites (no water, electric, or sewer hookups) ranging from $30 – $39 a night + fees. It offers amenities that include bath houses, a dump station and a potable water filling station.
The campground is located about 30 miles from the Homestead Park Entrance and a few miles from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.
It has AT&T & Verizon reception, but satellite reception (such as Starlink) may be a bit tricky due to the plentiful trees that surround the campground.
The sites are spacious and even though it’s just a few miles from the bright lights of Miami, you’d be amazed at the stars you can see on a clear night around a campfire.
Flamingo
Flamingo Campground is located at the end of the Main Park Rd. near the Guy Bradley Visitor Center. It is open year-round and offers non-electric sites ranging from $33 – $39 per night + fees.
The sites at the T-Loop campground include pull-through RV sites and offer 30A-20A-50A pedestals. They DO NOT have water or sewer hook ups, but there is potable water and dump station on site. These electric sites range from $50 – $60 per night + fees.
There is no Verizon reception here, AT&T is said to be available but spotty, however if you have Starlink, there are clear skies to get blazing fast reception!
If you don’t want to camp or didn’t bring a tent or RV, check out the Flamingo Lodge or consider renting a glamping tent.
This campground is a great option if it’s a warm day and you need to plug in your RV to run the AC. But if I’m being honest with you, that’s all you’re going to want to do at this campground.
Why? The mosquitoes.
Remember those skeeters I warned you about, yah, this is where you’re going to find them. We got eaten alive on just a short evening potty break walk with Butters! I’m talking over a dozen bites in less than 10 minutes, and that was with wearing more bug spray and DEET that I care to share.
You’ve been warned.
What to do
Alright, let’s get to why you’re really here.
The first thing you should do when visiting a National Park is take a photo in front of the entrance sign! Yes it’s touristy and people may laugh at your silly and cheesy poses, but I guarantee you that twenty years from now you won’t remember people looking at you, but you will look back at those photos and be glad that you have them.
Ok, now the second thing you should do when visiting a National Park is stop by the Visitor’s Center to get the latest trail conditions and ask questions with a park ranger, pick up a park map, and of course any trinkets and gifts.
Everglades National Park has five visitor’s center (4 Currently Operational in 2024) in this 1.5 million acre park.
Shark Valley
Located in the north portion of the park on Highway 41. This will be the first visitor center you’ll encounter if you’re entering the park from the city of Naples.
This visitor center is also the trail head to the famous 15 mile bike or tram road to the Shark Valley Observation Tower.
Ernest F Coe
Known also as the Homestead entrance, Ernest Coe Visitor Center is located on Highway 1. This visitor center is open 365 days a year. It offers educational displays, orientation films, and informational brochures, and a gift shop to get your National Park Passport Stamp and souvenirs!
Royal Palm
A small visitor center located about 4 miles from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center. While this center does have a very small gift shop, it has limited hours and limited staff. I wouldn’t recommend this being the first and only visitor center you visit.
Guy Bradley (Flamingo)
Yes, it’s open! The Guy Bradley Visitor Center has been closed for years due to remodeling and repairs from hurricane damage, but as of 2023 it is open and beautiful!
The visitor center lies roughly 38 miles south of the park’s main entrance at the Main Park Road.
Be sure to check out the marina while you’re here for a chance to spot crocodiles and manatees!
Activities
Tram road to observation tower in Shark Valley
A must-do when visiting the Northern section of the park is enjoy a 15 mile bike ride to the Observation Tower . If you didn’t bring your own bike with you, there are bikes available to rent at the Shark Valley Visitor Center.
If you choose not to hit the road yourself, you can enjoy a tram ride which takes about two hours. The tram does get full during peak season, so it’s best that you reserve your tickets in advance!
Airboat Tour
Who says you can’t get a bit of an adrenaline rush in a National Park?!
An absolute must-do for any thrill seeker visiting the Everglades is to taken an air boat tour. An average tour lasts anywhere from 30 – 60 minutes depending on the type of tour you select.
The National Park is contracted with three guided tour companies that operate airboat tours in the Shark Valley portion of the National Park.
If you’re only visiting the southern portion (Homestead & Flamingo) of the park, there are several reputable companies outside of the park boundary near the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Homestead.
While seeing an alligator is never guaranteed on an airboat tour, it’s still a fun way to sail through the sawgrass!
Drive the scenic drive of Main Park Road
Not much of an outdoorsy type? That’s ok. You can still enjoy this National Park from the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle!
Most of the southern portion of the park can be seen from the Main Park Road which is a 38 mile road from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center to the Guy Bradley Visitor Center. It takes as little as 2 hours to drive the entire road, but we recommend to slow down and soak in the natural beauty and biodiversity of this unique ecosystem!
HM69 missile base
Everglades National Park is home to one of the best preserved relics of the Cold War in Florida. Here you’ll find the historic Nike Hercules missile site called “HM69”.
Ranger-guided tours are available between early December and late March, so be sure to check with the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center for an updated schedule of tours available.
Kayaking at Nine Mile Pond
With much of the national park being wetlands and under water, one of the best and most fun ways to explore this park is by boat or kayak!
If you only have time to kayak one water trail, then you should paddle out on Nine Mile Pond. You’ll glide through grassy marsh and mangroves. Keep an eye out for alligators, birds, and even the elusive saltwater crocodile. In fact this is one of the few places in the world where gators and crocodiles live in the same place!
Birdwatching
This one is for the bird nerds out there. Everglades National Park is a birdwatchers dream with over 300 species of birds.
Now I know what you’re thinking, I can see flamingos right? Well, most likely not. In recent years, there has only been a few sightings of the vibrant American Flamingo inside the parks limits.
But not to worry, there are plenty of beautiful species to observe here such as the Osprey, Snail Kites, Storks, and our personal favorite the Roseate Spoonbill.
Bird watching can be enjoyed throughout the park, but some of the best viewing can be done at Nine Mile Pond, Paurotis Pond, Eco Pond and Snake Bight Trail.
Hikes not to miss
Let’s take a hike! If you’ve ever wanted to try lacing up your boots and give the whole hiking thing a try, Everglades National Park is the place to start!
Why? Well, there’s pretty much no elevation gain!
If you’re here for just a day trip, then these two hiking trails will help you experience the most Everglades National Park has to offer in a short time and a short distance.
Anhinga Trail
If you want to see alligators in the southern portion of the park, this is where you’ll most likely find them.
The Anhinga Trail is located at the Royal Palms Visitor Center which is just 6 miles from the park’s entrance. If you have time to do only ONE trail in the park, this is the one you should do.
The trail is ADA accessible, and is a short 0.8 mile round trip self-guided loop that takes you through a sawgrass marsh where you will most likely see alligators, turtles, and a variety of bird species.
You can easily enjoy this hike in about an hour, but we encourage you to slow down to learn more about the biodiversity you’ll see here.
There is a large parking lot that offers RV parking, but the Anhinga Trail is probably the most popular trail, so it’s best to arrive early to avoid crowds and secure a parking spot.
As a reminder, none of the hiking trails inside the park boundaries are pet friendly.
Pa-Hay-okee Overlook trail
A park ranger described the view you’ll experience at the Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook Trail as “the way the Everglades used to be and should be”.
The trail is located about 13 miles from the park’s entrance and is a short .016mile (260m) boardwalk loop that leads you to a raised observation platform that offers stunning panorama views of the wild everglades.
From thrilling airboat rides through the sawgrass prairies to the peaceful sound of a kayak’s paddle gliding through the water amidst mangrove forests, Everglades National Park is sure to surprise you with a weekend filled with wildlife encounters, unique and breathtaking landscapes, and a deep appreciation for Florida and the way it was.
Want to get a glimpse of what a weekend in Everglades National Park looks like? Check out our YouTube video!
Happy and safe travels,
The Traveling Tiongsons
Traveling Tiongsons 