The Complete Guide to visiting Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is one of the most popular national parks in Florida attracting 1 million visitors each year, according to the National Park Service. Tourists and local outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy Everglades tours and explore the park from nine different entry points.

Also known as the “River of Grass,” the Everglades is a detailed network of subtropical wetlands, rivers, and lakes that once covered over 4,000 square miles from Lake Okeechobee to the southern tip of Florida.

Today the vast, natural ecosystem is less than half its original size but houses a variety of wildlife habitats, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History.

This guide is full of suggestions on where to stay, where to eat, and what to see and do if you’re planning to visit this extraordinary marshland. That includes popular airboat tours, top hiking and biking trails, and some must-see wildlife.

The exquisite natural beauty of the expansive marshes and diverse wildlife within Everglades National Park is awe-inspiring. The Everglades is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of North America, a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance.

You will probably want to study the Everglades National Park map to determine which of all the adventures you most want to have.

Where to Stay in the Everglades

Everglades National Park boasts multiple accommodation options. If you prefer hotel amenities, you can book a suite or room complete with a kitchenette at the Flamingo Lodge in Flamingo, which is 38 miles south of the Homestead entrance.

Everglades City has lots of hotels that are close to numerous Everglades adventures including the Ivey House Everglades Adventures Hotel, The Captain’s Table Hotel by Everglades Adventures, and the Everglades City Motel.

You can rent a houseboat for up to six guests if you are looking for a unique place to sleep, eat and explore the surrounding marshy paradise. Houseboats are located at the backcountry marina at Flamingo, which is also 38 miles from the park’s main entrance.

Anyone born after Jan. 1, 1988, must have a valid boater’s safety card or certificate to operate the boat. All operators must also possess a valid Everglades Boater Education card.

You can book a safari-style glamping tent, complete with beds, fans, and electricity for that outdoorsy stay packed with creature comforts. Avid campers can enjoy Everglades campground living at Long Pine Key Campground or Flamingo Campground. You can reserve a wilderness campsite up to 90 days in advance. Walk-up reservations are not allowed.

Where to Eat

Sampling local culinary specialties is essential on any trip. Acclaimed Everglades eateries include Joanie’s Blue Crab Café for local fare like soft-shelled crab and gator bite tacos. Camellia Street Grill features scenic outdoor waterfront seating. Menu favorites include crab tacos, blackened shrimp, and homemade Key lime pie.

Robert Is Here Fruit Stand sells local and exotic fruits, and veggies. They also offer homemade milkshakes and smoothies. You can enjoy a delicious array of breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes at the Flamingo Lodge Restaurant.

What to See and Do in Everglades National Park

Visitors have unparalleled opportunities to see hundreds of plant and animal species in the Everglades – including rare and endangered creatures like the manatee, American crocodile, and Florida panther.

From airboat excursions and boat tours to biologist-led hikes, biking, birding, slough slogging, or a starlight walk, many exciting Everglades adventures await. Here are some suggestions.

Take a Guided Airboat or Boat Tour

There’s no better way to experience Everglades wildlife than out on the water. Naturalists and wildlife experts guide guests through the scenic waterways on informative and entertaining airboat tours and boat tours.

Aircraft-style propellors and an aircraft or automobile engine power an airboat. They are much louder than pontoons, kayaks, small motorboats, or paddle boats. Popular water tours combine dolphin watching, birding, and wildlife viewing in one excursion. Others offer separate boating and hiking experiences.

Everglades National Park Dolphin, Birding and Wildlife Boat Tour (2 hours), Everglades National Park Biologist Led Adventure: Cruise, Hike + Airboat, 1-Hour Airboat Ride and Nature Walk with Naturalist in Everglades National Park, and Manatees and Mangrove Tunnels Small Group Kayak Tour are highly-rated TripAdvisor Everglades excursions.

Go Hiking and Biking

Many popular hiking trails and biking trails wind through Everglades National Park. Whether you’re exploring the paths on foot or cycling, you may encounter a variety of wild creatures like alligators, turtles, and herons, living throughout this unique ecosystem.

Hiking trails include the Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail, Mahogany Hammock Trail, and more. Biking trails are longer than hiking trails, with some covering 15 miles. Shark Valley Trails, Snake Bight Trail, and Long Pine Key Bike Trails are popular routes.

You can take a biologist or ranger-led tour to learn interesting facts about the wildlife and ecosystems you discover on your journey.

Go Bird Watching

Over 300 species of birds live in Everglades National Park for those who like looking for their feathered friends. Warblers, mangrove cuckoos, wading birds, flamingos, and Great Egrets are some of the birds you may find.

Try Slough Slogging

If you crave an up-close-and-personal marsh encounter and don’t mind getting your shoes, socks, and pants wet, try wading through the “River of Grass” to find a gator hole or cypress dome with a park ranger. You must make reservations for this experience – no more than one week in advance.

Visit the ‘Land of Giants’ at Corkscrew Swamp

The largest stand of old-growth cypress trees on Earth tower over the landscape in the heart of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Known as the “Land of Giants,” some trees there are 135 feet tall and 40 feet in circumference. You can see these beauties and all sorts of wildlife on a stroll along the 2.1-mile-long boardwalk.

See Alligators, Panthers, or Bears (Oh My!)

For the best chance to see lots of alligators visit the Big Cypress National Preserve or take the tram tour at Shark Valley Visitor Center. You might also spot a Florida panther or black bear at Fakahatchee Strand State Park. Don’t get too close to these dangerous creatures!

You can experience spectacular sights, sounds, and wildlife wonders inside Florida’s renowned Everglades National Park. Once you start exploring, you’ll soon discover why millions of people make the trip.