National Park · Florida
A 1.5-million-acre subtropical wetland where you paddle and walk among alligators, wading birds, and sawgrass.
Field briefing
Everglades changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
Summer and fall are hot, stormy, and brutal with bugs, so most visitors skip them. Everglades is a flat, watery park best explored by paddle and on short boardwalk trails rather than big climbs, so pack for sun, water, and biting insects above all. Bring a hat, sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, strong insect repellent (a head net in the warm months), binoculars for birds and gators, and a rain shell. There are three separate entrances, so decide your route before you arrive.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Conditions, crowds, and what each season asks you to pack.
Warm and drying out, highs in the low 80s to upper 80s F. Wildlife still concentrates near shrinking water holes early in the season.
Pack Light layers, sun hat, and serious bug protection as mosquitoes ramp up.
Hot, humid, and stormy, highs in the low 90s F with daily afternoon thunderstorms and intense mosquitoes.
Pack Head net, long sleeves, rain shell, and far more water than you think you need.
Still hot and humid, highs in the upper 80s to low 90s F. Hurricane season runs through November and the bugs stay fierce.
Pack Rain gear, insect repellent, and a flexible plan around tropical weather.
Mild, dry, and pleasant, highs in the upper 70s to low 80s F. The dry season pulls wildlife to the water and the mosquitoes ease off.
Pack Sun protection, binoculars, and a light layer for cool mornings.
A short paved-and-boardwalk loop near the main entrance where alligators, turtles, and wading birds gather at close range.
A 15-mile paved loop you bike or ride by tram to a observation tower over the river of grass.
A quick boardwalk to a raised platform with a wide view across the sawgrass prairie.
The road's end at the coast, a launch point for kayaking, fishing, and manatee and crocodile sightings.
A marked paddling loop through mangroves and open marsh, a classic dry-season route.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Everglades, make Anhinga Trail the non-negotiable, add Shark Valley Tram Road only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Pa-hay-okee Overlook as the flexible finish.
Turn Everglades's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
2 quick tools, already seeded for Everglades. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions Everglades changes: water, footing, weather, and overnight needs. The checklist is there once your route and dates are set.
Kit Authority
Everglades packing list
0 of 15 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
15 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Everglades asks of your kit. Each one has our current top picks across budget and use case.
Stay strategy
Make the access plan before the lodging plan.
Stay strategy
Everglades has three main visitor zones that do not connect inside the park. Homestead and Florida City are best for Royal Palm, Anhinga Trail, Pa-hay-okee, and Flamingo. Everglades City is the Gulf Coast and Ten Thousand Islands play. Miami works when the park is one piece of a bigger South Florida trip.
Compare base options
Read these as access plans first. The right base is the one that makes the transfer reliable, then the room or campsite can follow.
Main-road base
Use this base for a first Everglades trip. It keeps the main park road and Royal Palm close while leaving room for a long Flamingo day.
Long Pine Key favors the main entrance and Royal Palm. Flamingo is the better choice when paddling, fishing, Florida Bay, or road-end wildlife are the focus.
Stay here only when the Gulf Coast is the purpose. It pairs well with paddling and boat-based wildlife days, not a main-road sampler.
City base
Miami is fine for a single boardwalk and Shark Valley day. It is less ideal for paddling or a full Flamingo plan because the return drive eats into the evening.
Dry season
Book winter lodging early because it is also South Florida high season.
Bug math
In warm months, lodging with screens and air conditioning can matter as much as the route.
Camping reservations
Campground systems change by season and sometimes by individual campground. Start with the official park camping page, then confirm open dates, reservation windows, and permit rules before booking.
Reviewed June 6, 2026
Booking window
Check the official park camping page before choosing dates.
Where to book or verify
Use this first for current campground status and park-specific rules.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Use this for wilderness permits, timed systems, tours, and other park-specific reservations.
Treat the vehicle plan as part of the itinerary.
Road distance, road surface, fuel, and daylight can matter as much as the final trail or viewpoint.
Getting there
Fly in
Fly into Miami International Airport (MIA), the nearest major hub, then drive about an hour southwest to the main Ernest F.
Car strategy
Coe entrance near Homestead, where the 38-mile main park road leads to Flamingo on Florida Bay.
Car strategy
The Shark Valley entrance sits on the park's north side along Tamiami Trail (US-41), roughly a 45-minute to 1-hour drive west of Miami.
Pair this with lodging: the closest bed is not always the simplest one if road time, road quality, or fuel stops dominate.
The dry season from December through April is by far the best time. The weather is mild with highs in the 70s and low 80s F, the mosquitoes ease off, and wildlife concentrates around shrinking water holes, making animals easy to spot. Summer and fall are hot, humid, storm-prone, and thick with biting insects.
No, Everglades does not use a timed-entry reservation system, so you can drive in any time during operating hours. You do need to pay the entrance fee, which is $35 per private vehicle for 7 days. The park is cashless, so bring a credit or debit card or a digital pass.
Yes, the Everglades is home to thousands of American alligators, and you will likely see them along trails like the Anhinga Trail and Shark Valley. It is the only place on earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist. Stay at least 15 feet back, never feed them, and keep small children and pets close, and it is a very safe place to watch wildlife.
Because the park is flat and watery, paddling a canoe or kayak through the mangroves and marsh is the signature experience, with marked trails like Nine Mile Pond. For an easier visit, short boardwalk trails such as Anhinga and Pa-hay-okee put you close to wildlife in under an hour. Guided boat tours and the Shark Valley tram are good options if you want a low-effort overview.
Nearby parks
BiscayneA national park that is 95% water: snorkel coral reefs, paddle mangroves, and reach the islands by boat off Miami.
Dry TortugasA 70-mile boat or seaplane ride west of Key West to a Civil War fort ringed by coral reefs and turquoise water.
Big BendA vast, remote stretch of Chihuahuan Desert, Rio Grande canyons, and the cool Chisos Mountains, with some of the darkest night skies in the country.