Established
1947
Size
1,508,938 acres
Visitors / yr
942K
Entrance
$35
Best season
December through April (dry season)
Nearest airport
MIA Miami International
01
Why Everglades is worth the trip
Florida · Established 1947
The Everglades is not a swamp. It is a river, 50 miles wide and inches deep, sliding almost imperceptibly toward the sea through the largest subtropical wilderness in the country. It was also the first national park protected for its life rather than its scenery, which tells you how to visit. You come here for what moves.
Alligators are all but guaranteed along the Anhinga Trail, often a few feet off the boardwalk, and this is the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles share the water. Add roseate spoonbills, manatees idling near Flamingo, and wading birds filling the sky at dusk, and the flat green horizon starts earning your full attention. Come December through April, when the dry season pulls wildlife to the remaining water and the mosquitoes call a truce.
Start with our full Everglades guide, then use the planning below.
02
Top things to do in Everglades
Where we would start, and what we would plan a day around. Read the full guide.
Start here
20 Things to Do in Everglades National Park
Read the guide
01
Boat Tour · nps.gov
Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour
Experience the natural beauty of Everglades National Park's Ten Thousand Islands with a boat tour on Chokoloskee Bay.
02
Fishing · nps.gov
Fishing in the Everglades
One third of Everglades National Park is covered by water, creating excellent boating and fishing opportunities! Snapper, sea trout, redfish, bass, and bluegill are...
03
Guided Tours · nps.gov
Shark Valley Tram Tour
Exploring the Shark Valley area by tram is a great way to see and learn about the wildlife and hisotry of Everglades National Park....
04
Biking · nps.gov
Biking at Shark Valley
Explore the everglades by biking the 15-mile (24 km) Shark Valley Tram Road. Along the way you can experience the wide array of wildlife,...
Boat Tour · nps.gov
Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour
Experience the natural beauty of Everglades National Park's Ten Thousand Islands with a boat tour on Chokoloskee Bay.
02
Fishing · nps.gov
Fishing in the Everglades
One third of Everglades National Park is covered by water, creating excellent boating and fishing opportunities! Snapper, sea trout, redfish, bass, and bluegill are...
03
Guided Tours · nps.gov
Shark Valley Tram Tour
Exploring the Shark Valley area by tram is a great way to see and learn about the wildlife and hisotry of Everglades National Park....
04
Biking · nps.gov
Biking at Shark Valley
Explore the everglades by biking the 15-mile (24 km) Shark Valley Tram Road. Along the way you can experience the wide array of wildlife,...
Before you go
Get the Everglades heads-up
Permit windows, closures and seasonal alerts, plus our best Everglades guides, in your inbox before you go. Free, no spam.
03
Plan your trip
Our guides for the big decisions, plus the gear, maps and lodging we would actually use for Everglades.
Where to stay
Gateway towns with lodging, food and outfitters.
Maps & guides
Carry paper. Cell service dies fast inside most parks.
America the Beautiful pass
$80 a year. Covers entrance fees at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites.
Get the pass
What to bring
Field-tested picks we bring on park trips.
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Water ShoesQuick-drying grip for shorelines, slot canyons, and river crossings. View on REI
-
Dry BagKeep your phone, camera, and spare clothes dry near water. View on REI
-
Sun HatFull-brim coverage for exposed trails with zero shade. View on REI
-
BinocularsSpot wildlife from a safe distance without disturbing them. View on REI
Getting there
- MIA Miami International 40 mi
- FLL Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood 70 mi
- RSW Southwest Florida International 80 mi
Some links in this section are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend what we would use ourselves.
Everglades map
VC Visitor Center
CG Campground
Nearby Park
04
When to go
Loading weather...
Month-by-Month Conditions
Tap any month for details
Month
High
Low
Crowds
Roads
Jan Best
77°
57°
Heavy
Open
Feb Best
79°
58°
Heavy
Open
Mar Best
82°
62°
Heavy
Open
Apr Best
85°
66°
Heavy
Open
May
89°
71°
Moderate
Open
Jun
91°
75°
Moderate
Open
Jul
92°
76°
Moderate
Open
Aug
92°
76°
Moderate
Open
Sep
90°
75°
Light
Open
Oct
87°
71°
Light
Open
Nov
82°
64°
Moderate
Open
Dec Best
78°
59°
Moderate
Open
Best months to visit
Crowd level (low to peak)
06
Parks near Everglades
Within reach if you are building a longer trip.
Worth protecting
Everglades belongs to all of us
Protections that took generations to win can be rolled back in a single session of Congress. We keep watch so they hold.
Stay in the Loop
Free dispatches on the parks and the policy fights around them, almost every day. Threats tracked, wins celebrated, no fluff.
Threatened Lands Map
Follow what's happening on federal lands across the country with our interactive map.
View the Tracker