Everglades National Park

State: Florida. Type: national park protecting about 1.5 million acres of subtropical wetland at the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, spanning parts of Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier counties. Established as a national park in 1947 - the first national park created to protect an ecosystem for its biodiversity. Holds international designations including UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. Managed by the National Park Service; official site nps.gov/ever; park phone 305-242-7700. Standard vehicle entrance pass: $35 (7 days).

Everglades National Park protects the southern portion of the vast Everglades wetland system, a slow-moving 'river of grass' that flows from central Florida toward Florida Bay. Covering roughly 1.5 million acres, it is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States and was established in 1947 as the first U.S. national park created specifically to protect a threatened ecosystem for its biological diversity rather than its scenery. The park is a mosaic of habitats, sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, coastal estuaries, pinelands, hardwood hammocks and marine waters, that together support an exceptional range of wildlife, including American alligators and the rare American crocodile, wading birds, manatees, and the endangered Florida panther. Its ecological importance is recognized internationally: it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance. The park has three main gateway areas, each offering a different experience, from boardwalk wildlife trails near Homestead, to a tram-and-observation-tower loop at Shark Valley near Miami, to boat access into the Ten Thousand Islands from the Gulf Coast. It also supplies drinking water to much of south Florida, tying its health directly to the region's water supply.

Everglades National Park occupies the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, spanning parts of Miami-Dade, Monroe and Collier counties. Its main park address is 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034. Access is spread across three widely separated entrance areas: the main Homestead entrance in the southeast (leading to the Royal Palm and Flamingo areas), the Shark Valley entrance off the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) west of Miami, and the Gulf Coast entrance near Everglades City on the northwest side, gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands. Because these entrances are far apart by road, most visits focus on one area at a time.

The Everglades has a subtropical climate with two main seasons. The dry season (roughly November through March) brings warm, pleasant, less humid weather, fewer mosquitoes, and concentrated wildlife around remaining water, making it the prime visiting season. The wet season (roughly April through October) is hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, high water levels that disperse wildlife, and abundant mosquitoes; some ranger programs and services are reduced in this period. The region lies within the June-through-November Atlantic hurricane season. Sun, heat and insects are significant factors for visitors, especially outside the dry season.

The dry season, roughly November through March (into April), is widely considered the best time to visit: temperatures and humidity are more comfortable, mosquitoes are far less of a problem, wildlife congregates around shrinking water sources making animals easier to see, and ranger-led programs are most plentiful. The wet summer season is hot, buggy and stormy, with wildlife more dispersed and some programs reduced, though the landscape is lush and crowds are thinner. Winter is also the peak season for visitor numbers, so popular areas can be busier then.

The Everglades wetland has been shaped over millennia and was long inhabited by Native peoples, including ancestors of the modern Miccosukee and Seminole tribes. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, large-scale drainage and development schemes threatened the ecosystem, prompting a conservation movement, championed by advocates such as writer Marjory Stoneman Douglas, whose 1947 book 'The Everglades: River of Grass' reframed the wetland's value. Everglades National Park was established in 1947 as the first national park set aside primarily to protect an ecosystem for its biodiversity rather than for dramatic landforms. In the following decades its global significance was recognized through designation as an International Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Wetland of International Importance. The park has faced ongoing challenges from altered water flow, agricultural and urban development, invasive species and hurricanes, and it is the focus of one of the largest ecosystem-restoration efforts in the world aimed at restoring more natural water flow through the region.

Popular activities include walking the park's boardwalks and short trails to view wildlife, most famously the Anhinga Trail near the Homestead entrance, which is known for close views of alligators, wading birds and turtles. At Shark Valley, visitors can take a tram tour, rent bikes, or walk the 15-mile loop road to an observation tower overlooking the sawgrass prairie. The Gulf Coast area offers boat tours, canoeing and kayaking among the Ten Thousand Islands. With navigable water covering about a third of the park, paddling and boating are major draws, along with fishing, birdwatching, ranger-led walks and talks, biking on several trails, and both front-country and wilderness camping. Stargazing events such as a spring dark-sky celebration are also held.

Key destinations include the Royal Palm area near Homestead, home to the Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails; Flamingo, at the park's southern end on Florida Bay, a hub for boating, paddling, camping and wildlife viewing; Shark Valley, with its tram tour, bike rentals and observation tower; and the Gulf Coast entrance near Everglades City, the gateway to boat trips through the Ten Thousand Islands. Visitor centers, the Ernest F. Coe center at the main entrance, the Guy Bradley (Flamingo), Shark Valley and Gulf Coast centers, provide exhibits, information and program schedules.

The park's main Homestead entrance is roughly an hour's drive southwest of Miami; from Miami International Airport, most visitors rent a car and drive via the Florida Turnpike toward Homestead and Florida City, then State Road 9336 into the park. The Shark Valley entrance is west of Miami along the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41). The Gulf Coast entrance near Everglades City is reached from the Naples area on the west coast. There is no public transit into the park, so a private or rental vehicle is effectively required, and the three entrances are far apart by road.

The park's main Homestead entrance and the Gulf Coast entrance near Everglades City are open 24 hours a day year-round, while the Shark Valley entrance is open to vehicles from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (after 6 p.m. its road closes to cars, though visitors may still enter on foot or bicycle). Visitor center hours vary by location and season, generally around 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the wet season (April-October) and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the dry season (November-March). Confirm current hours on nps.gov/ever before visiting.

As of research, the standard entrance pass is $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, or $20 per person entering on foot, bicycle or paddlecraft, each valid for 7 consecutive days at all park entrances; children under 16 enter free. An Everglades annual pass is $70, and the nationwide America the Beautiful pass is $80 for residents. The park lists a $100 nonresident fee (ages 16+) that applies in addition to the standard fee unless the visitor holds an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Payment is cashless (digital pass or credit/debit only). Tram tours, boat tours and equipment rentals carry separate charges. Confirm current fees on nps.gov/ever.

A focused visit to one entrance area, such as walking the Anhinga Trail and nearby boardwalks or taking the Shark Valley tram, can be done in a half day to a full day. Seeing multiple areas, given the long driving distances between the Homestead, Shark Valley and Gulf Coast entrances, generally takes two or more days, and paddlers or campers exploring the backcountry may spend several days.

There are no hotels inside the park; overnight options within the park are campgrounds, including drive-in and walk-in sites and backcountry wilderness sites (some accessible only by boat), plus eco-tent style lodging that has been offered at Flamingo. For hotels, most visitors stay in the gateway towns: Homestead and Florida City near the main entrance, the greater Miami area for Shark Valley, and Everglades City or Naples for the Gulf Coast entrance. These towns offer a range of chain and independent hotels and, in season, can fill up, so booking ahead is advisable.

Dining options inside the park are very limited, so visitors typically eat in the surrounding gateway communities or pack their own food and water. Homestead and Florida City near the main entrance have a range of restaurants and fast food; Everglades City on the Gulf Coast side is known for local seafood, including stone crab in season; and the Miami and Naples metropolitan areas offer extensive dining a drive away. Because services within the park are sparse, carrying snacks and plenty of water is recommended for any full-day visit.

Biscayne National Park, a largely underwater park protecting reefs and islands, lies just east of the Homestead area. Big Cypress National Preserve borders the Everglades to the north along the Tamiami Trail. The city of Miami and Miami Beach are to the northeast, and the Florida Keys extend to the southeast via U.S. 1. The Everglades City/Ten Thousand Islands area connects to the Gulf Coast and Naples. Many visitors combine the park with one or more of these south Florida destinations.

There is no public transit or passenger rail into Everglades National Park, so a private or rental vehicle is essentially required. Miami International Airport is the nearest major airport for the Homestead and Shark Valley entrances, while Southwest Florida International Airport near Fort Myers/Naples is closer to the Gulf Coast entrance. Because the three entrance areas are far apart by road, plan driving routes and times around whichever area you intend to visit.

Wildlife is genuinely wild: keep a safe distance from alligators and other animals, never feed them, and supervise children closely near water. In the warmer, wetter months, mosquitoes can be intense, and heat and strong sun are serious concerns, so carry water, sun protection and insect repellent. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer, so watch the sky and seek shelter from lightning. On the water, check conditions, tides and weather before paddling or boating, and tell someone your plans in remote areas. Cell coverage can be poor in the backcountry. For any emergency, dial 911; the park's main phone is 305-242-7700.

Insect repellent, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and plenty of drinking water are essentials, especially outside the coolest months. Comfortable closed shoes, light long-sleeved clothing for sun and bug protection, and a rain layer for summer storms are useful. Binoculars and a camera enhance wildlife viewing, and a paper map is worth having given limited cell service. Because payment in the park is cashless, bring a card, and pack any food you will need, since services inside the park are limited.

Visit in the dry season (roughly November through April) for the most comfortable weather, the fewest mosquitoes and the best wildlife viewing. Because the Homestead, Shark Valley and Gulf Coast entrances are far apart, pick your area in advance rather than trying to see all three in one short trip. Start early to beat midday heat and catch active wildlife, and check the visitor-center program schedule for ranger-led walks and talks. Bring your own food and water, carry insect repellent, and note that entrance payment is cashless. Confirm hours, fees and any closures on nps.gov/ever before you go.

For any emergency, dial 911, the nationwide U.S. emergency number. The park's main information line is 305-242-7700, per the National Park Service. Cell coverage is limited in remote areas of the park, so note visitor-center locations and tell someone your plans before heading into the backcountry.

Everglades National Park (National Park Service) - https://www.nps.gov/ever

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.