Everglades - How to Visit and What to Expect

This is where you can see alligators in their natural habitat, numerous species of birds, turtles and many other animals connected with the subtropical wetlands of South Florida.

The Everglades is often described as the “River of Grass”. Despite the name, it is not a typical swamp or a single river. It is a vast and very shallow water system where water slowly moves through large areas covered with the characteristic sawgrass.

Everglades National Park or an Airboat Ride?

This is the most important distinction for anyone visiting the Everglades for the first time.

There are two main ways to experience the Everglades.

The first is to visit the official Everglades National Park, managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The park has several separate entrances and Visitor Centers, and each one allows you to explore a different part of the Everglades. You can walk along prepared trails and boardwalks, observe wildlife, join ranger-led programs, ride a bicycle or tram, and in some areas also take boat trips or rent kayaks.

The second option is to take a commercial airboat tour organized by private companies operating in the Everglades region or in its immediate surroundings.

These are two different experiences and it is best not to confuse them. The national park focuses mainly on nature, wildlife and understanding the Everglades ecosystem. An airboat tour is a more dynamic attraction, combining a fast ride across shallow wetlands with the chance to spot alligators and other animals.

If you have enough time, it is worth experiencing the Everglades in both ways.

Official Everglades National Park Visitor Centers

Everglades National Park does not have one central entrance from which you can easily drive to all other parts of the park. This is very important when planning your visit.

The different entrances are located in separate parts of the vast Everglades area, and the roads inside the park do not connect all of them. Before leaving, it is therefore worth deciding which part of the park you want to visit.

For visitors staying in Miami, the most practical options are usually Shark Valley Visitor Center and Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center - Main Entrance Near Homestead

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is located southwest of Miami, near the city of Homestead. It is the main entrance to the southern section of Everglades National Park.

Address:
40001 State Road 9336
Homestead, FL 33034

Official website:
https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm

This is a very good place for a first visit. At the Visitor Center you can pick up maps, speak with National Park Service rangers, see exhibits about the Everglades ecosystem and find out which trails are best to visit that day.

From here, you can continue deeper into the park toward Royal Palm and Flamingo.

One of the most popular places in this part of the Everglades is the Royal Palm area, where short trails and boardwalks lead over the wetlands. It is a very good place to observe alligators, birds and turtles.

If you want to experience the Everglades in a calm and natural way, this is an excellent choice.

Shark Valley Visitor Center - Best Option Close to Miami

For many visitors staying in Miami, the most convenient option is Shark Valley Visitor Center.

Address:
36000 SW 8th Street
Miami, FL 33194

Official website:
https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/shark-valley.htm

The Visitor Center is located west of Miami along US 41, also known as Tamiami Trail.

The main attraction at Shark Valley is an approximately 15-mile, or over 24-kilometer, loop road through open Everglades wetlands. At the far end of the loop there is an observation tower offering wide views across the marshes.

The route can be explored:

• on foot,
• by bicycle,
• on a guided tram tour.

Private cars are not allowed on the loop road.

Shark Valley is also one of the best places in the Everglades to see alligators. They can often be spotted directly beside the road.

It is important to remember that airboat rides do not operate directly from Shark Valley. Companies offering airboat tours are located along Tamiami Trail, outside the Visitor Center area.

During the winter season, Shark Valley can become very busy and the parking lot may fill up quickly. It is best to arrive in the morning, especially on weekends and holidays.

Guy Bradley Visitor Center - Flamingo

If you have more time, you can drive about 38 miles deeper into the park from the main entrance near Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to Flamingo.

This is where you will find the Guy Bradley Visitor Center, the southernmost visitor center in Everglades National Park.

Address:
1 Flamingo Lodge Highway
Flamingo, FL 33034

Official website:
https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm

This part of the park has a very different character. Instead of vast sawgrass wetlands, mangrove forests and the waters of Florida Bay become increasingly important.

There is a marina in Flamingo. From here, visitors can take boat tours, rent kayaks or canoes and enjoy other water-based activities.

This is a good option for travelers who want to spend a full day in the Everglades or even stay overnight in this part of the park.

The drive from the main park entrance to Flamingo takes around one hour. It is important to remember that Flamingo does not have a separate entrance from the south - you must reach it through the main entrance near Homestead.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center - Everglades from the Gulf Coast Side

The fourth main Visitor Center is located in Everglades City, on the western side of the park, closer to Naples than Miami.

It is now called the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center. The area was previously widely known as the Gulf Coast Visitor Center.

Address:
815 Oyster Bar Lane
Everglades City, FL 34139

Official website:
https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/visitorcenters.htm

This is the gateway to a completely different part of the Everglades - the Ten Thousand Islands, a vast network of mangrove islands, bays and waterways leading toward the Gulf of Mexico.

This part of the park is best explored from the water. Boat tours, kayaking and trips through the mangroves are especially popular here.

If you are staying in Miami, this is the most distant Visitor Center and is probably not the best choice for a first, short visit to the Everglades. It is, however, an excellent option if you are staying in Naples, Marco Island or traveling through the western part of South Florida.

Can You Take an Airboat Ride Inside Everglades National Park?

Yes, but not from most Visitor Centers.

For example, you do not board an airboat directly at Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center or Shark Valley.

Along Tamiami Trail, however, three companies are officially authorized by the National Park Service to operate airboat tours within Everglades National Park:

• Coopertown Airboats,
• Gator Park,
• Everglades Safari Park.

In addition, many other private operators offer airboat tours across the wider Everglades region. Some of them operate on wetlands outside the administrative boundaries of Everglades National Park.

This means that the term “Everglades Airboat Tour” does not always mean that the boat is operating directly inside the national park.

This is not necessarily a disadvantage. Many commercial tours offer excellent opportunities to see the wetlands and spot alligators. It is simply useful to understand the difference.

What Is an Airboat?

An airboat is one of the most characteristic attractions in Florida.

It is a wide, flat-bottomed boat powered by a large propeller mounted high above the water at the rear. Its appearance is somewhat like a combination of a boat and an airplane.

The key difference compared with a regular motorboat is that an airboat does not use a conventional underwater propeller. Instead, it is propelled by the stream of air generated by the large rear propeller.

This design is ideal for navigating the extremely shallow waters of the Everglades.

Why Do Boats in the Everglades Need Such a Shallow Draft?

In many parts of the Everglades, the water is extremely shallow. Beneath the surface there are grasses, mud and dense vegetation.

A conventional boat with an outboard motor and an underwater propeller would quickly hit the bottom or become tangled in vegetation.

An airboat, however, has a flat bottom and very shallow draft. Because the propeller remains completely above the water, the boat can glide across shallow marshes and areas covered with vegetation.

This is why airboats have become one of the symbols of the Everglades.

What Is an Airboat Ride Like?

After boarding, passengers usually sit on raised seats that provide a good view of the surrounding wetlands.

The captain takes the airboat across open marshes, narrow channels and areas covered with sawgrass.

In open areas, the boat can move quite quickly. The speed, combined with the characteristic sound of the large rear propeller, is a major part of the experience.

When the guide spots an animal, the captain will usually slow down or stop the boat.

The biggest excitement comes from seeing alligators, but you may also spot herons, ibises, turtles and many other animals.

It is important to remember that these animals live in the wild. The Everglades is not a zoo, and no one can guarantee that an alligator will appear close to the boat during every tour.

Are Airboats Loud?

Yes, and it is worth knowing this before you go.

The large propeller at the rear of the boat creates a lot of noise. During faster sections of the ride, normal conversation is practically impossible.

Tour operators usually provide passengers with hearing protection.

The distinctive sound of the engine and propeller is, however, part of the experience and is closely associated with a classic Everglades airboat ride.

Are Airboat Tours Suitable for Children?

Yes. Airboat rides are among the most popular family attractions in Florida.

Children often especially enjoy the combination of fast riding and searching for alligators.

It is worth remembering, however, that the boats are loud and that the South Florida sun and heat can be intense.

For families visiting the Everglades for the first time, a one-hour airboat tour is usually enough.

When Is the Best Time to Visit the Everglades?

The Everglades can be visited throughout the year, but conditions vary significantly depending on the season.

From approximately November through March, South Florida experiences the dry season. Temperatures are more comfortable, humidity is lower and this is also a very good period for wildlife viewing.

From around April through October, the wet season brings higher temperatures, greater humidity and more frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

If you visit during summer, it is usually best to plan your trip for the morning.

What Should You Bring to the Everglades?

You do not need any special equipment, but it is useful to bring:

• sunglasses,
• high-SPF sunscreen,
• mosquito repellent,
• water,
• a hat or cap,
• a camera or smartphone,
• a light jacket or sweatshirt during cooler months.

It can be very windy during an airboat ride, so hats and other loose items should be secured properly.

How Much Time Should You Allow for the Everglades?

If you are only planning a one-hour airboat ride, it is best to allow around half a day once driving, parking and organization are included.

If you want to understand the Everglades better, a much more interesting option is to combine two different experiences.

You can first visit the official Everglades National Park, for example Shark Valley or Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, and then take an airboat tour with one of the commercial operators.

This allows you to experience the Everglades both slowly - from trails, boardwalks and observation points - and from a fast-moving flat-bottomed airboat crossing the wetlands.

Is the Everglades Worth Visiting on Your First Trip to Florida?

Definitely yes, especially if most of your stay is in Miami, Miami Beach or Fort Lauderdale.

In a relatively short time, you can leave the high-rise buildings of Miami behind and enter an almost completely wild landscape of South Florida.

The most important thing is to decide what kind of experience you want. Everglades National Park and a commercial airboat ride are not exactly the same attraction.

The national park offers more opportunities for walking, wildlife watching and learning about the ecosystem. An airboat ride is a more dynamic and spectacular experience.

For a first visit, the best option is to combine both.

Official Everglades National Park website:
https://www.nps.gov/ever/