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Everglades National Park Travel Guide
Everglades National Park Travel Guide
By Katelyn Newstate
One of the most interesting national parks in the United States is located deep in the southern tip of Florida. Everglades National Park is incredible, but it’s sometimes overlooked in favor of the more well-known parks. We’re here to tell you that it should be at the top of your to-do list, and we actually recommend taking a few days to fully immerse yourself in the incredibly diverse ecosystem. With a campground, houseboats, glamping tents, and the construction of a brand new hotel, there are plenty of comfortable ways to stay inside the park, and you’ll have activities like wildlife viewing, hiking, kayaking, and boating to keep you busy during your visit.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT
Everglades National Park was established in 1947 and boasts more than 2,300 square miles of ecosystems and 1,000-plus species of animals. It’s actually the third largest national park in the contiguous United States, so it takes some time to explore! This land is also recognized as a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance.
Freshwater and saltwater collide in the Everglades, and whether you’re on land or in the water, you’ll have ample opportunity to experience the diverse ecosystems found within the park. Besides the mangroves, did you know there are pine forests and tree islands? You can explore these through a system of hiking trails, elevated walkways, portage (canoe and kayak) trails, and guided boat tours—and you’ll likely catch a glimpse of the wildlife as well. Along with manatees and many bird species, Everglades National Park is the only place in the world where crocodiles and alligators coexist!
We’re accustomed to the sweeping vistas and magnificent landscapes of other famous national parks, but Everglades is different—you have to peel back the layers to fully appreciate what makes it so special. When planning your visit, we recommend making reservations for camping inside the park and a guided tour to help understand the complex environment you’re exploring.
CAMPING AND ACCOMMODATIONS INSIDE EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
Flamingo, the main campground inside the park, has a total of 274 sites, with 65 designated for RVs (in the T-Loop). 41 RV sites feature 50/30/20-amp electric hookups and 24 have no hookups. All sites are pullthrough with a maximum RV length of 35 feet. Threaded water fill-up and dump stations are available in the campground.
A second campground, Long Pine Key, offers 108 dry camping sites from November through May. This campground offers back-in and pull-through sites that can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet. Several sites are reserved for no generator use, and there is a mix of shaded versus full-sun sites for RVs with solar panels. Threaded water fill-up and dump stations are available in the campground.
Both Flamingo and Long Pine Key Campgrounds are operated by a third-party vendor, and nightly fees vary depending on hookups, day of the week, and if you have a senior or military access pass. There is a separate national park entrance fee if you don’t have a federal annual pass. We recommend purchasing an America the Beautiful annual pass for $80, which gives you access to all national parks.
If you’re seeking unique accommodations, Flamingo also offers eco-tents. They come fully furnished from November through April, and furniture is removed during hurricane season, but tents can still be rented unfurnished. Each elevated eco-tent comes with fans, electricity, and comfortable beds, and can accommodate up to four guests.
A brand new 24-room lodge and restaurant will join the accommodation offerings at Flamingo with a planned opening in 2023. The uniquely-designed hotel built from shipping containers will feature studios as well as one- and two-bedroom suites, with beautiful views of the Florida Bay. It’s conveniently located within walking distance of the marina and the park’s new visitors center. It’s a fantastic way to stay deep inside Everglades National Park and have all the modern amenities of a hotel!
We stayed in the Flamingo campground and had plenty of room for our 25-foot RV and tow vehicle. Limited cell service is available through AT&T, but not from other major carriers. Pets are allowed in the campground, but are prohibited on all trails and from all areas of the park except along the roadsides. A major reason for these restrictions is for the safety of your pet as well as the wildlife, which is absolutely everywhere. During each day of our stay, we witnessed birds, foxes, manatees, alligators, and crocodiles in close proximity to the public areas and roadways. Stay alert at all times and
heed all signage and warnings from rangers. Booking camping or accommodations at Everglades National Park is pretty straightforward and similar to reserving campsites at many other parks, but it is not available through recreation.gov. You can click through from their website to book online with the third party vendor or call 1-855-708-2207 to reach their call center.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
This park is most popular during the cooler winter months, but there is always something to discover. Visitors to South Florida frequently visit the Everglades as a day trip, but we recommend at least two or three days to really explore all the different areas. Ranger-led programs are available at multiple locations and you can book activities like a boat or tram tour. Reservations for tours are highly recommended, particularly for the boat tours, which operate in the more remote areas of the park. You wouldn’t want to make the drive all the way there to find they’re booked for the rest of the day!
THE EXPERIENCE
Taking a guided tour or ranger program when you first arrive will give you a much deeper appreciation and understanding of the park’s history, ecology, and nature. During our visit, we joined a backcountry boat tour instance, we quickly got the scoop on between alligators and crocodiles, as well as where find them in the park. Our knowledgeable guide pointed out several bird species and unique plant life, and shared stories of the people who have called this area home. was a great introduction to the Everglades and helped us truly appreciate what we discovered as we began exploring on our own over the days to come.
On another day of our visit, we were fortunate to catch a ranger program all about alligators. The ranger shared lots of great information and also helped to dispel some myths. We highly recommend joining ranger programs at the national parks whenever you can.
Most of the experiences at Everglades National are self-guided, and there are plenty of options exploring via land and water. During our visit, we kayaks from Flamingo to try a portion of a (at times, you carry your kayak or canoe to connect to the next section short walks along elevated walkways mangroves and tree islands, and also hiked through forests. Each area is unique and helps make Everglades such a special place to visit.
There are several great too! Since 1959, the Robert is exotic fruits like mamey, dragonfruit a petting zoo and delicious fruit smoothies, this is a fantastic roadside attraction. Just a short drive from the fruit stand is Schnebly Redland's Winery & Brewery. This restaurant, winery, and brewery offers something for everyone on beautifully-landscaped grounds, including a waterfall!
Finally, to the north of Everglades is the infamous alligator alley and Big Cypress National Preserve. As the name indicates, you stand a great chance at seeing alligators when you take the Loop Road Scenic Drive, and particularly along the walkway at the Oasis Visitor Center. We counted more than 20 hanging out just below and next to the elevated path, and even more along the roadway.
With lots of unique opportunities to immerse yourself in nature and accommodations to suit any type of traveler, we hope you plan a visit to Everglades National Park next time you're in South Florida!
