Everglades National Park Guide: Best Trails, When to Visit & Where to Stay

Everglades National Park protects the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, a vast, slow-moving river of grass stretching across 1.5 million acres of southern Florida. This is not a park of dramatic peaks or towering waterfalls. The Everglades is defined by subtlety: the way sawgrass prairie stretches to every horizon, the sudden appearance of an alligator sliding through tea-colored water, the explosion of a great blue heron taking flight from a mangrove island, the eerie silence of a cypress dome at dusk.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance, the Everglades is one of the most ecologically significant landscapes on the planet. The park provides critical habitat for 36 federally protected species, including the Florida panther, American crocodile, West Indian manatee, and the elusive Everglades snail kite. More than 360 species of birds have been recorded here, making it one of the premier birding destinations in North America. Yet the Everglades is an ecosystem under siege: decades of water diversion, development, and invasive species have reduced the original Everglades to roughly half its historic extent, making the national park both a sanctuary and a statement about what we choose to preserve.

Best Trails

Anhinga Trail - The must-do trail of the Everglades, this easy 0.8-mile paved loop at Royal Palm near the main entrance offers virtually guaranteed wildlife sightings. Alligators, anhingas, great blue herons, turtles, and fish are visible at close range from the boardwalk, especially during the dry season when animals congregate around remaining water sources. This trail alone justifies a visit to the park.

Gumbo Limbo Trail - Adjacent to the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm, this easy 0.4-mile paved loop winds through a tropical hardwood hammock. The gumbo limbo trees with their peeling red bark, known as "tourist trees" because they are always red and peeling, create a shady canopy overhead. Look for tree snails, rare orchids, and various species of tropical birds.

Pa-hay-okee Overlook Trail - An easy 0.2-mile elevated boardwalk leading to an observation platform over a vast expanse of sawgrass prairie. This is the place to understand why Marjory Stoneman Douglas called the Everglades a "river of grass." The panoramic view stretches for miles and is particularly beautiful at sunrise or sunset when the light turns the grass to gold.

Shark Valley Tram Road - A 15-mile paved loop trail that is flat and accessible by bicycle, tram, or on foot. The trail passes through sawgrass prairie with excellent alligator and bird viewing, culminating at a 65-foot observation tower offering 360-degree views of the Everglades interior. Guided tram tours run daily and are an excellent option for those who prefer not to cycle the full loop.

Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail - A 5.2-mile marked canoe or kayak trail through mangrove-lined waterways. This is the best way to experience the Everglades as they were meant to be experienced: from the water. The trail is well-marked with numbered posts but navigation can be confusing. Allow 3 to 4 hours. Canoe rentals are available at the Flamingo Visitor Center.

Coastal Prairie Trail - A moderate 15-mile round trip from Flamingo through coastal prairie habitat to Clubhouse Beach on the Gulf coast. This flat trail passes through buttonwood, salt marsh, and prairie landscape. It is hot, exposed, and mosquito-heavy outside of the dry season, but offers genuine solitude and a sense of the park's remote coastal character. Most visitors hike only a portion of this trail.

When to Visit

December to April (Dry Season) - This is overwhelmingly the best time to visit the Everglades. As water levels recede, wildlife concentrates around remaining ponds and sloughs, making animal sightings almost effortless. Temperatures are warm but manageable, typically in the 70s to low 80s. Humidity is lower than the rest of the year. Most critically, mosquitoes are at their least oppressive during this period.

November and Early December (Early Dry Season) - Transitional period with diminishing rainfall and improving conditions. Migratory birds begin arriving. This can be an excellent time with fewer crowds than the peak winter months.

May to November (Wet Season) - Summer in the Everglades is brutal. Temperatures routinely exceed 90 degrees with oppressive humidity. Afternoon thunderstorms are daily occurrences. Most importantly, mosquitoes reach apocalyptic levels, particularly from June through October. The park is far less crowded during this period, and the landscape is at its greenest, but the experience is challenging. Some trails and facilities may close due to flooding.

Late October to November (Hurricane Season Tail End) - The Everglades lies in the hurricane zone. While major storms are unpredictable, late-season hurricanes can disrupt travel plans and damage park infrastructure. Check forecasts carefully.

Where to Stay

Ivey House - A charming bed and breakfast in Everglades City, the park's northwestern gateway, offering guided kayak and canoe tours into the Ten Thousand Islands. Check on Hotels.com

Fairfield Inn & Suites Florida City - A reliable option in Florida City near the park's main entrance at Homestead. Clean, modern rooms with a pool, ideal for families visiting both the Everglades and the Florida Keys. Check on Hotels.com

Cheeca Lodge & Spa - For those combining an Everglades visit with the Florida Keys, this luxury resort in Islamorada offers oceanfront rooms, a private beach, and fine dining. About 80 miles south of the park entrance. Check on Hotels.com

Camping - The park offers two main campgrounds. Flamingo Campground at the southern tip of the park has 234 drive-in sites and 40 walk-in sites along Florida Bay. Long Pine Key Campground near the main entrance has 108 sites in a pine rockland setting. Both operate on a first-come, first-served basis during the dry season and may close during the wet season. Backcountry camping on chickee platforms (raised wooden platforms over water) and ground sites along the Wilderness Waterway requires permits and is a unique Everglades experience.

Getting There

By Air - Miami International Airport (MIA) is the closest major airport, approximately 45 miles northeast of the Ernest Coe Visitor Center at the park's main entrance. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is about 75 miles northeast.

By Car - From Miami, take Florida's Turnpike South (Highway 821) to Florida City, then follow Highway 9336 (Palm Drive) west to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and main park entrance. The drive takes about an hour from downtown Miami. The Shark Valley entrance on US 41 (Tamiami Trail) is accessible from Miami in about 45 minutes. The Gulf Coast entrance at Everglades City is reached via US 41 West, about 80 miles from Miami.

Within the Park - The main park road runs 38 miles from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center south to Flamingo. There is no road connecting the main entrance area to Shark Valley or the Gulf Coast section. Each area requires a separate trip.

Essential Tips

• Mosquito repellent is not optional; it is survival gear. Even during the dry season, mosquitoes can be intense, especially near standing water and in the late afternoon. Bring DEET-based repellent or permethrin-treated clothing. During the wet season, head nets and long sleeves are essential.
• Bring sun protection. The Everglades are flat and exposed with virtually no shade on many trails. Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are critical year-round.
• Water, water, water. Heat and humidity cause rapid dehydration. Carry more water than you think you need, especially on longer trails or paddling routes.
• Alligators are everywhere. They are generally not aggressive toward humans if unprovoked, but maintain a distance of at least 15 feet. Never feed an alligator. If one hisses, you are too close.
• American crocodiles are found in the Flamingo area and are more reclusive than alligators. The Everglades is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist.
• Paddling trails require knowledge of tides, weather, and navigation. Carry nautical charts, a compass, and check conditions with rangers before departing. GPS is helpful but not always reliable in the mangrove maze.
• Entry fee is $30 per vehicle, valid for seven days at all park entrances.

Nearby Attractions

Biscayne National Park - Just east of Homestead, this national park protects a portion of Biscayne Bay and the northernmost Florida Keys. Glass-bottom boat tours, snorkeling, and kayaking reveal coral reefs, tropical fish, and shipwrecks. Over 95 percent of the park is underwater.

Big Cypress National Preserve - Adjacent to the Everglades' northern boundary, this preserve protects the freshwater swamps that are vital to the Everglades ecosystem. The scenic Loop Road and Turner River Road offer excellent wildlife viewing, and the Florida National Scenic Trail passes through the preserve.

Florida Keys - The chain of islands stretching southwest from the mainland offers world-class snorkeling at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, kayaking through mangrove tunnels, and the unique culture of Key West, just 160 miles from the park entrance.

Shark Valley - While technically part of the park, this area on the Tamiami Trail feels like a separate destination. The 15-mile tram loop and observation tower are among the best wildlife viewing experiences in southern Florida. Bicycle rentals are available on-site.

Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge - South of Everglades City, this refuge protects a maze of mangrove islands along the Gulf Coast. Boat tours and kayak excursions reveal dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and an extraordinary diversity of shorebirds.