Everglades National Park Day Trip

Consider spending a day at Everglades National Park, to do things like walk trails, enjoy an airboat ride, take a guided tram tour to spot wild animals, climb up to observation decks and participate in ranger-led programs and activities at this national park. You can also opt to see the park on all-day guided tours or visit on you own, allowing you to customize your experience to you needs.

Everglades National Parks is one of 63 national parks in the United States, and it is the third largest national park in the U.S., if you are visiting South Florida, especially if you’re staying in nearby Miami. The protected wetlands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a marvel to see with many species and different ecosystems. There are lots of things to do in the Everglades for nature lovers and your visit can be a fun adventure for kids and adults. Keep reading to find out what you should add to your Everglades day trip.

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There are a few factors to consider when you visit Everglades National Park. Some tour companies permitted to enter the park offer all-day tours like this tour from Wild Lime Adventures. Many tours also visit nearby places, so if you want to remain inside the national park for the whole day, this option might not be the best fit. The all-day tours, though, offer convenience. Much of the Florida Everglades is remote, and on all-day tours, your guide handles driving, getting you to each stop on time and, usually, providing lunch and bottled water.

Drive yourself if you'd rather travel on your own. Maybe the tour itineraries don't match what you want to do, or you don't want to be in a group, but whatever the reason, prepare an itinerary before traveling. Check to see if there are restaurants near where you plan to be around mealtime. You may need to pack food as only snacks are sold in the park.

Plan ahead by checking the park service events calendar. Here you'll find ranger-led programs and tours, some of which require a reservation. The park is most popular during the dry season, November through April, when the weather is the coolest and mosquitos are least active. Ranger-led programs and concessionaire tours are offered more frequently during this time.

Before heading out, fill your gas tank. The park is sizeable, and you don't want to risk being low on gas with no station in sight. Bring sunblock, a hat and bug repellant. If you plan on going out on the water, consider a dry phone bag to protect your phone, and if you are doing any hikes where you wade in water, pack a second pair of shoes, socks and pants. Also, bring along your binoculars for any distance viewing. No matter how you plan to see the park, there are plenty of things to do in the Everglades.

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There are three entrances to Everglades National Park. Gulf Coast Visitor Center, closest to Naples, is on the west coast of Florida. At the time of writing this article, the visitor center was closed due to damage from Hurricane Ian; however, Everglades Florida Adventures still leads boat tours of Ten Thousand Islands. The next entrance is Shark Valley Visitor Center near the Greater Miami area. From there, you can either take a tram or cycle up the tram road. This area is known for its excellent wildlife viewing and airboat tours.

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is south of Miami and Homestead. From this entrance, you can access Royal Palm and Flamingo visitor centers. There are walking trails here, and it is a popular spot for bird-watching. From Flamingo, you can take kayak tours and have the chance to see American crocodiles.

With only a day to see Everglades National Park, I recommend going to Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and Shark Valley Visitor Center or Gulf Coast Visitor Center or going to Shark Valley and Gulf Coast visitor centers.

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Southwest of Homestead on State Road 9336, you'll find Ernest F. Coe Visitors Center. Near this park entrance is the Royal Palm Information Station, where ranger-led programs depart and where you'll find a gift shop. You have a few interpretive trails to choose from. Anhinga Trail is a popular option because of the frequent animal sightings. You might spot alligators, turtles and birds — including anhingas, for which the trail is named — on this 0.8-mile boardwalk trail.

Pahayokee Overlook is a short walk to an observation tower, where visitors can get sweeping views of the wetlands. Mahogany Hammock Trail, further into the park than the other two trails, is a half mile with lots of native Florida vegetation, including gumbo limbo trees.

When you arrive at the information station, ask a park ranger for tips or advice. Rangers have the most up-to-date information and are glad to share information and history about the park. The National Park Service has marked these three boardwalk hiking trails as wheelchair accessible.

Flamingo Visitor Center is further south, and while it's worth a visit, the drive there and back takes up too much time for a single day in Everglades National Park.

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The two main activities at Shark Valley Visitor Center are the nearby airboat tours into the park and the two-hour tram tour on Shark Valley Loop Road. You likely will not have time for both if you visit Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, so plan accordingly. Both are amazing opportunities for wildlife spotting.

If you are looking for a thrilling activity, consider an airboat tour. The three airboat tour companies authorized to enter Everglades National Park are Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park and Gator Park. They all provide guided tours that are 30 to 40 minutes, range in price from about $30 to $50, and have gift shops and on-site restaurants. Everglades Safari Park and Gator Park both offer a nature show.

The two-hour Shark Valley tram tour takes guests around the Shark Valley Loop in open-air trams led by naturalists who point out animals and talk about the Everglades and its ecosystem. At the midway point, you can walk up a ramp to a 45-foot-tall observation deck, where you can get sweeping views of the precious wetlands from every direction. You'll likely see not only gators from the tram but also barred owls, cormorants, egrets and turtles.

Reserve a spot before your trip, especially when visiting Everglades National Park from December through April. Also give yourself a long lead time to ensure you can get into the park. If the parking lot is full, the line to get in can be an hour, and you must be inside the park to pick up your tram tickets 30 minutes before departure. It's typically easiest to enter this entrance before 10 a.m. and after 3.

Request accommodations ahead of your tour if you or a travel companion have a disability; phone (305) 221-8455.

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At the time of writing, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center was closed due to damages from Hurricane Ian. Service at this entrance is limited, and no drinking water is available. However, the canoe and kayak launch is open, and Everglades Florida Adventure offers 90-minute boat tours of Ten Thousand Islands.

This part of the Everglades is in Everglades City on Chokoloskee Bay. You might see manatees, dolphins, sea turtles and various bird species. On the boat tour, a naturalist takes you into the bay and through mangroves while telling you about the area and pointing out wildlife along the way. You can purchase your tickets in person or make advance reservations before traveling. During the slower summer months, the last tour offered is at 2, while the last tour is at 4 in the busier season.

If you'd rather paddle a kayak, rent one from Everglades Florida Adventure. During the dry season (November through April), you can join a ranger-led, 4-hour kayak tour, which is noted as strenuous in the program description. Check the Everglades National Park calendar of events or phone the Nathanial P. Reed Visitor Center at (239) 695-4758 for details, tour dates and reservations.

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