The Everglades is not a swamp but a river 60 miles wide and a few inches deep, flowing slowly through sawgrass to the sea. It shelters alligators, crocodiles, manatees, and huge flocks of wading birds. An hour from Miami, it rewards slow travellers: walk the boardwalks in the dry season and the wildlife comes to you.
Best things to do in Everglades
Shark Valley tram or bike
A 15-mile paved loop into the sawgrass, with alligators often lying on the path’s edge. Take the two-hour narrated tram or rent a bike; climb the observation tower halfway.
Anhinga Trail
A half-mile boardwalk near the Royal Palm visitor center, with alligators, turtles, herons and anhingas drying their wings at arm’s length.
3Airboat ride
Airboats are banned in most of the park but run on the edges, along the Tamiami Trail. Choose an operator that does not handle wildlife for shows.
See tours and tickets partner link4Flamingo & Florida Bay
At the end of the 38-mile main park road: manatees and crocodiles at the marina, boat tours of Florida Bay, kayak trails through mangroves.
5Kayak the mangrove tunnels
Guided paddles through mangrove tunnels at Nine Mile Pond or around Everglades City.
See tours and tickets partner link
Everglades entrance fees and reservations
Since 1 January 2026, foreign visitors pay a $100 surcharge here. Do the maths before you go.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Private vehicle, 7 days | $35 |
| On foot or by bike, per person | $20 |
| Non-US residents aged 16+ | +$100 per person, on top of the entrance fee |
| America the Beautiful annual pass | US residents $80 · non-residents $250 — covers the whole car and the $100 fee |
- No reservation.
Where to stay in Everglades
Most visitors come as a day trip from Miami. For an early start, stay at the gateway towns.
Homestead & Florida City
$$$$Best for: Anhinga Trail, Flamingo, the Keys
Motels on the way to the Keys, 15 minutes from the main entrance.
Hotels in Homestead & Florida City partner linkEverglades City
$$$$Best for: the Gulf coast side
A fishing village with stone crab shacks, by the Ten Thousand Islands.
Hotels in Everglades City partner linkWeather in Everglades by month
Compare every destination month by month in the when-to-go explorer.
Everglades: your questions
When is the best time to visit the Everglades?
December to April, the dry season: pleasant weather, concentrated wildlife and fewer mosquitoes.
Are airboats allowed in Everglades National Park?
Not in most of the park. Commercial airboat rides run on its edges, along the Tamiami Trail.
Can you see alligators in the Everglades?
Almost certainly, especially in the dry season at Shark Valley and on the Anhinga Trail.
Written by Kylian Dev · Last reviewed October 21, 2026. Prices are in US dollars, before sales tax.