a couple of people on a boat in a body of water

Everglades National Park

A slow river of grass at the southern tip of Florida, where you watch alligators, wading birds and manatees from trails, boardwalks and boats.

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Everglades National Park protects the southern fifth of the original Everglades ecosystem at the southern tip of Florida. Its 1,508,976 acres span Dade, Monroe and Collier counties. The River of Grass nickname was popularized by Marjory Stoneman Douglas's 1947 book, and water still moves slowly from Lake Okeechobee toward Florida Bay across wide grass and marsh. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, and it was the first US national park created mainly to protect a fragile ecosystem.

The park is the most important North American breeding ground for tropical wading birds, and 36 threatened or protected species live here, including the Florida panther and the American crocodile. The half-mile Anhinga Trail follows sawgrass marsh where you can see alligators, wading birds and turtles, and the half-mile Gumbo Limbo Trail loops through a hardwood hammock. Boats are the only way to reach the western coast and the keys. The busiest months are December to March, the coolest part of the year. Visitor centers sit far apart, so pick your entry point before you go: Homestead, Flamingo, Shark Valley or Everglades City.

Everglades National Park in five

Plan for the $100 nonresident feeEverglades is one of 11 parks where non-US residents aged 16 and over pay $100 each on top of entry, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass. Compare a pass if you visit other listed parks.The $100 park fee, explained
Go in the dry seasonDecember to April has the most wading birds and the fewest mosquitoes. From May to November the park is rainy, hot and buggy, and ranger programs are reduced.NPS: Everglades basic information
Pick the entrance that fits your dayShark Valley off the Tamiami Trail, Ernest Coe near Homestead, Flamingo at the southern tip and the Gulf Coast at Everglades City are far apart. Choose one or two, not all.Miami travel guide
Pay by card, not cashThe park takes digital passes or cards only at fee areas. Buy online or have a card ready, because entrance stations will not accept cash.NPS fees page
Combine it with the Keys or the Gulf coastHomestead is the gateway to both the park and the road to the Florida Keys. From the west side, Naples and Everglades City reach the Ten Thousand Islands.Florida Keys travel guide

Things to do in Everglades National Park

See all attractions in Everglades National Park

Museum · Everglades National ParkMuseum of the Everglades

Landmark · Everglades National ParkGulf Coast Visitor Center

Landmark · Everglades National ParkBig Cypress National Preserve - Oasis Visitor Center

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Everglades National ParkPut the places you like in Everglades National Park on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Entrance: $35 per vehicle, 7 days; non-US residents 16+ add $100 each Read more
Permits: None for day use; backcountry camping needs a permit
Season: Dry season December to April is best; wet season May to November
Nearest town: Homestead (east), Everglades City (west), Miami area (north)
Getting there: About 45 minutes to 1 hour by car from Miami; no public transport inside

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh24°Low17°Dry, best birding
FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh26°Low19°Dry, best birding
MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh27°Low19°Dry, pleasant
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Dry, getting hot
MayRain16 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Wet season starts
JuneRain23 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, rainy, buggy
JulyRain22 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low26°Hot, buggy
AugustRain24 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low26°Hurricane season
SeptemberRain23 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low25°Peak hurricane risk
OctoberRain18 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rain easing
NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh27°Low21°Dry season starts
DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh25°Low19°Dry, busy

Average daily high and low in Flamingo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Everglades National Park

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 30°
Humidity: 68%
Wind: 19 km/h
Chance of rain: 50%

Everglades National Park

03:36 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today27°22°50%Monday: Rain. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 50%.
Tue27°22°53%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 27°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 53%.
Wed32°23°56%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 56%.
Thu32°23°26%Thursday: Clear. High 32°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 26%.
Fri30°22°10%Friday: Clear. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 10%.
Sat29°18°10%Saturday: Clear. High 29°, Low 18°. Chance of rain 10%.
Sun29°20°17%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 17%.

Updated 12:05 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Everglades National Park

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

MarUltra Music FestivalMiami, a day trip

Before you go to Everglades National Park

Rental car from MiamiThe easiest way to reach any entranceCompare cars

Airboat or tram tourGuided wildlife trips near the parkCompare day trips

eSIM for the USAData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for the USAMedical cover for US visitsRead the guide

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Rules for Everglades National Park, checked

Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay $100 per person on top of entrance, unless they hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Entrance is $35 per vehicle (7 days) or $20 per person on foot or bike. Cards and digital passes only, no cash.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

Plan around Everglades National Park

Miami travel guide

The nearest big gateway and airport

Read the guide Fort Lauderdale travel guide

A second base on the east coast

Read the guide Florida Keys travel guide

The road south from Homestead

Read the guide Naples travel guide

The Gulf coast side and Ten Thousand Islands

Read the guide $100 park fee for visitors

Which parks charge non-US residents

Read the guide All of the USA

Parks, cities and road trips

Read the guide

Everglades National Park FAQ

Is Everglades National Park worth visiting?

Yes, for wildlife and a landscape found nowhere else in the US. It is flat and quiet rather than dramatic. Go in the dry season, pick one area, and allow a half day to a full day there.

What is the best time to visit the Everglades?

December to April. Water levels drop and wading birds gather, mosquitoes fade and the weather is mild. The wet season, May to November, brings heat, storms and heavy mosquitoes.

How much does the Everglades cost for foreign visitors?

Everglades is on the list of 11 parks with a $100 per-person nonresident fee for visitors aged 16 and over, added to the $35 vehicle entrance fee, unless you hold an annual or America the Beautiful pass.

How far is the Everglades from Miami?

The Homestead entrance and Ernest Coe visitor area are about 45 minutes to an hour by car from Miami, depending on traffic. Shark Valley is a similar drive west on the Tamiami Trail.

Can you see alligators in the Everglades?

Usually, yes, especially in the dry season along the Anhinga Trail and at Shark Valley. Keep your distance, never feed wildlife and stay back from the water's edge on trails.