Everglades National Park Guide: Seasons, Shark Valley and Flamingo
Dry season or wet season, tram or bike, Shark Valley or Flamingo: how to plan the Everglades from Miami, and where airboats are actually allowed.
Everglades National Park in South Florida is best visited in the dry season, roughly December through April, when wildlife gathers at the water, temperatures are milder and mosquitoes are fewer. From Miami, a day trip usually means Shark Valley on the Tamiami Trail or the Homestead entrance to Royal Palm and Flamingo. Entry costs $35 per vehicle for 7 days as of November 2026.
The park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, and most of it is water, sawgrass and mangrove that you see from boardwalks, trams, boats and canoes rather than from a car window. Its three entrances are far apart, so choose one or two areas per day.
Is the dry season or wet season better for the Everglades?
The dry season (about December to April) is better for most visitors because animals concentrate around remaining water and trails are comfortable. The wet season (about May to November) is hot, humid and stormy, with heavy mosquitoes, but it is also quieter and green.
| Dry season (Dec–Apr) | Wet season (May–Nov) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Warm days, low humidity, little rain | Hot and humid, daily afternoon thunderstorms |
| Wildlife | Alligators and wading birds concentrated at ponds and canals | Animals spread out across the flooded marsh |
| Mosquitoes | Usually light to moderate | Often heavy, especially at Flamingo and on mangrove trails |
| Crowds | Busiest, especially holidays and spring break | Lowest |
| Other | Best for paddling and biking | Hurricane season runs June 1–November 30 |
How much does Everglades National Park cost?
Everglades charges $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle and $20 per person on foot, bike or paddle, each valid for 7 consecutive days, as of November 2026. An Everglades annual pass costs $70 for U.S. citizens and residents.
Everglades is one of the 11 parks where non-U.S. residents age 16 and older pay an extra $100 per person on top of the entrance fee, unless they hold a nonresident annual pass ($250). That surcharge also applies to nonresidents on commercial tours. Confirm current amounts on the park’s official fees page, and see our guide to national park fees for international visitors.
What can you do at Shark Valley?
Shark Valley, about 30 miles west of Miami on the Tamiami Trail (US-41), has a 15-mile paved loop into the sawgrass marsh with an observation tower about halfway around. You can ride a narrated tram, rent a bike or walk part of the loop; private cars cannot drive it.
- Tram tours: run by the park concessioner, Shark Valley Tram Tours; book ahead in the dry season.
- Bikes: rentals are available at the visitor center; the full loop is flat but has no shade.
- Wildlife: alligators often lie beside the path; give them space and never feed them.
- Hours: the loop opens 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. from mid-December to mid-April and 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. the rest of the year.
- Parking: the lot fills on winter weekends, so arrive early.
How do you get to Flamingo, and what is there?
Flamingo sits at the southern end of the park’s main road, 38 miles from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center near Homestead. It is the base for boat tours, canoe and kayak trails, camping and the park’s only lodge.
- Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center: start here for maps and ranger advice.
- Royal Palm: about 4 miles in; the short Anhinga Trail boardwalk is one of the best places in the park to see alligators and birds up close.
- Pa-hay-okee Overlook: a short boardwalk over the “river of grass,” with wide views of the sawgrass.
- Flamingo: the Guy Bradley Visitor Center, the marina, boat tours into Florida Bay and the backcountry, and the Flamingo Lodge, which opened in 2023.
Allow a full day for the round trip from Homestead with stops. Bring food and water; services along the road are limited.
Can you take an airboat ride in Everglades National Park?
Only with three authorized airboat companies on the Tamiami Trail (US-41), about 10–15 minutes east of Shark Valley: Coopertown, Gator Park and Everglades Safari Park. Private and commercial airboats are prohibited everywhere else in the park.
Many other airboat businesses operate outside the park on private land or in other public areas along US-41 and around Everglades City. If you want a ride inside the national park itself, choose one of the three concessions and check what the ticket includes. Nonresidents on concession tours inside the park may also owe the $100 surcharge.
How bad are the mosquitoes, and how do you prepare?
Mosquitoes are usually manageable in the dry season and can be intense from late spring through fall, especially at Flamingo, near mangroves and at dawn and dusk.
- Clothing: wear long sleeves and long pants in light colors; a head net helps in summer.
- Repellent: use an EPA-registered repellent and follow the label.
- Timing: plan open marsh areas such as Shark Valley and Pa-hay-okee for midday and save mangrove trails for the dry season.
- Heat: carry more water than you think you need; summer heat index values are high.
How do you plan an Everglades day trip from Miami?
Pick one side of the park: Shark Valley for a half day, or the Homestead entrance for a full day to Royal Palm and Flamingo. Doing both in one day adds roughly 1–1.5 hours of driving between them and leaves little time at either.
| Area | From downtown Miami | Time to allow | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shark Valley (US-41) | About 1 hour | Half day | Tram or bike ride, alligators, tower view |
| Ernest F. Coe and Royal Palm | About 1–1.5 hours | Half day | Anhinga Trail boardwalk |
| Flamingo | About 2–2.5 hours | Full day | Boat tours, paddling, overnight stay |
| Gulf Coast (Everglades City) | About 1.5–2 hours | Half to full day | Ten Thousand Islands boat tour |
On the Gulf Coast side, the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center opened in 2026, replacing facilities lost to Hurricanes Irma and Ian. If you are heading south afterward, Homestead is also the gateway to the Florida Keys, and the Everglades fit well into a 10-day Florida road trip.
Bottom line
Visit between December and April, choose Shark Valley or the Homestead side for a day trip from Miami, and give Flamingo a full day or an overnight stay. Book tram and boat tours ahead in winter, pack repellent and long sleeves, and take airboat rides only with the three authorized concessions if you want one inside the park.
FAQ
How many days do you need in the Everglades?
One day covers Shark Valley or the Royal Palm–Flamingo road. Two days let you see both sides, and three or more suit paddlers and boat-tour fans who stay at Flamingo.
Can you see alligators in the Everglades?
Yes, especially in the dry season along the Anhinga Trail and the Shark Valley loop. Keep well back, never feed them, and keep children and pets close; feeding alligators is illegal in Florida.
Is the Everglades open year-round?
Yes. Some tours, hours and services shrink in the wet season, and areas can close temporarily for storms; check the park’s alerts before you go.
Is there lodging inside Everglades National Park?
Flamingo Lodge, which opened in 2023, is the only lodge in the park. The park also has campgrounds at Long Pine Key and Flamingo; most visitors stay in Homestead, Florida City or Miami.
