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The Roseate Spoonbill, its pink feathers only outdone by the hot pink stripe on each wing, wades through the tall grass of the marshes we observe from our airboat. The sun picks up the pink hues as it filters through towering cypress. An alligator ripples through the sawgrass nearby. Views like these make Everglades National Park stand out from other national parks across the United States. Families can look forward to thrilling airboat rides through Florida’s marshes and scenic boardwalk trails teeming with more than 300 bird species, alligators, manatees, turtles, and the elusive Florida panther. Start planning an unforgettable family vacation with these 14+ best things to do in Everglades National Park.
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When to Visit Everglades National Park
The best time to visit southern Florida is during the winter months, from December to April. It is the busiest time, but it also offers the best weather, fewer mosquitoes, and tons of wildlife. High temperatures are around 70-80 degrees, and it’s “dry season,” meaning less rain. Even though there are “fewer” mosquitoes – don’t forget the bug spray! There’s still some moisture during dry season – it’s nothing like the arid climate of Death Valley National Park!
Our family loved seeing who could spot the most crocs!
Photo by Jonathan Martin Pisfil on Unsplash
Shoulder season is also an option, from late April to May or November to December. There will be fewer crowds and lower prices, but there’s also a chance of more rain and mosquitoes. Still, it should be more pleasant than the wet season in the Everglades.
Navigating the Area
Visitors to Everglades National Park can explore the entire coast of South Florida via water. Navigating in a boat or kayak is a great way to get around. For those traveling by land, enter the park through the Everglades City entrance in the east, the Gulf Coast visitor center and entrance in the Northwest, or the Shark Valley area in the North.
Just be careful not to disturb the wildlife while visiting! Dry Tortugas National Park and Everglades National Park are part of the International Biosphere Reserve – more than 30 endangered species live in the park!
Best Hiking Trails for Families in Everglades National Park
Before we dive into some of the best trails to see wildlife and the Everglades ecosystem – remember that animals in the Everglades are in their natural habitat. Stay aware, keep a safe distance, and don’t feed the animals! The National Park Service recommends 15-20 feet for crocodiles and alligators and 2-5-feet for birds and other wildlife.
There are tons of hiking trails through the Florida Everglades!
Photo by Brice Cooper on Unsplash
Anhinga Trail
This quick trail is less than a mile and takes about 15 minutes to complete. This is a wildlife-dense area named for the Anhinga birds frequently seen sunning on branches and logs, though families might also spot eagles, hawks, shorebirds, storks, pigeons, doves, vultures, kites, and kingfishers. Turtles, fish, snakes, and alligators frequent this trail as well!
Watch for the Anhinga birds this trail is named for!
Photo by Clayton Malquist on Unsplash
Stop by the nearby Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to learn more about the area through educational displays and a movie theater before hitting the trail. The parking lot is free to use, and they also sell insect repellent!
Other nearby trails include the paved Pinelands Trail and Long Pine Key Trails. The Pinelands Trail is only about half a mile long, making it another good choice for families.
Gumbo Limbo Trail
The Gumbo Limbo Trail is less than half a mile and is named after the Gumbo Limbo trees with their red, peeling bark. It’s heavily shaded with ferns, royal palms, and other trees forming a dense canopy called a “hammock.” Gators aren’t common on this trail, but this trek is known for great blue herons, egrets, cormorants, butterflies, small lizards, and the occasional tree snail.
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West Lake Trail
The West Lake Trail is a half-mile loop that goes through black, white, and red mangrove trees out into a brackish lake where families might see various bird species, alligators, and crocodiles. Visitors can find the entrance about 7 miles past the Flamingo Visitor Center.
Can you spot the gator? Photo by Nellie Adamyan on Unsplash
Three-in-One Hiking Trail
Many people call the Everglades a “wetland” – but it’s so much more than that. The water in the Everglades flows about 2.5 miles per day, moving toward Florida Bay. Much of this water flows through sawgrass. We loved this trail because of its diversity. This is a great place for hikers to see a pine rockland, freshwater marsh, and tropical hardwood hammocks on a 0.7-mile trek!
Stargazing at the Big Cypress National Preserve
The Big Cypress National Preserve is located on the Tamiami Trail, a 284-mile roadway stretching from Tampa to Miami, spanning Florida’s south coast and going through Everglades National Park. The preserve has been dark-sky certified since 2016 and offers incredible views of the night sky. It does take time for human eyes to adjust to the darkness, so plan to sit at least 30 minutes to see the stars in all their glory!
The Everglades offer unpolluted views of the night sky!
Photo by Alexis Oxte on Unsplash
Big Cypress National Preserve also offers unique animal viewing opportunities by day. Keep your eyes peeled for the endangered Florida panther, or head to coastal areas to spot dolphins, manatees, and river otters!
Shark Valley Tram Tour
The Shark Valley Tram Tour offers a leisurely ride around a 15-mile loop with naturalists who provide detailed history about the Everglades, conservation, and help with animal spotting. Our favorite thing to see was a mama alligator and her babies!
The Everglades tram tour starts at the Shark Valley Visitor Center and lasts about two hours. It stops to view wildlife and at the 70-foot tall Shark Valley Observation Tower for views of the whole marsh! For families that prefer a self-guided tour, renting bikes to ride around the paved loop is also an option.
My oldest is a shark FANATIC and was disappointed that Shark Valley doesn’t actually have sharks. However, juvenile bull sharks and lemon sharks are known to live in the nearby Shark River and Little River estuaries.
Visitors won’t see sharks in Shark Valley – but they can see birds like this!
Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash
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Walk Pa-Hay-Okee Boardwalk
An elevated shade shelter at the 0.16-mile Pa-Hay-Okee boardwalk offers sweeping views of swampy sawgrass, air plants, dwarf cypress trees, magnolias, and string lilies – it smells incredible when the flowers are in bloom! Families will find it along Main Park Road, about 14 miles west of Coe Visitor Center.
Watch for turtles and gators popping up in the marsh from the boardwalk!
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
Everglades Airboat Tours
Our family has been on boat tours before, but airboats were an entirely different experience! The airboat wound through the Everglades’ glassy waterways, pausing to let us see vibrant wading birds and occasional sunning gators. We also saw a large snake hanging from a tree!
Airboat rides let you see the Everglades from a different perspective – but be prepared for a bumpy ride!
Photo by Richard Sagredo on Unsplash
The ride was a little bumpy, but fortunately, we dosed my youngest with a motion sickness aid as a precaution beforehand. So, if anyone is prone to that, prepare beforehand. We booked with Wooten’s Everglades Tours, but there are several other highly-rated airboat companies in the area, including Everglades Airboat Tours, Buffalo Tiger Airboat Tours, and Everglades Swamp Tours.
[ctt template=”8″ link=”x4402″ via=”no” ]Discover the best things to do in Everglades National Park, from airboat tours to wildlife hikes, a perfect family-friendly Florida getaway![/ctt]
Biking Through the Everglades
The Everglades are fairly flat compared to more mountainous national parks. The level terrain and paved paths through many parts of the Everglades make biking another fantastic way to get around. Snake Bight (3 miles) and Rowdy Bend (5 miles) in Flamingo have great shorter trails, while families looking for a longer excursion can check out the Long Pine Key Trail (14 miles).
Paved trails make it easy for biking families to see the Everglades!
Photo by Kruti Mehta on Unsplash
Canoeing and Kayaking
There are areas of the Everglades that are inaccessible by land, that’s why kayaking and canoeing are a unique and easy way to view the park! Some of the best areas for families are the 8-mile West Lake Loop that goes to Alligator Lake and Florida Bay, with distances varying depending on where families enter the lake at Flamingo Marina.
Roseate spoonbills are one of the many birds families can see kayaking through the everglades!
Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash
Another option is the Nine Mile Pond Trail – access depends on water levels, but there is a tour of this 5-mile trail offered through the Everglades National Park Institute.
Ranger-Led Activities
Park ranger-led excursions are great for families who prefer more guidance while exploring. Everglades National Park offers tons of activities during the dry season, including a swamp walk, canoeing programs, biking programs, and stargazing at campgrounds! Reservations open up about 2 months in advance and need to be made by calling the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center.
Visit Local Zoos and Animal Sanctuaries
For families that would like to see wildlife up-close-and-personal, there are tons of viewing opportunities in the area. Some of the best places to visit include Animal Sanctuary & Wildlife Park in Ochopee, ZWF Miami, or Everglades Wildlife Management Area.
Animal sanctuaries make it easy to see gators like this up close!
Photo by Richard Sagredo on Unsplash
When You Go
Where to Stay in the Florida Everglades
Our family stayed at Vacation Village at Weston when we visited the Everglades. Swimming is a must for my boys on vacation and I loved the onsite pool and poolside smoothie bar! I also loved the nearby golf courses – the boys hit the green,s and I got to spend a day at the spa.
Families looking for a more close-to-nature experience can camp in the Everglades. Stay at Long Pine Key Campground, November 1 to April 30, or at Flamingo Campground year-round. There are also wilderness campsites and raised chickadees throughout the park – visitors will need a permit, and most sites are only accessible by water!
Want to try glamping instead? Choose from rooms, cottages, or furnished teepees at Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo. Kids will love the onsite pool, game room, petting zoo, and mini golf!
Getting to Everglades National Park from Los Angeles
The closest major airport to Everglades National Park is the Miami International Airport. It’s about 43 miles to the park, but most visitors prefer to rent a car to get around anyway. Flights are available through most major airlines, including Delta, Spirit, JetBlue, Frontier, American, and United, and nonstop flights take less than six hours. Smaller airports near the park for families who can find a flight include Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport and Everglades Airpark.
An excellent discount site for rental cars and flights is Booking! We’ve literally saved hundreds using it.
To get discounts on tours in the area, we recommend Get Your Guide or Viator (which offers 51% off last-minute tours!).
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