Things to Do in the Everglades National Park

The Everglades National Park is a top destination where you can make long-lasting memories if you ever find yourself in Florida. Located in the southernmost part of The Sunshine State, the Everglades is a massive wilderness of swampland housing wild and mysterious animals.

From alligators to crocodiles, dolphins, manatees, diverse species of birds, and more, the historic park has something for everyone. Are you planning an exciting trip to the Everglades National Park? The green destination offers diverse adventures for individuals and groups. Read our guide for a list of things to add to your Everglades bucket list before your first visit.

Exciting Facts You Should Know About the Everglades Park

Before immersing yourself in the Everglades adventure, here are some fun facts about the tropical wilderness.

The Everglades National Park sits on 1.5 million acres of land. It is famous for being the largest mangrove destination in the Western Hemisphere and the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States.

The National Park was established in 1947 to preserve rare animals and unique plant species.

Hundreds of unique and endangered animal and plant species habituate the Everglades’ massive wetlands.

Contrary to popular belief, the Everglades isn’t a swamp. It’s a giant, flowing river with the Kissimmee River as its primary source.

The Everglades Park experiences only two weather seasons: dry and wet. The dry season spans November to April, and it’s the best time to visit the park. During this period, you’ll get full access to park facilities and activities, enjoy more bearable temperatures, and experience more wildlife tours.

The historic park is divided into different unconnected areas. The main park entrance is near the town of Homestead, which links to Flamingo through the park’s longest road. The Shark Valley and Everglades City entrances lead into the park through a shorter route. You can also drive into the Everglades through Big Cypress.

A trip to the Everglades from Miami takes about an hour from the heart of the city.

The Everglades Park is one of the few places in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist.

Top Fun Things to Do in the Everglades National Park

As a first-time tourist to the gigantic Everglades Park, the destination’s massive expanse of land can be intimidating. Here are some fun activities to consider as you explore the historic site’s landscapes. Trust that you won’t miss the popular sights and exciting treasures as you go. Let the adventures begin!

1. Check Out the Park’s Four Entrances for Different Angles

With four entrances into the Everglades Park, you can visit the different locations to make the most of your adventure. Take a walk, a tram ride, or a decent walk at the Shark Valley Visitor Center and enjoy a quintessential view of gators lounging on the roadsides.

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City provides various fun opportunities, including a boating hub for excursions. You can alight at the seaside jumping-off point for an immersive experience of the Ten Thousand Islands, which thousands of water birds call home.

A trip to Homestead lets you access two visitor centers. There’s the Royal Palm Visitor Center with diverse short hiking trails under canopy trees and boardwalks across the park’s marshland. You’ll also find the Flamingo Visitor Center, about 40 miles from the Royal Palm. It launches you into a world of canoe trails across the mangrove-draped Florida Bay and a view of the famous Flamingo Campground.

2. Count the Gators Along the Anhinga Trail

Are you a wildlife lover visiting the Everglades? The Anhinga Trail is the perfect destination to begin your adventure. The Anhinga Trail is the Everglades’ most popular hiking spot and is located about 50ft from the Royal Palm Visitor Center.

Despite being a short trail, the Anhinga epitomizes the Everglades’ wildlife. The boardwalk trail moves through a sawgrass marsh housing alligators, herons, turtles, pelicans, and the Anhinga - a large water bird the trail is named after.

The short trail is about 0.8 miles roundtrip and wheelchair accessible, and it has a breathtaking view of alligators and other creatures as you hover across the boardwalk. However, pets are not permitted on this side of the park.

3. Take an Airboat Tour as A Group

Another adventurous thing to do at the Everglades is to glide through the park’s lily-covered water on an airboat. The airboats are the park’s most common transportation medium, and a journey down the Tamiami Trail will usher you into a world of diverse “Airboat Tours” signs.

The flat-bottomed boats are available for rent to help you journey on the Everglades’ grass and lily-covered water bodies. Taking an airboat tour of the Everglades comes in two forms. You’ll find numerous airboat operators at the park’s shore area who can safely glide you through the waters. Alternatively, there are three airboat operators within the park.

However, the airboat options within the park come at a higher cost, so you can enjoy cheaper 60-minute highspeed airboat rides with tour guides just outside the park’s boundary as you soak in its breathtaking view from the shores. Remember to keep your hands inside as you coast by the lily-heavy waters of alligators.

4. Camp for an Evening with Your Friends

You don’t need to take in all the adventures the Everglades Park offers in a day. You can extend your stay by camping on a Chickee with your friends. The wooden house allows you to set up a tent atop the Everglades waters as you savor all the moments with glee. Consider it having your own little island for fun activities with friends as you extend your stay in the Everglades.

Interestingly, there are many Chickee sites near the Flamingo Visitor Center, and you can rent one for your overnight camping. You’ll find options like Lard Can and Pearl Bay Chickee off the Hell’s Bay Trail.

However, you’ll need a few things for a wholesome experience. These include your camping gear, a backcountry camping permit (which you can get at any of the park’s visitor centers), a mosquito repellant to keep the flying insects at bay, and a canoe to travel across the water to the housing sites.

You can rent canoes and kayaks around the park or bring your own. However, ensure you understand the park’s rules and guides on using private canoes or kayaks on the premises and get a permit, if necessary.

5. Learn About History at the Nike Missile Base

The Everglades has a rich history spanning hundreds of years. Besides visiting the Miccosukee Indian Village’s museum to learn about the Miccosukees tribe’s history, you can take a detour to the Nike Missile Base.

The fascinating history base was built in the 1960s to protect the US from air attacks from the South during the Cuban Missile Crisis. If you fancy military history, here is a great spot to see real Nike Hercules missiles.

The Nike Missile Base boasts a guard dog kennel, a missile assembly, three missile barns, a barracks, and two Nike Hercules missiles. You can embark on a ranger-led tour to learn exciting facts about the landmark and its Cold War history. However, a tour of the Nike Missile Base is by reservation only.

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