Park Comparison
Everglades vs New River Gorge & Preserve
Two iconic parks, different strengths. Here's how they stack up.
Updated
The Quick Take
Everglades
America's largest subtropical wilderness—a slow-moving river creating sawgrass marshes, mangrove islands, and alligator habitat.
New River Gorge & Preserve
The East Coast's deepest river gorge cuts 1,000 feet through ancient rock, with Class V rapids and 100 miles of trails above.
At a Glance
The Crowd Picture
Everglades sees less than half the visitors New River Gorge & Preserve gets, which translates to a noticeably different crowd experience on trails and at viewpoints.
Everglades
Everglades welcomes 742K visitors annually across 2,353.9 square miles — about 315 visitors per square mile. Congestion is moderate, peaking in February. A long comfortable season helps spread crowds across 6 months.
New River Gorge & Preserve
New River Gorge & Preserve welcomes 1.8M visitors annually across 113.8 square miles — about 15,922 visitors per square mile. Congestion is intense, peaking in July.
Everglades is dramatically less congested than New River Gorge & Preserve — you'll feel the difference on every trail.
When to Go
Click any month to see how conditions compare side-by-side.
Trails & Activities
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve has more trail mileage for exploration.
Everglades Top Activities
- wildlife viewing 10/10
- bird watching 10/10
- photography 10/10
- kayaking canoeing 9/10
- biking 8/10
New River Gorge & Preserve Top Activities
- kayaking canoeing 10/10
- photography 10/10
- hiking 9/10
- scenic driving 9/10
- backpacking 8/10
Camping
Everglades National Park offers significantly more camping options.
The Bottom Line
Choose Everglades if you...
- Want to experience Anhinga Trail
- Are looking for world-class wildlife viewing
- Want more camping options (382 sites vs 89)
Choose New River Gorge & Preserve if you...
- Want to experience New River Gorge Bridge
- Are looking for world-class hiking
- Are visiting with teenagers
- Want more trail options (120 miles vs 45)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Everglades or New River Gorge & Preserve?
It depends on what you're looking for. Everglades is known for Anhinga Trail, while New River Gorge & Preserve is known for New River Gorge Bridge. Everglades is less crowded, making it the better pick if solitude matters to you.
Is Everglades or New River Gorge & Preserve more crowded?
Everglades has a congestion index of 3.8/10 and receives 742K visitors per year. New River Gorge & Preserve scores 7.8/10 with 1.8M annual visitors. Everglades is the quieter option.
When is the best time to visit Everglades vs New River Gorge & Preserve?
The best month to visit Everglades is November, while New River Gorge & Preserve is best visited in April. The different peak seasons mean you could visit one in spring and the other in fall.
Which has better hiking, Everglades or New River Gorge & Preserve?
Everglades has 45 trail miles and New River Gorge & Preserve has 120. New River Gorge & Preserve offers significantly more trail variety.