Overview

The Everglades delivers what no other US park can: a subtropical wilderness where you're guaranteed to see alligators sunning feet from the boardwalk and wading birds hunting in water so clear you can count their toes. With a 3.8/10 congestion score and just 742K annual visitors across 1.5 million acres, you'll have the River of Grass mostly to yourself. The catch: summer is brutally hot and swarming with mosquitoes—this is strictly a winter park, with October through February offering the only comfortable visits.

Trail Tip

Hit Anhinga Trail at 7 AM during winter dry season (January-March). As water levels drop, fish concentrate in remaining pools, drawing dozens of alligators and wading birds into hunting range. You'll see more wildlife in 45 minutes than most visitors see all day—arrive any later and the light gets harsh and animals retreat to shade.

When to Go

The sweet spot is November — good weather meets manageable crowds. Peak season hits in February.

Sweet spot: comfortable temps, migrating birds returning, crowds still light. Water recedes, concentrating wildlife.

Monthly crowd levels — click a month for details

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F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
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D
Low Moderate High Peak

Seasonal Closures

Gulf Coast Visitor Center: May close seasonally during hurricane season

How Busy Is It?

How Everglades compares to all 62 national parks

Busier than 32% of national parks

QuietBusy
Moderate

More crowded trails than 69% of parks

QuietBusy
Above Average

Higher campsite pressure than 11% of parks

EasyTough
Below Average
16,489 Visitors / Trail Mile
252 Campsite Pressure

Notable Trails

Everglades has more trail mileage than 27% of national parks, with 45 miles across 30 maintained trails.

The difficulty split leans moderate to strenuous — only 40% of trails are rated easy.

Easy 40% Moderate 50% Strenuous 10%
A gray and red bird looks for food at the water’s edge, with trees in the background

Birding Snake Bight Trail

Moderate
0 mi ·1-4 hours hrs
n: A brightly-colored blue and green bird with long, yellow toes eats a flower head among lily pads

Birding Along the Anhinga Trail

Moderate
0 mi ·1-2 hours hrs
An angular boadwalk bends through a green sawgrass prarie. The sun rises in the background

Walk the Anhinga Trail

easy
0 mi ·1-2 hours hrs
Gumbo Limbo Trail

Gumbo Limbo Trail

easy
0.4 mi ·0 ft gain ·0.5 hours hrs
View all 25 trails
Trail Tip

Start early — Everglades's most popular trailheads fill up by mid-morning in peak season.

Camping

2 campgrounds with 382 total sites. All sites require reservations.

A blue, gray and yellow tent is pitched on the grass. Palm tree and open field are behind it.

Flamingo Campground Reservable

274 sites ·$50/night ·Seasonal
Two RV trailers parked at a campground surrounded by tall slash pine trees.

Long Pine Key Campground Reservable

108 sites ·$33/night ·Seasonal

Top Activities

Everglades excels at 10 of 17 activity types — here are the standouts rated 7/10 or higher.

Wildlife Viewing

10/10

Alligators, manatees, crocodiles, panthers, wading birds, and diverse aquatic life abundant

Bird Watching

10/10

Over 350 bird species including roseate spoonbills, wood storks, and bald eagles

Photography

10/10

Exceptional opportunities for wildlife, landscape, and sunrise/sunset photography

Kayaking Canoeing

9/10

Excellent kayaking in Ten Thousand Islands, paddling trails, and mangrove canals

Biking

8/10

Shark Valley Loop is famous 15-mile bike trail; bikes available for rent

Fishing

8/10

World-class saltwater and freshwater fishing for tarpon, bonefish, permit, and largemouth bass

Ranger Programs

8/10

Tram tours, guided kayak tours, ranger-led walks, and campfire programs available

Hiking

7/10

Boardwalks and trails through diverse wetland habitats; mostly short and flat

Scenic Driving

7/10

Tamiami Trail and Ernest Coe Boulevard offer scenic drives through diverse habitats

Stargazing

7/10

Good dark sky quality especially in remote areas away from Miami lights

Who It's For

Photographers 10/10 Families Young Kids 8/10 First Time Park Visitors 8/10 Casual Hikers 8/10 Budget Travelers 8/10 International Visitors 8/10

Planning Your Trip

Getting There

Nearest city: Miami, FL (45 mi). Fly into MIA.

In-Park Services

Gas available · Lodging available · Cell: limited

Gateway Town

Homestead, FL — full amenities

Featured In ?Rankings based on data-driven scoring across all 62 national parks.

#3 Best National Parks for Wildlife #8 Best National Parks for Photography #9 Best National Parks for Kayaking #8 Best National Parks for Fishing #2 Best National Parks for Winter

Stories

8 Parks for Wildlife Without the Crowds Eight parks where world-class wildlife encounters come without the crowds—and why April is the season to visit 8 Parks Photographers Have All to Themselves Eight parks where photographers get world-class shots without the crowds. April delivers wildflowers, snow, and elbow room 8 National Parks Where You Can Sleep Inside the Park Eight national parks where staying inside the boundaries puts you on the trails before crowds arrive 8 National Parks With the Best Ranger Programs Eight parks where rangers don't just talk—they unlock caves, cliff dwellings, and backcountry you can't access alone 8 Best National Parks for Fishing The best national park fishing happens in places that don't make the brochure—Alaska salmon runs, Florida flats, and Minnesota lake mazes The Florida National Parks Road Trip Florida's three national parks see fewer crowds than one Yellowstone weekend but deliver world-class coral reefs and wildlife viewing 7 Parks Where Spring Arrives First Seven national parks where March brings the best weather, fewest crowds, and wildflowers before the summer heat arrives 7 National Parks That Are Better in Winter Seven overlooked parks where March weather, thin crowds, and spring conditions make winter the best time to visit 6 Family Parks This Summer That Won't Be Packed Six national parks where summer crowds stay manageable and kids find caves, cliff dwellings, and petrified forests worth exploring

Gateway Cities

Miami, FL 66 mi / 1.2h drive

Road Trips

Everglades is a stop on this road trip:

Florida's National Parks 3 parks · 250 miles

Compare Everglades

See how Everglades stacks up against other national parks — crowds, trails, and more.

Compare Everglades

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Everglades National Park?

The best month to visit Everglades is November, based on a balance of weather, crowds, and accessibility. Peak visitation is in February. The park has 6 comfortable months for visiting.

How crowded is Everglades National Park?

Everglades is moderately crowded, with a congestion index of 3.8/10. The park receives 742K visitors annually across 2,353.9 square miles.

How many trails does Everglades National Park have?

Everglades has 45 miles of trails across 12 easy, 15 moderate, and 3 strenuous routes. Popular trails include Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail, Royal Palm Trails.

Can you camp at Everglades National Park?

Yes, Everglades has 2 campgrounds with 382 total sites. Some sites are available first-come, first-served.

Is Everglades National Park open year-round?

Yes, Everglades is open year-round, though some roads and facilities may close seasonally. The park's climate is classified as subtropical_wetland.

Nearby Parks

Biscayne National Park 43 mi away
Dry Tortugas National Park 135 mi away
Congaree National Park 582 mi away