Everglades National Park from Miami: history, what to see, how to get there and tickets

Everglades National Park is a day trip from Miami by car: the Shark Valley entrance sits on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) in Miami, and the main entrance near Homestead is open 24 hours. The National Park Service (NPS) says the park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest and marine habitat. People come to see alligators and wading birds from boardwalks, ride or bike the Shark Valley loop, and take a boat out toward Florida Bay.

Everglades National Park history

The park began with Ernest F. Coe, born in New Haven in 1866, who moved to Miami with his wife in 1925, lived in Coconut Grove and worked as a landscaper. In 1928 he proposed a national park in the lower Everglades and founded an association to push for it. NPS calls him the "Father of the Everglades."

Congress authorized the park in May 1934, but the land had to come by donation, and acquiring it and drawing the boundaries took about thirteen more years. Through her writing, NPS says, Marjory Stoneman Douglas helped spark the movement to protect it. President Harry S. Truman dedicated the park on December 6, 1947, at a ceremony in Everglades City. It was the first national park created for its biodiversity.

From the NPS park statistics:

Today the park covers 1,542,526 acres of land and water and averages about one million visitors a year. In 1996 the new visitor center at the main entrance was named for Coe; the Gulf Coast visitor center carries Douglas's name.

What to see in the Everglades

NPS states that you cannot drive between Ernest F. Coe, Shark Valley and Gulf Coast from inside the park, so pick one area per day.

• Shark Valley. A flat, paved 15-mile loop into the "River of Grass," with an observation tower at the halfway point. Two-hour narrated tram tours are run by a park concessioner, and bikes can be rented on site. On foot, try the Bobcat Boardwalk through sawgrass slough and tropical hardwood forest, or the rough limestone Otter Cave Hammock Trail, which can flood in summer.
• Anhinga Trail. Starts at the Royal Palm Visitor Center, four miles from the main entrance: 0.8 miles round trip through sawgrass marsh, where you may see alligators, turtles, anhingas, herons and egrets, especially in winter.
• Mahogany Hammock and Pineland Trail. A raised boardwalk through hardwood forest with old mahogany trees, and a short, easy walk through the pine rocklands.
• Flamingo. The southernmost area, with the Guy Bradley Visitor Center, marina and campground. Its 90-minute boat tours go up the Buttonwood Canal toward Whitewater Bay or out into Florida Bay.
• Gulf Coast. The Everglades City entrance: mangrove waterways, boat tours and remote backcountry routes.

How to get there from Miami

You need a car. NPS warns that on-demand ride services may not offer a return trip.

NPS says the only public transportation into the park is the City of Homestead trolley, which runs seasonally, roughly December through April; schedules can change.

Hours and tickets

The park is open every day, rain or shine, holidays included. No cash: cards or a digital pass only.

Hours and prices checked November 5, 2026 on nps.gov. Tram tours, bike rentals and boat tours are paid separately to the operators. Check the NPS fees page and the park alerts before you go.

When to go and park rules

NPS describes the dry season, November through April, as a time of low humidity and clear skies with average highs of 77°F; it is one of the most popular times to visit. The wet season starts in May: average highs of 90°F, humidity over 90%, near-daily afternoon thunderstorms and plenty of mosquitoes, and wildlife spreads out as water rises.

• NPS asks visitors to keep 15 to 20 feet from wildlife and at least 15 feet from alligators and crocodiles. If one hisses, you are too close. An alligator may not move for hours; NPS says it is fine.
• Feeding any wildlife, birds included, is illegal and carries a fine.
• No swimming or snorkeling in canals, ponds, freshwater lakes, marked channels or boat basins. No drones.
• Pets on a 6-foot leash are allowed in parking lots and frontcountry campgrounds, not on trails.
• For mosquitoes, wear long sleeves and pants or repellent, and avoid shade and grass. Bring water, especially in summer, and sunscreen; in the heat, stay hydrated and wear loose clothing, a hat and sunglasses.
• Vultures damage rubber on cars: park away from them, in full sun, or cover the rubber with a wet towel.

In peak season the Shark Valley lot usually fills by 10 am, with long waits from 10 am to 3 pm, so arrive before 10.

On airboats, the NPS FAQ says there are three authorized airboat businesses inside Everglades National Park, all along the Tamiami Trail: Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park and Gator Park. For more nearby, see places to see in Miami and the Miami city guide.

Questions people ask

How far is Shark Valley from Miami?

Shark Valley is on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) in Miami, at 36000 SW 8th Street. NPS gives no drive time; its directions say to take the Florida Turnpike and then drive 25 miles west on U.S. 41. In peak season the parking lot usually fills by 10 am.

Can you visit the Everglades without a car?

According to NPS, the only public transportation into the park is the seasonal City of Homestead trolley, running roughly December through April. The entrances are not connected inside the park, and ride services may not offer a return trip, so NPS says a car is needed.

Where can you take an airboat ride in the Everglades?

NPS says three authorized airboat businesses operate inside Everglades National Park, all along Tamiami Trail: Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park and Gator Park. The park does not list their prices. From Flamingo, NPS also lists 90-minute boat tours into the backcountry and Florida Bay.

Can I bring my dog to Everglades National Park?

Dogs on a leash of up to 6 feet are allowed in parking lots, frontcountry campgrounds, on roads open to cars and aboard boats, but not on trails, including the Shark Valley loop. NPS also asks visitors not to leave a pet in a parked car because of the heat.