The third-largest national park in the US, a visit to Everglades National Park with kids is also one of the easiest to fit into your trip to Florida.
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Whether you’re planning a day trip from Miami, adding the Florida Everglades into a road trip to the Florida Keys, or combining it with another part of the Sunshine State, including elsewhere in South Florida, Tampa and Orlando, this tropical wilderness is perfect for families with its fabulous wildlife and plenty of outdoor adventures.
You can observe alligators roaming in their natural habitat from the hiking trails or fly through the national park on a thrilling airboat tour, plus kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and birdwatching as a few other popular must-do activities. Home to the American crocodile, turtles, snakes, and lizards, as well as the endangered and elusive Florida panther, the part covers a huge 1.5 million acres of wetlands in southern Florida.
So if you’re planning to visit Everglades National Park with kids and are feeling overwhelmed, this guide highlights the best things to do, including top family-friendly activities for your trip, insider tips on the best hikes for families, the best time of year to go, and how to get there.
Best Time To Visit The Everglades
There are typically two main seasons in the Everglades: wet and dry. Visiting the park between May and October during the wet season is risky, as the summer months in South Florida tend to be incredibly hot and humid, making even short excursions exhausting.
The dry season in the Everglades typically runs from November through April. This time of year is pleasant and has lower humidity, but the trails and guided tours can get more crowded with visitors. Wildlife is easier to spot during this time.
Keep in mind that hurricane season is always something to consider when planning a trip to Everglades National Park. While hurricane season begins on June 1st and ends on November 30th, peak activity is usually August through October, so if you are visiting Florida at this time of year, make sure to take precautions.
Getting To The Everglades
Miami and the Miami International Airport (MIA) are the closest major destinations to the national park (about two hours away by car). However, you can also reach the park from other top Florida destinations such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, and Key West.
You do need a car to explore Everglades National Park, as the distances from sites are far from each other and there is no public transportation available.
If you’re planning a US road trip with kids, check out my guide to planning a road trip with kids, my essential road trip packing list, road trip activities and the best road trip snacks
Park Entrances And Visitor Centers
Everglades National Park has three main entrances and four visitor centers. Keep in mind that these entrances are hours apart and you cannot drive through from one to the other, so be sure to plan your route ahead.
If you are trying to get from the west to east coast of Florida (or vice versa), the Tamiami Trail does take you close to the Shark Valley entrance.
Gulf Coast Visitor Center
Located in Everglades City, the southernmost city of Florida’s west coast, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center is a temporary structure after the original was destroyed by a hurricane – the new building is due to open in winter 2025.
This is also the access point for Ten Thousand Islands, which is a network of beautiful mangrove islands. Boat rides from the visitor center offer you a chance to observe wading birds, dolphins, and if you’re lucky, West Indian manatees.
You are not very likely to see alligators on this side of the park though.
Shark Valley Visitor Center
Located on the northern edge of the “River Of Grass,” a vast freshwater prairie, you’ll find the Shark Valley Visitor Center.
It’s about 73 miles from Naples and 40 miles from Miami and is by far the park’s most popular access point and an easy day trip from Miami.
You can also walk or bike the 15-mile loop road directly from the visitor center if you only have time for a short visit on your way to another part of Florida.
Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
Ernest Coe Visitor Center is the largest and most comprehensive visitor center at Everglades National Park and is located about 50 miles south of Miami.
This is also the park’s headquarters, and the area is surrounded by dense forest and wet prairies, making it a great spot for spotting wildlife.
There are several walking trails from this visitor center, as well as the nearby Royal Palm Nature Center.
Guy Bradley Visitor Center
In Flamingo, the Guy Bradley Visitor Center is a newly opened facility sitting at the edge of the Everglades at Florida Bay.
At the edge of the water, you can spot dolphins, manatees and wild flamingos. You’ll find a collection of fascinating exhibits to understand the ecology and wildlife of the Everglades, while the mid-century pink building’s large windows have incredible views overlooking the bay itself.
Things To Do At Everglades National Park
While many visitors spend less than a day in the National Park, often just a quick airboat tour and a show, there’s so much to discover at Everglades with kids.
A World Heritage site and International Biosphere Reserve, it has the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie and is the largest subtropical wilderness in the country.
Hiking
While hiking in Florida is more of a flat adventure (because there aren’t any mountains in the Sunshine State), it’s well worth following one of the trails in the Everglades National Park with kids. For a scenic journey, follow one of these short and easy trails which are great for families.
Gumbo Limbo Trail – A 0.4-mile easy trail that passes through the shade palm and gumbo limbo hammock. This trail is accessible from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.
Anhinga Trail – Considered a must-do in the Everglades, this 0.8-mile easy loop trail is also accessible from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. With a great chance of spotting lots of wildlife, it’s one of the most popular trails in the park.
You can also take a starlight walk on the Anhinga Trail. Alligators feed at night, so the best way to catch one in action is to go to the Anhinga Trail once it gets dark, bring your flashlight, and take a stroll – needless to say, this is better with older kids than toddlers!
You can go to any or all of the platformed areas above the water where the alligators feed on the fish, shine your flashlight into the water and you’re in for quite a sight!
Or just listen for a few minutes to the alligators splash while they are catching their fish and watch them glide through the water, silently stalking their meal.
Mahogany Hammock Trail – A 0.5-mile easy boardwalk trail, this takes you past the largest living mahogany tree in the United States, as well as gumbo-limbo trees. It’s 20 miles from the main park entrance to the park and Ernest Coe Visitor Center.
Not far from this trail, you can also discover the Pahayokee Overlook, which looks out over the Rivers of Grass
West Lake Trail – A 0.5-mile easy trail with a boardwalk that suspends you over a beautiful mangrove swamp. This trail is accessible from the Guy Bradley Visitor Center.
Snake Bight Trail – This unpaved 1.6-mile easy trail is prime terrain for wildlife spotting and is accessible from the Guy Bradley Visitor Center.
Bobcat Boardwalk – A 0.5-mile easy raised boardwalk that crosses over a sawgrass slough and is accessible from the Shark Valley Visitor Center.
Park Loop Trail – Known as the centerpiece of the Shark Valley, this trail is accessible from the Shark Valley Visitor Center. This 15-mile paved loop is also rich in wildlife and can be explored on foot or bike.
Eco Pond – A 0.5-mile easy trail around the freshwater pond, where you can see birdlife galore, as well as sometimes spotting alligators and Florida softshell turtles. Accessible from the Flamingo Visitor Center.
It’s worth knowing that the ramped viewing platform was damaged by hurricanes and has been removed.
Spot alligators
If you want to spot alligators, head to Shark Valley. Although this area doesn’t have much in terms of activities, you’ll be blown away by the sheer number of alligators and impressive nature views.
Follow the 15-mile loop from the visitor center and whatever you do, don’t skip the Shark Valley Observation Tower for incredible vistas overlooking the park.
Canoeing/kayaking
There are many opportunities to get out and paddle at Everglades National Park, with the option to launch your canoe and kayak at either the Guy Bradley or Gulf Coast Visitor Centers.
From here, you can do day trips, or there is also a full two-week excursion with 100 miles of interconnected backcountry campsites between the two points if you’re planning a longer family adventure with older kids.
A favorite for day trippers is the Nine Mile Pond, which takes you through 5.2 miles of grass marsh and mangrove islands. Tour The Glades is highly recommended if you’re looking for guided boat tours of the area (and they also have bike rentals too).
You can also canoe down the Buttonwood Canal, which is part of the longer Mud Lake canoe trail (the whole trail stretches around seven miles).
Birdwatching
The Everglades is home to more than 300 species of birds, including pelicans and wild flamingos.
You can enjoy bird watching from anywhere in the park, but there are a few popular spots to see specific bird species.
If you want to spot larger birds, the best places are the ponds. A few favorites include Paurotis Pond, Mrazek Pond, Eco Pond and Nine Mile Pond.
Fishing
Fishing in the Everglades is possible at Gulf Coast, Guy Bradley and Ernest F Coe Visitor Centers. You’ll need a Florida fishing license, but if you are just visiting you can grab a non-resident or one-day license.
There are more than 70 types of fish in the Everglades waterways, including blackline snooks, sheephead and snapper. You can even land a tarpon while in the Everglades!
Everglades City is known as the fishing paradise of the area, and there are several fishing guide services available there.
Ranger-Led Programs
The Everglades has some incredible ranger programs, and they are easily one of the best ways to fully experience this unique area of Florida.
You’ll have the opportunity to slog through wetlands, bike, kayak or boat with a knowledgeable Park Ranger, and there are family-friendly activities too.
Many of the ranger-led programs at the Everglades do require reservations in advance so check ahead.
Some of the best programs include the Royal Palms and Gulf Coast regions of the park, but there’s plenty of choice for different ages, whether you prefer a ranger talk or something more active.
The ranger-led seven-mile bike ride on the Long Pine Key trails, a few miles from Flamingo, is a great free tour. The first 10 people to join the tour are provided with bikes and helmets (optional). All tour members are provided with water as well.
It’s one of the most recommended tours because the ranger points out many of the things you would never normally notice if you were just biking the trail by yourself. Along the way, the ranger explains the different types of terrains that make up the Everglades and introduces some of the unique wildlife.
The Shark Valley ranger tours include the Shark Valley tram tour, that’s fun for younger kids, while the Flamingo tours include an animal-themed walk.
And check out the Junior Ranger program and activities while you’re visiting Everglades National Park with kids.
Airboat Tours
If you’re visiting the Everglades National Park with kids, you’ve probably already imagined yourself riding in an airboat – and it is definitely an adventure to remember!
This is an immersive way to see all that the Everglades has to offer, as you’ll be able to stay safe and comfortable as you venture deep into the park and see alligators and other animals up close. Airboat rides are incredibly popular and are a unique and fun way to experience the park.
If you choose to take an airboat tour, it’s best to go with a company that is authorized by the National Park Service. There are 3: Everglades Safari Park, Coopertown and Gator Park.
This tour from Everglades Safari Park includes a 40-minute airboat ride as well as a Wildlife Nature show, while this similar tour from Gator Park also takes you through the River of Grass, plus another similar tour from Coopertown Everglades airboat tours includes a meeting with a 14ft alligator!
Visit Everglades Wonder Gardens
Everglades Wonder Gardens is located in Bonita Springs, Florida, and opened in 1936 as a refuge for injured animals – today the gardens are considered a roadside attraction.
The animals in the gardens are kept in their natural habitat, but it would be unlikely for you to see them in the wild. This is not strictly a petting zoo, although you may want to stock up on some quarters because you can feed a few of the animals.
It’s worth knowing that there is one room that features taxidermy from many different animals – something that tends to fascinate or freak out kids. There are also articles, news clippings and old pictures hanging on the walls showing the history of Everglades Wonder Gardens to learn more about this attraction.
Tips For Your Visit To Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park has an entrance fee of $35 per car. If you are arriving without a car (for example, to join one of the guided tours), there’s a fee of $20 – kids aged 15 and under are free.
No matter what time of year you visit, be sure to pack insect repellent (bug spray is even more essential at night), sunblock, a hat and water. Cameras and lightweight binoculars are also highly recommended for wildlife viewing.
While exploring, do NOT get close to the wildlife, especially the alligators. Although they may seem lethargic, they can move very quickly when provoked so always stay at a safe distance.
Do not feed or touch any wildlife in the park.
Leashed pets are only allowed on paved areas in the park, so it’s a good idea to leave your furry friends at home for your Everglades visit.
Everglades National Park is the perfect blend of beautiful wilderness and wildlife viewing. It’s an excellent destination for families who want to experience Florida’s unique landscapes fully while hiking, biking, fishing and paddling through one of America’s most stunning national parks.
Where to stay when visiting Everglades National Park
Do consider camping in the park if you have time, rather than a single day visit. Getting a feel of the nature gives a whole different feel to a visit to Everglades National Park with kids.
There are two drive-in campgrounds, both accessible from the Homestead entrance, as well as options to camp (safely) in the wilderness if you’re feeling adventurous. Needless to say, you can’t just pitch up with a tent and set up camp wherever you fancy…
For more ideas of things to do in Florida with kids, check out my Florida Keys itinerary, as well as ideas for things to do in Miami with kids, Tampa with kids, Orlando with kids and the best Florida beaches
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