Best Things to Do in Everglades National Park
Robert DeckerWhile the Everglades may conjure images of hot, humid weather, mosquitos, and alligators, there is so much more to this remarkable landscape. Everglades National Park is a place of mystery, movement, beauty, and wild diversity — a vast wetland unlike anywhere else in the United States.
Covering roughly 2,400 square miles, the Everglades is enormous. Unless you have access to a boat, most visitors will only scratch the surface. But even with limited time, you can still experience an unforgettable mix of scenic drives, short walks, wildlife watching, paddling, and classic Everglades adventure.
Even if you only have one day in Everglades National Park, you can still see a lot. Drive through a good portion of the park, take short walks, look for manatees and alligators, visit scenic overlooks, and — if time allows — get out on the water by kayak, boat, or airboat.
The Everglades is a massive wetland fed by water from Lake Okeechobee. But for generations, humans have changed the natural flow of that water. Canals and development diverted water away from the Everglades and into cities and residential areas, dramatically altering the delicate ecosystem.
As a result, wildlife populations have declined, and some species remain threatened. So when you visit, it’s worth keeping the park’s larger conservation story in mind. The Everglades is not just a destination — it’s a living, changing ecosystem that continues to depend on restoration and protection.
Everglades at a Glance
- Best for wildlife watching, birding, scenic drives, paddling, and short walks
- Look for alligators, crocodiles, manatees, dolphins, turtles, and wading birds
- Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, and bug repellent
- Check current trail and tour conditions at the visitor center before heading out
- Give yourself more than one day if you want to explore multiple areas of the park
The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
As with most national parks, the visitor center is one of the best places to begin. The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center gives you a helpful overview of what the park offers, along with current information about conditions, programs, tours, and ranger-led activities.
Inside, you’ll find educational exhibits, maps, books, postcards, and practical supplies — including insect repellent, which is always a smart idea in the Everglades. Be sure to stay for a showing of River of Life, a 15-minute film that provides an excellent introduction to the park.
Many of the park’s popular trails are only a short drive from the visitor center, making it a convenient launch point for your Everglades adventure.
Where the Hiking is Superb
Everglades trails are a wonderful way to experience the park’s diverse habitats up close. Many are short and accessible, making them ideal for first-time visitors, families, photographers, birdwatchers, and anyone hoping to spot wildlife safely.
Florida weather can change quickly, especially during the wet season, so bring plenty of water and stay aware of the forecast. Mosquitos and other biting insects can be present year-round, and sunscreen and hats are especially important during warmer months.
Short Trails Worth Exploring
- Anhinga Trail: An easy 0.8-mile route, partly paved and partly boardwalk, leading through wetlands where visitors often spot alligators and Anhingas.
- Gumbo Limbo Trail: A paved 0.4-mile walk through a shaded, jungle-like hammock of gumbo limbo trees, royal palms, ferns, and lush plants.
- Pahayokee Overlook: A short boardwalk loop with a raised observation platform and sweeping views of the “river of grass.”
- Mahogany Hammock Trail: A boardwalk trail through dense hardwood hammock, highlighted by gumbo-limbo trees, air plants, and a massive mahogany tree.
- Flamingo Trails: A varied collection of trails in a different section of the park, with access depending on current conditions.
Get On a Bike
Let the wetland wind whip past you on a bicycle trail. Biking is allowed on the main park roads, the Shark Valley tram road, Old Ingraham Highway, Long Pine Key Nature Trail, Snake Bight, and Rowdy Bend trails at Flamingo.
A bike can be a great way to slow down and experience the landscape differently — especially in areas where wildlife, water, and sky seem to stretch endlessly in every direction.
The Birdwatching is Divine
Everglades National Park offers some of the best birdwatching opportunities in the world. More than 300 species reside in the park or pass through during migration, making this a dream destination for birders and casual wildlife watchers alike.
Some of the best birding areas are near the Homestead entrance, the Royal Palm area, and the Flamingo District of the park.
Birdwatching Spots to Add to Your List
- Anhinga Trail
- Eco Pond
- Mrazek Pond
- Mahogany Hammock
- Snake Bight Trail
- Paurotis Pond
- Shark Valley
Keep an eye out for wading birds, raptors, songbirds, and the dramatic silhouettes of long-legged birds moving through the marsh.
Kayak Around Ten Thousand Islands
Ten Thousand Islands is an archipelago covering more than 35,000 acres of Florida’s southern tip. The national wildlife refuge lies in the northern portion, while the southern section is part of Everglades National Park.
Despite the name, the islands number in the hundreds rather than the thousands — but the sense of mystery and remoteness is very real. It’s one of the least-explored areas of the park, and one of the most memorable places to experience the Everglades by water.
A maze of mangroves and some of the most beautiful scenery in Florida await in this exotic location. Boat tours may operate through portions of the area when available. If you’re able to get a spot on a tour, watch for bottlenose dolphins, manatees, crocodiles, and alligators.
Want the Everglades at its wildest? Get out on the water. Whether by kayak, canoe, or guided boat tour, the park feels completely different once you’re moving through its mangrove channels and open waterways.
Tamiami Trail Scenic Drive
When the Tamiami Trail was constructed in 1928, cutting across the Everglades, it was considered a major feat of engineering. At the time, it became the only route connecting Tampa and Miami.
Today, driving the Tamiami Trail gives visitors a surprisingly varied look at the Everglades landscape, from pinelands to sawgrass marshes. You might catch a glimpse of an alligator sunning itself in a roadside canal, and water birds are plentiful.
Along with the natural beauty, remnants of mid-century Florida tourist culture remain. Expect airboat attractions, gator-sighting opportunities, roadside kitsch, and maybe even a reminder to keep an eye out for the Skunk Ape — the Everglades’ own version of Bigfoot.
Final Thoughts
Everglades National Park is not the kind of place you fully understand from a single overlook or a quick stop. It reveals itself slowly — in the ripple of water, the flash of a bird wing, the stillness of the mangroves, the shape of an alligator in the sun, and the endless movement of the “river of grass.”
Whether you have one day or several, the Everglades offers a powerful reminder that our National Parks are not only beautiful places to visit. They are living landscapes worth protecting.
Celebrate Everglades National Park
Bring home the mystery, beauty, and wild spirit of the Everglades with Rob Decker’s vintage-inspired Everglades National Park poster.
