Ultimate Guide for Visiting Everglades National Park with Kids
The Everglades is an extraordinary ecosystem that transcends the boundaries of imagination and captivates the hearts of all who venture into its lush embrace. It is a site to marvel at and definitely worth a visit whenever you’re in South Florida. Here’s an ultimate guide to visiting the Florida Everglades with kids.
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Info about the Everglades
Everglades National Park is basically Mother Nature’s version of a tropical theme park in Florida! Head to the Everglades with kids for a wild and educational adventure! From airboat rides that’ll have them squealing with delight to spotting gators playing hide-and-seek in the marshes, it’s a family outing where nature becomes the ultimate playground.
This sprawling playground, established in 1947, spans 1.5 million acres – that’s a lot of space for fun. The park is not just about the flashy alligators; it’s a mosaic of ecosystems, from freshwater marshes to cypress swamps.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a haven for biodiversity, hosting over 350 species of birds, 300 species of fish, and countless plant species, including the iconic sawgrass. The slow flow of water defines the park, originating from Lake Okeechobee and meandering its way to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Everglades also plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the Florida Bay and provides a critical habitat for endangered species like the manatee and the elusive Florida panther. It’s a living, breathing testament to the delicate balance of nature, reminding us that sometimes the wildest parties are the most important ones.
Which entrance to choose?
Everglades National park has 4 main entrances to choose from:
- Shark Valley: If your staying in Miami, you might want to head to Shark Valley on 8th St.
- Royal Palm: you can drive south for 45 minutes to Homestead and head to Royal Palm.
- Flamingo: is about 38 miles south of the main park entrance in homestead.
- Gulf Coast: If you’re on the west side of Florida (Naples area), Gulf Coast would be closer to you.
Things to do in the Everglades
- Junior Ranger Program
- Canoe or Kayak
- Airboat ride
- Alligator show
- Eat the local food
- camp
- Backcountry boat tour
- Walk
- Tram
- Bike
- Ranger Guided tour
Junior Ranger Program
The Junior Ranger Program is a self guided activity book for kids that you can pick up at the Visitor center. The book has a bingo game and pages filled with information in bite size chunks for kids to process and learn from. It also helps keep the kids entertained and engaged while walking around.
Canoe or kayak
There are paddling trails at Flamingo and Gulf Coast. You can rent a canoe or kayak and head out on one of the many trails at either location. You can also take a tour with guide and they will lead you through mangrove tunnels to get up close and personal with the local wildlife. If you’re very adventurous, you can even hire a guide and do a multi day trip if your kids are older.
Airboat Ride
No trip to the Everglades would be complete without getting on the water and riding through the marshes. There are many companies that offer airboat tours where you get up close and personal with some of the Everglade’s wildlife. If you don’t have you’re own car you can always take a tour like this one. They will pick you up and drop you off from several hotels in Miami or you can meet at the meeting point in downtown.
Alligator show
While sitting in the amphitheater listening to the unmistakable sounds of wildlife, I found myself perched on the edge of my seat, eagerly anticipating the alligator show. The guide spoke about the fierce creatures while making it open its jaws and move around the arena. Then to our surprise he lured the alligator to its feet and they danced as if at the prom. It was insane!
Eat the Food
While you’re in the Everglades, make sure to try the local cuisine. You’ll find unique items like catfish, frog legs, and alligator bites. You might be surprised to find you actually like it!
Camp
Sleep among the stars, and next to the alligators (just kidding). You can camp at campground in Flamingo or you can take a kayak and do a multi-day camp trip. They have campsites literally on the water in the middle of the river.
Take a backcountry boat tour
From Flamingo, you can take a back country boat tour like this one. You’ll have a guide that will talk about the history of the Everglades and the wildlife that inhabits it.
Walk
There are several trails in the Everglades you can walk. They are all different in their own way.
Anhinga Trail
Located near the Royal Palm visitor center, the Anhinga trail is an easy 0.8 mile round trip loop. You walk half way on a boardwalk and the other half on a paved road.
Gumbo Limbo Trail
Also at the Royal Palm Visitor Center is our favorite trail, the Gumbo Limbo trail. It is an easy, short, and shaded walking trail that is only 0.4 miles long. What we loved about it was walking through a canopy of gumbo limbo trees and palm trees. It felt like we were walking through a jungle.
Bobcat Boardwalk
There are 2 smaller trails off the West Scenic trail. The first is right when you start. Bobcat Boardwalk is a self guided boardwalk trail that takes you through the tropical hardwood forests and ends on the East scenic trail.
We ended up walking back through it to the West scenic trail to walk along the water. This trail is very pretty. Trees on both sides. There are places to sit and admire nature along the trail.
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Otter Cave Hammock trail
About 1/2 mile ahead along Tram road is Otter Cave Hammock trail. This trail is not stroller friendly so its probably not wheelchair friendly either. You will be walking through the hardwood forest on rough limestone.
The limestone portion of the trail is riddled with holes which can be a trip hazard so just be mindful. My toddler wanted to step into the holes but don’t. If you look into the holes you will see a network of passageways, looking like swiss cheese! This trail can get flooded throughout the year so make sure to check the visitor center for any warnings.
The end of the trail takes you back to Tram Road. You can either continue to the observation tower which is at the halfway point of the loop or head back to the visitor center. We opted to head back to the visitor center and head home.
Tram
Other ways to explore the trail are taking the tram. It’s a 2 hour tour and the tour operator gives you lots of info about the everglades, about the animals, the history of the observation tower, etc. It costs $27 per adult, $21 for seniors, and $14 for children 3-12 years old. If you are not the athletic type, the tram tour is the way to go. Tours depart at 9:30am, 11am, 2pm, and 4pm. Schedules are subject to change so check the website for current schedule.
Bike
You can also enjoy the trail on bike. You can bring your own or rent a bike from Shark Valley Tram Tours. They cost $20 to rent beginning at 8:30am. Bikes must be returned by 5pm. Last rental can be made at 4pm. You can reserve online or in person on a first come first served basis. Tram Road is flat and paved so it’s the ideal for any type of bike or any biking skill level.
Important things to know before you bike:
- Under Florida law, any bicyclist under age 16 must wear a helmet. The importance of Helmets
- It is important to maintain a safe distance from all wildlife. Try to stay 10-15 feet away and do not feed or bother any animals. This is their natural home, and if you respect them, they will respect you.
- Florida is the lightning capital of the United States, and South Florida summers deliver some impressive weather shows. Most of the thunderstorms occur during the mid to late afternoon hours, so the best riding times are in the morning, when it’s still a little cooler.
- If you choose to rent a bike from Shark Valley Tram Tours you will be asked to sign the Bike Risk Acknowledgement Form before departing the facilities.
*The information above was taken directly from the website.
Ranger Guided tour
If you are looking for a more informative experience, you can take a Ranger Tour. There are different tour options throughout the year but they are ranger-led so you will get a more in-depth explanation of the ecosystems, the animals, etc.
Where to stay
There are many options when it comes to where to stay and depends on your preference.
- Camp – Everglades has many camping and glamping options. They even opened a new lodge at the Flamingo Visitor Center
- Eco Tent – At Flamingo they have eco tents you can stay in so you don’t have to bring your own tent.
- Flamingo Lodge – A new lodge they just opened. Its super nice.
- House Boat – You can rent a house boat at Flamingo.
- Hotel – You can stay in Homestead to be close to the Ernest F. Coe, Royal Palm, and Flamingo visitor centers.
What to bring
Back pack
You’re going to want a good back pack to hold all up if stuff. A good choice is something light but durable like this one.
Hat
Most days in south Florida are HOT and SUNNY. You want a good hot to provide lots of protection from the sun.
Sunscreen
You need a good sunscreen to protect from UV rays. Nothing worse than getting home sun burnt after a day of fun in the sun.
Insect repellent
The mosquitos run wild in the Everglades. Bring insect repellent to help keep them away so you don’t get all but up.
Water
Bring your own water. You may be walking for a purple hours and they wil not have water on the trails.
Snacks
Always a good idea to bring snacks for the kids. With al the walking they are bound to build up an appetite. Its also good for rewarding them or bribing them to keep going. Take a variety if snacks and treats.
Raincoat
It rains a lot in Florida. You never know when its going to start raining. Having a good, lightweight rain jacket that can easily fold up small into the back pack is important.
First aid kit
Anything can happen where you are in the middle of nowhere. Better to be prepared with some basic first aid like bandaids and gauze. This travel first aid kit has anything you might need while out in the Everglades. We also like to travel with Benadryl and anti itch cream because our daughter is allergic to mosquito bites.
Towel
A small towel is useful for wiping off sweat or drying hands. It also comes in handy when the kids play on the ground and you have to clean them off.
Binoculars
There are so many animals to see and some may be far away. Having a pair of binoculars for kids to spot far away wildlife, like birds, makes the trip that much more special. We have these and my son loves them!
Best Time to Visit
Winter is the best time to visit. From November through April the weather is cooler, not as hot and not as humid. There are also less bugs and more chances to see the alligators. With nicer weather comes more animals out and about.
General tips
- Start early or go later in the day. You want to avoid the mid day heat as much as possible.
- Go into the visitor center first. There’s a cool display and lots of info on the Everglades for kids to learn. They also have complimentary kids activity books and stamps to put in the national parks passport. You can buy a passport from the store in the visitor center.
- Grab a map from the visitor center. In case you lose signal or GPS just doesnt work, you’ll have a map to know where you’re going.
- Take it slow and take lots of breaks.
- If you see an alligator in the road (which you might!) leave it alone. Do not engage. Walk behind its tail very slowly if necessary. Do not feed or try to pet the alligator.
- Do not feed the wildlife.
- Leave no trace. Whatever you take in, take out. It is so important for the ecosystems that you not leave anything behind. No trash, no fallen snacks. Please pick it all up and take it with you.
Know Before you Go
The entrance Fee to Everglades National Park is $35 per vehicle or you can get an annual pass for $70. You can buy the pass online or at the entrance gate. They do not accept cash at the entrance gates. Learn more about Everglades National Park on their website.
With this guide to the Everglades with kids you’ll have a much higher chance of having a smooth and FUN Everglades outing. For more things to do in the Everglades with kids, check out our Ultimate Guide to Shark Valley.
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