Camping in Everglades National Park: How to Get a Site

If you’re hoping to immerse yourself in the natural environment of the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States on your next visit to Florida, try a camping trip in Everglades National Park!

There’s nothing quite like setting up a tent or an RV and spending a night under the stars in the Everglades. You’ll love listening to the rustling leaves, hearing the beautiful bird calls, and searching for some of the endangered species found here as you soak in the charm of this amazing national park.

What You Need to Know About Camping in the Everglades

• Most of the Everglades camping options stay open year-round, but one of the main campgrounds is seasonal. Be sure to check the website for information on opening and closing dates while you are planning your trip.

• Pack plenty of bug spray (and maybe even a mosquito net) in the summer months — you will be sharing your campsite with the mosquitoes!

• Reservations are highly encouraged during the busy season. The dry season (November-April) is the busy season in the Everglades, so be sure to make reservations if you plan on camping in the park at this time.

• Full Hookups are not available at the campgrounds in this park, but you can get partial hookups.

• Dump Stations are available in both the Long Pine Key and Flamingo Campgrounds.

• Each standard campsite only accommodates six people.   If you have a larger group, you will need to book two campsites or look for a campground that offers a group campsite. The stay limit is 14 days.
  
• A maximum of two vehicles is allowed at each site (trailers and RVs count as one vehicle).

In this article, we will go over all the information on how to camp in the Everglades’ frontcountry campgrounds. These campgrounds are the ones you can drive to. If you’d like more information on backcountry campsites that require hiking, kayaking, or boating to reach them, click here. There are some super cool wilderness camping sites if you’re hoping to get away from the road!

Getting to the Campgrounds in Everglades National Park

There are two frontcountry campgrounds at the Everglades: the Flamingo Campground and the Long Pine Key Campground.

If you take a short drive on the main park road past the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (near the Homestead entrance of the park), you’ll first encounter the Long Pine Key Campground, which is located 7 miles down the road.

You’ll find the Flamingo Campground all the way at the end of the main park road near the Guy Bradley Visitor Center, about 35 miles from the Long Pine Key Campground. Check out the park map to find these campgrounds.

How to Get a Campsite in the Everglades

The experience of snatching up a campsite in the Everglades entirely depends on which time of year you will be visiting the park.

If you’re visiting during the dry season (November-April), you’ll need to make a reservation. This is the busiest time in the park, and both frontcountry campgrounds in the Everglades take reservations during this time and do fill up in advance. Be sure to book online as early as you can if you want to get a site.

If you’re visiting during the wet season (May-October), the Flamingo Campground operates on a first-come, first-served basis and doesn’t usually fill up. The Long Pine Key Campground is closed at this time.

To choose your ideal campground, take a look at the in-park options below:

Long Pine Key Campground

The Long Pine Key Campground is just down the road from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, making it the most popular campground in the Florida Everglades. From here, you’re only minutes from the famous Anhinga Trail!

This campground has its own short trail and fishing pond adjacent to the campsites. If you’re looking for a good central place to camp in the park while still being close to the grocery stores and other amenities of a city, you’ll love the Long Pine Key Campground.

Open Season:  November 1 – April 30
Max RV Length:  45 feet
Hookups:  No
Dump Station:  Yes
Generator:  Generators can be used from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. except in the tent-only area.
Reservations Required:  No, but it is highly recommended, and you can do that here.
Fee:  $33 – $60
Number of Sites:  108
Pets Allowed:  Yes, but please review Everglades’ Pet Policy
Restrooms:  Flush toilets and showers
Wheelchair Accessibility:  Yes

Flamingo Campground

The Flamingo Campground is open year-round and is located at the very tip of the Florida peninsula! If you’re hoping to spend time boating in the ocean, kayaking the waterways, or birdwatching, this campground will make a great place for your Everglades adventures and outdoor activities. Kayak and canoe rentals are available right there from Flamingo Adventures(ADD LINK in WP)

This campground has two main loops — the A-Loop is tent sites only, and the T-Loop is RV campsites. The T-Loop has a good selection of RV sites with electric hookups, but be aware that this loop also only has NO hot showers! If you’re tent camping, you’ll want to be in either the A-Loop or the walk-in beach sites.

You’ll find many different lodging options in the Flamingo area — there’s a traditional campground, a walk-in tent-only area on the beach, eco-tents, houseboats, a lodge, and many wilderness campsites and chickee sites.

Open Season:  Year-round
Max RV Length:  45 feet
Hookups: Yes, a selection of electric-only sites
Dump Station: Yes
Generator:   Generators can be used from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Reservations Required:  No, but it is highly recommended, and you can do that here.
Fee:  $33 – $60
Number of Sites:  274
Pets Allowed:  Yes, but please review Everglades’ Pet Policy
Restrooms:  Flush toilets and showers. The water is not heated in the T-Loop (RVs only).
Wheelchair Accessibility:  Yes

I hope you have an incredible time camping in Everglades National Park. Happy trails!

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