How Many Days Should I Spend in Everglades National Park?

Are you dreaming of a Florida vacation and wondering how many days to spend in Everglades National Park? If so, I’m here to help! This park is large, and there are so many incredible adventures you can have, so let’s make sure you have enough time to explore.

How many days should you spend in Everglades National Park? I recommend spending at least three full days in the park if you want to see the can’t-miss sights and explore each of the park’s unique areas.

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Hey there, my name is Ash! I am a former park ranger, and I can’t wait to help you plan your trip to sunny Florida.

Let’s talk more about the things you’ll want to consider when deciding how many days to spend in the Everglades.

Can I See the Everglades in One Day?

Yes! You’ll barely scratch the surface of this amazing national park, but it is possible to get a good taste of the Everglades in only one day.

If you can only spend one day in the Everglades, I recommend heading to Shark Valley. This area of the park is the best place to see alligators (which is really why we’re all here, right?!). You can walk, bike, or take a tram along a 15-mile loop road that provides excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and leads to a 70-foot-tall observation tower.

Be aware that the entrance to Shark Valley has a gate that gets locked in the evening, so you can’t visit this area at all hours of the day. You can learn more about that here.

While you’re in the Shark Valley area, you’ll be right next to the park-authorized airboat rides, which is a fun way to top off your time in the Everglades!

The Everglades in Two Days

I suggest two full sightseeing days in the Everglades if you want to cover a good portion of the park. In two days, you’ll have time to visit Shark Valley and take an airboat ride. You’ll also be able to add in the activities along the main park road between the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and Flamingo!

Along this main park road, you’ll find some of the most popular activities in the park, including the Anhinga Trail, West Lake, and the Flamingo Marina.

If you have two days in the park, it will be much easier to plan out your days to avoid the crowds and find some solitude. You won’t have to rush, you’ll have more chances of seeing wildlife, and you’ll cover a lot of ground!

The Everglades in Three Days

Two days in the park are fine, but if you really want to immerse yourself in the Everglades, give yourself three full days! With three days in the park, you’ll have time to explore all of the main sections of the park — Shark Valley, Flamingo, and Everglades City.

If you’re like me and you hope to fully explore each national park while you’re there, plan on spending three days in the Everglades. You won’t regret it!

With three full days, you’ll have time to see all of the park’s can’t-miss spots, go kayaking or boating, enjoy wildlife viewing, and find solitude. You can see the very best of the park without the fear of missing out on anything.

You’ll love seeing all of the alligators in Shark Valley, exploring the “river of grass” as you drive to Flamingo, and adventuring in the ocean near Everglades City. There is so much to do, but if you plan out your time well, you’ll see the very best of the Everglades!

Other Things to Consider

Before you solidify your travel dates or book your lodging for the Everglades, you’ll want to think about a few things, such as:

How much time will it take to travel to and from the Everglades (not including your sightseeing days)?

Many people forget to factor in the time it will take for them to drive to the park, which can cut into your sightseeing and leave you wishing for more time. For example, if you’re flying to or staying in Miami and plan on spending a day in the park, you’ll want to plan things out so that you don’t get to the park when it’s super crowded.

Are there any major holidays/fee-free days/festivals you’d like to be in the park for or avoid?

If you’re visiting over a holiday or fee-free day, the crowd levels will be higher. You may have a harder time getting around to all the can’t-miss spots, so some extra time could be beneficial.

Are there other national parks and points of interest you’re hoping to see on the same trip?

Everglades National Park is close to both Biscayne National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park, and you can easily see all three on the same trip! Give yourself enough time to fully explore the Everglades, even if you plan on adding these other two parks to your trip. There is much more to do in Everglades National Park than in the other two.

Should I Spend More Time in the Everglades or Biscayne?

Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park are only separated by a 30-minute drive, making it easy to see both during the same trip!

Let’s discuss what to consider if you’re hoping to visit both parks but are wondering how to split your time.

First, Everglades is a much larger national park with a bigger variety of activities and places to see. If you plan on working your way through the most popular activities in each park, you’ll want more time in the Everglades than you will in Biscayne.

Second, Biscayne National Park is primarily water, so if you’re not planning on scuba diving or boating, you’ll be extremely limited in what you can do. However, you can easily go on a boat tour and see everything there is to do on land in one day!

Keeping those things in mind, I recommend planning one day (maybe two, depending on how long your trip is) in Biscayne and spending the rest of your time in the Everglades.

Everglades Itinerary Options

I’m here to help you determine how many days to spend in Everglades National Park, so here are a few sample trip itineraries for the region that can help you decide how to split your days while you’re in the area!

If you have:

A Weekend

I recommend spending your whole weekend in the Everglades!

One Week

Everglades and Biscayne National Parks

Day 1 — Fly into Miami and drive to Homestead in the evening (1 hour). Stay in Homestead.
Day 2 — Everglades (Shark Valley)
Day 3 — Everglades (Flamingo)
Day 4 — Biscayne
Day 5 — Drive to Naples and enjoy the beaches (2.5 hours). Stay in Naples.
Day 6 — Everglades (Gulf Coast)
Day 7 — Drive back to Miami to catch your flight (2.5 hours)

10 Days

Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas National Parks

Day 1 — Fly into Miami and drive to Homestead in the evening (1 hour). Stay in Homestead.
Day 2 — Everglades (Shark Valley)
Day 3 — Everglades (Flamingo)
Day 4 — Everglades (Gulf Coast)
Day 5 — Biscayne
Day 6 — Biscayne
Day 7 — Drive to Key West (3.5 hours)
Day 8 — Explore Key West
Day 9 — Dry Tortugas
Day 10 — Drive back to Miami to catch your flight (3.5 hours)

2 Weeks

I hope that helps you decide how many days to spend in Everglades National Park. Enjoy your trip!

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