Is Everglades National Park Open Year-Round? Weather, Hours, and Closures

You’ll never forget the first time you experienced the sights and sounds of the Everglades — it’s an incredible place! To take part in some of the park’s best adventures, you’ll want to plan your trip with the weather in mind. You may be wondering if the Everglades is open year-round, what the weather will be like, or what will be open while you’re there.

Everglades National Park is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. However, the most popular area of the park has a gate that gets locked during certain hours!

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My name is Ash, and I’m a former park ranger. You’ll find me in the Everglades almost every winter — it’s my favorite place to be that time of year!

I’ve got a ton of information for you about visiting the Everglades year-round, including the hours, closures, and weather you can expect while you vacation in this extraordinary national park.

Is Everglades National Park Open Year-Round?

Most of Everglades National Park is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. You will be able to get in and explore at all times of day and night if you go through the Ernest F. Coe Entrance (near Homestead) or the Gulf Coast Entrance (near Everglades City).

The Shark Valley Entrance is not open 24/7 — we’ll discuss that below.

Just because the park stays open year-round, doesn’t mean that all of the activities and points of interest will be open for you at all times.

For example:

• The visitor centers are not open 24/7
• The entrance stations might not always be staffed, and the Shark Valley entrance gate gets locked
• Campgrounds close seasonally
• Roads and trails are open year-round but are subject to temporary closures because of the weather

Closures like these are common year-round, so let’s discuss what may be closed even if the park itself is open.

Operating Hours for Everglades National Park

Everglades Visitor Center Hours

There are four visitor centers in the Everglades —Gulf Coast, Ernest F. Coe, Flamingo, and Shark Valley.  You’ll be within reach of a visitor center no matter where you explore in the park, so be sure to drop in and talk to a park ranger!

All visitor centers are open year-round and also are generally open at the same times: from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the dry season (November-April) and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the wet season (May-October).

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is the only center on the park’s west side. This visitor center is small and doesn’t have much, but you will find it staffed with friendly park rangers that can answer your questions. If you’re hoping to take a boat tour out into the Ten Thousand Islands portion of the park, this is where you’ll check in.

The Shark Valley Visitor Center is located along the Tamiami Trail on the northern boundary of the Everglades. It’s open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day, but be aware that there is a gate that opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m., so you won’t be able to get into the area if you come outside of those hours.

The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is the main visitor center in the Everglades. You’ll find a nice area full of information and displays so that you learn more about the park. This is also where you’ll find the park’s largest gift shop. The Coe Visitor Center is located along the main park road as you enter the Everglades near the city of Homestead.

The Guy Bradley Visitor Center in Flamingo is found near the end of the main park road, about 45 minutes from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. The original Flamingo Visitor Center was destroyed in a hurricane, but the new and improved one was recently completed!

Each visitor center offers ranger programs all year long, although there are many more program offerings during the dry season.

Everglades Entrance Station Hours

Everglades National Park has three entrance stations — Gulf Coast, Shark Valley, and Ernest F. Coe. All three of these entrance stations are open year-round as long as there are no temporary road closures.

Entrance station hours vary and are not published. These stations will almost always be staffed early in the morning until late at night during the winter, with shorter hours during the spring, summer, and fall.

If an entrance station is staffed, you will be required to pay the park entrance fee before exploring the Everglades’ main trails and viewpoints. If the entrance station is not staffed and the road is open, you can drive on through.

Now, here is the most important thing to note about Everglades’ entrances. The Gulf Coast and Ernest F. Coe entrances are open at all times of day, so if you want to get in at 5 a.m. to see wildlife or get out at 2 a.m. after stargazing, you will be able to do so.

But, the Shark Valley Entrance is only open from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., and the gate gets locked. You cannot be in Shark Valley outside of these hours — you will get locked in if you don’t leave on time!!!

If you sign up for the first Shark Valley tram tour of the day, you will likely have to park and wait in line until they unlock the gate in the morning and then rush over to your tour. If you sign up for the last tram tour of the day, you will need to leave that area as soon as your tour ends.

Common Closures in Everglades National Park

Everglades Lodging Closures

If you’re hoping to stay in Everglades National Park, you’ll find some amazing options! If camping is your thing, there are two frontcountry campgrounds, the Flamingo Campground and the Long Pine Key Campground. The Flamingo campground is open year-round, while the Long Pine Key Campground is only open during the dry season, which is November-April.

Reservations are highly recommended for both campgrounds, especially during the dry season, and can be made online here. However, reservations aren’t necessary for the Flamingo Campground during the wet season, which is May-October.

If you’re looking for an even bigger adventure, there are several different wilderness campgrounds in the Everglades that are open year-round and available on a first-come, first-served basis. You will, however, have to get a wilderness camping permit from one of the visitor centers or online. For more information about how to plan a wilderness trip, click here.

A new beautiful lodge opened in 2023, and you’ll find year-round eco-tents right next door if you’re looking for a unique yet modern stay at the Everglades. Be sure to book as far in advance as you can, because these tents tend to fill up quickly, especially during the busy season from December-April.

Common Road and Trail Closures in the Everglades

All roads and trails in the Everglades are open year-round.

If there are closures, it is really only because of two reasons — weather or construction. The wet season (May-November) is when you will typically see weather-related closures. Summer storms can cause trails and roads to become muddy and slippery, making them unsafe.

Construction closures are temporary and will often be scheduled in advance, so you’ll want to check the NPS site for current conditions in the park.

What is the Weather Like in the Everglades?

Even though you can visit Everglades National Park year-round, there are definitely times that are more ideal for exploring than others!

Take a look at the average highs and lows (in degrees Fahrenheit) and rain levels (in inches) at Everglades National Park:

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg High (F)	78	80	82	85	88	90	91	92	91	87	83	79
Avg Low (F)	54	56	58	61	66	71	73	73	73	70	63	57
Avg Snow (“)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Avg Rain (“)	1.7	1.9	1.9	2.8	5.9	9.1	7.1	8.3	8.7	5.5	2.3	1.4

The Dry Season in the Everglades

The dry season (November-April) in the Everglades is the more popular season to visit. This is when you’ll find the most ideal weather for exploring the park, and everything should be open for you!

Temperatures are usually very enjoyable, with an average daily high of 77 degrees and an average daily low of 53 degrees throughout the dry season. While not immune to storms and cold fronts, the weather is normally far more consistent and comfortable than it is in the wet season.

Wildlife viewing in the park is at its best, and most activities are open and running regularly. Closures can still happen but expect open roads and open trails.

Boating and water activities are extremely popular during the dry season, so expect crowds in the park and reserve your campsites in advance.

The Wet Season in the Everglades

The wet season in the Everglades (May-October) is hot and humid. Temperatures are often in the 90s, and the humidity index can exceed 90% at the same time. Expect frequent storms, some of which can be very severe, and plenty of rain — it’s hurricane season in Florida!

The wildlife in the park likes to disappear during the wet season as a result of rising water levels. Mosquitoes, however, tend to come out in droves, so be prepared with bug spray and appropriate clothing.

While the park still tries to keep everything open year-round, even during the wet season, keep in mind that some campsites, trails, or other areas of the park could close due to the weather. Be sure to plan for any type of weather or closures if you visit the park at this time.

So now you may be asking yourself, when is the best time to visit Everglades National Park?

Now that you know you can visit the Everglades year-round, click next to see my specific month-by-month recommendations for the best time to visit the Everglades.

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