Explore Everglades and Biscayne National Parks in 5 Days

South Florida is typically known for its beautiful beaches, nightlife, and culture. Head a little further south and you will find some incredibly unique National Parks! Florida is home to three National Parks: Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas. All three parks are relatively close to one another in South Florida, which makes it pretty easy to plan a trip to knock out two or three!

I recently visited South Florida to collect a few new National Parks passport stamps in Everglades and Biscayne. If we had the time to extend our trip by another day or two, we could have added Dry Tortugas! This guide will help you plan your trip to visit Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, including the itinerary we designed, where to stay, places to eat, and so much more!

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The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Everglades National Park protects the unique and scenic landscape that provides a habitat for some rare and endangered species, one of which is my girlfriend’s favorite animal–the manatee–along with the American crocodile and the Florida panther. We got to see a manatee at the marina in the Flamingo area of Everglades National Park, and we saw a number of alligators and a couple of crocodiles within the park. The elusive Florida Panther is a hard one to spot!

Biscayne National Park protects coral reefs, mangrove forests in the Florida keys, and aquamarine wildlife. The park is about 95% marine life, so exploration is mostly done via kayak or boat! You can kayak the lush mangrove forests, take a stroll on Boca Chita island, and try to spot some wildlife like turtles and pelicans.

Plan a 5 Day Trip to Visit Everglades and Biscayne National Parks

If you want to plan a short week visiting Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, consider a few things:

• Travel: If you are arriving by flight, you’ll want to fly into Miami International Airport (MIA), as it is the closest major airport to the parks. It took about 2 hours for us to drive from the airport to our lodge in Flamingo, FL on the day we arrived.
• Car Rental: If you’re not road-tripping in your own car, you will need to rent a vehicle to travel through Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. It is not necessary to have 4WD in these parks. You’ll also want to make sure your rental car has a Sun Pass so your tolls can be automatically paid through your car rental company.
• Time of year: The best time of year to visit Everglades and Biscayne is during dry season, which typically runs from December through April. There will be less rain, fewer mosquitoes, and the heat and humidity won’t be unbearable. We visited in mid-January and still walked away with some bug bites, but otherwise enjoyed very mild temperatures and some sunshine!
• Accommodations: In the Everglades, there are several options to choose from. You can camp in either a tent or an RV at a Flamingo campground, rent a glamping tent or a house boat, or get a room at the Flamingo Lodge. If you’re willing to drive a bit further, there are AirBNB and Vrbo options in Homestead or nearby cities conveniently located between both parks. Biscayne has two campgrounds accessible only by boat on a first come first serve basis.
• Entrance Fee: You’ll need an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass or you can purchase a 7-day pass at a visitor center.

How to get to Everglades and Biscayne National Parks

If you’re flying into Florida to visit these parks, you’ll want to fly into Miami International Airport (MIA). The parks do not have public transportation, so you’ll need to rent a car.

Everglades National Park is located in South Florida and spans three counties. You can enter the park via one of its three entrances.

• The main entrance is located on State Road 9336 in Homestead, FL. This entrance provides access to Royal Palm and Flamingo areas. The Guy Bradley Visitor Center is located in the Flamingo area at 1 Flamingo Lodge Hwy in Homestead, FL. The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is also located here closer to the main entrance.
• The Shark Valley entrance is located on US 41 Tamiami Trail in Miami, FL. This is the closest entrance to Miami, FL. The Shark Valley Visitor Center is located here.
• The Everglades City entrance is located on Oyster Bar Lane in Everglades City, FL. This is where the Gulf Coast Visitor Center is located, and the entrance is closest to Naples, FL.

Biscayne National Park is located in Homestead, FL, about 20 miles south of Miami. You can drive into the park, or you can take the Homestead National Parks Trolley (reservations needed), but it only runs on weekends. You’ll visit the Dante Fascell Visitor Center (don’t forget to get your National Parks passport stamp!)

What is the best time of year to visit Everglades and Biscayne National Parks?

You’ll want to visit during dry season, which spans between December and April. This is when you’ll get the most mild temperatures, lower humidity, and fewer mosquitoes (trust me, you want fewer mosquitoes). Any other time of year and you will be eaten alive (figuratively speaking) by Florida’s State Bird (the mosquito… lol).

We traveled there in mid-January. We had a mix of cloudy, partly cloudy, and sunny days. It only rained for one afternoon and evening and the rain wasn’t too heavy. Temperatures were mild; it was cold enough at night to wear a sweater, and warm enough during the day to have a tank top and light pants on. We opted to wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks every day to avoid bugs, because those pesky mosquitoes are active all year round, especially at night!

Where should I stay in Everglades and Biscayne National Parks?

💡 Hot Tip! Accommodations for the Lodge, Houseboat, and Glamping Tents fill up quickly, so be sure to plan your trip around 6 months in advance!

Everglades National Park Accommodations

Whether you’re looking for a more rustic experience, something unique, or you prefer a standard room with great amenities, you’ve got plenty of options in Everglades! Flamingo Adventures at Everglades National Park offers a number of unique accommodations within the park.

• Flamingo Lodge (Recommended): Flamingo Lodge, located in the Flamingo area accessible through the park’s main entrance in Homestead, is one of the best places to stay! The rooms are small apartments with a lounge space separate from the bedroom, a kitchenette with electric burners, dishwasher, refrigerator, and microwave. Each room has a balcony facing the bay, so you can catch the beautiful sunrises and sunsets. You get WiFi, but no TV. Parking is included.
• Campgrounds: Long Pine Key Campground and Flamingo Campground are the two campground options within the main entrance of the park (note: Flamingo Campground is closed for the 2025 season). Long Pine Key campground has bath houses, a potable water filling and dump station, and cell service with AT&T and Verizon.
• Houseboat: One of the most unique accommodations in the park is a Houseboat. There are only about 4 houseboats available, and they run around $450 per night.
• Glamping Tents (winter only): Winter glamping tents offer an opportunity to enjoy the ruggedness of camping with some luxurious amenities! Each tent comes with a queen bed or two double beds, with all bed linens included. There is a fan, lamp, power outlets, and locked bathroom access for glamping guests only. It’s a unique way to enjoy your stay in the park!
• Glamping Tents (summer only): Summer glamping tents are available from May 1 through October 31. So if you’re willing to brave the warmer weather and buggier season, this option might be for you! You still need to bring your own portable sleep system, unlike the winter glamping tents, but tents include a fan and raised platform to keep you away from critters on the ground.

Biscayne National Park Accommodations

Biscayne National Park is 95% water, so options for accommodations within the national park are limited to two campgrounds accessible by boat only. So you will need to stay in a nearby town, whether you prefer the quiet farm town of Homestead, FL, or a bustling city like Miami, FL.

• Camping: Boca Chita Key and Elliot Key are the only two keys offering campsites on a first come, first serve basis. These campsites are only accessible by boat. Find more information on the National Parks website.
• Hotels and Home Stays: Biscayne National Park is located about 40 miles south of Miami. There are several towns you can stay in closer to the park; Homestead, FL is a nice middle-ground if you are looking to be close to both Biscayne and Everglades. You can find great deals on hotel accommodations in your price range on Expedia or vacation rentals from Vrbo!

Food and Restaurants in Everglades and Biscayne National Parks

• Flamingo Lodge & Restaurant: Located right next to the Flamingo Lodge is the Flamingo Restaurant in Everglades National Park, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They serve a decent selection of food, and they even cook your catch if you bring in a filleted and de-boned fish! We had one breakfast and two dinners here; you can expect to pay about $20-30 per person here.
• Everglades Gator Grill: Outside of the park, we stopped at Everglades Gator Grill because we *had* to try some grilled alligator! We got the alligator tacos. It tastes like chicken with a hint of fish and the texture of steak.
• Chefs on the Run: We ran out of time and didn’t get a chance to eat here, but their menu looked incredible! They serve mostly Puerto Rican food with some other classics like burgers and sandwiches.
• Robert is Here: Dozens of people recommended this place to me, but of course it was AFTER we had left Florida, so I never got a chance to try it! It’s not just a fruit stand, it’s a whole experience. It would be a great mid-day pick-me-up for something bright and refreshing, especially if you’re traveling to Florida during a hotter month!
• Black Point Ocean Grill: Located just about 15 minutes from the visitor center in Biscayne is Black Point Marina, where you can find Black Point Ocean Grill for waterfront dining and some good seafood!
• Knaus Berry Farm: This is a MUST STOP while driving through Homestead, FL! The key lime pie is the most incredibly key lime pie I’ve ever had. Their cinnamon rolls are a staple here, along with their strawberry milkshakes. Seriously, I need to learn how to make key lime pie like this. At around $14 for a whole, it was easily the best money I spent on the trip.

Everglades National Park Tours

There are a number of tours you can take within Everglades National Park by certified vendors. These tours and activities are often educational, led by knowledgable guides who can teach you more about the park, nature, and wildlife. We did an airboat tour and wildlife show in Gator Park, which is an authorized concessioner of Everglades National Park.

Biscayne National Park Tours

Choose an activity and take a guided tour of Biscayne National Park! This is a great way to meet other travelers and ask questions of the knowledgable guides to create a more educational experience for your trip to Biscayne!

The Ultimate 5-Day Everglades and Biscayne National Parks Itinerary

Day One in Everglades National Park

We flew into Miami from Los Angeles, leaving on a 6am flight so we could land in the early afternoon and have time to pick up our rental car and settle in. After checking into our room at Flamingo Lodge, we picked up dinner from the restaurant next door and caught the sunset from our balcony.

Overview:

• 2pm: Fly into Miami International Airport, pick up rental car, and grab lunch on the road
• 3:30pm: Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
• 4:30pm: Check in to Flamingo Lodge
• 6:30pm: Dinner at Flamingo Lodge
• 7:30pm: Stargazing and exploring the area

Day Two in Everglades National Park

On Day 2, you’ll explore more of the park. We originally planned our itinerary to start near the Flamingo Lodge, exploring the hikes closer to our hotel, with our final destination being Gator Park for an air boat tour, but we decided to do our itinerary in reverse so that we’d start at the furthest point from our hotel in the morning and make our way back toward the lodge, stopping at hikes and viewpoints along the way. The latter option allows you to eat at another restaurant instead of the Flamingo Lodge, so I’ve written the itinerary as we originally planned it. This just means you’ll have a long drive back to the lodge at the end of your day!

Overview:

• 8am: Breakfast at Flamingo Restaurant
• 9am: Guy Bradley Visitor Center
• 9:30am-12:30pm: Explore short hikes and scenic views on your way out of the park.
• 1pm: Lunch at Everglades Gator Grill
• 3pm: Gator Park air boat tour and wildlife show
• 6pm: Dinner at Chef’s on the Run
• 8:30pm: Return to Flamingo Lodge

Hikes and Scenic Views in Everglades National Park

When you enter Everglades National Park, you should receive a map from a ranger at the welcome station, or you can pick one up at a visitor center. After breakfast on Day 2, we got our National Parks passport stamps at the Guy Bradley Visitor Center, then headed out toward the park exit and made several stops at short hikes and scenic views along the way! When you go to the visitor center, ask a park ranger about manatee sightings and the best time and place to look out for them! We saw one at the marina near the Flamingo Lodge just before sunset!

• Coot Bay Pond – scenic viewpoint 
• West Lake Boardwalk Trail – 0.4 mi
• Paurotis Pond – scenic viewpoint 
• Mahogany Hammock Trail – 0.5 mi
• Pa-hay-okee Overlook Trail – 0.4 mi
• Anhinga Trail – 0.8 mi 

There are a number of other trails in Everglades National Park if you’re looking for something a bit longer and more challenging. The selection of trails and viewpoints we chose were perfect for stretching our legs and getting some movement, getting a taste of the scenery within the park, and filling a few hours with activity before moving on to boat tours and wildlife exploration!

Eating Alligator in the Everglades

Alligator is a delicacy in South Florida and it is probably the most adventurous thing I’ve ever eaten. The alligator population has grown tremendously thanks to efforts in past decades to protect the species from becoming endangered. The alligator served in restaurants must come from farms. We grabbed lunch at Everglades Gator Grill where we tried alligator tacos (grilled alligator bites with some slaw and sauce), and they were pretty good! Like a cross between chicken and fish with a steak-like texture.

Air Boat Tour and Wildlife Show

We took an air boat tour and saw a wildlife show at Gator Park, one of Everglades National Park’s Authorized Concessioners. This tour is at the north end of the park, so it’s over an hour drive from the Flamingo area where we were staying. The tour was a lot of fun–I loved the way the boat glides along the water, and we spotted several alligators sunbathing, along with several cool bird species.

After the boat tour is the wildlife show, where a wildlife expert showed us a 2 year old alligator along with some older gator, plus shared a lot of interesting information about the species, their history in the area, how big they grow, and so much more. The show was quite entertaining and informative. This is where we learned a little bit about how alligators are hunted and farmed, including the strict rules and regulations around hunting and what is served in restaurants.

Day Three in Everglades and Biscayne National Parks

Our third day was split between Everglades and Biscayne National Parks. The parks are just over an hour apart, and you can drive through Homestead to stop for lunch on the way to Biscayne.

Overview:

• 9:30am: Rent bikes at Flamingo Everglades
• 11:30am: Drive to Homestead for lunch
• 1:30pm: Dante Fascell Visitor Center in Biscayne National Park
• 3pm: Kayak the Mangroves with Biscayne National Park Institute
• 5pm: Grocery shopping & cooking dinner at our vacation rental home

Bike Rentals in the Everglades

At the Flamingo Marina you can rent kayaks, canoes, or bikes. Since we were planning to kayak in Biscayne later that afternoon, we opted for the bike rentals (only $15 for two hours, which was plenty of time to explore the area).

Kayak the Mangroves in Biscayne National Park

We took a kayaking group tour of the mangroves in Biscayne through Biscayne National Park Institute. Check in at the desk in the gift shop at Dante Fascell Visitor Center. The whole kayaking tour was about 1.5 hours. Half of the tour is educational and spent with a guide. The other half of the time is spent exploring on your own. We kayaked through mangrove tunnels, which was so much fun to be surrounded by mangroves in narrow paths. I highly recommend this experience!

Day 4 in Biscayne National Park

Our fourth day in Florida was a rainy one! The first half of our day was spent on an educational boat tour with a stop at Boca Chita Key. We stopped for lunch at a waterfront restaurant near Black Point Marina. The second half of our day was spent relaxing at our AirBNB to stay out of the rain.

Overview:

• 9am: Check in for boat tour at Dante Fascell Visitor Center
• 9:30am: Heritage of Biscayne Cruise (3.5 hours)
• 1:30pm: Lunch at Black Point Ocean Grill

Heritage of Biscayne Cruise

This 3.5 hour tour is a guided cruise with educational stories of the history of Biscayne. You’ll learn about the people who helped shape the area into what it is today, and how the lands are now protected. The boat stops at Boca Chita Key for about an hour so you can walk around and explore the key. You’ll also find a bathroom on this key! Make sure you wear warm clothes, as the boat does go fast and the wind can get cold! Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting wet from rain or splashing. Don’t forget to bring water and snacks!

Day 5 in Miami

All fun trips must come to an end! We booked an evening flight out of MIA to get back to LAX so that we could spend the morning and early afternoon adventuring! After being in remote areas of Florida for a few days, we were ready to see what Miami was all about. We set our destination to South Beach Miami and walked around town with no agenda, and it was the perfect way to spend the day. We saw the beach, got some coffee nearby, and stumbled upon an Art Deco show with tons of food vendors.

FAQs about Everglades and Biscayne National Parks

Can you visit Everglades and Biscayne without a guided tour?

Everglades is easy to explore without a tour. The road from the main entrance in Homestead into the Flamingo area is quite pleasant, with many stops for short hikes and scenic photo opps along the way. You can explore a lot on your own in this park. However, I recommend the guided air boat and wildlife experience at Gator Park!

For Biscayne, it’s a bit trickier to explore on your own because the park is mostly water, not on land. We recommend the guided boat tour or kayak tour!

Are you allowed to swim in the Everglades or Biscayne National Parks?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Is it safe to walk around the Everglades?

In general, yes it is safe, but please keep small children and pets away from shorelines. Even as an adult, keep an eye out for wildlife! Stay alert while walking along docks, shorelines, beaches, trails, and boardwalks. Alligators and crocodiles can move fast, and you don’t want to be in conflict with one. It is also illegal to feed the wildlife.

Is there cell phone reception in the parks?

On land in Biscayne, you should have cell reception. It is much harder to find cell reception in Everglades. Driving into Flamingo from Homestead, cell reception disappears once you get close to Flamingo. There is WiFi at the Flamingo Lodge and Restaurant area, though!

Do I need to bring my own food into the parks?

If you are staying in the Flamingo area, there are basic supplies and some food available at the marina. Otherwise you will need to buy some groceries at a grocery store outside of the park.

What are some other great travel destinations for warmer weather in the winter?

Check out my guide on visiting Death Valley National Park for an adventure that feels like another planet! Check out Alabama Hills in California for some of the most incredible contrasting landscapes.