Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where is Everglades National Park located and how do I get there?

2. When does the park close?

3. How much are the entrance fees to the park?

4. Are there any lodging facilities in the park?

5. Do I need reservations to camp? How much are the camping fees?

6. Are there any restaurants or food vendors in the park?

7. Do I need a permit to camp in the backcountry?

8. Why isn't that alligator moving, is it dead or fake?

9. Where can I take my pet in the park?

10. Are there airboat tours inside the park?

11. Is fishing allowed inside the park?

12. Is swimming allowed in the park?

13. What activities are there to do while visiting the park?

14. Are drones allowed in the park?

1. Where is Everglades National Park located and how do I get there?

Everglades National Park covers 1.5 million acres of South Florida and spans 3 counties: Monroe, Miami-Dade, and Collier.

There are 3 ways to access the park. The main entrance located on State Road 9336 in Homestead, which connects visitors to the Royal Palm area and the Flamingo area of Everglades National Park. The Shark Valley entrance is located on U.S. 41 Tamiami Trail in Miami and the Gulf Coast entrance is located on Oyster Bar Lane in Everglades City. Note: these entrances do not interconnect within the park.

Additionally, boaters and paddlers can enter the park through its coastal boundaries and waterways. For more information on how to get to the park, visit our Directions page.

2. When does the park close?

Everglades National Park's Main Entrance in Homestead is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Visitors will NOT get locked in the park overnight.

The gate at the Shark Valley entrance on U.S.41/Tamiami Trail is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

3.How much are the entrance fees to the park?

Entrance fees vary depending on your mode of transportation, military service status and age. The standard entrance fee is $30.00 per vehicle, which is good for 7 days starting from the day of purchase. For a complete list of park entrance fees, check our fees page.

NOTE: Visitors with Annual, Senior, Access or Volunteer passes who have left them at home will be required to pay. The Park Service does not keep a database of passes.

4. Are there any lodging facilities in the park?

Lodging facilities are not available in Everglades National Park. However, the park has two campground facilities: the Long Pine Key campground located near the Homestead entrance of the park and the Flamingo campground located in Flamingo, 38 miles south of the Homestead entrance. The park also offers numerous backcountry sites for wilderness camping.

5. Do I need reservations to camp? How much are the camping fees?

The Flamingo campground is open year-round and reservations can be made from November 20 - April 15 through Everglades Guest Services. Not all sites are able to be reserved, the rest remain open for people on a first-come, first-served basis. From April 16 - November 19, the campgrounds operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. The campground features 234 drive-up sites and also features 41 electric hookup sites.

The Long Pine Key campground operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. Reservations are only required for the group site, which is open seasonally from November 15 - April 15. For any questions on the Long Pine Key Campground, including to make a reservation for the group camp site, call Everglades Guest Services at [phone]. The campground also features 108 individual drive-up sites for tents and RVs. For backcountry camping information, refer to question #7.

6. Are there any restaurants or food vendors in the park?

Everglades National Park provides a limited variety of snack foods and beverages that are sold at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center bookstore, at the Royal Palm Visitor Center bookstore, at the Flamingo marina store and at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center store. Everglades Guest Services also has a food truck located in Flamingo. However, we recommend that all visitors bring their own food and beverages during their stay at the park.

7. Do I need a permit to camp in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness?

Permits are required for ALL wilderness camping year-round. Campers can obtain permits at the Flamingo or Gulf Coast Visitor Centers daily or by making an advanced reservation through Recreation.gov. Campers must register in person no more than one day in advance of the trip start date. Permit fees apply.

Permit costs are $21 for the permit and $2 per person per night camping fee. The costs will apply for advanced reservations and walk-up permits year-round. A credit card is needed for both online and in-person permit reservations.

Learn more by visiting the "Wilderness Camping" page.

8.Why isn't that alligator moving, is it dead or fake?

During your visit to Everglades National Park, you may see an alligator or a crocodile basking, laying out in the sun absorbing its heat, on the side of a trail or road. All reptiles, including alligators and crocodiles, absorb heat from the environment instead of creating their own heat like mammals and birds do. Because alligators and crocodiles are so big, it takes longer for their bodies to reach desired body temperatures than for smaller reptiles. They may not move for hours, but don’t worry, they are fine. You should never assume an animal in Everglades National Park is hurt, dead, or fake. The only statue of an animal in the park is that of a Florida panther outside the Ernest F. Coe Visitor’s Center. Additionally, hurt and even dead animals can be dangerous to touch or handle. Just because an alligator or crocodile may appear lethargic does not mean that it cannot quickly resume activity to defend itself. Though most would rather flee than attack, alligators and crocodiles are wild animals whose behavior is unpredictable. Always keep a safe distance when viewing wildlife in the park (15 to 20 feet; 4.5 to 6 meters) and do not harass or feed wildlife.

Alligators, crocodiles, and other wildlife found in the park can be unpredictable. Alligators and crocodiles can move fast and should never be approached as they may attack humans or pets without warning. Stay a safe distance from the shoreline (15 to 20 feet; 4.5 to 6 meters) and do not swim, snorkel, or dive where prohibited (in any canal, pond, freshwater lake, marked channel, or boat basin inside the park). Prevent small children and pets from approaching shorelines or basking alligators or crocodiles. Stay alert while on beaches, boardwalks, trails, and docks. Feeding or harassing alligators, crocodiles, and other wildlife is a criminal offense as it can ultimately result in harm to wildlife, humans, or both. Wildlife that has been fed by humans associate people with food and may exhibit more aggressive behavior around humans.

9. Where can I take my pet in the park?

Pets are allowed (6-foot (2 m) leash) in parking lots and frontcountry campgrounds, but not on trails, in backcountry campsites, or in wilderness areas.

Currently pets are only permitted in the following areas:

• On roadways open to public vehicular traffic
• In frontcountry campgrounds and picnic areas (Flamingo and Long Pine Key)
• On maintained ground surrounding public facilities
• Aboard boats

Note: Pets and Service Animals present in areas not permitted, open themselves to predation by wildlife as well as posing a significant danger to the handler and other visitors.

Click here to learn about regulations on Service Animals/ Emotional Support Animals/ Therapy Animals.

10. Are there airboats tours inside the park?

Yes. There are three authorized airboat businesses inside Everglades National Park. All three are located along the Tamiami Trail (Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park, and Gator Park). For more information, please go to https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/guidedtours.htm

11. Is fishing allowed inside the park?

Yes, fishing is allowed inside the park. A Florida fishing license is required, unless you are under 16 years of age or you are a Florida resident over the age of 65. These licenses can be purchased at bait and tackle shops, at Wal-Mart or in-town. They can also be purchased online at www.myfwc.com or by calling 888-FISH-FLO (305-347-4356).

Along the Main Park Road (accessed through the city of Homestead), Nine Mile Pond is the dividing line between saltwater and freshwater. If fishing at Nine Mile Pond and north of Nine Mile Pond, a freshwater fishing license is required. Anywhere south of Nine Mile Pond, a saltwater fishing license is required.

For fishing at Gulf Coast (in Everglades City), a saltwater fishing license is required.

Florida fishing regulations apply to our park, but with a few exceptions. Stop by our Visitor Center or download our Everglades National Park fishing regulations for more information. Visitors can get a tide table from the entrance station, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, or the Flamingo Visitor Center.

12. Is swimming allowed in the park?

Swimming/Snorkeling is prohibited in all canals, ponds, freshwater lakes, marked channels, and boat basins inside the park.

13. What activities are there to do while visiting the park?

There are many ways to experience Everglades National Park! You can go biking, bird watching, boating, camping, paddlesports (canoe and kayak), fishing, geocaching, hiking or attend our ranger programs. For a complete description of activities, visit our Things To Do page.

14. Are drones allowed in the park?

No, drones and other unmanned aircraft are not allowed in the park, or any other National Park Service site. This includes model airplanes, quadcopters, etc.