How to Plan a 1 Day Itinerary to Everglades National Park

The sprawling Everglades National Park is a one of a kind park in Southern Florida. We explored this park in May of 2025 and you can see everything you need to plan a 1 day itineray to Everglades.

Want more help planning this trip? Check out our guide to the Everglades or our National Park Page.

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Overview of the Everglades

Everglades National Park spans over 1.5 million acres and is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The park is divided into several main areas for visitors: Shark Valley (known for its scenic tram road and bike trail), the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and Royal Palm area (near Homestead), Flamingo (offering boat tours, camping, and coastal access), and the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City (the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands).

These different parts of the park are far apart, so visitors should plan in advance depending on their interests. You do not need to visit all the parts of the park to get a feel for the Eveglades, but they do all offer something different.

The Everglades is a unique ecosystem of slow-moving water, sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, and diverse wildlife, including alligators, manatees, and a wide range of bird species. You can enjoy walking trails, biking, kayaking, birding, and guided boat tours to explore this rich landscape.

Best Things to do in the Everglades

Here is a list of some of the best things to do in the Everglades. You can scroll to the next section to see exactly what we did on our itinerary to the Everglades and our top recommendations, but this list is a good starting point for what to see and do in the Everglades.

Take the Shark Valley Tram Tour – Ride the 15-mile loop to spot alligators, wading birds, and panoramic views from the observation tower.

Bike the Shark Valley Trail – Rent a bike and explore the scenic loop at your own pace, with wildlife often just feet away.

Walk the Anhinga Trail – A short, accessible boardwalk trail near the Royal Palm area, famous for close-up views of alligators and birds.

Explore by Kayak or Canoe – Paddle through mangrove tunnels and open waters in the Flamingo or Gulf Coast areas.

Go Birdwatching – Spot roseate spoonbills, herons, egrets, and more, especially during the dry season.

Visit the Flamingo Marina – Book a boat tour, rent a kayak, or look for manatees and crocodiles near the marina.

Take a Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour – Departing from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, this guided tour offers a look at the mangrove islands and marine wildlife.

Hike the Gumbo Limbo Trail – A short shaded walk through a hardwood hammock forest near Royal Palm.

Go Fishing – Freshwater and saltwater fishing are both available (with proper licensing), especially near Flamingo.

Camp in the Park – Stay overnight at Flamingo or Long Pine Key campgrounds to experience the Everglades after dark.

Take an Airboat Tour – these tours are technically not inside the park, but you can find a number of recommended tour companies on the National Park Website.

1 Day Everglades Itinerary

This itinerary excludes the Gulf Coast region – if you also want to visit this part of the park, I recommend an additional day.

Start your day on the early side – this gives you a better chance to see wildlife, escapes the midday heat and gives you time to see two different parts of the park. You can easily do this itinerary in the reversve order.

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and the Road to Flamingo

Start your day at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center around 8 AM to beat the crowds and get oriented. The center didn’t open until 9 so you can grab information on your way in and then stop here on your way back out. The visitor center offers helpful exhibits and maps.

Just beyond the entrance is the park fee station ($30/vehicle). From here, it’s a 38-mile (1-hour) drive to the Flamingo Visitor Center, with several scenic stops along the way.

Anhinga Trail

Anhinga Trail is your first must-do. This 0.8-mile paved and boardwalk loop winds through wetlands and is one of the best places to see alligators and birdlife: though sightings vary. We saw the most wildlife here.

Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower

Pa-Hay-Okee Lookout Tower, 13 miles farther, offers elevated views over the Shark River Slough, a wide, slow-moving river of grass. This was closed during our visit so we didn’t get to see it.

Mahogany Hammock Trail

Mahogany Hammock Trail is a short 0.5-mile boardwalk through a dense cluster of mahogany trees, some of the largest in the U.S. We almost skipped this but enjoyed seeing the trees.

Paurotis Pond

Paurotis Pond is a quick stop and a great birdwatching spot during nesting season.

West Lake

Another short but worthwhile stop is West Lake. There is a short boardwalk that takes you out along the lake.

Flamingo and Guy Bradley Visitor Center

At the end of the road, Flamingo is a hub for wildlife and water-based activities. The visitor center is great and worth a visit. You can often see manatees in the marina and possibly spot American crocodiles along the canal. Several ranger-led boat tours depart in the afternoon, and the Guy Bradley Trail offers coastal views.

Lunch Tip: After exploring Flamingo, drive back toward the entrance. You can grab something to eat in Marathon as you make your way up to the Shark Valley area.

Shark Valley and Airboat Tours

Located about 50 miles (1.5 hours) from Ernest F. Coe, Shark Valley is a top spot for wildlife. Walk, bike, or take a 2-hour tram ride along the 15-mile loop to see birds, turtles, and lots of alligators. Book tram tickets in advance as slots fill fast.

Airboat Tour

For a thrilling and scenic ride through the wetlands, book a tour with an authorized airboat company like Coopertown, Gator Park, or Everglades Safari Park, all near Shark Valley. These family-friendly rides offer a fun mix of speed and wildlife spotting—perfect for kids and first-timers.

I was on the fence about doing this tour since they aren’t permitted in the park, but several people including rangers recommended it. My kids loved this boat tour and we learned so much.

General Things to Know about the Everglades

How much time do you need?

You can visit one of the regions of the Everglades in 1/2 a day, but I recommend a full day to do a boat tour and some of the short hikes/stops

When to Visit the Everglades?

Dry season (December through April) is the most popular time to visit, offering pleasant weather and better wildlife viewing. Whether you’re looking for a short boardwalk hike or a multi-day paddling trip, the Everglades offers an unforgettable experience in one of America’s most distinctive national parks.

Bugs

One of the biggest nuisances in the Everglades is the bugs – you are visiting a vast plain of water. When we visited in May it was incredibly dry but the benefits was far fewer bugs. If you are visiting during the wet season, you will have many more bugs. Wear good bug spray and long sleeved layers to avoid the bugs!

Where to Stay?

Marathon offers lots of options, but you can also stay right in Miami – just note that traffic can be terrible.

How to Plan a 1 Day Itinerary to Everglades National Park

Overview of the Everglades

Best Things to do in the Everglades