About All ToursAirboat ToursBoat ToursFrom Fort LauderdaleFrom Miami ToursKayaking ToursAlligator ToursEco ToursPrivate Tours Directions Hours & Fees
Find Tours 
Everglades National Park spans the southern tip of Florida, roughly 40 miles southwest of Miami. Most visitors drive personal vehicles down the Florida Turnpike to navigate the park's isolated, non-interconnected entrances.
Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, State Road 9336, Homestead, FL
Take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south from Miami until it ends and merges with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336). Follow the signs directly to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. This gate stays open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, preventing visitors from getting locked in overnight. A personal vehicle solves the problem of navigating between the park's three isolated entrances, which sit at least an hour apart. Buy your digital entrance pass online before arriving to skip long lines at the Homestead gate during busy winter weekends.
The City of Homestead runs a seasonal public trolley service from December through April. Board in downtown Homestead for a 10-mile ride to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and the Royal Palm area. Check the City of Homestead website for the current schedule and reservation requirements before your trip. This transit option bypasses the need for a personal vehicle but restricts you to the main entrance corridor, limiting access to places like Shark Valley or the Gulf Coast. You still need a valid park entrance pass, though the trolley ride itself costs nothing.
On-demand ride services can drop you off at park visitor centers, but getting back out requires strict advance planning. The park's remote areas, including the main entrance and Shark Valley, suffer from extremely limited or nonexistent cellular service. You will be unable to request a return ride using a smartphone app once inside the park boundaries. Negotiate a specific pickup time and location with your driver before they leave you at the gate. Without this arrangement, you risk becoming stranded miles from the nearest town.
Drive west from Miami along U.S. 41, also known as the Tamiami Trail, to reach the Shark Valley entrance. This gate provides direct access to the 15-mile sawgrass prairie loop, tram tours, and the 45-foot observation tower. Unlike the 24-hour main entrance in Homestead, the Shark Valley gate operates on a strict schedule. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and lock at 6:00 p.m. daily. Arrive before 10:00 a.m. to secure a parking spot, as the lot frequently hits capacity during the dry season, leading to temporary gate closures.
The $35.00 vehicle entrance fee covers parking directly at the Ernest F. Coe, Shark Valley, and Gulf Coast visitor centers. Winter crowds frequently fill these ramp-accessible lots by 10:00 AM, triggering temporary gate closures. Rideshare drivers can drop you off at the main entrances, but nonexistent cell service makes booking a return trip nearly impossible without prior arrangements.
| From | Mode | Time | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | Car | 1 hour | $35.00 per vehicle | Take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south to U.S. 1, then turn right onto Palm Drive to reach the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. |
| Downtown Homestead | Trolley | 30 minutes | Free | Operates seasonally from December through April. Check the City of Homestead website for the current schedule to Royal Palm. |
| Miami | Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) | 1 hour | Variable | Arrange your return trip with the driver in advance. Remote park locations lack the cellular service required to request a ride back. |
| Shark Valley Entrance | Car | 1 hour minimum | Gas only (pass valid 7 days) | Internal roads do not connect the park's three main entrances. Expect at least a one-hour highway drive to reach Ernest F. Coe or Gulf Coast. |
Buy your digital entrance pass online before driving to the park. Pre-purchasing cuts your wait time at the busy Homestead and Shark Valley gates. In-person transactions only accept credit or debit cards.
Park your car before 10:00 a.m. to guarantee a spot during the busy December through April dry season. Winter weekend crowds frequently overwhelm the lots at popular visitor centers. When spaces run out, rangers temporarily close the gates.
Rent a personal vehicle to navigate between the three main entrances. Ernest F. Coe, Shark Valley, and Gulf Coast do not connect internally. Driving between these gates takes at least an hour on exterior highways.
Schedule your return trip in advance if taking an Uber or Lyft. Cell service drops to zero across most of the 1.5-million-acre park. Without a signal, you cannot request a ride back to Miami.
Catch the free seasonal trolley from Downtown Homestead if you lack a car. This public transit route runs to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and Royal Palm from December through April. Passengers still need to pay the $20 individual pedestrian entrance fee.
Take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it merges with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336) and follow the signs directly to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. The 40-mile trip takes about one hour.
The three main entrances—Ernest F. Coe, Shark Valley, and Gulf Coast—do not connect internally. You must drive outside the park boundaries to travel between them. Each gate sits at least a one-hour drive from the others.
Standard passes cost $35.00 per private vehicle and remain valid for seven consecutive days across all entrances. Non-U.S. residents ages 16 and older will pay an additional $100.00 fee starting January 1, 2026. Buy a digital pass online beforehand to skip the long payment lines at the gate.
The Homestead Main Entrance operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Shark Valley gate on U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail restricts access, opening only from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Arrive before 10:00 a.m. during winter weekends to secure parking before lots fill and gates temporarily close.
The City of Homestead runs a free seasonal trolley from downtown to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and Royal Palm. This transit service operates from December through April. You still need a valid park entrance pass to board the trolley.
Ride-hailing services can drop you off, but getting a ride back is nearly impossible. The park's remote locations lack reliable cellular service. You must arrange a specific pickup time with your driver before they leave you at the park.
Paved parking lots are available at all major visitor centers, including Ernest F. Coe and Shark Valley. Heavy winter weekend traffic frequently overwhelms these spaces, causing temporary entrance closures. Arrive before 10:00 a.m. to guarantee a spot.
Browse verified tours with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
Find Tours