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A seven-day vehicle pass costs $35. The Homestead Main Entrance stays open 24 hours a day, but the Shark Valley gate locks at 6:00 p.m.
The Homestead Main Entrance stays open 24 hours a day, year-round, allowing continuous access to the park. The Shark Valley entrance operates on a restricted daily schedule, locking its gates at 18:00. Visitor center hours vary by location, with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas facility operating from 09:00 to 17:00.
| Day | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Sunday | 24 Hours | Main Entrance only. Shark Valley gates open 08:30–18:00. |
The Main Entrance at Homestead remains open 365 days a year, including all national holidays. Individual visitor centers and concessionaires may adjust their operating hours or close entirely on major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check the official National Park Service website that morning for unexpected closures due to seasonal flooding or severe weather.
Standard entrance to Everglades National Park costs $35.00 per private vehicle and covers all occupants for seven consecutive days. Visitors arriving on foot, bicycle, or motorcycle pay reduced rates, while children 15 and under enter free. In-person purchases at the gates require a credit or debit card.
Children 15 and under enter the park entirely free of charge every day.
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View All ToursDecember through April provides the most comfortable conditions to explore the Everglades. Lower humidity and receding water levels force alligators and wading birds to gather around remaining ponds, making wildlife much easier to spot. Winter weekends draw heavy traffic, frequently causing temporary gate closures and long lines at the Homestead and Shark Valley entrances.
A typical Everglades visit lasts three to four hours for a single activity like a tram ride or a short boardwalk hike.
Exploring multiple areas requires a full day or a multi-day itinerary because the three main entrances do not connect internally. Driving between the Homestead, Shark Valley, and Gulf Coast gates takes at least an hour each way.
Purchase your $35 vehicle entrance pass online before driving to the gates. Winter weekend lines at the Homestead and Shark Valley stations drag on for hours. A pre-purchased digital pass reduces your wait time.
Secure a parking spot by reaching the park entrances before 10:00 AM. Popular visitor center lots reach capacity quickly during peak winter weekends. Rangers temporarily close the gates once these lots fill up.
Wear quick-drying clothing and sturdy closed-toe shoes to handle water spray and muddy trails. Summer visitors face extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and dense swarms of mosquitoes. Bring strong insect repellent and ample drinking water to prevent dehydration.
Pre-arrange your return trip with your Uber or Lyft driver before they drop you off. Cell service drops to zero in these remote wetland areas. You will not be able to load an app to request a ride back to Miami.
Bring binoculars or a long camera lens to view basking alligators and nesting birds. Park rules require visitors to maintain a strict 15 to 20-foot distance from all wildlife. Getting closer risks triggering an unpredictable attack.
Standard passes cost $35.00 per private vehicle, $30.00 per motorcycle, and $20.00 for pedestrians or cyclists 16 and older. These passes grant access to all park entrances for seven consecutive days. Starting January 1, 2026, non-U.S. residents 16 and older face an additional $100.00 nonresident fee. In-person purchases only accept credit or debit cards.
The Homestead Main Entrance stays open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Other areas operate on restricted schedules, like the Shark Valley gate on U.S. 41, which locks nightly and only permits entry between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Visitor centers generally open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Purchasing a digital entrance pass online before arrival cuts down wait times at the gates. Winter weekend crowds frequently cause massive backups at the Homestead and Shark Valley stations. Arrive before 10:00 a.m. to secure parking before lots fill up and trigger temporary gate closures.
Half-day trips of three to four hours cover specific activities like the 15-mile Shark Valley tram tour or the one-mile Anhinga Trail boardwalk. Exploring multiple entrances or paddling backcountry routes requires a full day or more. The park's three main entrances do not connect internally, forcing visitors to drive at least an hour outside the boundaries to travel between them.
Wilderness camping requires an online permit booked through recreation.gov. The cost includes a $21.00 administrative fee plus $2.00 per person, per night. Traditional indoor lodging does not exist inside the park boundaries, leaving backcountry sites or the Long Pine Key and Flamingo campgrounds as the primary overnight options.
December through April provides the most comfortable weather and the highest concentration of visible wildlife. Falling water levels force alligators and wading birds to gather around remaining ponds and sloughs. Summer visits from May to November bring extreme heat, heavy rainfall, and dense swarms of mosquitoes that can ruin outdoor excursions.
Ride-hailing services will drop you off, but getting a return ride proves nearly impossible. The remote park entrances lack reliable cellular service. You must arrange a specific pickup time with your driver before losing your signal, or utilize the seasonal Homestead trolley service available between December and April.
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