While I don’t regret visiting, this is not a place I would plan to visit again simply because once you’ve seen it, you’ve seen it. There’s basically one paved loop road that’s about 15 miles and you have the option of either renting bikes or taking a tram tour (which you have to pay for separate from your park entrance fee). We took the tram tour and our guide Juan was great! He was funny and informative. We did see lots of gators and birds. The observation tower was great. All that being said, after our tour was finished, there really wasn’t anything else to do or see. So, good to visit but would not be a place I would go to twice.

I didn't take the tram tour as they only leave at limited times during the day, so there was not a lot to see here. I did walk the boardwalk and a short bit of the tram trail, but didn't see any gators at all. Just saw fish and crows. I have an America the Beautiful card so I did not have to pay the $30 per car admission fee. There's a per person tram fee that the card doesn't cover, so seems like it would be an expensive stop for a family.

We loved visiting this place!! We recommend planning the visit carefully to match the time for the tours or, if you will do the trail by bike, check the weather conditions. The hot temperatures of the summer may not be ideal for visit, particularly for sensitive groups, and doing the tour by walk is thus not recommended. We also recommend visiting in the early spring to see more alligators, although many animals can be spotted any time of the year!! Don’t forget to bring a gear for hiking and sunscreen. Some trails may be closed if flooded. We loved how friendly the park rangers are!! They were very helpful and supportive, and answered all our queries. We love coming back to this place in different times of the year, as there are many things to observe as the seasons change. Plus: don’t forget to add the National park stamps at the shop!! Highly recommended for family vacations!!

Great spot to stop and see Everglades National Park. We took the two hour tram tour and it was well worth it. It was the perfect way to see a lot in a relatively short amount of time. Our tour guide Mike did a great job and had a lot of interesting information. The driver Kelly was phenomenal! Not only was she taking us around, but she was spotting a lot of the wildlife and stopping to make sure we all got a good look. If you’re visiting the Everglades and don’t know what to do I would highly recommend starting here.

Beautiful place. Bring your bikes if you enjoy biking and taking your time. Lots of views, birds, and gators. Tram is a little pricy, but worth the ride and the view from the observation deck. Purchase a week or more before your trip if possible. We got lucky and made the stand-by list. Only because everyone before us gave up and left. Tram operators and guides are with a private company. Ours were so fun and informative. Tip them some cash at the end.

The walking path was amazing - tons of wildlife viewing options within the first mile of the trail. It was very hot, so we decided to skip the biking tour option - which paid off. It felt better to walk as there are many small details to be seen in the park, so walking made for a better experience to spot gators, fish, birds, and other wildlife. Highly recommend coming to Shark Valley if you want an eco-friendly and at your own pace adventure.

Great part of the Everglades to tour on your own with a bike. The views are spectacular. Just slow down and enjoy the wind on your face, the great hearing flying above you and the alligators basking in the sun. The horizon looks so wide. I'm definitely coming back. Don't forget the sunblock and shades. Bring an umbrella for shade if you walk instead of ride. They have a tram tour also.

I haven’t been here since I came with a school trip in grade school. I was very pleased to see how well the paved path is maintained. My closest friend flew in from out of town and we rode the full 15 mile loop with my dad and brother. Just as beautiful and serene as I remember. Please remember to drink plenty of water before and during! You can fill up at the parking lot or at the observation tower which is about halfway. The staff was very nice and let me use their air compressor to fill my bike tires.

Very nice park and plenty of wildlife to see, especially Gators and birds if you visit at the right time. During the Summer your best chance to spot wildlife will be early morning. Bike rentals are affordable but the tram ride is worth it too. The Rangers are great and really give you insight into the parks history and past. We had Ranger Ross and he was fun and knowledgeable. Plenty of photo opportunities at the tower. Try some of the shorter trails but definitely carry water.

A very nice and well organized center for tourists. The whole place and bathrooms are clean. Lots of parking and seats at the waiting area. EV charging stations are available. Friendly staff and snacks are usual prices, unlike at tourist prices. The bike rentals are the best to travel into the wilderness. I didn't see any gators like others, but I enjoyed the breeze, plants, birds, and varieties of grasshoppers. Highly recommended.

We had a lot of fun visiting the park. We parked along the road and brought our own bikes which saved a lot of time as the parking lot had a 1.5 hour wait. It cost $35 for the two of us to enter the park on our bikes. They only accepted credit cards. There were bathrooms at the beginning and at mile 7. Lots of gators directly on the path, I was happy to be on a bike, not walking. When we left the observation tower for the remaining 8 mile return we were met with an extremely strong head wind. We are fit people and this pushed our limits. It would have been impossible to bike back with kids. I would make sure it wasn’t too hot if a day or windy when you visit. They have bike rentals and a team ride, we didn’t do either.

Shark Valley is a perfect introduction to the Everglades! There is a 15 mile paved route that you can travel via tram, bike or on foot. It takes you out to an observation tower that gives you a great view out over the wetlands. The tram ride is excellent as you can see a lot and don’t need to worry about close encounters with the wildlife. The rangers guiding the tour are excellent and you can learn a ton in an enjoyable way. It’s also great for walking or biking. They have bikes for rent or you can bring your own. In the cooler months there’s a good chance you’ll see gators out sunning along the path. Well worth a visit!

Amazing wildlife sightings! So many alligators and beautiful birds. We rented bikes and had a wonderful time. The bikes were a bit rundown, so hopefully the park will replace them some day. But still worth it for an incredible experience of the everglades!

Shark Valley @ Everglades National Park. A must visit. Witness the beauty of the Everglades Ecosystem. You can walk, bike or travel by the tram. Either way, wildlife abounds. Tip: Go early before the parking lot is at capacity and the heat is unbearable especially in the summer. Make sure to bring sunscreen, bug spray, sunglasses, hat and water. Big Cypress National Preserve is nearby , also highly recommended.

Nice center. You can book a trolley tour through the area. With a bit of luck you see trees :) and lots of birds and maybe some alligators as well depending on the time of year. In addition you get a lot of insights if the area and what was done to preserve the Everglades.

Went the last day of September and went on the tram. The guys who ran the tram were great and informative. Told us we came the worst time of the year to see wildlife. My wife and I saw multiple gators, baby gators and several birds and snakes. Amazing place and need more than one day to see the glades!

Well maintained and well designed visitor center with friendly and helpful park staff. You can do a tram tour, or rent a bike, or walk the trails. There is also a short boardwalk near the visitor center. Clean bathrooms and plenty of parking. We chose to do the tram tour and did not regret it! Part of the trail was covered in water during our tour - call in advance if you plan to walk or bike the trail.

I highly recommend stopping in at the Shark Valley Visitor Center when visiting the Everglades National Park from the North. The rangers there are very helpful and can offer valuable information for your visit. There is a nice gift shop and concession area, as well as clean restroom facilities and picnic area. The building and grounds are well cared for. I suggest getting there early especially if you want a tram tour as it can get quite busy. Be sure to get your National Parks Passport stamped here.

Arrive early to beat the crowds. Entrance to the park is slow if the parking lot is full. Arriving cars are admitted only as cars depart. Park outside the park at your own risk (of break-ins, according to park personnel), if you have your own bike. Many people do. The daily National Park entrance fee is $35. Bring your own bike, if possible. Rentals are $25 each for a clunky and poorly maintained bike. If you rent, reserve in advance to avoid waiting or disappointment. Arrive before noon to guarantee your rental, even with a reservation. The 14.7-mile trail is paved and flat, an easy ride. Bring plenty of water, especially on hot days. Look for alligators, crocodiles and a variety of birds along the way. Near the halfway point, an observation tower gives expansive views of the Everglades “sea of grass”. The gift shop has a selection of packaged ice cream for an after-ride treat.

12/31/2023: We were fortunate to have been able to get two tickets to the 2pm 2-hour tram tour at this Everglades National Park site. We were waitlisted and were able to get on! The tour itself was great! Our tour narrator, Ricky, was very knowledgeable and personable! Our driver, Greg, kept us safe. We saw over 50 alligators… right alongside the tram road. We also saw crocodiles, a turtle, a snake, many birds, and some pretty flowers. It was an awesome experience! FYI: The movie at the Visitor Center was not working.

This is a unique experience in Everglades National Park. The visitor center is just inside the entrance. There is a 15 mile paved loop trail to an overlook. No vehicles are allowed on the trail other than the park tram. Pedestrians and bicycles only. We took our bikes with us, but you can rent bikes there. We encountered a number of pedestrians for the first two and last two miles, but after that it was only bicycles. The alligators did not disappoint. We saw one or two per mile the entire trail. I expected the overlook to be the highlight of the trail, but it was disappointing. The view of the expansive park was ok, but I saw only one gator from the tower. Be aware the parking lot fills up early in the day especially on weekends and they implement a one out \ one in rule, which can cause a long wait. Since we had our own bikes, we joined many others in parking along the highway outside the park and then riding our bikes to the pedestrian entrance, bypassing the line of cars. If you have the chance, I recommend this experience.

Shark valley will not disappoint! So pretty and calm, just go and look how long this trail is lol 😂. Is a pretty long trail you can easily spend your entire day here. They have bicycle rentals which I didn’t know. Anyways my point is get prepared and you will have such a good time.

If you made it here, do the team tour. If you get lucky you'll have Kelly who is very knowledgeable about the fauna and quite entertaining. If you don't do the tram, you may be a little underwhelmed, but there is plenty of opportunity to see alligators, birds, and such along the tram trail or the short trail through a mangrove thicket. If you are pressed for time and cannot do the tram, this is one to skip. You are likely to wait to enter as well.

Amazing park to visit inside Everglades national park. Park entrance fee $30 for private car 7 day pass. Good parking spot for bus and cars. Has restroom and vending machine. Saw alligators and different type of birds.lots of fish(fishing not allowed). Walkway trail to see the alligators and wonder around is really good and easy to walk thru.

I have certainly enjoyed my time hiking here. If you want to see real alligators up close, go check out this place, it’s pretty cool where alligators are just there on the pathway and out in the open. Very nice.

This is a must see in my opinion. Easy .8 mile trail and you can spot wildlife. Very scenic. We saw Anhinga birds, alligators. It was a nice sunny day.

Very short, quintessentially Everglades little walk. Not much there. Did not see any Gators or wildlife of any kind.

A nice trail. If you like to see a good variety of fish and birds, this is a good trail to do. The park had a nice guided tour of this trail. This trail is not shady, and the sun is bright. It has bathrooms nearby. The trail takes you to pathways that are like bridges over the wet areas. It's a nice place to take great pictures. Sometime, you see gators. This path had some bees. I would wear pants.

A must!!!! You can fully observe the aquatic flora and fauna from the Boardwalk. Perfect spot! Lots of birds and crocs. Some places in the shade. Do not miss it.

Awesome place to see some wildlife. Also almost a guarantee to see some alligators 🐊

Easy walking trail. We went on the sunny day and saw an alligator hanging in the side of the trails. The water was really clear, you can see tons of fish swimming through Lilly pads. It’s about 0.8miles. Will take around 20-25 mins walk. Easy parking with restrooms available.

Great trail. Lots of fish and birds to see. Also saw some turtles and of course some alligators. The alligators were near the trail, so easy to see. There was not much shade, so definitely better to do it when it isn’t as hot like early or later in the day, especially on the first paved section. The elevated board walk areas are also very cool.

I only went for a few hours so it’s hard to fully assess it accurately, but I did go through the Homestead entrance which is the main one and checked out some of the key highlights in that area. Note that park entrance is $30 per vehicle but the path is good for seven days so going one day isn’t really gonna make it a sweet deal and this is a Park that you could spend several days in. Of course the highlight of the Everglades is taking in all the natural beauty and creatures and that’s exactly what I did during my visit. Highly recommend taking the popular Anhinga Trail if visiting briefly as it I truly is your best shot at seeing some cool wildlife.

Beautiful short trail in the Everglades that is either pave or boardwalks, so is wheelchair accessible. The views were fantastic, and there was plenty of wildlife. Most noticeably the gators. We were lucky enough to see a mother gator and her babies right on the side of the trail.

This is the most popular trail in the park, so be prepared for crowds. Despite that, it's a great stop. Lots of wildlife to see, too.

This was my favorite place that we visited in the park. We saw so much wildlife and the plants and other surroundings were so beautiful! We watched the wildlife door a while and felt we learned a bit more about them. We also appreciate the extra cold water available at the store. It was a hot day and that water was so refreshing!

The Anhinga Trail was possibly my favorite destination at the Everglades. We spent a short day in late April and only had the opportunity to take a boat tour, walk this trail, and spend some time learning at a few of the visitor centers. I learned about the trail from a few podcasts and each person said that the Anhinga Trail offers the greatest diversity the park has to offer. The Anhinga Trail is designated as a hiking trail, but it's a flat boardwalk, accessible to easy walking, wheelchairs, and strollers. The beginning of the trail is located just behind the Royal Palm visitor center. The board walk goes alongside the wetland where you can view a pond brimming with wildlife. We saw the anhinga bird, which is what the trail is named after, some turtles, and lots of fish. From a distance, it looks like the boardwalk just leads you through an un-mown mass of tall grasses. But in reality, there's a few feet of water just below, teeming with tons of species of wildlife. We even viewed alligators from the boardwalk. The boardwalk seemed to be newish, no rotting wood or anything along the way, there were benches in some places, a few overhangs where visitors can escape the sun, and plaques with information about the park (mostly wildlife). I highly recommend walking this trail if you want a good feel of the Everglades.

Extremely walkable and beautiful trail. We saw an alligator and lots of other wildlife. The restrooms were clean and we were very grateful for the water station. Heed the warnings about vultures.

Best chance to see some gator actions here (we been told); best viewing time is dawn. We saw two of them around 6pm (Oct 2023)

Amazing boardwalk, trail, and wildlife. Easily the best trail in the Nation Park lower side. So much to see.

Beautiful boardwalk trail through the everglades. Saw tons of anhingas, fish, gar, gators, turtles, lizards, etc.

Nice stop on a drizzly day. Only saw one alligator but I'll bet a few more saw us!

It was superb I saw some alligators. There are not too many bugs. I loved it and would go again.

Beautiful snapshot of the landscape and biodiversity of the Florida Everglades

My son is taking Spanish in school and one of his projects is to practice his Spanish at a restaurant.. This is my first visit to an authentic Mexican restaurant in the US and I enjoyed the experience and food.. as described by my son, the ambiance at the restaurant is cozy and feels like you’re dining at home- think homemade Mexican food thoughtfully prepared… the decor is thoughtful and authentic, the staff is warm and welcoming, the food is AMAZING.. full of flavor and just delicious, we got so much food because we wanted to try everything.. I will definitely return to try more items on the menu

The food is great, traditional Mexican food. After checking a couple of Mexican restaurants in Miami, I found La Cruzada Restaurant with authentic Mexican food. The only negative critique and the reason why I didn't give them 5 stars was because they ran out of dessert. However, the quality of the main dishes made up for it. The tacos were flavorful and packed with fresh ingredients. The enchiladas had just the right amount of spice, and the guacamole was creamy and delicious. The service was also excellent, with attentive waitstaff who were knowledgeable about the menu. Overall, I highly recommend La Cruzada Restaurant for a satisfying and authentic Mexican dining experience.

This place was was outstanding! The molcajete had amazing flavor. The salsa and tortilla chips is on point. Oh, and of course we had to get the michelada vip is ridiculous and worth it. Definitely going back there next time I'm in Florida city.

My bf and I decided we were craving a more authentic Mexican food so we drove about an hour to eat here for the first time :) The service was courteous and fast, we did not have to wait long for our food or drinks. Prices were fair, and the decor inside is very cute. I recommend trying this place out! I got the birria tacos and another taco plate (forgot the name) and they were delicious as well. Left satisfied

Have Always Found Food Consistently Good & Enjoyable Would have given 5 star there but rice & bean should have been hotter (temp) and lime where nearly juiceless. Rest of food was very good.

When you want authentic Mexican food, this is the place to go. All of the food is incredible. The taquiza is my favorite (see photo). They stuff their homemade tortillas with plenty of meat. My bf gets wet burritos in whatever restaurant they offer this meal & this place has his favorite. The service is also excellent! Great Mexican atmosphere as well. Can’t say good enough things about this awesome family-owned business.

If you are looking for an authentic Mexican food restaurant, then look no further. The gordita, taco, fresh water drinks, and appetizer are the best. One caution: the salsa is hot, and you have been warned.

Love this place!!! The food was so good and the atmosphere made you feel like you were in Mexico. Our server was great also.

While I was down in Homestead, exploring the local National Parks, I was looking for the best local cuisines to dine at. In my research, I found La Cruzada, which seems like more of an authentic Mexican restaurant, and less of an American Mexican restaurant. Both have their merits, of course, but I just had to check this place out. The inside décor felt similar to the Mexican restaurant vibe I got from the menu and pictures online. I liked it a lot. A variety of Mexican music blasted from the speakers in all of their many dining rooms, all looking very different from one another. It was tough to keep up with my host, with all my looking around at staff. But anyway. I got seated and ordered some food. I looked at the menu, lots of good options, and I settled on the Molcajete (Chicken, Beef Fajita & Shrimp mixed in red sauce, fried cheese, chives & cactus leaves. Served with rice & beans). I also asked for a side of tortillas. Look at the pic. This thing was intimidating and very attractive. Everything was soaking in that deeply flavored red sauce, so you have to go digging. But one you find your prize, man, the chicken is just so juicy and charred up, the beef was tender and spiced well, the shrimp were huge and plump and not overcooked. The unique elements here were the fried cheese and the cactus, and I loved them both. Put some with some rice and beans in a little taco, mwah, chef's kiss. I also got to try the Tres Amigos (2 tostadas, 2 tacos, 2 enchiladas with rice & beans). I love flights, and this was a nice little flight of some simple basics. The tostadas were excellent and crispy, and the enchilada sauce was perfect, just a good dish. No complaints. Overall, the difference between a place like this and an American Mexican restaurant is very obvious in aesthetics and menu items. If you haven't been to a place like this, I recommend it. It's a good experience, and this was a give start one of those experiences.

Born and raised in Mexico city. And i most definitely approve this place. Authentic delicious food. (Massive portions) and awesome staff.

Authentic Mexican restaurant loved that when ordered tacos they bring you, the onions, cilantro, limes, and sauces. Downside SO MANY flies, which was annoying we were waving trying to prevent them from touching our food.

It was not busy when I arrived so I was able to seat myself. The ambiance and atmosphere were great. There is outdoor seating but it was 200°! No thanks. Ha My order was taken quickly. I had been wanting a good Michealada, so that was the choice. It was great with Modelo. I ordered the Taco plate. Carne Asada and Carnitas. Good flavored. Red and green salsa was amazing! When in town I will be back.

I’m from Southern California, come from great Mexican food. There is no good Mexican food in Miami. Found this place, authentic as it gets. Food is phenomenal!!

Finally I found the best tacos in Florida. It was hard to find one after I tried tacos in Mexico City. Highly recommend! My server was a sweetheart!!

Great food, fun and vibrate place to enjoy a meal. Might need to work on my Spanish a bit for next time, but everything was wonderful. Might have been the very best pozole I've had in my life!!

Ok First of all food it’s not fresh, missing lot of flavor , I don’t understand how can you guys still in business , lack of flavor , yes it looks Mexican but don’t taste like Mexican food , tacos are so bad also I had pastor,lengua,barbacoa and tripa, every single one had different taste , pastor burn and no pineapple, lengua boiled only no salt no nada, tripa was old tripa not fresh you can taste it was rancid and barbacoa taco just style ropa vieja Cuban food . Now shrimp coctel was to sweet to much ketchup, sorry but it’s bad so bad, the fact that all their staff are Mexican it’s a big different , I seen Nicaraguans cook and Cuban cooks cooking Mexican food better than Mexicans . Please people this place it’s not legitimate.

Love, love this restaurant. The food was very authentic and delicious. The fact that they have vegan options was so surprising and refreshing! It shows that they care about truly serving people with different culinary preferences. I just loved the veggie tacos, chips, and guacamole were spectacular and fresh. Everything is made in-house! A definite must-go!

Not the best Mexican I have had but fairly good. Nice atmosphere with Mexican charm. Good selection of dishes. Friendly service.

Great place to eat for family's and couples. Waitresses are very welcoming, friendly and helpful. Definitely planning on visiting again with a big appetite to satisfy my hunger with several delicious meals available. Hope you guys enjoy it just the same.

Love visiting Ernest F. Coe visitor center. Staff is always friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The ranger always takes the time to talk with my very curious and talkative nephew. The Gift shop has something for everyone. The lady that works the gift shop always has a welcoming smile and is very nice and helpful. Very educational, guided tours with rangers are also available at specific times.

The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center was really neat! Instead of starting our day here, we ended in the visitor center instead. I don't really recommend doing it that way because the visitor center is a great place to learn about the day's activities, park conditions, and sometimes warnings. However, we just didn't have time to stop in here first as we had a backcountry boat tour scheduled first thing. The visitor center is one of the most informative centers/museums I've been to (of the 15 or so national parks I've visited). The displays were well-created, informative, and engaging. My favorite detail inside is the 17' long crocodile hanging out on the floor below the wildlife display in the center of the room. It's the longest crocodile ever recorded in the park. On our 1-day visit to the Everglades, we stopped in three different visitor centers. This is the main one, so it's much larger and offers a lot more. The gift shop was also pretty expansive, offering lots of different types of souvenirs. Before heading out, we viewed the film in the theater of the visitor center to round out our education of the day.

Everglades National Park has a great visitors center. This is a very well staffed interpretive center and gift shop. The staff here are really good at helping you with the maps, trails, or any other details about the park. There are many opportunities to view wildlife on land and in the water. The water here is so clear that you can literally see the fish.

I had so much fun here. I wish I had a longer day or longer days so I could spend more time in this part of the Everglades. I had fun walking through the Visitor Center. I wanted to go to the park and left sooner than I had wished. I DO recommend stopping at the Visitor Center first to learn the history of the park and more about the everglades before heading further in.

They have a couple of water bottle fillers inside the visitor center and outside. There are fun exhibits to interact with. My personal favorite was the mosaic floor and the rocking chair outlook area. We had lunch at long pine key. If you drive to the end of that loop, park there. There are about 4 picnic tables with a great view and access to the trail.

We enjoyed our visit at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center when visiting the Everglades National Park from the South. The rangers there are very helpful and can offer valuable information for your visit. The visitors center offers brocures, maps and information about the Everglades National Park as well as some wonderful exhibits. There is a nice gift shop as well as clean restroom facilities and boardwalk to a lake adjacent to the center. The building and grounds are beautiful and well cared for. Don't forget to get your National Parks Passport stamped here.

This is a good center to visit. It is located a few minutes away from the entrance of the park. You can get information and a map. This park is big. A map is a good idea. The park also has activities you can do like guided tours, canoes, and trails. The staff is friendly and can guide on things to do. Behind this center, there is this open area that overlooks water. It is a nice, peaceful, relaxing area. Is a beautiful center. It has many nice things to see inside. Is a nice place to learn more about what is inside this beautiful park.

Great place to start your visit to Everglades Natl Park. Informative exhibits and a nice movie to explain about the ecosystems. The gift shop / bookstore has a nice variety.

Built in the 90s, a good example of NPS “Parkitecture”. Great exhibits to interact with and a movie about the Everglades ecosystem.

Located outside entrance so you can stop in and get information without paying admission but of course since u r there go in. Great park to visit. Good parking and this is where we met our guide for the naturalist tour which was outstanding

My partner and I went on Nov 15, 2023, when it was raining and flooding like no tomorrow. First, we recommend visiting Robert is Here as you enter, and to get a key lime milkshake. Totally worth it. We visited the Ernest F Co entrance and the lady at the front was super kind and even put on a movie for us to see before we went to explore the Everglades! It was super rainy AND windy and our ponchos barely helped us. We opted to drive and stop at certain points. She recommended that we go very slowly so as not to miss animals, but it was unfortunately, not the best weather that day. We saw an alligator, a ton of birds on our way there and fro, and even saw wild manatees! They were so close! Our shoes were soaked by the end of it so we recommend wearing appropriate footwear if its rainy that day, and a change of clothes and food to snack on. If you stay late, there aren’t many streetlights and there were many puddles so beware! We would love to visit again when we next go to Florida:)

What a fun experience! Are girls got sworn in as Junior rangers in the Everglades! This visitor center is interactive for the kids and there is a nice landscaped area around the center. Staff was very friendly and informative! Small gift shop offers some souvenir options! EV charging stations are available at this visitor center.

My hike through the Everglades was nothing short of extraordinary! The trail immersed me in the heart of one of the world's most unique ecosystems, offering unparalleled encounters with diverse wildlife and stunning scenery at every turn. The trail was well-marked and maintained, making navigation a breeze. I was surrounded by lush vegetation, vibrant colors, and the soothing sounds of nature. From sighting majestic alligators basking in the sun to spotting elusive birds in their natural habitat, every moment was filled with awe and wonder. For anyone seeking an unforgettable outdoor adventure, this trail in the Everglades is an absolute must-do. It's an oasis of natural beauty and a testament to the importance of preserving our precious wilderness. We can't wait to return and explore more of this enchanting paradise!

Stop at this visitor center before entering the park. It has a good exhibit and information about the ecosystem, as well as park maps. Clean restrooms are also available.

Definitely stop at the visitor center for sure for lots of info and there's some guided tours, a good film and a deck you can walk out to view fish and other wildlife right there. Do the Anhinga trail for sure and youll see Gators and birds. Its less then a mile with nice boardwalks. The Gumbo Limbo trail is right there as well. I would skip the others as theres not much to see unless you're into trees, canoeing or kayaking where there's some trails that you can rent there. We did Drive all the way down to Flamingo which is Florida Bay about 35 miles, remember its 35 miles back! You can see some manatees and there's crocodiles that feed near the marina that sometimes come up onto the dock we were told. We seen some swimming. They also have a good visitor center with lots of info and some guided tours and theres nice clean washrooms. Bring snacks you cant buy anything. Honestly though it's a long drive with nothing in between but alot of grass and water. I would use my time by going to Shark Valley off US 41, its also in the National Park so you wont pay again. We seen a Croc there basking in the Sun and there's lots of alligators and birds. See my Shark Valley review If this review helped you please give it THUMBS UP. Follow me

Before going into the park stop at the visitor center. The film shown is really good, exhibits are too. Get a map and begin the drive. We stopped at Royal Palm - two short trails. Both really beautiful in their own way. Saw a large turtle swimming in lily pads. Gator, egret, great blue heron, snake. Gumbo limbo trees are my favorite! On to Pa-hay- okee overlook. We only went this far.

Awesome spot to observe wildlife and enjoy the Florida weather. Highly surprised by this place!! Wasn’t expecting to see so many fish, alligators and wildlife at this park but man did I love it!!

Great little visitor center right next to two great trails! There are bathrooms, a small gift shop, and vending machines. The trails are absolutely amazing, and shirt enough that most people without disabilities should be able to walk both with ease. The Anhinga trail is definitely wheelchair accessible, and the Gumbo Limbo trail may be. It is fully paved, but gets narrow at spots. We pushed a side-by-side double stroller through it with minimal issues.

Small visitor center. With a very large parking lot this is the entrance to 2 Trails. Best Pl. to see birds and alligators . We saw huge turtles tons of wildlife. It’s very serene. It has a small gift shop with the stamps for the passports. Awesome staff it’s a must stop to the Everglades.

The ranger talk here (10am and 1:30pm, I think, please check) is best I had. We learned a lot about Everglades and helped a lot for our stay here.

The Royal Palm visitor center has two wonderful hikes originating from that location. Both are very modest length and generally level which makes them accessible to virtually everybody who wants to take the hike. The gumbo limbo, Trail is forested and gives a great impression of the density of life in the tropical forests of the Everglades. Thoughtful educational signs are placed strategically through the hike and are filled with very interesting and valuable information. The anhinga trail brings into deeper water of the Everglades were fish and birdlife and even alligators are present in their natural habitat, and completely viewable from the secure boardwalk Both trails are well-maintained in the area is very beautiful

I loved this part of the Everglades. I saw "critters" almost as soon as I got out of my truck. Before heading to the Center, there were birds welcoming me- really squawking, "Get out of my way, I'm flying here!" When I got to the edge of the water, by the separating wall, there was an alligator floating, minding his/her own business. There are signs to not feed the animals, but the way the fish were staring at me, it seemed they were used to people feeding them, or perhaps they are just used to people wanting to take their pictures. Fish selfie! Walking the trail I saw a lot of birds and was treated to several alligators taking their time floating on the water under and around the overlook and bridge. There were really cool birds sitting with each other on branches. I loved it! As I was leaving, an Anhinga (?) was sitting on the rail of the boardwalk sunning itself waiting for it's turn for a bird selfie! It was so comfortable with all the tourists staring and snapping cameras and cellphones. It is an easy walk that can take around an hour, depending on how many times you stop for pictures. I hope to visit again!

The Royal Palm Visitor Center is located just a few short miles beyond the main visitor center of the park, the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. But this location provides the opportunity to immerse yourself in the park itself, instead of just viewing the museum. The building is historic and has a marker on it indicating the location of Royal Palm State Park in 1916. The grounds are clean and well-maintained. Clean bathrooms, a water fountain with a water bottle dispenser, a covered presentation/picnic area, a small park store, and even a bin full of tarps to protect vehicles from wildlife can be found at this location. We listened to a very informative and engaging presentation put on by Yocelin with the Greening Youth Foundation. I learned about this "ranger" talk from the National Park Service app and it was also posted on signs at a few locations throughout the park. I loved the props she brought to enliven her presentation.

Royal Palm visitor center is an easy drive once you enter the park. The small pavilion area offers ranger lead discussions as well as hikes. There are a couple of trails, but the one around and over the lake was the best. Walking on the boardwalk, over the water, you can look out for alligators looking back at you. If you are lucky you might see a small one sunning itself a few feet from the trail. Hearing a loud, rumbling growl coming from the lake lets you know they are out there.

Amenities are lacking compared to Ernest visitor center. It's still a natural wonder with flora and fauna in abundance along Anahinga trail. I was going to walk Gumbo Limbo as part of my itinerary, but the dense canopy made it seem like the bugs would suck me dry. The sun is unforgiving here, and there are few places for cover; please bring hats or an umbrella and water. The visitor center itself has bathrooms and vending machines, as well as guided walks around 10:30 & talks around 1:30. An Everglades must-see.

Not a lot of wildlife/birds but a good variety. So many lily pads. Wonder if that is impacting the USA by birds and gators

Two well maintained and easy trails start from this location. Anhinga is the most popular one and we spent good bit of time here. It's only .8 miles and doesn't take long but you can spot so much wildlife here anhinga,any birds, alligators. It was a very pretty walk. Gumbo limbo is .4 miles and closer to visitor center as well. Lot of gumbo limbo trees there. Quick and easy walk.

Just South of the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, a short drive away you will find Royal Palm Visitor Center. The Visitor Center offers ranger guided tours at different times during the day, a gift shop as well as nice clean restroom facilities. There are two trails that you can access from the parking area including the Gumbo Limbo Trail and the Anhinga Trail. I recommend hiking the Anhinga Trail which is free and fully accessible. It offers a nice boardwalk through the wetland with plenty of wildlife viewing. We saw numerous alligators and species of birds. The Gumbo Limbo Trail is longer and is beautiful as well, but not quite as accessible, with narrow trails meandering through Gumbo Limbo hammock. The Royal Palm Visitor Center Area is just another great way to take in the beauty of the Everglades National Park. .

Pretty barebones visitor center but the two trails nearby are a great intro to the Everglades. We saw lots of birds, a good variety of fish, and even a small alligator within easy walking distance of the visitor center.

Fantastic place lots to see and do, great way to experience the Everglades.

A smaller Visitor Center compared to Earnest Coe, but it's perfect for the area. The rangers are fantastic, as always, and host several guided tours from here

Lots of wildlife to see and well maintained paths. We walked the Anhinga Trail and saw soft shell turtles, alligators, cormorants, anhingas, and fish.

Gumbo Limbo trail is right next to Anhinga Trail. I was assaulted by multiple mosquitoes that managed to bite me through my long sleeved jacket and long pants. The brisk walk took me about 12 min and I daresay I got as many mosquito bites. I would recommend popping in for a few min and then turning back to avoid the mosquitos.

Nice short trail. If you want to see wildlife go to Anhinga. This is nearby and only .4 miles long

Short loop and no AllTrails needed - but HIGHLY recommended to walk through some beautiful trees and nature. Make sure you do the Anhinga Trail that is right next to here, too..!

Totally different than the other trail at Royal Palms Visitor Center. This boardwalk cuts through a "tree island" with tree canopy. Not likely to see any gators on this trail. But is a beautiful little pond about 3/4 of the way around the trail. Easy hike, mostly boardwalk. Handicap accessible. Inside the Everglades National Park at Royal Palms Visitor Center.

Dense trees. Nice little hike. No wildlife. Not even a bird. Darn👎🏼

Cute small trail only half a mile. But not much to see. Mosquitoes were waiting to give me a warm welcome. All shades throughout the trail. You get to see the damages done by hurricane Andrew. But since it’s so isolated visitor center, once you there, mind as well do it. 15-20 mins walk is good for you.

Short but very cool trail. I was able to see a lot of wildlife and get some pretty good pictures. Consider liking my review and pictures and follow along on all my adventures. Get Your Adventure On!

Nice short green trail. Much of vegetation got destroy by hurricane in the past. Information planks at every corner to those who love to know more about the place and life there. I enjoyed it.

Great trail to visit. It's paved and relatively short.

This is a great short hike through some really lush woodlands. It’s a bit worn down but definitely worth the hike.

Nice little walk along the Anhinga trail. More people than expected. Beautiful day in late December 2020.

Beautiful but short trail we saw a huge gator and many beautiful plants, trees, and lizards.

There is a cruise here that takes you to a tour in Whitewater Bay. Before stepping into the cruise you will see animals coming to the water surface for breathing. Do not worry, even though they look like alligator, but yhey are not! They are manatees and they are herbivore. The most interesting thing you can see in the tour is dolphins. If you are lucky enough, you will see them and you may catch them while playing around the cruise. Alligators and crocodiles are another interesting item here. If the weather was not too col, in December/January, you will be able to see them too. The tour guide will help you to spot different birds and animals. There is around 300 different bird species living in Keys. You can spot some very beautiful birds here. The cruise price is $40 per adult and if you are visiting in December/January, take some winter cloth, since it could be cold on cruise board.

Ranger was very friendly and knowledgeable. We walked the piers and saw a few manatees and an osprey but could not get a good picture. If you bring young kids, please be aware the marina was VERY busy with trucks and trailers going in and out of the boat ramps even in January. Could not imagine the traffic during peak season. We did the walking trail opposite the marina. Not worth. There's a few spots to see the ocean but I think the trail is more to connect the nearby camp sights.

Worth the long drive all the way from Austin Texas to see the two manatees trying to fight for the best spot to eat off the seawall. I'd never seen them in person so it was a shock to see just how big they are.

Fantastic nature experience! There are two visitor center, at the entrance and at the end of the road to Flamingo. It’s a great place to learn about the Everglades with interesting displays and lots of information. External you can do a walk along a small harbor and along the coast line. We saw many different birds and even a flog of Manatees just in front of us. Along the road there are many options to walk a trial watching the nature. Absolutely worth a visit!

Mosquitoes galore!!! The moment I stepped onto the trial I was quite literally attacked by a ravenous horde of mosquitoes. I’ve never experienced something so immediate and vicious. I ran to flamingo beach to complete my task of touching the water then taking a pic I ran to my car. I don’t recommend walks or hikes, there are so many better trials in the area, you have to literally drive passed at least 20 on your way to Flamingo. I’m sure it’s just wonderful for boats and maybe canoeing/kayaking but trails, forget about it.

The remodel of the old visitors center cannot be done quick enough. The temporarily location is rough. We spent a good amount of time talking to a park ranger. He knew lots about each hurricane of the past years. Interesting to talk to him. Not much in the center. We did not do a canoe or kayak or boat tour due to rain. Bummer. Marina near by is good place to see manatees and crocodiles. 3 manatee and one crocodile for us. Also- when you drive 38 miles in to get here, you take the same road out again.

Ok there's plenty to see here, the main visitor center was damaged in the hurricane. Take your time and go visit the marina by the gas pumps are manatees and crocodiles. The Flamingo visitor center itself has a well versed woman whom answered all my questions and more. They have their own cancelation stamp. There are bathrooms, plenty of parking, and a convenience store. An everglades must-see.

I am very happy to see this visitor center finally open. They just open 8 weeks ago. Last time we were here was back in 2019 and the building had a lot of damaged and now... really love how wide open it is and has some exhibit just right the front desk and has a nice giftshop. I love the glass huge window overlooking the water. It has also a touch screen information on the wall infront of the front desk.

Love that this is finally open. There are so many cool displays and interactive activities to do at the visitor center that further enhance the excitement and enjoyment of visiting the Everglades. Staff was helpful and friendly. Has a little gift shop also to grab some souvenirs.

Really nice spot at the southern edge of the everglades. Nice exhibits and educational programs. Next to Marina with boat rentals and boat tours. Cool lodge and restaurant also nearby. Be aware of the mosquito issue in the hotter wetter months.

I just had to see what was at the end of the road in Flamingo. My Dad mentioned this place to me and I wanted to visit. The drive was longer than I expected. It was funny to pass signs that mentioned elevation. I found one sign read 4 feet, while another said 3 feet. The park rangers are very friendly and offered a bunch of knowledge about the location. I didn't see any wild animals but it was a beautiful, hot, breezy day.

The Guy Bradley visitor center is pretty deep into Everglades NP. It's at least a 45 minute drive from the park entrance. The whole area was pretty quiet that day, but the exhibits inside were interesting. If you walk around the waters edge behind the building you might see manatees. I was there in late July and the mosquitos and yellow flies were pretty bad. It would have been nice to explore further, but even with bug spray on the flies were relentless.

An amazing stop all the way at the end of the Everglades! Flamingo is the ultimate Everglades destination and brings you face to face with wild crocodiles, manatees, osprey and more! Not only can you camp here, but there is a lodge where you can book a stay, dine in the new restaurant (opening soon) or stay in eco tents, pup tents or even your RV! Got a boat? You haven't fished until you've fished Florida Bay or for the brave, Whitewater Bay. There's something for everyone and mosquitoes for if you're grumpy. Definitely add this to your bucket list! We have plenty of videos of this place and more to come soon over on our YouTube channel. Florida Ambient

We were in Miami for a mother/daughter trip, and we decided to do a road trip and drive this road before heading back home. It's a nicely paved road surrounded by nature. We drove to the end and drove around Flamingo and headed back. The visitor centers at the beginning and the end in Flamingo were beautiful and very informative. Friendly, knowledgeable staff. It takes about an hour to get to the end, but it is worth the drive to see the Florida Everglades. We will definitely go back when it's cooler and check out some of the hiking trails. Wonderful to see Old Florida and beautiful nature.

Nice clean visitor Center With public washrooms, a Marina to charter tours and a large parking lot. Rangers are available for questions and they do scheduled guided tours. Lots of info of The Heritage of Florida Bay in the area as well great info on all the wildlife surrounding it. If you walk out to the marina you'll often see manatees and crocodiles. We seen both swimming in the water then we heard that often the crocodiles will come up on the boat ramp and bask in the Sun. It's a long drive down here so you need to make the choice if you're coming before you go and remember to bring lots of water and snacks cuz there's really nowhere to buy food. If this review helps you please give it a THUMBS UP and consider following me

Although it's a long drive to get here, it was worth it. The views are beautiful. The visitor center has a cool area with information about local wildlife. There are restrooms and a gift store. The marina is located right next door with a small convenience store selling snacks and I believe gas too. There was plenty of parking as well.

One of the nicest National park visitor centers I’ve ever experienced in the US. I read it had just reopened again. Super clean restrooms, nice gift shop and very educating about all the wildlife. We saw some manatees in the water right in front of the building. Make sure to wear long and bright clothes!! Mosquitos are no joke here. Even bug spray won’t save you.

One of the more unique visitor centers I've ever visited. It's almost entirely on the second floor, which gives you a nice view of the bay. Plenty of interesting informational kiosks are available, and the docents were friendly and ready to explain things to visitors. Kids should enjoy the facility. It has a gift shop, but there's more selection at the general store a brief walk north east.

This is a wildlife nature sanctuary for many different animals, and is a very active tourist attraction, the entrance now is $30 per vehicle, you can camp in many locations, summertime bring mosquito spray as the activity is insane, the best time is during cold days and nights. A hiking attraction in the Florida swamps, boat ramp to enjoy the flats.

We stayed at the recently opened container hotel. The rooms are on still columns. You park at ground level under your room's shadow. The kitchenette is very well equipped with sink, stove, microwave, refrigerator and best of all a very efficient dishwasher. Beds are comfortable. The balcony overlooks the shore. Loved it.

Beautiful, short trail that gives you a lot of information about the Everglades hardwood ecosystem. We went later in the day so faced some mosquitos, but otherwise took in info about the surrounding areas. Should be accessible to most visitors though the wood is somewhat aged and worn and may not be the best for those in wheelchairs.

Really great trail! Lots of beautiful tropical plants along the extent of this elevated boardwalk trail. Was great, as given recent rain, other trails were very muddy. Nice and shaded for when it’s hot. Short and great for kids. Very nice little trail.

Really cool part of the Everglades, the boardwalk is older and it feels like a scene out of jurassic park. Didnt see any owls unfortunately :/

Beautiful boardwalk loop through a stand of old-growth mahogany and other native species. Easily accessible and open to all abilities/skill levels.

Very pretty, almost jungle like. Short boardwalk, not much to see view-wise but plenty to still enjoy. The massive mahogany tree was the main attraction, and even during the off-season was very crowded around it. Once we started walking away to finish the loop, it quieted down until the trail entrance.

Great, short trail through a forrest.

Short 9.4 mile walk (~12 min). Some parts are shaded but others are not. Very hot and sunny when I went today.

Awesome trail. With neat opportunities to take plenty of photos.

This is an excellent .4 mile trail that is a boardwalk loop through a mahogany hammock. There are several informative interpretive signs. There is ample parking available at the trailhead. Beautiful vegetation and impressive mahogany trees as well as other tropical plants. Definitely worth stopping to quickly explore this area.

Gorgeous flora, but did not see any wildlife while there. It was eerily quiet but the scenery is gorgeous. Close to the flamingo area where people can kayak and do boat tours, where we did see a lot of wildlife.

Nice walk on a grassy path with a few observation points along the way.

Great place to relax. There's a newly built playground. Basketball and racket ball courts. Small lake that you can see turtles and if you're lucky an alligator or crocodile. Small little walking trails too.

We enjoyed this park. It's clean and safe with a shaded playground for the kiddos. Nice walking paths + bathrooms + picnic areas. Bonus: lots of lizards. $3 entrance fee is worth it.

Paddling is the main attraction here for me. Admission into the park is $1.50 per person. The non-motorized boat launch is free. Boat rentals are available. It's amazing to have this nature preserve in the middle of the city (Dania Beach), where you can lose yourself in the canopy of many mangrove trails. There are four color coded trails (white, green, blue, and red). Depending are your fitness level it's easy to spend 1.5 to 4 hours on the water here. The Red trail is the furthest away, but offers the most fun. That's also where you'll find the Anne Kolb Nature Center and better hiking. The White trail gets a bit tight in places, but isn't as long. The Green and Blues trails are a bit more open. If you want crystal clear water, you'll need to head toward Rainbow River, near Ocala in Central Florida. Here the water is disappointingly brackish. The wildlife is a bit sparse, too, but you should come across some egrets, herons, iguanas, and flying fish. Right now, the children's playground is under construction, but the grounds are still used for birthday parties and picnics, etc.

Beautiful place to stop by and walk around. There are few trails you can go to and all of them are worth it. There are different animals to see. You can go up to the top for a nice view, tons of trees, water and you can see a little bit of the city and you can also see the Hollywood water tower. It has very friendly access for anyone who uses a wheelchair.

We came here to paddleboard in the lake, it was a lot of fun. There are different trails that you can take, they are well marked and named . You can paddle right on the lake or on both sides there are mangroves you can weave in and out of. The park is just south of the fort Lauderdale Hollywood international airport and you can see planes coming and going while you paddle or or kayak.

Fantastic space, had a great picnic!!! Picnic tables and grills near the kiddie park. Volleyball court also close by. You can reserve one of at least 6 shelters online, but needs to be done 48 hours in advance so prepare ahead !

Spectacular park open to the public. Only have to pay a small fee on the weekends. Kayak rentals, boat launch area, tennis courts, beach volleyball, basketball courts, plenty to do and see.

Great park to go with the kids and family. They have a bunch of activities from kayaking to playground. They have BBQ grills available. The kayaking staff have great customer service and knowledgeable of the intercostal. 100% for first time kayak experience. They have many options for kayaking and canoeing.

There is no more priceless masterpiece than nature. This is my favorite place close to Hollywood. So peaceful, so close to our essence tightly covered with daily bustle. There is no better place to take a 2hour slow walk, enjoy the birds and butterflies of amazing beauty and have a sincere talk with yourself. I highly recommend this beautiful park to everyone.

A real nice park with parking spots. The entrance is $1.50 per person. We made a reservation in advance for our event, but when we got there the shelter was occupied by other people. We let the gate person and the park employee know and they made them leave. The reservation can be made online or by phone as well i believe, ours was $50. I think Broward county residents have discount and the discounted price was $50. There’s a playground and restrooms available to everyone. Each shelter has tables, benches, and a grill. The park closes at 7:30, so around 7 they will start making you pack. The water has gators, we saw it last time, so watch out if your shelter is by the water. Our 2nd time at this park for an event and we really like it.

Probably the most visited park in Dania beach especially folks that live by Sheridan street. Loved by many as a picnic spot others for it's sized water canals for kayaking. Tennis courts and basketball courts are at the back followed by big lots of grass to run and bring your dog! $3 on weekends Free parking Dogs allowed on leash CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR SELF!!

Great place to explore mangrove forest. Trails and facilities very well maintained.

It was a nice place to walk and unwind. We will surely go back to this place.

Gorgeous kayaking with a group. We went out with Garls kayaking. Peaceful, clean, and gorgeous ecology. Alligators are not easy to find, at least on our journey but we did see a few. Lots of Cypress trees and Sawgrass. Bring a change of clothes if you get wet. Enjoy.

Just a short trip for us but glad we got the anual pass, will definitely return.

Very nice canoe trail with lots of red mangrove and spike rush (i.e. nature)! We rented 2-people canoe from Flamingo Adventures. They have two timeslots for rental; we reserved for 1 PM and completed the trail with "shortcut" (turn at marker 44) as advised by the rental office. That took 2h30m at a leisure pace. As for the route, follow the loop counter-clockwise from plastic pole #1. It is located straight across from the parking lot. Don't be tempted by the arch way half-way across the pond. If you find yourself entering another small pond, then you are going the wrong way! The entire trail has these plastic pole markers for you to follow numerically, which is really nice. There are lots of zig-zags so be sure to look for these markers! Overall, it was a very unique canoe experience. We didn't see any alligator or crocodile; just a few birds.

This was a great Everglades experience! We were able to learn a lot about this unique ecosystem. Although strenuous in places, it was well worth the 3-hour trip. Our guide, Monique, despite this being her first guided tour at this location was exceptionally knowledgeable, interesting and patient. Take plenty of sun protection (lotion, hats, sunglasses, etc), bug spray, and water. Expect limited, if any, wildlife--we were really here to learn about the unique ecosystem and to get a modest amount of exercise! Highly recommend!

Nice Lake for kayaking and canoeing if you’re comfortable with alligators and crocodiles in the water. Great stop even if you won’t go on the lake, has picnic tables and a nice view.

Good stop to have a picknick. No additional services like restroom or a place to drop your garbage.

Very peaceful and can see lots of wildlife.

Really awesome for kayaking and just have a leisurely time in nature! Be sure to look out for markers, or you'll get lost (like we did) hahahaha. We somehow cut through the mangroves and came out on the other side of the "loop" made around the pond. Our fault totally, but had a great time and saw a 5' gator, egrets, a good size Florida Gar, and lots of mangrove tunnels.

we set up telescopes here, but there was a lot of light on the horizon from Miami/Homestead; we'll try Paurotis Pond next time

Very fun kayak/ canoe trail. The concession, Flamingo Adventures rents canoes for this trail from the marina in Flamingo, but not kayaks for this trail. At 3.5 miles long, my buddy and I finished it in just under two hours. Not much wildlife other than small fish and the occasional bird. It was fun but also sometimes frustrating to follow the poles along the route. Last year we did the kayak down in the bay- I would do that instead, next time because there was more wildlife. That, of course, could vary with lots of factors since nature can be unpredictible.

Great trail, I recommend going counter clockwise through the trail - I did not and struggled to find the poles. Due to low water I wasn't able to complete the trek, but I did make it ~1/3 through. It was a gorgeous trail. Saw lots of fish, birds and gators.

Great couple hour excursion. We did not take the the shortcut and you didn't see much more by taking the long way.

A great overlook to the lake, easy to spot gators surfing slowly from side to side. Parking lot is close by, easy access to the lake

Like mentioned in other reviews, the trail isn't that exciting, but the view at the end is. The trail is well maintained and marked. No facilities. Roadside parking.

Straight walking trail. Better off biking it.

Hiked on March 18, 2023. Conditions mostly dry, with a small muddy area right before observation deck. Hardly any mosquitoes. Easy hike, excellent for young kids or folks with slight mobility issues as it’s flat and mostly root free. Would be great for early morning trail running. Excellent for birding! The observation platform at the end makes the walk well worth it. My recommendation is go right at sunrise to have it to yourself as crowds build here quickly in peak season. There’s a vlog on my experience on my channel on YouTube.

Short and straight hike to a pond. We saw a lot of birds, some snakes and spiders.

Very muddy but great views of spoonbills at the end!

Should be called Bug Bight Trail.

It's an adventure. The trail is overgrown and not maintained due to protection of an endangered plant species and there is a sign marking it as such. Wear bug spray and persevere through to the end and the view is worthwhile. Even with bug spray we ended up covered in bites. Not for the faint of heart.

We biked this trail at night, as we came out of Rowdy Bend. Trail is narrow but pavement is easy to ride. Beware of tree branches protruding into the trail, which will scratch and bruise. This is a shady trail with a beautiful view of the forest. Trail ends on the bay with a beautiful view of the water. Will definitely be coming back to do this trail in the day time.

Outstanding facility. Roads are newly paved. Great bathrooms. Lots of them and convenient. Didn't use the solar showers. The entire facility is well maintained. Staff was ready for my check-in and very welcoming. Plenty of room and privacy.

I would have given this a 5 if it were not for a VERY upsetting incident that occurred. My son, who suffers from seizures and has a ADA approved service dog to help detect these for him, and to bark to alert others and to himself, he was denied entry to using the shower with his service dog. The worker simply told him the following - "You CAN'T bring a dog in there" - then she proceeded to glare at him, which intimidated him, and he left. I approached the worker after hearing about this. She is between 30 to 40 years old, about 5 foot 5, is white [not hispanic], with light colored hair. When I informed her that the dog is a ADA dog and can literally go anywhere no matter what as she is for a disability, and offered her the verification papers along with the .GOV phone number to call, this woman stormed off from me and headed to her golf cart while mumbling swear words under her breath. I never expected this in my life to happen at a national park while camping but it happened. And I am glad that I was there to defend my son at least and he wasn't by himself. We didn't let this ruin our time at the park or at the campsite, but, it needs to be pointed out there is a very mean and rude worker at this location, who is violating the law by denying service to disabled people. I did not get her name unfortunately but I do hope that someone who works there reads this and can state their policy to their workers so that no other disabled person is mistreated like this again. Also, other workers were professional and did not mistreat either of us. Point being - this woman is making your entire staff look bad, and that's not fair to the workers who don't mistreat people, and treat others as they would want to be treated...

Good place to visit during the coldest winter season Otherwise the place is a mosquito heaven and the lake has Avery eerie and creepy feeling to it to me it feels Like it's a portal to another dimension something wired about that particular lake.😱🛸☣️🌀👽

We booked online and paid for 2 nights for our class A RV. We decided to leave after one night. This campground is expensive for a site with no hook-ups. There was not much for us to do except look for alligators (and we saw 1). It was 85 degrees and high humidity in November. Even thou the RV park was almost empty, they knocked on our door at 8pm and told us to shut the generator down. We were miserable all night.

Great campground. The only drawback is that they allow even the very loud gaz external generators. I think all these campgrounds should not aloud generators that produce more than a certain amount of decibels. So easy to measure now with a smart phone…. And these solar and electric silent generators are an answer to solve that issue.

My experience at Long Pine Campground was nothing short of spectacular! Nestled within the serene beauty of the Everglades, this campground offered the ideal setting for a tranquil retreat amidst nature's wonders. From the moment i arrived, I was greeted by the sweet melody of birds chirping in the trees, setting the tone for a peaceful and immersive outdoor experience. The sounds of nature surrounded me, creating a symphony of tranquility that was both soothing and invigorating. The campground itself was well-maintained and thoughtfully laid out, with spacious campsites surrounded by towering pines and lush vegetation. Each morning, I was treated to the sight of colorful birds flitting about, adding an extra layer of charm to our stay. Exploring the surrounding trails was a highlight of my visit, with each hike offering new opportunities to connect with the natural beauty of the Everglades. From spotting elusive wildlife to marveling at the diverse plant life, every step was a journey of discovery and awe. The amenities at Long Pine Campground were top-notch, with clean facilities and helpful staff ensuring our comfort and convenience at every turn. Whether enjoying a leisurely picnic by the water or stargazing under the vast Everglades sky, every moment spent at this campground felt like a true escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. For anyone seeking a rejuvenating retreat immersed in nature's embrace, Long Pine Campground is the perfect destination. It's a place where the symphony of birdsong serenades your soul and every breath is a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us. I can't wait to return and experience it all over again!

A great campground with all the expected amenities - clean bathrooms, spacious campsites with paved parking spots and a picnic table, with thick vegetation between sites giving you some privacy from other campers. The location is close to Homestead if you need to run into town for groceries or supplies, and is still close enough to Flamingo to make an easy morning drive. Upon check-in we were informed that we could even have firewood and ice delivered right to our campsite. Definitely my favorite campground in the area, especially considering the price!

LOVED it!! Beautiful camp ground!! Only one thing, showers are ran over solar so make sure you shower during the warm time of the day.. Camp attendants were awesome, can't say anything bad, had an amazing time!!

Beautiful campground. Some sites are smaller than what might fit your vehicle though. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful to get us a spot we fit in.

I stopped here on a trip to the Everglades in January 2024. I was expecting to stop at Flamingo, but it was a late in the day, and the ranger at the entrance suggested this instead as Flamingo was still an hour's drive away, and I was running out of daylight. Luckily there were some sites available in the I-loop. I set up my pop-up tent in short order. There are some cool trails both in the campground and nearby. The campground has showers, restrooms, ice, and trash. It provides a nice launch-point to drive to Flamingo. The mosquitoes are a tad less voracious here compared to Flamingo also....a tad.

We camped three nights in March and overall had a great experience. We used this as a cheaper option to stay close to the Keys without having to pay Keys prices. Pros: - Great Location within the park - Quiet - Clean Cons - Firewood is expensive ($13) and was wet and absolutely refused to catch on fire - showers are very strange, very large rooms that have tiny shower heads that force you to stand super close to the wall. Warm water but not hot. Overall, pretty good site for the value.

This campground is a cash grab run by a private company and not the National Parks. There are no amenities at all and you are not close to any activities. The shower heads are so rusty the water comes out brown and smelling metallic, definitely not healthy or clean. The parking pads are much less spacious than reported online and in our spot, number 7, the outdoor living space was completely overgrown and on the wrong side of the trailer. The staff rudely knocked on our door at 9:30am to order us out of the (empty) campgrounds by 10am. It was a terrible experience. I highly recommend staying at a nearby Florida state park instead. They usually have nice showers, clean bathrooms, electric and water hookups and generous checkout times around 12pm or even 1pm. Avoid this like the plague. Flamingo Adventures is overpriced and rude.

It is very clean and for the most part people follow the rules. I recommend this place especially for new campers who want to get familiar with primitive camping. Plenty of facilities to wash up in. Don't forget to look at the stars at night. You may see a unidentified flying object or 2 or 3...

Although this campground is well isolated in the everglades, the layout stinks. When you enter they tell you to keep vehicles off the grass and don't tell you that the campground roads are two way and for many of the sites, someone with a travel trailer or fifth wheel has to go in the opposite direction as would be suggested and when one does back into the site, the picnic table and fire ring are on the wrong side. Works fine for a drivable RV that you can pull in forward. The bathroom access is also difficult for many sites because even though the bathrooms are located between loops, they are only accessible from one loop unless you walk through other people's campsite. If you delay you shower until nighttime, the water will be cold because it is solar heated. Campsites are not right on top of each other and other than ones right across the camp road, they are pretty private.

I have been camping at Long Pine Key and Flamingo for well over a decade. One issue I noticed at LPK this time around was the condition of the restrooms has severely declined. I can handle that part, since I have backpacked with no restroom for several days. However, what I do not expect to deal with when camping outdoors is German Cockroach infestations at my campsite. I have NEVER had to deal with German roaches crawling on and under our tents, across someone's arm while eating, or on our camping chairs. I even found one in my car. I am very comfortable around insects, spiders, and wildlife in general. I can deal with palmetto bugs just fine. This was next level unexpected and quite disturbing. I dont think I will ever camp here again. The amount of time it took me to pack up my gear and inspect it all for roaches before loading it into my car was ridiculous.

Pros: - private showers, used solar but I had no issues running out of hot water - 7 minute drive to Anhinga trail which does a Ranger lead night walk on the boardwalk, it’s really cool and worth it. Nighttime gators! Con: - sites are not very private, not because you’re close to other campers but because the spaces are right in the open with little/no tree coverage and some are right off the campsite main road. We also experienced some fast drivers.

Very nice campground. Road and pads are paved, pads are fairly level. There are no hookups at the pads, there is a dump station at the entrance of the campground. There are no water stations in the campground, you must fill your water tank at the dump station. The recycle bins are locked, supposedly recyclables are sorted at the city or county trash facility. I've got a bridge to sell you on that one. Many of the pads are pull in, so if you are towing a trailer and back in the picnic table and fire ring will be on the wrong side of your trailer. Request a back in when you make reservations. Sites are large , grassy and plenty of privacy between. Rest rooms are clean and plentiful, showers are solar, plenty of hot water if you shower before the sun goes down. Takes a minute for hot water to flow, but once it does you will need to adjust the flow for temperature adding more cold. Showers are in different buildings than the restrooms, all nice, clean and modern. Very quiet and peaceful. Very few bugs this time of year. We enjoyed our stay.

This campground is like nature's Airbnb – accommodations under the stars, courtesy of the great outdoors. The tents are cozy cocoons, and the campfire is the communal hearth where marshmallows meet their toasty destiny. It's the perfect place to trade Wi-Fi for fireflies and wake up to the melody of chirping birds instead of an alarm clock. Happy campers, this one's for you!

We loved this campground, stayed for four nights and five days in a tent. The volunteers were so kind as well as the attendants. Plenty of shower houses and bathrooms. Showers have plenty of hot water. The lake is nice as well as the events they hold every day. We didn’t get a chance to try the wet walk but it was highly recommended. A fresh water refill station is provided, you can also buy bags of ice from the entrance. Nice central location to visit Flamingo, the Florida Keys, and Miami. I don’t believe you can rate a campground based off of bugs and weather. We went mid February and it was more than tolerable, just plan your stay in the Everglades accordingly.

Stayed in the Long Pine Key Campground for two nights, February 23 & 24 at site 60. The sites feel private since due to the brush and trees, which was nice, however they are pretty small. We were tent camping, so that was fine, but allot of the RV's looked very tight in their sites. Bathrooms were clean, but not well stocked with TP. The shower houses are really nice and a huge plus for this campground. They are little houses with four private rooms/ stall son each side for eight showers per bathhouse. Hot water wasn't a problem. Staff did not patrol in the evenings or enforce quiet hours- that was a detraction for the area. The location is good as it is close to the entrance to the park and convenient for the Royal Palm area. Last year we stayed in the Flamingo Campground, which I do prefer. The bath houses are better here, but the sites in Flamingo are larger and it feels more remote, which we liked. Also, staff patrol the campground in Flamingo and do enforce the quiet hours. All in all, it was a nice stay and was a good campground, but personally I would choose Flamingo next time.

We loved this spot in the Everglades. Spots were very private and spread out. Great area to bike and several walking trails. The restrooms and showers were very basic but always kept clean while we were there. Would love to stop here again.

The sites are private. Although no hookups. Shower house and bathrooms are clean. Plenty of hot water. We are here in late Feb early March and not too many bugs, although we did bring and put up a screen room.

We loved camping at Long Pine Key! We camped in late February for 6 nights in a camper. The sites are a little wonky because they were originally set up for a time before huge rigs. The pads on some are backward. We were told to try to keep as many tires as possible on the pavement. So, we parked our truck on the pad and put the camper on the grass facing the fire pit and table. It was so private! A couple of bars of Verizon were available here. AT+T wasn’t available. The mosquitoes aren’t bothersome until evening, but we’re still manageable. Generator time is 8 to 8, so plenty of time due to no electric hook-ups available. The campground is in a great location for Royal Palm, the Missile Base, Wet Walks, and Pinelands Bike Trails! We loved the quiet of the area. We didn’t hear much of anything at night. We went to a few programs at the amphitheater and enjoyed those. Pinelands is always getting controlled burns, so that is the only downside to us. We had some very mild smoke. We will be back! We loved it!

This is the first National Park stay in a while and we had to notice a very step drop off in infrastructure and staffing compared to the other 4 State Parks we stayed at this last few months in FL. The staff here are friendly but clearly understaffed. Washrooms don't get cleaned often and the dish washing sinks are an insult to anyone that payed to stay here. The faucet is 2 feet from the sink, no hot water and the one in the picture did not even drain. Clearly no one that runs or manages this place has ever stayed here and used their own facilities. They are just happy to charge the money and let the place degrade to an unusable status. They don't allow cancelations for upcoming nights after check-in... I'm sure that's because they get a lot of cancelations once people arrive and try cooking and living here for a day or two and then decide it's not worth the money. I'm sure the Park itself has lots to offer but the facilities/infrastructure is not just poor, it's insulting.

Loved the island. Loved the boat tour. Loved Havana Cafe most!!!

Chokoloskee Bay is beautiful. The fishing and boating are really good.

Great place to enjoy the wilderness

Fishing

My Home Island

Sucks

(Translated by Google) Because everything that is sea is beautiful. (Original) Porque todo lo que sea mar es bellisimo.

nice