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The 5 Visitor Centers of the Everglades: Decide Which is Right For You
1. Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
🏆 Best For: Free entry (located outside of the official park entrance), houses our favorite exhibit space, close to Homestead, FL, and the location of the official Everglades National Park sign
Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is located just before the official entrance to the Royal Palm area of Everglades Park—making it free to enter! This is the first visitor center we visited, as we wanted to start our visit with their educational displays about the park. The center is named after Ernest F. Coe, known as the “father of the Everglades,” due to his dedication to preserving as much of the Everglades as possible. This visitor center is the easiest to get to from Miami. Here’s everything you can do in and around Ernest F. Coe.
Things to Do Near Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
Go through Ernest F. Coe’s Educational Displays
There is a load of valuable information about the Everglades’ unique flora and fauna! These were hands-down our favorite displays in the park. We loved learning about the biodiversity and getting informed on the challenges that face the Everglades today.
Head into the Park
Just 9 minutes down the road is the first Visitor Center within the actual park, Royal Palm Visitor Center. Before reaching it, you’ll pass through the official park entrance. Passes are either $20-35/car, or visitors can use the America the Beautiful pass, which will give you unlimited access all year. We invested the $80 in this pass as we’re going to be visiting a ton of national parks this year!
Go on a Wet Walk
We wanted to highlight this specific ranger-led program as there are only 2 wet walks in the park—here and at Shark Valley Visitor Center. We went to the one at Shark Valley and loved it! The wet walk from this visitor center goes through a Cypress Dome Ecosystem, whereas the Shark Valley wet walk goes through the Shark Valley Slough, a slow-moving, freshwater river. Both Ranger-led wet walks are free; however, the National Park Institute does offer a Cypress Dome Wet Walk, which is paid. More information on signing up on NPS’s Royal Palm Events Page. Note: Photos below are from the Shark Valley wet walk in the Shark Valley Slough.
Sign up for a Ranger-Led Program
Other than wet walks, there are tons of guided hikes, ranger talks, and other educational programs led by the Everglades’ park rangers! We recommend checking and signing up ahead of time for special programs in the Royal Palm area of the park on NPS’s Royal Palm Events Page, although you can also sign up for some activities same-day at the Visitor’s Center if spots are open.
Location: 40001 State Hwy 9336, Homestead, FL
Visitor Center Winter Hours: 8 am – 5 pm Mid-December through March
Visitor Center Summer Hours: 9 am – 5 pm April through Mid-December
Amenities: Restrooms, Gift Shop, Educational Displays, Parking
More Info: NPS Ernest F. Coe Webpage
2. Royal Palm Visitor Center
🏆 Best For: Proximity to the Anhinga Trail, spotting Anhingas and Alligators, and its proximity to Long Pine Key campground and the Nike Missile Base
Just down the road from Ernest F. Coe, and officially within Everglades National Park, is Royal Palm Visitor Center. While technically a visitors center, there is much less information here when compared to Ernest F. Coe or Flamingo. This location is only made up of a store, some bathrooms, and a small pavilion where ranger talks are held. Think of this center as more of a rest stop when exploring the Royal Palm area at large. Nearby you’ll also find the Long Pine Key Campground, where there are several picnic tables with views of the water and trail access just down the main park road, making it another great place to recharge.
💡 Vultures are known to eat the rubber off of visitors’ tires here, so rangers might give you a tarp to protect your car while it’s parked.
Things to Do Near Royal Palm Visitor Center
Hike Some Trails in Royal Palm
The Anhinga Trail is the most popular trail in all of the park, kicking off right outside this visitor center. It’s quite short, about 0.8 miles, but you’re bound to see tons of wildlife in a short amount of time. We saw anhinga birds, alligators, blue herons, and so much more! The Gumbo Limbo Trail is another 1/2-mile trail that you can hit as well. It was named after the local Gumbo Limbo trees, which you’ll see plenty of while walking. Both these trails can get quite crowded as they’re so close to the park entrance! But don’t worry, there are plenty of other trails throughout the park where you won’t feel as cramped.
🥾 Checkout our recent article, Our 9 Favorite Hikes in Everglades National Park, for more Everglades hiking inspiration!
Visit the HM69 Nike Missile Base
Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm, this old missile base is a rare relic of the Cold War in Florida. We absolutely loved our visit here! It was an interesting break from trails and a chance to do something a bit different from the rest of nature-related activities in the rest of the park. We even were able to catch a ranger-led missile launch activity while there.
Sign up for a Ranger-Led Program
As this is the same area of the park as Ernest F. Coe Center, the activities page is the same. Again, we recommend checking and signing up ahead of time for special programs in the Royal Palm area of the park on NPS’s Royal Palm Events Page, although you can also sign up at Ernest F. Coe if spots are open.
Location: Everglades National Park
Visitor Center Hours: 9 am – 4 pm year-round
Amenities: Restrooms, Vending Machines, Parking, Nearby Picnic Area and Campground
More Info: NPS Royal Palm Webpage
3. Guy Bradley Visitor Center (Flamingo)
🏆 Best For: Crocodile and Manatee spottings, kayak rentals, boat tours, watching the sunset, and proximity to the Flamingo Campground
Guy Bradley Visitor Center is located down the road from Royal Palm, making it the southernmost visitor center of the Everglades. This center was damaged in two hurricanes, rebuilt, and reopened in 2023. The new design was built with climate change in mind, with most of the attractions on the second floor in preparation for future floods or sea level rise. This visitor center is where you’ll apply for backcountry camping permits if that’s something you’re interested in.
Nearby the visitor center, you’ll come across Flamingo Campground, Flamingo Lodge, Flamingo Restaurant, Flamingo Marina, Flamingo Glamping Tents, and several hiking trails. This area around the marina is the best place to park for the tours that leave from the marina, including boat tours, kayak tours, or even launching a private boat.
⛽ Tip: From the entrance of the park, it’s a total of 37 miles (45-minute drive) to the Flamingo Visitor Center. Be sure to refill on gas before entering the park, as it’s typically much cheaper than filling up on gas at the marina.
Things to Do Near Guy Bradley Visitor Center
Visit the Visitor Center Exhibits
Besides Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, we found the exhibits at Guy Bradley to be very informative and engaging as well! We recommend taking at least a half hour to go through the exhibit, learning about who Guy Bradley was, soaking in all the local history of the area, and learning about the unique flora and fauna that’s specific to this southernmost point of the Florida peninsula! There’s also a neat gift shop within the Guy Bradley Visitor Center with books on the Everglades that’s worth checking out!
Go Wildlife Watching at the Marina
There’s so much wildlife to see just around the Flamingo marina! We saw the American Crocodile (now that you’re in saltwater territory), manatees, and lots of water birds. Several benches face the water, making it the perfect spot to sit for a while with your binoculars or camera.
Take some time to walk around the marina and look for “Freddie” the crocodile, a 14-foot-long croc named after Freddy Kruger. Apparently, most crocodiles will kill other males but don’t kill females. Nevertheless, Freddy has been known to kill female crocodiles for some reason, hence the nickname!
Go Hiking
There are tons of trails in the Flamingo area of the park. One of our favorites was the Rowdy Bend Trail. Although it was closed for maintenance, it was still open for hiking. This made it slightly overgrown in a few areas, increasing the difficulty of the hike, but at the same time made it more natural—which we enjoyed. This trail takes you through shady buttonwoods as well as an open coastal prairie.
Rent Kayaks from Flamingo Marina
Head inside Flamingo Marina to inquire about renting kayaks, canoes, or even bikes! Rangers will be able to provide you with recommendations for the best waterways to take your kayak or canoe through. More information at Flamingo Adventures. This is the main company that runs experiences throughout the park.
Sign up for a Ranger-Led Program
We recommend checking and signing up ahead of time for special programs in the Flamingo area of the park on NPS’s Flamingo Events Page, although you can also sign up at this Visitor’s Center if spots are open. We were able to jump on a Tree Tour, walking around the property as our guide showed us the different species of trees, what made them special, which ones were invasive, and more! It was about 45 minutes long and really cool!
Go on a Boat Tour of Florida Bay
Starting at $24, Flamingo Adventures also runs a few 90-minute wildlife-watching boat tours every day. Check out their website to book in advance, or head over to the marina to inquire same-day if you didn’t have time. This is a great way to see the area without tiring yourself out if you’ve been hiking or biking all day.
Location: 1 Flamingo Lodge Hwy, Homestead, FL
Visitor Center Winter Hours: 8 am – 5 pm, Friday to Tuesday, November 1st to May 31st
Visitor Center Summer Hours: 9 am – 5 pm, Friday to Tuesday, June 1st to October 31st
Amenities: Educational Displays, Bathrooms, Gift shop, Parking, Nearby Marina and Campground
More Info: NPS Guy Bradley Webpage
4. Shark Valley Visitor Center
🏆 Best For: Bike trails, free ranger-led Wet Walk, and proximity to airboat rides on Route 41
Shark Valley Visitor Center is located on the northern side of Everglades National Park, roughly a 75-minute drive from Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. The main attraction in this area of the park is the Shark Valley Tram Trail, a 15-mile paved loop trail that can be walked, biked, or even ridden by a tram. We walked part of the way down the Shark Valley Tram Trail but opted not to take the tram or rent bikes during this visit as we’d been hiking a lot that day. Instead, we went on a ranger-led Wet Walk (which was one of our favorite park experiences) as well as a few shorter trails.
🚗 In peak season (December to April) try to arrive as early as possible to avoid a long line to park, as Shark Valley’s parking is limited. Parking opens at 8:30 am.
Things to Do Near Shark Valley Visitor Center
Go on the Shark Valley Tram Trail
This 15-mile paved loop trail can be done by tram (paid), bike (paid or free if bringing your own bike), or walking (free). There is a ton more of wildlife to see on this trail, we saw tons of alligators and white herons. Shark Valley Tram Tours run from 8:30 am to 6 pm and cost around $33 for adults. Bikes and trams are a great option if you’re planning on walking, or have already walked, a ton that day—both can be reserved at the Visitor Center or online ahead of time. At the end of the trail, you’ll find the observation tower, a 65-foot tower offering panoramic views of the landscape. The tower closes at 5 pm, so arrive on time if you’re looking to climb it!
Hit a Few Trails
Other than the main Shark Valley Tram Trail, we hiked the Bobcat Boardwalk Trail, a short 10-minute loop trail that took us through a sawgrass slough, as well as the Otter Cave Hammock Trail. The Otter Cave Trail we weren’t able to finish it because of how muddy it was from recent rainfall (it isn’t on a raised or paved platform).
Go on a Ranger-Led Wet Walk
This free wet walk took us from the visitor center to Shark Valley Slew, a freshwater slow-moving river, as well as through prairie grassland. We can’t recommend this wet walk enough! It was easily our favorite hiking experience in Everglades National Park. Reservations can be made one week in advance by calling the visitor center at 305-221-8776. We were able to snag a spot by calling at 9 am, exactly 7 days before the day we wanted to go on the wet walk.
Go on an Airboat Ride
Guided Airboat Rides are typically done around here on Route 41 (the northern border of the National Park), but not directly from Shark Valley Visitor Center. There are three main companies that run them—Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park, and Gator Park. They’re a great, fun way to experience the more hidden waterways of the Everglades and learn even more about the local wildlife!
Sign up for a Ranger-Led Program
Per usual, we recommend checking and signing up ahead of time for special ranger-led programs in the Shark Valley area of the park on NPS’s Shark Valley Events Page, although you can also sign up for some events same-day at this Visitor’s Center if spots are open.
Location: 36000 SW 8th St, Miami, FL
Visitor Center Hours: 9 am – 5 pm
Amenities: Exhibitions, Giftshop, Bathrooms, Tickets for Tram Tours
More Info: NPS Shark Valley Webpage
5. Gulf Coast Visitor Center (Everglades City)
🏆 Best For: Proximity to Ten Thousand Islands, airboat tours, and visiting downtown Everglades City
⚠️ Reminder: Gulf Coast Visitor Center is currently closed and under construction until Fall 2025. More information here.
Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City was being rebuilt when we visited, so we didn’t visit this visitor center, nor this western section of the park. It will be turned into the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center. Both the visitor center and surrounding sites are projected to be under construction until Fall 2025. There are no trails at this location, however, we did come across a few things to do in the area.
Things to Do Near Gulf Coast Visitor Center
Explore the Western Everglades with Jenny’s Eco Everglades
We went on a kayaking tour of the Western Everglades with Jenny from Jenny’s Eco Everglades and had a fabulous time! It was a 3-hour kayaking experience taking us through the mangroves and ecosystems found in this section of the Everglades. Jenny was professional and well-informed on the challenges that face the Everglades today. Our kayaking experience was one of the highlights of our trip to the Everglades.
Visit Ten Thousand Islands
We did find this 3-hour boat tour offered by Everglades National Park Adventures that pushes off from Everglades City. It’s a great way to explore Ten Thousand Islands if you don’t have your own boat!
Visit the Museum of the Everglades
In the heart of Everglades City is the free Museum of the Everglades that tells you the history and culture of the park and surrounding area. The museum itself is located in what used to be a laundry facility! Open from 9 am – 4 pm Tuesday through Saturday.
Go on an Airboat Tour
We also came across this airboat tour that leaves from Everglades City and will take you to see alligators, manatees, birds, and more on the Barron River.
Sign up for a Ranger-Led Program
There isn’t too much on Gulf Coast’s Visitor Center’s page now, due to the renovations, but we’ll link it here just in case.
Location: 815 Oyster Bar Ln, Everglades City, FL
Visitor Center Hours: Temporarily Closed
Amenities: Temporarily Closed
More Info: NPS Gulf Coast Webpage
🗺️ Map of the Visitor Centers of the Everglades
How to use this map: We have saved the locations from this guide on this map. You can save this map to your Google Maps by pressing the star icon. In your Google Maps, click the menu icon and then Saved Maps, where this map will appear.
📰 Related Articles
- Our 9 Favorite Hikes in Everglades National Park
- How to Camp in the Everglades: RV + Tent-Camping Guide
- How to See Everglades National Park in One Day: The Perfect Itinerary
- 2025 Ultimate Travel Guide to Everglades National Park
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