Park Services
There is currently no lodging in the park. The Flamingo Lodge was severely damaged by hurricanes in the fall of 2005, and has not been repaired, and may never be. The nearest lodging is available in Homestead and Florida City. See our
Everglades Lodging Page for all the details
Camping is available in the Long Pine Key and Flamingo areas.See our
Everglades Camping Page for details.
The restaurant at Flamingo is closed along with the lodge. However, microwaves and frozen meals are available at the Flamingo Marina Store, and there are vending machines at Royal Palm.
Gasoline is currently not available in the park (it used to be at the Flamingo area). However, it is available in nearby Homestead.
There is a bookstore inside the visitor centers, and there is a general store at the Flamingo Marina.
Boat tours are available from the Flamingo Marina. Otherwise, a private vehicle is necessary to travel the park, and to get to the marina.
Visitor centers are located at the main entrance (Ernest Coe), Royal Palm, Flamingo, Shark Valley, and Gulf Coast. They are normally open 8AM to 5PM in the dry season, with shorter and variable hours in the wet season.
Visitation Seasons
The spring begins as the visitation season is coming to a close at the park. Heat, humidity, and rain increase, and by the end of April things are very uncomfortable.
The summer is the time of lowest visitation and services, in contrast to most national parks. High heat and humidity, along with almost unimaginable numbers of mosquitoes and other insects, make the park very uncomfortable.
The fall continues the trend of the summer season, with relief coming towards the end of the season in late November and early December.
The winter is the time of highest visitation and services. The last two weeks of December in particular are very busy. Temperatures are more moderate, humidity and insects are low, and rain, while still common, is much less. Wildlife viewing, particularly the alligators, is at its best, as they concentrate in the areas of deep water, especially at Royal Palm and the Anhinga Trail.
Visitation Time
A full day at the least for the main portion of the park from Royal Palm to Flamingo. A second day is recommended to visit the Shark Valley area off of Tamiami Trail. The two areas are about an hour's drive apart.
