How to Get to Everglades National Park: By Car, Boat, Plane, or Transit

Everglades National Park (1.5 million acres) spans South Florida's tip. Access requires planning:

By Car (Most Common)

• Main Entrance (Ernest Coe): FL-9336, 10 mi west of Florida City (~1 hr from Miami, 2.5 hrs from Orlando).
• Shark Valley Entrance: US-41 (Tamiami Trail), 15 mi west of Miami; tram tours, observation tower.
• Gulf Coast (Everglades City): FL-29, 36 mi south of I-75; boat tours to Ten Thousand Islands.

By Public Transit (Limited)

• No direct service. Options:
  • Miami-Dade Route 38 to Florida City → taxi/rideshare to Ernest Coe.
  • Broward Route 10 to Hollywood → rideshare.
  • Tri-Rail to Fort Lauderdale → rideshare.

By Boat

• Marinas at Flamingo (park-operated), Everglades City, Chokoloskee offer rentals/charters.
• Private boats via marked channels; follow no-wake zones and seagrass protections.

By Air

• Miami International (MIA) – closest major airport (~1 hr drive).
• Key West (EYW) – closer to Gulf Coast entrance.
• Charter flights to Everglades Airpark (X01) near Flamingo.

Tip: A car is essential for exploring multiple areas. Download offline maps; cell service is spotty.