Epic 2 Day Itinerary for Everglades National Park
Are you ready to start exploring Everglades National Park with this 2-day itinerary? Everglades National Park is the most visited National Park in Florida and for good reason! This itinerary is perfect for any outdoor enthusiast and includes the best of the Homestead entrance and Shark Valley entrance.
Everglades National Park 2 Day Itinerary Overview
For this itinerary I chose the Homestead entrance as day 1 and Shark Valley on day 2. However, it will work in either order.
- Day 1: Homestead Entrance
- Day 2: Shark Valley Entrance
Everglades National Park Entrances
There are three entrances to Everglades National Park. If you only have 2 days to spend, I recommend splitting your time between the Homestead and Shark Valley entrance. These two entrances are a little over 1 hour apart, and there are no roads in the park that connect them. The entrance fee into the park provides access to all 3 entrances for 7 consecutive days.
- Homestead Entrance: 40001 State Road 9336 Homestead, Florida 33034
- Shark Valley Entrance: 3600 SW 8th Street Miami, Florida 33914
Day 1 : Exploring the Homestead Entrance
Spend the day exploring the various short hiking trails, drive the 40-mile park road, and don’t forget to stop for a milkshake at Robert is Here on your way out of the park! See below for a detailed list of everything I recommend you do at the Homestead Entrance!
Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
Your first stop should be at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. I can’t visit a national park without stopping at the visitor center! I enjoy talking to the rangers to get any updates on current park conditions and any suggestions they have. This is the largest visitor center in the Everglades so I recommend a stop here.
Next, head out in your car on the 40-mile park road. You will want to make several stops along the way. PRO TIP: Make sure to fill up on fuel and have plenty of water and food with you before heading into the park.
Royal Palm Visitor Center
The two most popular trails, Anhinga Trail and Gumbo-Limbo Trail, can be accessed from the Royal Palm Visitor Center. Both of these short trails are MUST DO HIKES when visiting the Everglades. The Anhinga Trail is paved or boardwalk which is wheelchair accessible.
- Anhinga Trail: 0.8 miles
- Gumbo Limbo Trail: 0.4 miles
PRO TIP: Make sure to cover your car with the tarps and bungee cords provided by the park. The vultures in this area are known to destroy rubber on car windshield wipers and sunroofs.
Additional Trails
There are several short trails to stop at as you make your way to the Guy Bradley (Flamingo) Visitor Center. I recommend stopping at these trails as well!
- Pineland Trail: 0.4 miles
- Pahayokee Trail: 0.2 miles
- Mahogany Hammock Trail: 0.5 miles
Guy Bradley (Flamingo) Visitor Center
The Guy Bradley (Flamingo) Visitor Center is the end of the park road from the Homestead entrance. This area does have some hiking trails, but they are no longer maintained to protect the environment. This area is also known to have high mosquito activity, especially during the summer months. We tried 2 different trails in this area in November, and turned back quickly due to bugs.
To explore this area of the park I recommend either booking a boat tour or renting kayaks from Flamingo Everglades. There are multiple options available including the Backcountry Boat Tour, full day boat rental, and kayak or canoe rentals.
Robert Is Here
My last recommendation for your first day in the Everglades is not within the park boundaries. Robert is Here is a roadside fruit stand most well known for their world-famous guanabana milkshakes and other exotic fruits. This is a MUST STOP if you are in the area and the perfect sweet treat to end your day!
Day 2: Shark Valley Entrance
Choose your adventure on day 2 while you are in Shark Valley! The main attraction at Shark Valley is the 15-mile Shak Valley Loop where you can see many alligators in the wild. You can bike the loop or take the 2-hour tram tour. I personally recommend biking!
Biking Shark Valley Loop
Biking is one of the best ways to take in the sights of Shark Valley Loop. You can bring your own bike or rentals are available. It is important to make your reservation in advance if you plan to rent a bike.
I recommend making your reservation as early in the day as possible to ensure a bike is available at your start time. Reservations can be made starting at 8:30 AM continuing until 4 PM. The rental fee is $26 per bike.
One of the biggest advantages of biking on the tram road is you can make stops at your convenience and spend as much time as you would like to take pictures or observe the wildlife.
PRO TIP: Come prepared, this road is in direct sunlight with minimal shade. Make sure to wear sunscreen and bring plenty of water. Plan for 2 to 3 hours to bike the trail depending on your skill level.
Tram Tour Shark Valley Loop
Another great option to experience Shark Valley Loop is by reserving a spot on the tram tour. This tour is 2 hours and provides shade and more information provided by your guide. There are multiple tours available daily and the cost is listed below. It is recommended to make your reservation in advance.
- Adults: $33
- Senior: $25
- Children: $18
The tram will stop to allow guests to view the wildlife and provide educational information throughout the tour on the Everglades Ecosystem. I have not personally taken the tram tour, but plan to during my next visit to the Everglades!
Shark Valley Observation Tower
Regardless of which way you chose to explore Shark Valley Loop, you must stop at the observation tower! The tower is located at the halfway point and makes a nice spot to rest, especially if you are biking! There are also restrooms available.
The observation tower is the highest accessible elevation point within the park and provides 360 views of the Everglades.
Airboat Tour
Exploring Shark Valley Loop should take up most of your morning, for the afternoon there are 2 options I recommend choosing from. The first option is to take an airboat tour! There are 3 verified vendors recommended by the park website. I recommend booking a tour through one of them in advance.
- Coopertown: 20 minutes from Shark Valley entrance
- Everglades Safari Park: 15 minutes from Shark Valley entrance
- Gator Park: 15 minutes from Shark Valley entrance
Big Cypress Preserve (optional)
The second place I recommend is Big Cypress National Preserve. The entrance is only 10 minutes from the Shark Valley entrance to the everglades. There is no entrance fee to enter the preserve!
Feeling adventurous? Consider a ranger led swap hike, offered between late November through March! Make your reservation in advance. If you aren’t up for something quite that adventurous you can enjoy the Loop Road Scenic Drive.
Are you ready for 2 epic days in Everglades National Park?
Two days is the perfect amount of time to see the 2 main park entrances to the Everglades. If you have more time, I recommend spending a day in nearby Biscayne National Park. However, if you only have one day be sure to check out how to spend 1 day in Everglades National Park.
I hope you’ve found this post helpful, and that you are ready to start planning your trip. Make sure to save this post and share it with a friend that you’d like to visit Everglades National Park with!
