Everglades National Park for British visitors: the 2026 non-resident fee, airboat tours, the Anhinga Trail, kayak routes, wildlife by season and which entrance to use.
For most UK visitors it's a day trip from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, and a good one. In a few hours you can walk a boardwalk with alligators a few metres away, climb the Shark Valley tower for a view across the sawgrass, and take an airboat or a kayak into the marsh. The questions that shape the day are which entrance to use, what time of year you're going, and, since 2026, how to handle the new fee for overseas visitors.
From 1 January 2026, visitors who are not US residents and are aged 16 or over pay a $100 fee per person at Everglades National Park, on top of the standard entrance fee, according to the National Park Service. Everglades is one of eleven parks where the charge applies. For two adults and a teenager arriving in one car, that is $300 before the vehicle entrance fee.
There are two ways to plan around it:
US "fee-free days" no longer apply to non-residents from 2026. Check the NPS Everglades fees page before you go, because the rules are new and may be adjusted.
The American alligator is what most people come to see, and it's easy to find. In winter (dry season), they congregate around remaining water sources and are easily visible from trails and observation platforms. In summer, they spread out but are still commonly seen.
Safety note: Keep your distance. The park asks visitors to stay at least 15 feet (about 4.5 metres) from alligators, and feeding them is illegal in Florida because fed alligators lose their fear of people. Stay on marked trails, keep children close and away from the water's edge, and never swim in Everglades waters.
More than 360 bird species have been recorded in the park, and winter, when the wading birds concentrate around shrinking pools, is the best time to see them:
The gentle West Indian manatee can be spotted in the coastal and estuarine waters of the Everglades, especially during cooler months when they seek warm spring-fed waters. Adults are slow, grey and large, commonly around 1,000 pounds. The Flamingo marina is one of the likelier places to spot one surfacing.
An airboat is a flat-bottomed boat pushed by a large aircraft-style propeller, which lets it skim over shallow sawgrass where a normal boat can't go. Rides are fast and very loud (operators hand out ear defenders), and a good guide will cut the engine to show you birds and alligators up close.
Operators run from:
Tips: Book in advance during peak season. Morning tours (wildlife is more active and the light is better). Bring sunscreen and a hat — there's no shade on an airboat.
The most immersive way to experience the Everglades. Paddle through mangrove tunnels, across open marshes, and along coastal waterways.
Rangers run free guided walks and talks, mostly in the winter dry season. The "slough slog", a guided wade into a cypress dome, is a memorable one if you don't mind wet trousers. Schedules are posted at the Ernest Coe, Royal Palm, Flamingo and Shark Valley visitor centres.
The main entrance, accessible from Miami (about 45 minutes). Leads to the main park road, which runs 38 miles to Flamingo on Florida Bay. Along this road:
On US-41 (Tamiami Trail), about 45 minutes west of Miami. The tram tour or bike ride along the 15-mile loop is excellent. The observation tower provides the best panoramic views in the park.
Near Everglades City, on the western edge. The gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands and boat tours through the mangrove coast. A completely different experience from the eastern entrances.
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floriday.uk is an independent travel guide. Always verify National Park Service opening hours, trail conditions, and programs before visiting.