25 to 35 minutes from Fort Lauderdale beach, depending on traffic. Everglades Holiday Park is the city's own airboat dock.
Fort Lauderdale beach to Everglades Holiday Park is 25 to 35 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Book the 60-minute airboat tour online and pick your boat time before you leave.
You do not have to drive to the national park entrances to get on the water. Everglades Holiday Park, the city's own airboat dock at 21940 Griffin Road, is 25 to 35 minutes from Fort Lauderdale beach, depending on traffic. The 60-minute airboat tour runs daily.
Buy airboat tour tickets online and pick your boat time before you leave the beach.
No car? The VIP tour with round-trip transportation picks up at hotels and stops across Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach and brings you to the park and back the same day.
What better way is there to make your time in Florida more exciting than to visit Everglades National Park for a day? Let’s talk about some of the ways you can fully immerse yourself into the Everglades without having to set up camp.
You want to be comfortable when you go on any day trip, but especially on one where you’ll be doing quite a bit of walking. In order to fully enjoy the beautiful wilderness, consider having these things on hand: a full water bottle, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, bug repellant, sunglasses, moisture-wicking shirt, hiking shorts/pants, moisture-wicking socks, hiking shoes (make sure they’re already broken in!), and a light rain jacket.
The easiest route from the Fort Lauderdale area is to hop onto 1-595 W, turn onto Highway 27 S, stay there for a while until you come upon Griffin Road where you will make a right. Then follow the road for about a half mile and you will be in the heart of the Everglades!
On your trip to the Everglades, you must visit Everglades Holiday Park and see the world-famous Gator Boys put on an alligator show full of daring stunts, educational moments, and memories that will last forever.
It’s incredible to see a diverse array of animals in their natural habitat, but if you want to get even closer to nature than that after you’re done with the show and you’ve grabbed some lunch at the Gator Bites Café, you can have the experience of a lifetime by holding a baby alligator! It’s a fantastic experience, and professionals will monitor you carefully throughout the process. There will be an opportunity for photos so you can show off your astounding feat to all your friends.
The Sawgrass Prairie, also known as the Sawgrass Marsh, is a habitat that stays wet most of the year. Only during the Everglades’ dry season can you see the ground.
The sawgrass in this area is so dense that travel is really only possible via airboat. That’s why the tours are so interesting and engaging. You might not otherwise get to see that part of the park!
Of all the national parks, Everglades National Park is definitely worth visiting. The native species alone are so numerous and diverse that you could spend a lifetime studying them. The panoramic views you can breathe in from the Shark Valley Observation Tower are staggeringly beautiful.
The Anhinga Trail
is a must-see for all the enthusiastic hikers who come for a visit. It dives into true nature, where you can see alligators, herons, and the wetlands that are so much talked of.
The Ten Thousand Islands
is a mangrove forest. From a comfortable boat, you can meander through the islands on a guided tour and see otters, bears, and many other creatures.
Miami-Dade County is in the southeastern part of Florida. According to the 2020 census, it is the most populous county in all of Florida and the seventh-most populous county in the US. It covers 1,946 miles, and about a third of that is the Everglades. The fact that 33% of its land is protected against human settlement makes those numbers even more impressive.
Here are some bullet points about the airboats on which you can tour the beautiful Everglades:
Each airboat easily seats up to 25 people
The airboats are top-of-the-line quality and construction
They are operated by highly trained and experienced captains who know all the best places to spot wildlife
Our airboats are well-maintained and checked daily to ensure perfect riding conditions
Everglades Holiday Park airboat tours operate in all weather but will return to the docks if the conditions are unsafe
Each airboat has a first aid kit.
Each airboat has one life jacket per person.
Infants and young children are allowed onboard the airboats but should always be seated with an adult.
Even driving all the way to Everglades City isn’t out of the question, but thankfully, you don’t have to go that far. The short answer is that, yes, you can take your car to Everglades National Park. In fact, it’s easy to drive, both for navigation and time.
For just about fifty miles, which is around two hours of drive time each way, you can have a memorable adventure and be home to Fort Lauderdale in time for dinner. Break up your time at the beach with a trip that will immerse you in lush green vegetation and allow you to view and even meet a variety of animals.
Animal Encounters & Everglades VIP Tour Pick-up service:
Open 9 AM - 4:00 PM daily. Park hours are subject to unpredictable weather.
7 Days a week: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM Eastern Time
Open daily 9:00 AM. Last full 60-minute tour 4:00 PM. Last boat 4:30 PM (30-minute ride). Arrive 30 minutes before the tour you want.
**All prices are subject to change without notice at our discretion. Please call our office directly for the most up-to-date pricing information.
