This is a 3-part series describing road trip itineraries to 9 beautiful and unique US National Parks.
Part 1: Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and the Dry Tortugas & Fort Jefferson National Park
Looking for the most beautiful and awe inspiring national parks to visit this spring? You’ve come to the right place.
With so much beautiful scenery and tons of outdoor activities, the US national parks make great destinations for both families and solo travelers.
And what better than a road trip to a national park?
To help you plan the best trip ever, I’ve put together a fun-filled 5 to 7 day road trip itinerary to the three national parks in Florida.
I’ve also included things to do, places to stay, and tips on getting to the parks and making the most out of your visit.
Spring is a GREAT time for a road trip to visit these national parks in particular for the comfortable temperatures and more favorable weather conditions.
The downside is that everyone else thinks so too. The spring months can also see the largest crowds and highest prices – especially in Florida.
Try visiting in either April or May when the majority of winter visitors have left, hurricane season has yet to begin, and schools haven’t let out for the summer.
Prices may not be what they are in the off-season, but at least you won’t be fighting the huge crowds everywhere you go.
Who doesn’t love warm sandy beaches and sunshine in the spring?
So go on, leave the spring snows and mud season behind, pile in the car, and head to south Florida!
If you want ideas of what you should bring on a road trip, take a look through my article on Road Trip Essentials.
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GETTING TO SOUTH FLORIDA
Depending on where you’re coming from, you have the option of driving south through the Florida Peninsula, or flying into Miami or Fort Myers and renting a vehicle.
Considerations such as your preference, budget, and how much time you have will determine your route.
DRIVE TIME FROM NORTHERN FLORIDA BORDER
From the Florida/Georgia border you’re looking at about a 5-6 hour drive non-stop down Interstate 95 to Miami.
Or from the Florida/Alabama line, it will take you between 8 and 10 hours depending on whether you drive down the east coast and Interstate 95 or Interstate 75 along the west coast.
FLYING
From Miami International Airport, Everglades National Park is just over 40 miles to the southwest. Biscayne National Park is about 30 miles to the south, making Miami a great choice of airports to fly into.
From Fort Myers and Southwest Florida International Airport, you are just over an hour north of the western entrance to Everglades National Park in Everglades City. And it’s three hours to Biscayne National Park across the Big Cypress National Preserve.
Either airport will get you to where you need to be but if I had to choose, I prefer Fort Myers over Miami. RSW is a smaller airport and much easier to navigate and you can usually find great prices on flights.
WHERE TO STAY
While visiting the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks, you have a few options of where to stay that are close to the parks.
FLORIDA CITY
While Miami has thousands of options from budget hotels to five-star resorts, the Florida City/Homestead area south of Miami has some of the closest lodging to both the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks.
The main entrance to the Everglades National Park is in Homestead, just about 15 minutes away, whereas Biscayne National Park is just under 20 minutes from Florida City.
Travelodge by Wyndham, Fairway Inn, and the Quality Inn are three excellent accommodation choices located in Florida City.
KEY LARGO
If you’re looking for something a bit more upscale, Key Largo has several options and is less than an hour from the main Homestead Entrance to Everglades National Park. It’s also less than 30 minutes from Biscayne National Park.
Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo and the Playa Largo Resort & Spa are both beautiful options with amazing amenities located right on Florida Bay.
NAPLES/MARCO ISLAND/EVERGLADES CITY
Port of the Islands Everglades Adventure Resort is a great option for the outdoor adventure enthusiasts. It’s only 20 minutes to the west entrance to the Everglades National Park and the Gulf Coast Visitor Center.
It has 42 cottage suites as well as a full marina, restaurant, and tons of other outdoor amenities.
If you’ve always wanted to visit Marco Island, try the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. With its 12 restaurants, two championship golf courses and luxury spa, it’s only 45 minutes from the visitor center.
Or, for a beautiful family-owned hotel full of charisma, check out The Ivey House Everglades Adventures Hotel in Everglades City.
Everglades National Park – Days 1 & 2
The first of the 9 awe inspiring national parks you should visit this spring is Everglades National Park.
Everglades National Park covers over 1.5 million acres across the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula.
And there are four separate entrances – Gulf Coast Visitors Center (in Everglades City) to the northwest and Earnest F. Coe Visitors Center to the east (just west of Homestead).
Flamingo Visitors Center is in the southwest corner and Shark Valley Visitors Center is located at the north end of the park.
There is a park entry fee of $30 per vehicle (good for 7 consecutive days) unless you have one of these American the Beautiful passes.
Day 1
For the first day of our itinerary, I suggest that you begin by visiting the Earnest F. Coe Visitors Center where you can explore the bookstore and educational displays, including an orientation film, before heading out for a hike on one of the nearby trails.
One of the most popular trails is the Anhinga Trail that starts from the Royal Palm Visitor Center, just four miles from the Earnest F. Coe Visitors Center and the park entrance.
This trail is just under a mile roundtrip and is wheelchair and stroller accessible. It’s a great opportunity for viewing tons of wildlife including alligators, turtles, and birds like herons and egret.
After seeing the wildlife, continue driving through the park down to Flamingo Visitors Center.
It’s about an hour drive through the heart of the Everglades National Park.
Here you have a good chance of spotting not only alligators, but also the American crocodile, a normally very shy and reclusive cousin of the American alligator.
There is a marina with kayak, canoe and bicycle rentals available and snacks and drinks can be found at the marina store.
Day 2
On the second day, I recommend you get an early start and head to the Shark Valley Visitors Center at the northern end of the park.
Tip: best times to visit here are before 10am and after 3pm and avoid the most crowded time of day.
Here, you can take a guided tram tour, rent bicycles, climb the observation tower for a bird’s eye view over the sawgrass, or explore along the two walking trails.
HIKING TRAILS FROM SHARK VALLEY VISITORS CENTER
The Otter Cave Hammock Trail is about a half mile round trip (this is not wheelchair accessible).
The Bobcat Boardwalk trail wanders through the sawgrass where you can glimpse various birds and small mammals. The walk is about one mile round trip.
For a really unique experience, consider taking the Full Moon/New Moon Bike Ride.
On specific dates from December thru April, the National Park Service offers a chance to view the sunset and night sky from the observation tower. Then, you set off to participate in a 15-mile bike ride in the dark!
Not just anyone can say they’ve bicycled through the Everglades at night! Call the Shark Valley Visitor Center at 305.221.8777 for more details or to make reservations.
EVERGLADES CITY AND GULF COAST VISITORS CENTER
After spending a couple of hours at the Shark Valley Visitors Center, continue on to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City.
Everglades City is the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands, an area full of mangroves that is only accessible by boat.
Here, you can rent a kayak and explore the area (make sure you have a reliable GPS).
You can also make a reservation for the Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour where you’ll explore the mangrove islands on board a 45ft catamaran with a naturalist providing information on the history and wildlife of the area.
Or for a fun-filled experience, take one of the airboat tours through the backwater.
There are several tour operators that leave from Everglades City.
We booked a tour with Everglades City Airboat Tours and had so much fun!
We even saw a 12ft alligator that swam near our boat!
If you’re looking for a great place to get fresh seafood, tasty gator bites, frog legs, or a delicious hamburger, check out the Island Café right in the middle of Everglades City.
They have amazing food and we would definitely go back again!
BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK – Day 3
Day 3
For the third day of our road trip, I recommend visiting the second of Florida’s national parks.
Located just south of Miami, Biscayne National Park is 95% water, so most of the park is only accessible by boat.
I suggest starting at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center where you will discover the history and opportunities found within the park.
Then take a walk and explore the jetty trail. Half boardwalk and half gravel, the trail is just under a mile and takes you along the shoreline filled with mangroves.
Enjoy a relaxing picnic with great scenery at the picnic area near the start of the trail.
If you have access to a boat (or plan on renting one) the park is a true aquatic playground that you can enjoy to your heart’s content.
There are guided boat tours offered if you rather leave the navigating to someone else.
And through the Biscayne National Park Institute, there are several boat tours that will take you to Stiltsville, the Deering Estate on Boca Chita Key, or you can enjoy a sunset cruise through the park. Check out all the tour options here.
There’s also activities such as fishing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving, camping and more to be found inside the park.
There are six mapped shipwrecks inside the park along the Maritime Heritage Trail that are accessible by boat and can be explored with snorkel or dive gear. You can read more about the wrecks here.
It is worth noting however, that scuba diving is permitted only through an approved dive company.
For certified divers, it is a great way to experience the true beauty of the park!
Check out more information on scuba diving tours with Tropic Scuba here.
Depending on how much you want to explore and experience within the park, you can choose to visit just one day or extend it to include multiple days.
DRY TORTUGAS and FORT JEFFERSON NATIONAL PARK
The next awe inspiring national park to visit this spring is the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson National Park.
From Miami, we head to Key West, our next destination and the jumping off point for the Dry Tortugas.
While in Key West, I highly encourage you to take the time to explore Duval Street. There are tons of interesting shops, art galleries, antique stores, not to mention restaurants with amazing food and great atmosphere!
Check out my article on the Best 4 Day Weekend Itinerary for Key West, for things to do and delicious places to eat!
GETTING TO KEY WEST – DAY 4
If you chose to drive down the Overseas Highway along Interstate 1 from Miami to Key West, it will take you just over three hours non-stop (if traffic is in your favor).
I recommend taking a full day to drive from Miami to Key West. It’s a beautiful drive and there’s lots of places to stop and explore along the way. Enjoy the day and arrive in Key West in the late afternoon.
Another option is to fly from Miami to Key West.
Most roundtrip airfares cost around $200 per person depending on day of the week and the month.
WHERE TO STAY IN KEY WEST
There are many great options for lodging in Key West ranging from resorts, bed and breakfasts, and even vacation rentals through VRBO.
There are several hotels in the new town (or northern end of the island) including the Hilton Garden Inn Key West and the Fairfield Inn & Suites Key West. There’s also the Courtyard by Marriott Key West Waterfront.
Options in Old Key West near Duval Street are numerous as well but may be more pricey given the location.
Opal Key Resort & Marina – Beautiful resort on the water just one block from Duval Street in Old Town. It’s also next to Mallory Square where you can enjoy amazing sunsets and great nightlife.
Margaritaville Beach House– Rated one of the top resorts in the Florida Keys, The Margaritaville offers fun and relaxation. Located just across the street from Smathers Beach, it’s a great location for families.
If you want to experience an incredible day at the beach, read the Floridian’s Guide to Experiencing the Ultimate Beach Day.
If B&Bs are more your style, check out The Artist House. This beautifully decorated house has seven suites and is located just off Duval Street, and within walking distance to the Southernmost Point landmark.
VRBO – If you prefer your own home away from home, check out the Vacation Rental By Owner option. Dozens of townhomes, condos, bungalows, old Floridian houses just off Duval Street, and even accommodations aboard sailing vessels! Check out availability here.
Day 5
Today we set off to explore Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson National Park, one of the most remote national parks in the US.
Comprised of a cluster of seven small islands, the park covers 110 square miles of open water and is located about 70 miles west of Key West.
Because of its location, it’s only accessible by boat or seaplane.
Little Known Fact: The islands that make up the national park mark the true end of the Florida Keys. (Key West is where US 1 ends, not where the island chain ends.)
GETTING TO THE PARK
You have a couple of options for getting to the Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson from Key West.
FERRY
The most popular way of getting to the park is to catch the Yankee Freedom. The ferry leaves from the terminal on Grinnell Street in Key West. It’s just over a two hour trip to Fort Jefferson.
Included with your ferry reservation is breakfast and lunch, snorkeling equipment, and entrance fee to the park. (They also honor the national park passes as well.)
The ferry arrives back in Key West just after 5:00 pm.
You can make reservations for the Yankee Freedom here.
SEAPLANE
There are seaplane charters available from Key West that fly over the National Marine Sanctuary where you can spot sea turtles, sharks, stingrays and dolphins.
The plane also flies over the location where the Spanish Galleons “Atocha” and “Margarita” sank before landing at Fort Jefferson. For more information on charters check out their website here.
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT
If you’re an avid and experienced boater, you can cross the 70 miles of open water at your leisure. Just be sure to bring plenty of fuel as there are no refueling services at the park.
You can dock and camp at the park as well.
It is worth noting that camping in the park is very popular.
You will need to bring everything with you and pack your trash out. The seaplanes are not able to carry camping gear, so you’ll need to opt for getting there by ferry or private boat.
For more information on camping in the Dry Tortugas, check out the NPS website here.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Once at the island, you’re free to explore the fort and surrounding area, or soak up some sun at one of four beaches until the ferry leaves for the return trip at 3:00 pm.
There is a self-guided tour of the fort that takes about 40 minutes or so and gives a great deal of information on its history and architecture.
You can snorkel, fish, swim, or just enjoy the view. There are no kayak or canoe rentals available on the island, but it is possible to bring a kayak on the ferry with you. Check with the ferry operator for more details.
The Dry Tortugas have some of the best snorkeling in all the Florida Keys. The waters are shallow, crystal clear, and full of marine life.
It’s truly a beautiful and unique park and one that should be on everyone’s bucket list!
This Florida national park itinerary can be completed in as little as four days if you only spend one day in each park. However, I recommend spreading it out to 5 days or more and truly experience the best of what each park has to offer.
Amazing wildlife, beautiful water, incredible experiences: all these and more make up Florida’s three national parks.
So pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and embrace your inner dragonfly!
Check out Part II in this 3-part series…Stunning Southwestern National Parks You Need to Visit Now!
And Part III…SoCal National Parks Road Trip: Joshua Tree and Death Valley.
What is your favorite national park? Do you have an experience or valuable tip you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you! Comment down below!
And if you’ve got a few extra days in Florida, I suggest spending a day at Discovery Cove: Orlando’s All-Inclusive Tropical Paradise.
