Where to Stay Near Everglades National Park
The Everglades has two separate entrances on opposite sides of the park, so your base should match which side of the park — the main Homestead entrance or the Gulf Coast side — you plan to spend the most time in.
Quick Answer
Stay in Homestead or Florida City for the closest access to the main Ernest Coe entrance, Anhinga Trail, and Flamingo, or in Everglades City if your trip centers on the Gulf Coast, Ten Thousand Islands, and boat tours.
Best Overall Base: Homestead And Florida City
Homestead and Florida City sit closest to the main Ernest Coe entrance, roughly 45 minutes south of Miami, and give the easiest access to the Anhinga Trail, Shark Valley area, and the long drive down to Flamingo. They have the widest hotel selection near the park.
- Closest to the main entrance
- About 45 minutes from Miami
- Best access to Flamingo and Anhinga Trail
Everglades City: The Gulf Coast Side
Everglades City, on the park's northwest edge, is the base for Ten Thousand Islands boat tours and Gulf Coast access. It is a separate entrance from the Homestead side and not efficiently combined with it in a single day.
Miami Or Naples As A Wider Base
Miami works if the Everglades is one stop on a broader South Florida trip and you don't mind the extra drive time each day. Naples plays the same role for the Gulf Coast side, closer to Everglades City than Miami is.
Plan And Track This Park
Save the Everglades to your checklist before choosing an entrance side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you stay near the east or west entrance of the Everglades?
Most first-time visitors should base near Homestead or Florida City on the east side, since it connects to the park's most visited trails and the Flamingo area.
Can you do both sides of the Everglades in one day?
Not comfortably. The Homestead and Everglades City entrances are roughly two hours apart by road, so most trips treat them as separate days or separate trips.
Is it worth staying inside the Everglades?
There are no hotels inside the park; the closest option is camping at Flamingo. Most visitors stay in Homestead, Florida City, or Everglades City instead.
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