THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MIAMI NATIONAL PARK TOURS

Miami is great for a beach party, lively bars, and food. Beyond those well-known attractions, though, there’s another entire side to South Florida only a quick drive from the city. Perhaps the greatest national park sites you will see in the U.S. – Miami National Park options like Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park- lie in the city’s vicinity and can be explored in the daytime.

Here’s your ultimate guide to a day trip if you’re visiting Miami and feel like venturing outside the city for a bit. This guide covers everything you need to know. Where to go, how long it takes to get there, what to do when you arrive, and how to make the most of your visit.

There aren’t a lot of cities in the USA that can boast two national parks within an hour or two of their city centre. Miami does. The national parks near Miami that are worth your time are:

Everglades National Park – the largest subtropical wilderness in the US, famous for alligators, airboat rides, and wildlife

Biscayne National Park – a marine park right on Miami’s southern edge, covering coral reefs, mangroves, and small islands

These two are opposites of each other. The Everglades is inside, a rugged place full of wildlife. Biscayne is next to the water; a relaxing place ideal for kayaking, snorkelling, and boat trips. Between the two, you have a genuinely impressive range of natural experiences right next to one of the country’s busiest cities.

One of the most unusual and interesting areas you will find anywhere in the USA is Everglades National Park. Lying on the southern tip of Florida, the park consists of more than 1.5 million acres of mangrove forests, sawgrass prairies and wetlands and serves as a habitat for more than three hundred different varieties of birds, fish and reptiles, including such notable natives such as alligators and Florida panthers, the latter a well-loved symbol of this region. The fact that it has UNESCO World Heritage Site status indicates how special this region is.

Tourists come mostly to ride in airboats and see the wildlife. You can also take hiking trails, canoe trails, or go on programs run by park rangers, all depending on the entrance you utilise while travelling the park.

How far is Everglades National Park from Miami? One of the most popular questions visitors ask themselves. The answer will obviously depend on where in Miami you are coming from.

• If you’re coming from downtown Miami, the trip to the main entrance (Ernest Coe Visitor Centre) in Everglades is approximately 56 miles and takes an average of one hour and thirty minutes during normal traffic.
• Drive time from Miami Beach to Biscayne National Park increases the commute time by about 20-30 min.
• The distance from Miami Beach to Everglades National Park is roughly 60 miles, and the drive takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes during normal traffic.

• The Airboat ride is by far the most popular activity. Airboats are flat-bottom boats with huge fans behind them that can skim across very thin water at great speed. The airboats will get you right up close to alligators, birds and wild open wetlands.
• The Anhinga Trail at the Royal Palm has become one of the most visited, as it offers chances of seeing alligators bask in the sun on the bank as well as anhingas, herons, and other birds.
• For guests who aren’t interested in a fast-moving water activity, there’s kayaking and canoeing.
• Even just driving through the park and stopping at some places, you’ll see birds and alligators. Everglades is full of wildlife.

If driving yourself isn’t an option for you, Miami to Everglades National Park tour options can easily be found online. Miami to Everglades National Park Tours typically pick you up and drive you back to MIA or South Beach, drive you to the Everglades National Park, give you an airboat ride, and bring you back in the late afternoon / early evening. All tours are approximately 5 to 6 hours round trip.

Unlike the Everglades, Biscayne National Park is more of a water park since most of it lies under the water. The Miami-Dade County park spans 172,971 acres and is designed to protect Biscayne Bay and its barrier coral reefs offshore. Adjacent to the shore of the bay is a significant mangrove forest with a mere 9,075 acres of land within the boundaries.

The area supports a diverse ecosystem which includes coral reefs, vibrant fish, sea turtles, manatees and a coastline protected by mangroves. It is one of the most accessible marine parks in the country and a genuinely beautiful place to spend a day.

Of the two parks in Miami, Biscayne National Park is the one the easiest to get to, approximately 1 hour by car from Miami International Airport (MIA) & about 1.5 hours by car from Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL). You’ll find the park entrance around Homestead, Florida (at 9700 SW 328th Street).

Drive time from Miami Beach to Biscayne National Park is a little longer than from Downtown Miami because you will be travelling across the city.

• Take guided boat tours out to the barrier islands, coral reefs, and Stiltsville stilt houses. Tours to the barrier islands are usually 1-hour each way, and it’s wise to book one in advance from the Biscayne National Park Institute.
• The coral reefs at Biscayne National Park offer some of Florida’s most accessible snorkelling. With clear water and spectacular underwater life, you cannot beat this location. Snorkelling equipment rentals are available through the park’s concessionaire.
• Waters of the bay are ideal for a bit of paddling. You’re free to tour both the coast and bay of the mangroves at your own will.
• A short nature trail at Convoy Point introduces you to the region’s mangroves and coastal environments.
• Elliott Key and Boca Chita Key are among the best boat destinations. Picnic areas, walking paths, and magnificent viewpoints can be enjoyed in both places.

Most Biscayne Park tours from Miami include other sightseeing such as the Miami bus tour and the Everglades tour. The most popular way to visit the park in this way is from a tour boat out of the bay that shows you not only the coastline but several natural attractions that are only accessible from a boat.

Yes, but it can be a really long day. There are less than 20 miles of paved roadway between these two national parks. So, it’s feasible to do one in the morning and the other one in the afternoon. Whether you decide to do it the other way, or Biscayne in the morning, then Everglades, leave Miami by 7 or 8 AM so you do not feel rushed.

Attempt to get to one or both of these parks before 10 am. That is when crowds tend to be the biggest (up until early afternoon), and that is also when the temperature is significantly more pleasant. If you are planning to do boat tours or airboat rides, book them in advance. These fill up quickly, especially between November and April when the weather is at its best.

Pack sunscreen and lots of water. These are both open-air parks and can be quite sunny during the summer. Areas for shade are few, so you need to go prepared. Footwear can be another thing where closed, comfy walking shoes will work better than sandals, especially in the Everglades where the trails in certain spots can be quite uneven.

The months to plan a morning visit to Miami are those from June to September. Miami is prone to afternoon thunderstorm showers during the summer. If you do decide to come during the summer and early fall, it is best to stick with the morning only.

There is no admission fee for Biscayne National Park. Entry into the Everglades National Park is approx $35 per vehicle.

Biscayne Bay is more than just the gateway to Biscayne National Park. It’s truly the waterfront hub of Miami. Whether you venture out on the Bay as an activity before or after heading to the National Park, it’s one of the absolutely best activities to do in Miami.

Miami Turn Up Entertainment hosts fully-inclusive boat parties every day on Biscayne Bay, and has been doing it for 19 years. Get a view of Biscayne Bay like never before with unlimited drinks, live DJs, and a stunning backdrop of the Miami skyline.

It’s so much easier with a car. If you don’t have one and don’t want to drive, there are many available guided day tours from Miami, which for the two of them are comprehensive tours.

The best months are November through April. The temperatures will be cooler and drier, wild animals in the Everglades more accessible to spot, as well as general visibility much better in Biscayne Bay. The hotter, wetter summer months with considerably more mosquitoes are significantly less crowded for a visit.

Yes. Biscayne National Park has no entry fee. However, boat rentals/tours and equipment rentals inside the park may have charges. Everglades National Park has a vehicle fee, which is about $35 per vehicle/bus and includes entrance for 7 days to the park.