There is nowhere else in the United States quite like the Everglades. It's the largest subtropical wilderness in the country, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and one of the only places on the planet where alligators and American crocodiles coexist in the same ecosystem. It covers 1.5 million acres of wetlands, mangrove forests, sawgrass prairies, and coastal marshes across the southern tip of Florida — and it rewards the RVers who take the time to understand it.

This is not a drive-through park. The Everglades has a pace and a personality unlike anywhere else you'll camp. Here's what you need to know before you go.

When to Go

The Everglades operates on two seasons: dry and wet. Get this right before you book anything.

Dry season (November through April) is when you want to be here. Temperatures run from the low 50s to the upper 70s, humidity drops to tolerable levels, wildlife concentrates around shrinking water sources and becomes dramatically easier to spot, and the mosquitoes — while never entirely absent — are manageable. This is also peak season, so campground reservations fill up fast. Book early.

Wet season (May through October) brings daily afternoon thunderstorms, oppressive heat and humidity, 90-degree temps that rarely drop, clouds of mosquitoes that will test your commitment to nature, and the real possibility of hurricanes in August and September. Experienced Everglades visitors avoid this window. If you go, pack industrial-strength bug spray, have functioning AC in your rig, and watch the weather constantly.

The sweet spot for most RVers is December through February — cooler, drier, excellent wildlife viewing, and the park is fully operational.

RV Logistics

Before you plan your route, there are a few Everglades-specific things that affect RV travel here more than most parks.

35-foot maximum length at both drive-in campgrounds inside the park. This applies to the RV only — trailers are not permitted at either campground. If you're in a Class A or large fifth wheel, measure before you book.

No full hookups inside the park. Flamingo Campground offers electric hookups at 41 RV sites (20/30/50 amp). Long Pine Key has no hookups whatsoever. Both have dump stations and potable water. If you need full hookups you'll be staying outside the park and driving in.

Cell service is limited. Long Pine Key has AT&T and Verizon coverage. Flamingo is remote enough that you'll need to drive 15 miles out to get reliable signal. Plan accordingly — download maps, reserve campsites in advance, and don't count on being able to troubleshoot anything on your phone once you're at Flamingo.

One road in, one road out. The main park road runs 38 miles from the Homestead Entrance to Flamingo. It's a flat, straight shot — easy driving for any size rig that fits the length limit. Allow 45 minutes to an hour each way.

The Two Drive-In Campgrounds

Long Pine Key Campground

Located 6 miles from the Homestead Entrance, Long Pine Key is the more convenient option — close to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, the famous Anhinga Trail, and the amenities of Homestead and Florida City. It has 108 sites, restrooms with flush toilets and showers, a dump station, potable water, and an on-site fishing pond. Rangers offer nightly amphitheater programs in winter.

No hookups. Maximum RV length 45 feet. Open November 1 through April 30 only — it closes for the wet season.

Nightly rate: $33 Monday–Thursday, $60 for group sites. Senior/Access pass holders get 50% off.

Reservations are not required but strongly recommended during peak season. Book at Recreation.gov.

Reserve Long Pine Key Campground →

Flamingo Campground

Flamingo sits at the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, 38 miles from the Homestead Entrance on the edge of Florida Bay. This is the remote Everglades experience — surrounded by water, mangroves, and wildlife, with boat and kayak rentals steps from your site. It's open year-round.

274 total sites — the A-Loop is tent-only, the T-Loop is for RVs. 41 RV sites have electric hookups (20/30/50 amp). Maximum RV length 35 feet. No trailers. Bathhouses, dump stations, picnic tables, grills, and a seasonal amphitheater are all on site. Note: the T-Loop (RV sites) does not have hot showers — the hot showers are in the A-Loop bathhouse.

Non-electric nightly rate: $33 Monday–Thursday, $38.50 Friday–Sunday. Electric sites: $50 Monday–Thursday, $60 Friday–Sunday.

Reserve Flamingo Campground →

What to Do in the Everglades

Anhinga Trail — The single best wildlife viewing trail in the park and arguably one of the best in any national park in the country. A short 0.8-mile boardwalk through a freshwater slough where anhingas, herons, egrets, turtles, and alligators are so accustomed to visitors they barely move. Do this trail. Do it early in the morning.

Airboat Tours — Private airboat tours operate on the northern edge of the park near Everglades City and along the Tamiami Trail. Not operated by the park itself, but a genuinely worthwhile experience that covers terrain inaccessible any other way. Book in advance during peak season.

Kayaking and Canoeing — The Everglades has 99 miles of marked paddling trails through mangrove tunnels, open bays, and coastal waterways. Kayak and canoe rentals are available at the Flamingo Marina through Flamingo Adventures. The Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail and the Hell's Bay Canoe Trail are two of the most popular.

Shark Valley — On the northern edge of the park off the Tamiami Trail, Shark Valley offers a 15-mile loop road through the heart of the sawgrass prairie. Rent a bike or take the tram tour. Alligator sightings are virtually guaranteed — sometimes dozens of them along the road. The observation tower at the midpoint offers a panoramic view across the entire River of Grass.

Wildlife Spotting — The Everglades is one of the premier birding destinations in North America. Roseate spoonbills, wood storks, great blue herons, osprey, and bald eagles are common. The American crocodile is found near Flamingo — lighter colored and more slender than the alligator, and rarer to see. The Florida panther inhabits the park but is extremely rarely spotted. Manatees are seen in the waterways around Flamingo seasonally.

Fishing — The Everglades offers world-class saltwater and freshwater fishing. Snook, redfish, tarpon, and largemouth bass are the primary targets depending on where you're fishing. A Florida fishing license is required. Flamingo Marina offers guided fishing trips.

Outside the Park — When the Campgrounds Are Full

Both park campgrounds fill during peak season, especially on weekends. Here are the best RV options just outside the park:

Big Cypress National Preserve — Directly north of the park along the Tamiami Trail, Big Cypress has eight campgrounds. Midway Campground has RV hookups and is open year-round. Bear Island has 40 RV sites at $10/night — one of the best deals in South Florida camping.

Miami Everglades RV Resort — About 35 minutes from the park entrance. Full hookups, pool, amenities. Good base camp option.

Trail Lakes Campground — 15 minutes from the Gulf Coast Visitor Center near Ochopee. More remote feel, closer to the western edge of the park.

Practical Tips

Book Flamingo early. The electric hookup sites at Flamingo go first. During peak season they're often fully reserved within days of the booking window opening. Check Recreation.gov regularly.

Bring bug spray. Even in dry season the mosquitoes are present, especially at dawn and dusk. DEET-based sprays work best. Pack more than you think you need.

Fill your water tank before entering. Water is available at both campgrounds but filling stations can have lines during peak season. Start with a full tank.

Download offline maps. Cell service at Flamingo is essentially nonexistent. Google Maps, AllTrails, and the NPS Everglades app all offer offline downloads. Use them.

Check for saltwater damage. If you're at Flamingo, the salt air and humidity are hard on equipment. Rinse anything exposed to the air before you leave.

Don't feed the wildlife. Especially the alligators. This is both illegal and genuinely dangerous — a fed alligator loses its natural wariness of humans and becomes a problem animal that's often euthanized.

Bottom Line

The Everglades isn't the most comfortable national park to camp in. The heat, the bugs, the limited hookups, and the remote locations mean you need to plan more carefully here than almost anywhere else. But there's nothing else like it — a vast, ancient, teeming wilderness at the tip of the American continent that looks and sounds and feels completely unlike any other place you'll park your rig.

Go in December. Book Flamingo early. Walk the Anhinga Trail at sunrise. Rent a kayak. Stay longer than you planned.

Book Everglades Campgrounds on Recreation.gov →

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