Is there free or dispersed camping near Everglades National Park?

Dispersed camping is allowed in parts of Big Cypress National Preserve, which is north of Everglades National Park. Services may be minimal and specific regulations apply. Backcountry camping is allowed in the park, but you must have a permit and typically have to travel by watercraft. Alternatively, Harvest Hosts stays sit between the two: private property, permission arranged ahead, and no camping fee.

Is Harvest Hosts worth it for an Everglades trip?

Harvest Hosts is well worth it for an Everglades trip. Nearby campgrounds can fill up easily, especially at the peak of tourist season. Accommodations with full hookups can also be pricey. Harvest Hosts offers fee-free camping as an effortless trade-off for experiencing the local flavor firsthand.

Everglades National Park RV Camping

Open year-round, Everglades National Park is one of southern Florida's many popular attractions. The park was established in 1947. More than 1.5 million people visit every year to check out the Shark Valley Visitor Center and Observation Tower, as well as the River of Grass. In addition to Florida panthers, American alligators, and crocodiles, park wildlife includes white-tailed deer, bobcats, gray foxes, snakes, lizards, and river otters. Most of these creatures can be seen from various points in the park, but Tram Road is considered a hotspot. If you're considering RV camping in Everglades National Park, planning out your trip in advance can help you make the most of the Florida sun and all this wondrous park has to offer. Harvest Hosts has plenty of locations within an hour of the entrances where you can park your RV overnight at a working farm, brewery, or distillery.

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Everglades National Park RV Camping Guide

When to Go

Everglades National Park experiences two seasons characterized by precipitation: wet and dry. The wet season coincides with hurricane season, which lasts from the beginning of May through mid-November. Water levels and the bug population rise, making it not only harder to see wildlife but more challenging to enjoy the park's natural beauty. From December through April (the dry season), warmer weather than what most of the nation experiences draws significant crowds. Avoid long wait times and doing laps in the parking lot by visiting during the week or before 10 a.m. and after 3 p.m. If you can handle mosquitoes, Everglades' off-season could be a good option as well.

Know Before You Go

Timed-entry reservations aren't required in Everglades National Park. If you want to participate in any of the ranger-led programs, check to see if reservations are required before arriving. Campground reservations are recommended, but not required.
Ranger-guided tours of the park help visitors discover more about many fascinating areas. Past programs have included tram tours, exploration of the slough slog, and full moon bike rides. In Royal Palm, you can also tour the Nike Missile Site.
Hiking trails wind through several popular areas of the park. Some of the best hiking trails in Everglades National Park include Sandfly Island Trail in Gulf Coast, Anhinga Trail on Pine Island, Otter Cave Hammock in Shark Valley, and several short jaunts in Flamingo.
The Shark Valley area is one of the park's most popular. Gaze upon the River of Grass from the Shark Valley Observation Tower, walk along Tram Road, or head out on the Tamiami Trail or the Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook Trail.
The City of Homestead runs a seasonal trolley service that transports visitors into Everglades National Park. From December through April, the trolley travels between Royal Palm and the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center.
Feel free to bring your four-legged friend with you to the campground, but keep them leashed on leads no longer than six feet. Pets are not allowed on any trails, unpaved roads, or the Shark Valley Tram Road.

Nearby Attractions

Miami, Homestead, and Everglades City are the three main gateway cities to Everglades National Park. Just over an hour south of Fort Myers, Everglades City is surrounded by the park and the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area. Travel south of Miami and Homestead on U.S. Route 1 to stay in Key Largo. To the north, explore Biscayne National Park's coral reefs and shipwrecks, or spend a day traversing the 100 square miles of Dry Tortugas National Park in the Florida Keys.

Where to Camp

Inside the park. In addition to backcountry (wilderness) camping, Everglades National Park offers RV camping in two main campgrounds: Flamingo and Long Pine Key. Accessible from the park entrance in Homestead, Flamingo Campground offers electric hookups, solar-heated showers, and an amphitheater. Both campgrounds permit RVs up to 35 feet long. Long Pine Key Campground only opens from November through May and offers a mix of reservation-only and first-come, first-served campsites. You cannot RV camp in backcountry locations because most of them are only accessible by water.

Tips on reserving a campsite. Portions of Flamingo Campground close in the wet season and reopen in mid-January. However, this campground is busiest from December through April, so it's best to reserve a campsite in advance. Reservations typically aren't necessary from June through November.

Camping outside the park with Harvest Hosts. RV camping near Everglades National Park may be an option in Miami, but year-round tourist activity typically limits availability at nearby Florida campgrounds. Traveling through Miami, especially in longer RVs, can also be a hassle. With Harvest Hosts in Florida, you can easily camp near the park on private property with permission of local business owners who only ask that you patronize their working farms, breweries, attractions, and distilleries.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can you sleep in your RV in Everglades National Park?

Yes, you can sleep in your RV in Everglades National Park if you're parked in a designated campsite in Flamingo or Long Pine Key Campgrounds. Flamingo stays open year-round, while camping in Long Pine Key is only available from the first of November through the end of April. Flamingo offers electric hookups and two dump stations.

Where can I camp in an RV near Everglades National Park?

RV camping near Everglades National Park is available near Florida City and Homestead in east Florida and Everglades City and Naples along the west coast. Harvest Hosts has many locations across South Florida. Camp at this southernmost tropical winery and brewery in Homestead, or visit Harvest Hosts breweries and distilleries in Bonita Springs north of Naples.

Do you need a reservation to enter Everglades National Park?

No, you don't need a timed-entry reservation to enter Everglades National Park. Reservations are recommended for Flamingo Campground from December through April, but not required. Some free ranger-led programs require a reservation.

What size RV fits in Everglades National Park?

RVs up to 35 feet in length fit in Everglades National Park's Flamingo and Long Pine Key Campgrounds. Before reserving a spot in Flamingo Campground or claiming a campsite in Long Pine Key Campground, verify your RV will fit in the space.