Directions to Everglades National Park
You can travel to Everglades National Park in a variety of different ways. There are many different visitors centers at Everglades National Park, all are open daily and all are packed with tons of information on how you can get the most out of your visit to the park.
Directions to Ernest Coe Visitor Center, Homestead, Florida
If you’re traveling to this Everglades National Park visitor center from the north and the Miami area you need to take Route 821 – The Florida Turnpike – heading south until you merge with US1 at Florida City. If you take a right turn at the first traffic lights onto Palm Drive you can then follow the sign posts right to the park.
If you’re traveling north from the Florida Keys simply head left onto Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the park signs.
Directions to Flamingo Visitor Center, Flamingo, Florida
If you’re traveling to this Everglades National Park visitor center from the north and the Miami area you need to take Route 821 – The Florida Turnpike – heading south until you merge with US1 at Florida City. If you take a right turn at the first traffic lights onto Palm Drive you can then follow the sign posts right to the park.
If you’re traveling north from the Florida Keys simply head left onto Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the park signs.
The Flamingo Visitor Center is approximately 38 miles from the park entrance, which could easily translate to about an hours drive.
Directions to Shark Valley Visitor Center, Miami, Florida
If you’re traveling to this Everglades National Park visitor center from the direction of Miami, it is located on Highway 41, around 25 miles to the west of the Florida Turnpike. Watch out for exit 25A when traveling from the north, or exit 25 when traveling from the south.
Traveling from the area around Naples you need to head on Highway 41 for around 70 miles easterly to Shark Valley.
Directions to Gulf Coast Visitor Center, Everglades City, Florida
This Everglades National Park visitor center is located on State Road 29, just 5 miles to the south of Highway 41. From Alligator Alley / Interstate 75 you need to take exit 80 south and drive a further 20 miles or so until you reach Everglades City. Once you’re arrived at the city simply follow the signs to Everglades National Park. You’ll notice the visitor center on the right.
Directions to Chekika Entrance and Day Use Area, Everglades National Park
There’s no visitor center at this entrance to Everglades National Park, but there are some great short hikes and a picnic area. Chekika is located approximately 18 miles from Homestead, Florida and about 36 miles from downtown Miami. Getting to this Everglades National Park means taking either State Road 836 (the Dolphin Expressway) to State Road 826 (the Palmetto Expressway), or driving the Florida Turnpike Homestead Extension. Exit the Turnpike or State Road 826 at SW 88th Street (Kendall Drive) and head west as far as SW 177th Avenue (Krome Avenue). Next turn left and head south to SW 168th Street, right (heading west) on 237th Avenue, then left onto 160th Street. The Chekika entrance is just ahead.
Driving to this entrance to Everglades National Park from the south you need to head along the Turnpike as far as SW 184th Street (Eureka Drive), then head west to SW 177th Avenue (Krome Avenue) and north onto SW 168th Street – either that or you can take Krome Avenue from Homestead due north as far as SW 168th Street, then follow on with the directions from above.