Directions to Everglades National Park
The Entrances
Everglades National Park has three entrances from land and one main entrance area with facilities from the water. These are:
- Gulf Coast Visitor Center, on the northwest tip of the Park
- Shark Valley Visitor Center, on the northern central edge of the Park
- Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, on the eastern edge of the Park
- Royal Palm Visitor Center, just a few miles inside the Homestead entrance to the Park, after Ernest Coe Visitor Center
- Big Cypress National Preserve Visitor Center, in Big Cypress National Preserve, next to Everglades National Park
- Flamingo Visitor Center, on the southern coast, accessible by water and via Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center
Each of these entrances and visitor centers offers a different angle on the Everglades, and depending on where you’re driving from, and what you plan to do, each one offers different activities as well.
Ernest Coe Visitor Center
The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is at the Southern entrance to the Park, located just outside of Homestead/Florida City. If you’re on your way the the Florida Keys, Homestead is the last stop before the mainland ends and the Keys begin, at the tip of the country. This entrance is very convenient for people driving from Miami, because the entrance to the park is literally just outside Homestead/Florida City. No long road to drive before you get to the entrance, like at Shark Valley. There are walking trails galore in here, and you’ll see tons of wildlife as you walk. The Pa-hay-okee Overlook Trail boasts a boardwalk and observation tower where you’re likely to see hawks and all sorts of other native birds.
The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center was recently expanded and it’s now the best place to get info about your visit to Everglades National Park. Learn about boat rentals, tours, trail maps, wildlife, activities. You can also enjoy films, interactive displays and a thoroughly-stocked modern gift shop in this state of the art Visitor Center. Just down the road is the Royal Palm Visitor Center, which was designed to teach you about the nature of the Everglades, and is the starting point of two trails, the Anhinga Trail and the Gumbo Trail.