4 Reasons You Need to Camp at the Amazing Everglades National Park in 2022
The US is known worldwide for its spectacular national parks. From Acadia to Zion, the beauty that abounds in these natural wonders never ceases to amaze! One of the best national parks to visit in the US is Everglades National Park in Florida.
The Everglades holds many distinctions that set it apart from any other US national park. It’s the 3rd largest park in the lower 48 states with over 1.5 million acres within its borders. It’s also one of the most geologically and biologically diverse places on earth. And, if that wasn’t cool enough, it’s one of 24 national parks in the US that is designated as a World Heritage Site! People from around the country and across the world love the Everglades, and you will too!
If all of these impressive statistics haven’t convinced you to plan a trip to the Everglades this year, just keep reading. We know you’ll love exploring everything this wonderful park has to offer. The Everglades National Park has awesome activities like:
- Hiking
- Camping
- Kayaking and Canoeing
- Educational Ranger-led Programs
Convinced yet? Good. Now, let’s get started!
Seeing the Sights
The Everglades offers visitors 99 miles worth of hiking trails that wind their way through the vast and diverse ecosystem that gained the park all of the world distinctions it holds today. Ranging from easy to strenuous, there are plenty of opportunities to strap on your boots and set off on an incredible journey! Just remember to bring plenty of bug spray, as biting insects are present year-round out here!
One of our favorite family hikes is along the Anhinga Trail. It’s pretty incredible what you can see on this short 0.8-mile loop! The trail borders one of the many sloughs in the Everglades National Park, giving you plenty of opportunities to view turtles, alligators, and egrets. (Yay, turtles!!)
If you didn’t get enough of the spectacular views on your hike, be sure to stop in at the Royal Palm site to check out some of the interesting interpretive material about the park, as well as sign up for a spot on one of the ranger-led programs that begin there. But more on that later!
Sleeping Under the Stars
Looking to extend your stay at Everglades National Park? No worries! There are tons of excellent camping opportunities here that everyone in your family will enjoy. The real question is what sort of camping do you want to experience?
If you have an RV, there are well over 150 spots to park your camper, so you can come back to “home base” after all of your adventuring in the park. There are also over 300 different tent camping spots in the developed campgrounds, so if you don’t have an RV, you’re still covered!
For those who crave even more adventure, there are plenty of backcountry camping opportunities at Everglades National Park. Whether you hike in or boat in, you’ll want to make sure to get a permit from the Everglades National Park website. And always remember to leave no trace when backcountry camping. If you pack it in, pack it out!
Kayaking and Canoeing
One of the most unique features of Everglades National Park is that you can actually access more of the park through paddling than you can with walking! Adventure can be found along the many miles of coastline as well as within the maze of mangroves in the many sloughs that hide all sorts of wildlife.
A great way to combine activities here is to reserve a paddle-up campsite! There are tons of campsites you can reserve, but pay attention to which site you book because there are specific restrictions on what you can do at certain sites. The main one to keep an eye out for is whether or not campfires are allowed. (It can put a damper on your hotdog roast if you book the wrong one!)
If overnight paddling isn’t what you’re after, no problem! There are so many different day trips that you can take. Ranging in difficulty from easy to expert, there are tons of well-mapped and well-marked trails to explore from inside your kayak or canoe!
Ranger-Led Programs for Explorers of the Everglades
For those who desire to enjoy an expertly delivered lesson on a wide variety of topics, look for the folks wearing the tan campaign cover hats! The rangers at Everglades National Park offer so many educational programs that will engage and enthrall you!
What you need to know about the ranger-led programs at Everglades National Park is that there are four different locations where programs take place. They include:
- Royal Palm
- Flamingo
- Shark Valley
- Gulf Coast
Each location offers different styles of educational programming, from lecture-based programs to fully immersive programs. One of the coolest programs to join in on is the kayaking tour that launches out of the Gulf Coast site.
What makes the guided paddle trip out of the Gulf Coast site so awesome is that you get four hours of an expertly-guided trip through some of the most unique ecosystems in the entire world! As you can probably imagine, these tours are incredibly popular and for that reason, you are required to reserve your spot in advance of your trip.
Final Thoughts on Florida’s Everglades
Everglades National Park is truly a treasure to enjoy for people of all ages. The variety of plants, animals, and ecosystems contributes to the awe-inspiring adventures that you can have with your family, no matter how many times you’ve visited. Plus, there are so many things to do here that you’ll never get bored!
So, what will your trip look like? Where will you camp? Which trail will you hike, paddle, or bike? And when will you reserve your spot at one of the fantastic ranger-led programs? Let us know by dropping a comment below. We can’t wait to hear about your trip!
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