When planning our Florida road trip, we quickly ran into one big question: where should we stay near the Everglades?
It wasn’t until we started mapping out our route that we realized just how large the Everglades really are. Flamingo, Shark Valley, Homestead and Everglades City may all be part of the same region, but driving times between them can be surprisingly long. Because of that, choosing the right place to stay has a much bigger impact on your trip than you might expect.
We stayed in Homestead for two nights, which turned out to be a great base for exploring Everglades National Park. Looking back, we probably would have added a night in Everglades City as well. It would have saved us quite a bit of driving time and would have been the perfect base for our airboat tours and a visit to the Ten Thousand Islands.
In this guide, we share the best places to stay near the Everglades, including our favorite hotels and accommodations. That way, you can easily decide which base fits your itinerary, budget and Everglades plans best.
Skip ahead to your favorite part
- Where Is the Best Place to Stay Near the Everglades?
- Staying Near Everglades National Park in Homestead and Florida City
- Staying Near the Everglades in Everglades City
- Staying in Flamingo: Right in the Heart of Everglades National Park
- Staying in Miami for a Visit to the Everglades
- Staying in Naples and Combining the Everglades With the Beach
- Our Recommended Everglades Itinerary
- Helpful Tips for Booking a Hotel Near the Everglades
- Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay Near the Everglades
- Our Favorite Places to Stay Near the Everglades
- Plan Your Trip to Everglades National Park
Where Is the Best Place to Stay Near the Everglades?
The Everglades aren’t the kind of destination where you can easily see everything from one location. There isn’t one central entrance, and the different areas are spread quite far apart. That’s why the best place to stay mainly depends on what you want to see and do.
| Where to Stay | Best For | Less Convenient For |
|---|---|---|
| Homestead / Florida City | Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail, Flamingo and a road trip to the Florida Keys | Ten Thousand Islands |
| Everglades City | Airboat tours, Ten Thousand Islands, Loop Road Scenic Drive and the western side of the Everglades | Flamingo and the Anhinga Trail |
| Flamingo | Staying inside the national park, spotting manatees and boat tours | Limited restaurants and a remote location |
| Miami | Day trips, Shark Valley and avoiding an extra hotel change | Less of a wilderness feel |
| Naples | Combining the Everglades with beaches and a more comfortable stay | Longer drives to the eastern side of the park |
➜ Only have one or two nights? We would choose either Homestead or Everglades City. Which one is best for you mainly depends on the activities you want to do.
Staying Near Everglades National Park in Homestead and Florida City
We stayed in Homestead during our visit to the Everglades, and for us it was the most logical choice. We were coming from the Florida Keys and mainly wanted to explore the eastern side of Everglades National Park. From Homestead, it’s easy to visit popular spots like the Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail and Flamingo. The area also has plenty of hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, making it a very practical base, especially for families.
At the same time, the Everglades are enormous. Homestead is perfect for exploring the hiking trails and attractions on the eastern side of the park, but you’ll need to drive considerably farther to reach many of the airboat tours, Shark Valley, the Loop Road Scenic Drive and the Ten Thousand Islands. If you want to explore both the eastern and western sides of the Everglades in depth, one base may not be enough.
Best Hotels in Homestead and Florida City
These are, in our opinion, the best hotels and accommodations in Homestead and Florida City.
Hampton Inn & Suites Homestead
⭑⭑⭑ 8,6 on Booking.com
Price range: €€ (mid-range)
A spacious and comfortable hotel with a swimming pool, comfortable beds and a good breakfast. Its location near Everglades National Park makes it a great base for families exploring the area.
➜ Check availability
TownePlace Suites by Marriott Miami Homestead
⭑⭑⭑ 8,7 on Booking.com
Price range: €€ (mid-range)
Spacious suites with fully equipped kitchens, comfortable beds and free parking. A great choice for families planning to explore both Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys.
➜ Check availability
Travelodge by Wyndham Florida City
⭑⭑⭑ 8,3 on Booking.com
Price range: € (budget)
An affordable hotel with a swimming pool, complimentary breakfast and a convenient location between Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys. An excellent choice for families and road trippers looking for a comfortable stay without breaking the bank.
➜ Check availability
Fairway Inn Florida City Homestead
⭑⭑⭑ 7,7 on Booking.com
Price range: € (budget)
This is where we stayed during our Florida road trip. Don’t expect luxury, but you will find spacious rooms, a nice swimming pool and plenty of restaurants within walking distance. A solid budget-friendly base for exploring both the Everglades and the Florida Keys.
➜ Check availability
Garden Cottage Near Miami, Everglades & Florida Keys
⭑⭑⭑ 9,4 on Booking.com
Price range: €€ (mid-range)
A charming vacation cottage in a peaceful location between Miami, the Everglades and the Florida Keys. With its private kitchen, plenty of outdoor space and countryside setting, this is one of the best options for families looking for something different from a standard hotel.
➜ Check availability
Staying Near the Everglades in Everglades City
Everglades City is located on the western side of the Everglades and feels very different from Homestead or Florida City. While we found Homestead to be a practical base for exploring Everglades National Park, Everglades City is much more focused on nature, wildlife and activities on the water.
From here, you can quickly reach popular airboat tours, the Ten Thousand Islands and the Loop Road Scenic Drive. If you plan to visit several of these places, staying in Everglades City makes a lot more sense than driving back and forth every day.
Don’t expect large hotel chains or busy shopping streets. Everglades City is small, quiet and all about nature. In our opinion, that perfectly matches the atmosphere of the Everglades.
If you’re looking for a base for airboat tours, wildlife spotting and exploring the western side of the Everglades, Everglades City is definitely worth considering.
Best Hotels in Everglades City
These are, in our opinion, the best hotels and accommodations in Everglades City.
Ivey House Everglades Adventures Hotel
⭑⭑ 8,0 on Booking.com
Price range: €€ (mid-range)
A simple hotel in the heart of Everglades City, within walking distance of airboat tours and boat excursions. The swimming pool and quiet location make it a comfortable base for exploring the Everglades.
➜ Check availability
River Wilderness Waterfront Cabins
⭑⭑⭑ 8,7 on Booking.com
Price range: €€€ (higher-end)
Standalone waterfront cabins surrounded by nature in the heart of the Everglades. With private porches, beautiful views and complimentary canoes, this is one of the most unique places to stay in the area.
➜ Check availability
Everglades Adventures Hotel Suites by Ivey House
⭑⭑⭑ 8,4 on Booking.com
Prijsindicatie: €€ (middenklasse)
Spacious suites with kitchenettes in the heart of Everglades City. Thanks to the large rooms, swimming pool and location close to several airboat tours, this is a great option for families looking for a little extra space.
➜ Check availability
Captain’s Table Hotel by Everglades Adventures
⭑⭑⭑ 7,6 on Booking.com
Prijsindicatie: € (budget)
An affordable hotel in quiet Everglades City with a large swimming pool and water views. A great choice if you want to stay close to airboat tours and other Everglades activities.
➜ Check availability
Staying in Flamingo: Right in the Heart of Everglades National Park
Want to stay right in the middle of Everglades National Park? Then Flamingo is really the only place where you can do that. Instead of staying in a hotel near the edge of the park, you’ll be surrounded by mangroves, waterways and the wildlife of the Everglades itself.
We ultimately chose to stay closer to the entrance of Everglades National Park, as it fit better into our route from the Florida Keys. If we had had more time, we probably would have added a night in Everglades City to explore the western side of the Everglades in more depth. That said, Flamingo offers experiences you won’t find elsewhere in the park, including boat tours on Florida Bay, kayaking through the mangroves and wildlife excursions at sunrise or sunset.
Where to Stay in Flamingo
Flamingo is without a doubt one of the most unique places to stay near the Everglades. The accommodations here are not available on Booking.com and can only be booked directly through Flamingo Adventures, the official lodging provider within Everglades National Park.
Flamingo Lodge
Price range: €€€ (higher-end)
The Flamingo Lodge is the only hotel-style accommodation, with kitchenettes, located inside Everglades National Park. Set directly on Florida Bay, it puts nature right on your doorstep.
➜ Check availability
Flamingo Glamping Tents
Price range: €€€ (higher-end)
Want to sleep in the middle of nature without bringing your own camping gear? The glamping tents in Flamingo are a great option. They combine the outdoor experience of camping with a bit more comfort, all while staying in the heart of Everglades National Park.
➜ Check availability
Flamingo Houseboats
Price range: €€€€ (unique experience)
For a truly special stay, you can book one of the houseboats in Flamingo. These fully equipped floating accommodations are moored in the marina and are perfect for families or small groups. It’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else in the Everglades.
➜ Check availability
Staying in Miami for a Visit to the Everglades
Miami isn’t the most obvious base for visiting the Everglades, but in some cases, it can be the most practical one. If you’re already spending a few days in Miami or have limited time in your itinerary, visiting the Everglades as a day trip works perfectly well.
Just keep in mind that you’ll spend more time driving and will likely see less of the area than if you stayed closer to the Everglades. For a more in-depth visit, we’d recommend staying in Homestead, Everglades City or Flamingo instead.
Our Favorite Hotels in Miami
Already staying in Miami and planning to visit the Everglades as a day trip? These are, in our opinion, some of the best hotels.
Upsun Hotel
⭑⭑⭑⭑ 8,2 on Booking.com
Price range: €€€ (higher-end)
This is where we stayed during our Florida trip. We especially loved the rooftop pool, which was the perfect place to cool off after a day exploring Miami. The hotel is also within walking distance of South Beach and Ocean Drive.
➜ Check availability
Loews Miami Beach Hotel
⭑⭑⭑⭑ 8,6 on Booking.com
Price range: €€€€ (luxury)
Located directly on Miami Beach, this hotel has everything you need for a fantastic stay, including a large swimming pool, spacious rooms and an excellent location close to restaurants, shops and the beach. A great choice for families looking to combine Miami with a bit of extra comfort.
➜ Check availability
Staying in Naples and Combining the Everglades With the Beach
Naples is located a short drive from Everglades City, making it a popular base for travelers who want to combine a visit to the Everglades with time on Florida’s Gulf Coast. You’ll find beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants and a lively downtown area where it’s easy to spend a few relaxing days.
If your main goal is to explore the Everglades, we would recommend staying closer to the national park. However, if you’re looking for a mix of nature, beaches and a more vibrant atmosphere, Naples is a great choice.
Best Hotels in Naples
Staying in Naples and planning to visit the Everglades as a day trip? These are, in our opinion, the best hotels.
Inn at Pelican Bay
⭑⭑⭑⭑ 9,1 on Booking.com
Price range: €€€ (higher-end)
A comfortable boutique hotel with a swimming pool, a good breakfast and views over a peaceful lake. We especially like the complimentary beach chairs, umbrellas and shuttle service to the beach, making it easy to enjoy both Naples and the surrounding area.
➜ Check availability
Naples Bay Resort and Marina
⭑⭑⭑⭑ 9,0 on Booking.com
Price range: €€€€ (luxury)
A luxurious resort located on Naples’ marina, featuring multiple swimming pools, spacious suites and excellent facilities. Thanks to its central location, shuttle service and beautiful marina views, this is one of the best resorts in Naples.
➜ Check availability
Our Recommended Everglades Itinerary
The best place to stay near the Everglades doesn’t just depend on what you want to see, but also on your route through Florida. Are you coming from the Florida Keys, Miami or the Gulf Coast? That can make a big difference when deciding where to stay.
We spent two nights in Homestead, which worked well for exploring Everglades National Park. Looking back, though, we would have divided our stays differently. We drove all the way to Everglades City for an airboat tour and later had to return to the same area to continue our road trip. It ended up costing us more time and extra miles than necessary.
Where to Stay if You Only Have One Night in the Everglades
Only have one night? Then we recommend choosing the side of the Everglades that fits best with the rest of your itinerary.
If you’re coming from Miami or the Florida Keys, staying in Homestead or Florida City makes the most sense. If you’re arriving from Naples or Florida’s Gulf Coast, Everglades City is often the better option.
With just one night, you simply won’t be able to see everything. You can combine a short hike, an airboat tour and some wildlife spotting, but you’ll definitely need to make a few choices.
Where to Stay if You Have Two Nights in the Everglades
If it fits your itinerary, we would always recommend staying for two nights. Many of the best activities are at their finest in the early morning or late afternoon when wildlife is most active. Distances in the Everglades are also much greater than they appear on the map. With two nights, you won’t have to squeeze everything into a single day.
You could stay in the same place for both nights, just like we did. Looking back, though, we would split our stay between the eastern and western sides of the Everglades instead. Which location you choose first mainly depends on your route through Florida.
If you’re coming from Miami or the Florida Keys, starting in Homestead or Florida City makes the most sense. If you’re arriving from Florida’s Gulf Coast, we’d recommend beginning in Everglades City.
By including both sides of the Everglades in your itinerary, you’ll spend far less time driving back and forth. It also gives you more time to enjoy places like the Anhinga Trail, Flamingo, airboat tours, the Loop Road Scenic Drive and the Ten Thousand Islands.
Looking back, this is probably how we would have planned our two nights as well.
Where to Stay if You Have Three Nights or More in the Everglades
If you have three nights or longer, you won’t need to make as many compromises and can explore the different areas of the Everglades at a much more relaxed pace.
We would choose two nights in Homestead or Florida City and one night in Everglades City. If you have even more time and like the idea of sleeping inside Everglades National Park itself, consider adding a night in Flamingo as well.
Our Personal Choice for Families
If we were planning another trip to the Everglades with our kids tomorrow, we’d choose two nights split between two locations: one night in Homestead or Florida City and one night in Everglades City.
This way, you’ll spend much less time driving and have plenty of time for hiking, wildlife spotting and an unforgettable airboat tour. Looking back, this is probably exactly how we would do it ourselves.
Helpful Tips for Booking a Hotel Near the Everglades
Book Your Accommodation Early
The selection of hotels around the Everglades is much more limited than in cities like Miami or Orlando. This is especially true in Everglades City and Flamingo, where accommodation options are scarce. If you have a specific place in mind or you’re traveling during school holidays, we recommend booking well in advance.
Choose a Hotel With a Swimming Pool
After a warm day filled with hiking, wildlife spotting and airboat tours, there’s nothing better than cooling off in the pool. Especially when traveling with kids, we consider this almost a must. During our stay in the Everglades, we often ended our days with a swim, something both we and our daughters thoroughly enjoyed.
How Many Nights Do You Need in the Everglades?
For most travelers, we recommend staying at least two nights. The Everglades are much larger than they appear on the map, and many activities are best enjoyed early in the morning or late in the afternoon when wildlife is most active. If you’re coming from Key West like we did, you’ll also spend a significant part of the day driving. With two nights, you’ll have enough time for an airboat tour, a hike like the Anhinga Trail and exploring different parts of the Everglades without constantly watching the clock.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay Near the Everglades
That depends on what you want to see and do. For most travelers, Homestead and Everglades City are the best bases. Homestead is close to Everglades National Park, while Everglades City is ideal for airboat tours, the Ten Thousand Islands and the Loop Road Scenic Drive.
Homestead and Florida City are the best places to stay for visiting Everglades National Park. From here, you can easily reach popular spots like the Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail and Flamingo. You’ll also find plenty of hotels, motels, restaurants and supermarkets.
It really depends on your plans. Homestead is the better choice if you mainly want to explore Everglades National Park. Everglades City is ideal for airboat tours, wildlife spotting and visiting the Ten Thousand Islands. If you have two nights, combining both is a great option.
Yes, you can. In Flamingo, located in the southern part of Everglades National Park, you can stay at the Flamingo Lodge, in glamping tents or even on a houseboat. It’s the most unique place to stay, but also the most remote.
For most travelers, one or two nights is enough. With one night, you can combine an airboat tour with a short hike. With two nights, you’ll have more time to explore different parts of the Everglades, including Homestead, Flamingo and Everglades City.
Yes, especially if you’re short on time. From Miami, it’s easy to take a day trip to Shark Valley or join an airboat tour along the Tamiami Trail. If you’d like to do multiple activities, we recommend staying closer to the Everglades.
Yes, many travelers visit the Everglades on a day trip from Miami. Shark Valley is about an hour’s drive away, and several airboat tour operators are also easy to reach. Just keep in mind that you’ll only see a small part of this vast area.
For families, we recommend staying at least one night in or near the Everglades. The region is much larger than most people expect, and staying nearby saves a lot of driving time. Homestead, Florida City, Everglades City and Flamingo are all great options, depending on what you want to see and do. If possible, choose a hotel with a swimming pool. After a warm day exploring the Everglades, it was wonderful to cool off in the water, and our kids loved it just as much as we did.
Yes, especially if you’re interested in wildlife and airboat tours. Everglades City feels much quieter and more authentic than Homestead and is located close to the Ten Thousand Islands. There are fewer hotels and restaurants, but that’s exactly what gives the town its charm.
If you want to hike in Everglades National Park and visit Flamingo, choose Homestead. If your priorities are airboat tours, wildlife spotting and exploring the Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades City is the better choice. For a truly unique experience surrounded by nature, you can even spend a night in Flamingo.
Our Favorite Places to Stay Near the Everglades
Still not sure where to stay near the Everglades? Hopefully these three recommendations will help you decide. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your itinerary and what you’d like to see, but these are the options we would choose ourselves.
Our Pick for Families
For families, we would choose Homestead or Florida City. You’re close to Everglades National Park, there are plenty of hotels with swimming pools and you’ll have restaurants, supermarkets and other amenities nearby. We found this to be an ideal base, especially when traveling with kids.
Our Pick for Airboat Tours
If your main goal is to take an airboat tour, spot wildlife and explore the western side of the Everglades, we would choose Everglades City. You’re close to the most popular airboat tours, the Ten Thousand Islands and the Loop Road Scenic Drive, which means you’ll spend much less time driving.
Our Pick for a Unique Experience
Looking for a stay unlike anywhere else in Florida? Then Flamingo would be our top choice. Here, you’ll stay right in the heart of Everglades National Park, surrounded by nature and wildlife. The accommodation options are limited and the facilities are fairly simple, but that’s exactly what makes staying here such a special experience.
Plan Your Trip to Everglades National Park
Where to Stay Near the Everglades
👉 Browse the best accommodations on Booking.com
Renting a Car in Florida
👉 Compare prices on DiscoverCars, Booking.com and Sunny Cars
Tours and Activities?
👉 Browse the options on GetYourGuide for day trips and activities
Looking for More Florida Inspiration?
👉 Read our guide: Florida With Kids, Our 3-Week Family Road Trip Itinerary
This article contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission if you book something through one of these links, such as a hotel, activity, or rental car. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it helps us keep Wandering Dutchies running.
We put a lot of time and love into writing these articles, gathering tips, and taking photos. We also have fixed costs to keep the website up and running. By booking through our links, you support our work in a very easy way. Thank you! 💛
