Everglades is a unique natural treasure located in South Florida. This incredibly vast tropical wetland is home to birds, lizards and alligators. But where to stay near Everglades National Park for the best experience?
On the western side, the lodging in Everglades City gives you the best access to Gulf Coast Visitor Center. Alternatively, consider Naples and Marco Island for beachfront hotels near the Everglades.
On the eastern side, the western neighborhoods of Miami put you in the front row for Shark Valley, while Homestead & Florida City are better options for the southernmost slice of the park.
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Where to stay overview
- Everglades City – At Gulf Coast
- Naples – Near Gulf Coast #1
- Marco Island – Near Gulf Coast #2
- Miami – For Shark Valley
- Homestead & FC – Southern gate
- Upper Keys – Florida Keys stay
Everglades City, FL – Everglades National Park hotels at Gulf Coast
Everglades City is the option for where to stay near Everglades National Park with the best park access. The small Florida town with Everglades lodging is located right on the impressive park’s western border.
There are no hotels in Everglades National Park, but Everglades City is as close to the park as it gets.
When staying at one of the Everglades National Park hotels in Everglades City, you have the Everglades atmosphere around 24/7. The authentic ambience makes Everglades City a unique option for where to stay when visiting Everglades National Park.
That Everglades City is located so close to Everglades National Park is also comfy for visiting the park. In Everglades City you find the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, airboat operators and a gateway to the waterways and mangrove islands at the southern end of the park.
So the Everglades National Park hotels in Everglades City are extremely convenient for exploring the huge national park. It just takes minutes to go from lodging in Everglades City to airboat tours and other park activities. The Everglades National Park hotels in Everglades City certainly sit in the front row.
You also find some unique Everglades accommodations in the town. But when staying at Everglades hotels in Everglades City, so close to the wilderness, you can’t expect a beachfront hotel or dreamy five-star resort.
To sum up, Everglades City is the best place to stay near Everglades National Park if you want the ultimate park access. In Everglades City you stay with authentic Everglades ambience right where the wilderness begins. But you should look towards the other options for where to stay in the Everglades area if you prefer a beach location or East Coast base.
- Distance: 0 mi
- Driving time: 0 min
- Pick Everglades City for: Prime Gulf Coast access.
Favorite location. With fantastic park access, Everglades City is the Gulf Coast option for where to stay in Everglades and vicinity that can’t be beaten. It’s not where you find luxury Everglades lodging, but the town is located right at the start of the huge swamp.
Recommended Everglades hotels in Everglades City
River Waterfront Cabins – A unique place to stay in the Everglades
The River Waterfront Cabins is a unique place to stay in Everglades City. At the Everglades lodging it really feels like you stay in the heart of the Everglades.
Most of all the incredible waterfront view and outdoor swimming pool makes the Everglades place to stay stand out. When you lounge by the water, you might even spot an alligator or two. With wildlife on your doorstep, it’s hard not to fall in love with these unique Everglades cabins.
Everglades Adventures Hotel – Modern lodging in Everglades City
At the northern end of Everglades City you find Everglades Adventures Hotel. It’s a modern option for where to stay near Everglades National Park.
After a long day in the park, it’s certainly nice to enjoy the contemporary and spacious rooms at this Everglades hotel. If you look for modern Everglades lodging, you don’t need to look further.
Everglades City Motel – Classic Everglades accommodation
Everglades City Motel is the most classic Everglades National Park motel there is. It’s the perfect place to stay when visiting the Everglades if you don’t need anything fancy.
Although it’s not luxury Everglades accommodations, it’s a comfortable place to stay near the Everglades. Just minutes from the park adventure, it’s hard not to appreciate what the classic Everglades motel offers.
Naples, FL – Hotels near the Everglades in the nearby Gulf Coast city
Naples is located west of the vast Everglades. On a Naples vacation you have a beautiful time with picturesque beaches, great shopping and fine dining. Naples is certainly a delightful option for where to stay near Everglades National Park.
From Naples hotels in Old Town to Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City, where you also find airboat operators, the driving distance is 37 miles (60 km). In roughly 50 minutes you get from the upscale ambience and fun things to do in Naples to the Everglades adventure.
However, towards the eastern end of Naples you find Everglades lodging options even closer to the park. From the closest Everglades hotel with a Naples address it’s just 15 miles (24 km) and 20 minutes to Gulf Coast Visitor Center.
This makes Naples the second closest Everglades National Park city in the Gulf Coast area, only after Everglades City. Although nothing beats the Everglades National Park hotels in Everglades City accessibility wise, Naples also offers easy access to the swamp adventure.
In short, Naples convenient location makes it a superb option for where to stay in the Everglades area. The places to stay near Everglades National Park in Naples elegantly combine the exclusive Gulf Coast lifestyle and the wilderness of the vast wetland.
- Distance: ≈ 15-37 mi / 24-60 km
- Driving time: ≈ 20-50 min
- Pick Naples for: Gulf Coast hotels near Everglades.
Recommended Everglades hotels in Naples
Port of the Islands – The Naples hotel closest Everglades
Port of the Islands has a Naples address but is located away from town. From the Everglades hotel it’s just 15 miles (24 km) and 20 minutes to the visitor center in Everglades City.
In a beautiful setting with a marina and so near the park, it’s easy to see why the hotel is a popular option for where to stay when visiting Everglades. At Port of the Islands you get the best of both worlds.
Staybridge Suites – Convenient Everglades accommodation
At Staybridge Suites you base yourself between Everglades National Park and Old Naples. Its location in southeastern Naples makes it easy to reach both places.
From the Everglades lodging option it’s just 30 miles (45 km) to Gulf Coast Visitor Center. And in the other direction you still just have 10 miles (16 km) to Naples Pier for a completely different type of ambience.
Cove Inn on Naples Bay – Combine Everglades and Old Town
Cove Inn on Naples Bay sits in Old Naples and therefore doesn’t offer the very best access to Everglades National Park. But you can’t deny that the location is more than convenient for exploring Old Naples.
From Cove Inn it’s a mile (1.6 km) to the beach and even shorter to the famous Fifth Avenue South. The hotel also offers a stunning view of Naples Bay for the time you just want to relax in the sun.
Marco Island, FL – Beachfront lodging near Everglades National Park
Marco Island is just like Naples an appreciated Gulf Coast destination with beautiful beaches and hotels near Everglades National Park. The main difference between the two is that Marco Island is smaller and offers fewer things to do.
But located south of Naples the pristine island is a very good choice if you like the idea of a slower pace. On the South Florida island you live your best beach life.
It’s also just 31 miles (50 km) from Marco Island to Gulf Coast Visitor Center. In just 40 minutes you can go from the island’s sugar-white beaches to the vast park.
The short distance makes the oceanfront Marco Island hotels very appealing. In fact, there are no beach hotels closer to the Everglades. So if you hunt for hotels near Everglades National Park on the beach, you don’t need to look further.
All in all, Marco Island is a lovely choice for where to stay near Everglades National Park if you want a beach vacation. It’s an alternative that’s unique in the way that it offers both a beach location and superb access to the wetland. No other Florida destination offers beachfront lodging as near the Everglades.
- Distance: ≈ 31 mi / 50 km
- Driving time: ≈ 40 min
- Pick Marco Island for: Beachfront hotels near Everglades.
Recommended Everglades hotels on Marco Island
JW Marriott – Luxury Everglades lodging on the beach
If you want luxury beachfront lodging near Everglades, JW Marriott ticks every box. Who knew that an Everglades stay could be so relaxing?
At the hotel you stay just steps from the wide sugar-white beach. The appealing option for where to stay near Everglades also has all the amenities you need for the best of times, including 3 inviting outdoor pools.
Hilton Beach Resort & Spa – A top oceanfront resort
Hilton Beach Resort & Spa is another top beachfront resort near Everglades National Park. Sitting along the gorgeous Marco Island beach strip, you have it all here. The resort’s location on the beach but still so near the huge Everglades is nothing less than remarkable.
Miami, FL – An Everglades base at Shark Valley
With energy like few other cities in America, Miami is another option for where to stay near Everglades National Park. If you stay east of the Everglades in the Miami area, you combine urban life with life in the wilderness.
Most Miami visitors stay near the city’s iconic coastline. In Miami Beach, surrounded by palm trees and fancy cars, you live your best beach life.
But Shark Valley Visitor Center is positioned 40 miles (64 km) and roughly an hour west of Miami Beach. So for better Everglades access, you need to look towards Miami’s western neighborhoods.
If you stay in a western Miami neighborhood, where the civilization ends and Everglades begins, you cut down the distance to roughly 25 miles (40 km) and avoid the heaviest Miami traffic.
In short, with so much to offer on its own it’s popular to day trip from Miami to Everglades National Park. But if you want the best park access, you should look towards the other options for where to stay in the Everglades area.
- Distance: ≈ 25-40 mi / 40-64 km
- Driving time: ≈ 40-60 min
- Pick Miami for: Hotels near Shark Valley.
Recommended Everglades hotels in Miami
TownePlace Suites Kendall – Stay near Shark Valley
Located at Miami’s western end, TownePlace Suites is above all a place to stay near Shark Valley Visitor Center. From the Everglades hotel it’s just 25 miles (40 km) and 40 minutes to Shark Valley. If your ambitions also include Ernest Coe Visitor Center, it’s only a little longer to get there.
Homestead & FC, FL – Everglades hotels at the southern entrance
Homestead & Florida City are humble cities. But although they don’t boast the culture or nightlife of Miami, they are superbly positioned for the southern portion of Everglades National Park.
From Everglades hotels in any of the two cities, which are connected to each other, it’s only 20 minutes by car to Ernest Coe Visitor Center.
Even closer you find airboat tours. Based south of Homestead & Florida City, Everglades Alligator Farm is ready to take you on an epic ride.
Slightly past Ernest Coe, at Royal Palm Visitor Center, you find the 0.4 miles (0.6 km) Anhinga Trail. It might be a short pathway, but it’s a spot where alligators love to hang out.
That’s gator jackpot.
Another highlight here is the Gumbo Limbo Trail, offering a shaded walk through gumbo limbo forest. Keep your eyes open for more wildlife including alligators, turtles and colorful birds.
Then the Florida adventure continues deeper into Everglades. It’s 38 miles (61 km) from Ernest Coe Visitor Center to Flamingo, and along the road there are many longer trails to explore.
Flamingo Visitor Center is located at road’s very end. Isolated from civilization, the outpost provides even more trails and popular Everglades boat tours.
In conclusion, Homestead & Florida City provide the best Everglades hotels for the southern park area. These options for where to stay when visiting Everglades give you the ultimate access to not one but three visitor centers.
- Distance: ≈ 10 mi / 16 km
- Driving time: ≈ 20 min
- Pick Homstead/FC for: Best southern access.
Recommended Everglades hotels in Homstead & FC
Fairfield Inn Florida City – Convenient for Ernest Coe
Sure, there are more exciting accommodations near Everglades National Park. But when it comes to Everglades access, this Marriott in Florida City delivers day in and day out. How about under 20 minutes to the Everglades fun?
Upper Keys, FL – A laid-back place to stay near Everglades NP
Having the Upper Keys as your home base is another alternative for where to stay near Everglades National Park. Then you get both the stunning atmosphere of the Florida Keys and the wilderness of the huge Everglades wetland.
In the Florida Keys you most of all find fantastic activities in and on the water. Boating, diving, snorkeling and fishing are popular things to do in the Keys, and a drive from Miami to Key West is truly spectacular.
From Key Largo in the northern part of the Upper Keys it’s 37 miles (60 km) to Ernest Coe Visitor Center, southwest of Homestead. From Islamorada further south you need to add another 17 miles (27 km) to that.
So it’s not as convenient to visit the Everglades from the Upper Keys as it is from Everglades National Park hotels closer to the park. Other options for where to stay near the Everglades simply offer easier access.
But you don’t stay in the Florida Keys only to visit Everglades. The best places to stay in Florida Keys, including beachfront Key Largo resorts, offer an experience that you don’t find anywhere else.
To sum up, the Upper Keys is a great option for where to stay near Everglades National Park if you want the Florida Keys and the Everglades in one package. But for park access the Upper Keys is less convenient than Everglades National Park lodging closer to the adventure.
- Distance: 37 mi / 60 km
- Driving time: ≈ 50 min
- Pick Upper Keys for: The unique Florida Keys vibe.
Recommended Everglades hotels in Upper Keys
Playa Largo Resort – A top-rated resort near Everglades in the Keys
You don’t need to go deep into the Keys to find some of its best resorts. At Playa Largo Resort & Spa you stay in the unique Upper Keys less than an hour from the magic of Everglades. If you want the best of both worlds, you don’t need to look further.
Sunset Cove Resort – Stay at a cozy low-key resort
Sunset Cove Beach Resort is not the most exclusive place to stay near the Everglades. However, the oceanfront lodging offers the relaxed signature Florida Keys vibe that it’s hard not to love. It’s a great option for where to stay near Everglades in the Upper Keys without breaking the bank.
Which is the best Everglades area?
When you dig into the options for where to stay near Everglades National Park, it’s important to realize how huge the wetland is. At over 1.5 million acres, the park covers a large part of South Florida.
Because Everglades National Park is such a USA giant, there are five visitor centers:
- Gulf Coast (in Everglades City)
- Shark Valley (west of Miami)
- Ernest Coe (at Homestead/Florida City)
- Royal Palm (4 miles past Ernest Coe)
- Flamingo (38 miles past Ernest Coe)
Gulf Coast, located in Everglades City, is the only visitor center on the Gulf side of the Everglades. Adjacent you find several airboat companies that happily take you into the Everglades’ depths.
Shark Valley, west of Miami, is home to a 15 miles (24 km) loop road that you can hike, bike or explore by tram. At its halfway point, Shark Valley Observation Tower provides unique wetland views.
At Shark Valley, there’s also an impressive selection of airboat tours.
Ernest Coe, at Homestead/Florida City, is the southeastern Everglades entrance. Close by the short but sweet Anhinga Trail appeals, and there are many more exciting trails down the road towards the remote outpost Flamingo.
Although the airboat options are fewer in the south, you find great alternatives here too.
Tips for your Everglades stay
Now your ultimate Everglades stay is near. However, these tips can make your Everglades stay even better.
- Pick the right area – Such a vast natural treasure, the options for where to stay near Everglades might seem overwhelming. But rest assured that the Gulf Coast, Shark Valley and Ernest Coe areas all offer unique outdoor experiences. At the end of the day, the best place to stay near Everglades depends on your other travel plans.
- Consider daytripping – Do you also intend to have a beachy Marco Island, Naples or Miami stay? The beach isn’t the recipe for the best Everglades access. However, you can get from Florida’s inviting coastline to the Everglades in an hour or even less. That’s definitely within day trip territory.
- Be sun smart – Surprising visitors year after year, make sure to protect yourself from the intense South Florida sun. That is even if you plan an Everglades stay in winter.
- Beat the mozzies – Everglades National Park is not only a haven for alligators. Mosquitos also like the wet and hot conditions of the huge wetland. Prepare like a pro with covering clothes, preferably loose long sleeves and pants, and repellant. Plan B: quickly run to the car and get back to your safe Everglades hotel.
- Decide on airboating – Should you airboat or not airboat through the mighty Everglades? The answer is up to you, but if it’s a yes, book a ride in advance to avoid disappointment.
Discover more: Bookmark our ultimate guide to Florida.
Final words about where to stay near Everglades
Where to stay near Everglades National Park doesn’t have to be complicated. Stay at a hotel in Everglades City, western Miami or Homestead/Florida City for the best park acccess.
But if you rather prefer a traditional Florida vacation on the beach, you can easily day trip from beach gems including Marco Island, Naples, Miami Beach and even the Upper Keys.
Where to stay near Everglades FAQ
Here you find the answers to some frequently asked questions about where to stay near Everglades National Park, Florida.
Everglades City, on the park’s western border, is the city with best access to Everglades National Park. From Everglades hotels in the small town you effortlessly reach several airboat providers. Other alternatives for where to stay when visiting Everglades are Miami, Homestead & Florida City and the Upper Keys. These options are located closer to the Shark Valley and Ernest Coe areas, which offer unique hiking opportunities.
There are no hotels inside Everglades National Park. However, the hotels in Everglades City conveniently sit on the western border of Everglades National Park. Or for an eastern approach, it’s roughly 20 minutes from Everglades accommodations in Florida City to Ernest Coe Visitor Center.
Everglades City is the town nearest Everglades National Park. The city with Everglades lodging is located right on the national park’s western border, where you find Gulf Coast Visitor Center. For access to the Shark Valley and Ernest Coe sections, western Miami and Homstead & Florida City are your best Everglades lodging bets.
Perched on the edge of alligator-frequented Lake Placid, the River Waterfront Cabins is one of the most unique places to stay in the Everglades area. After a beautiful day out in the wilderness, count alligators from the comfort of your very own screened-in porch.
The hotels closest to Shark Valley Visitor Center are those in western Miami. From western Miami’s highly rated TownePlace Suites, it’s just 25 miles (40 km) and 40 minutes to the visitor center. There airboat operators, hiking opportunities and, of course, Florida gators in masses await.
From the beachfront location to its three pools and refreshing cocktails, Marco Island’s JW Marriott is a destination on its own. While it feels like a world away from the untamed Everglades, the luxury hotel puts you just a 40-minute drive from the adventure.
Related: Also check our comprehensive list of the best things to do in the United States. Do you think the Everglades is there?
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