Winter is here, meaning those of us who prefer to camp year-round are heading south so we can keep warm. One of the options? Camping in the Everglades!

Located in southern Florida, the Everglades offer a lovely, warm escape from winter snow and ice, as well as some seriously beautiful plants and animals. Here you can enjoy the great outdoors without even breaking out a coat, and you won’t have to worry one bit about winterizing your RV.

Not sure how to begin planning your trip to go camping in the Everglades? Here’s what you need to know.

Best Spots for Camping in the Everglades

First, let’s talk about the best places to stay while camping in the Everglades. These campgrounds are perfect for RVers and offer easy access to all of the amazing things the Everglades have to offer, as well as plenty of amenities to keep you comfortable.

Long Pine Key Campground

Offering both reserved sites and first-come, first-served sites, Long Pine Key Campground is located in Everglades National Park, meaning you’ll be able to reach all the park has to offer quickly and easily. The sites here do not include any kind of hookups, but there is potable water, a dump station, and a restroom with showers.

Flamingo Campground

Want to have hookups while staying in the national park? Flamingo Campground is the perfect place for that. This campground has 27/4 campsites and 41 of those offer electric hookups. There are also dump stations, solar-heated showers, and potable water available onsite. Just be sure you make a reservation in advance!

Midway Campground

If you don’t mind staying outside of the park, Midway Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve is another good option. This campground is about 30 minutes away from Everglades National Park and offers electric hookups, potable water, a dump station, restrooms, and easy access to all the area has to offer.

Our Favorite Things to Do in the Everglades

Now that you know where to stay, the next question is what to do while camping in the Everglades. Luckily there are plenty of options, and it would be really hard to get bored while visiting this amazing place.

Explore the Visitor Centers

I always recommend visiting visitor centers when visiting national parks, and this is just as true in Everglades National Park as it is anywhere else. In my opinion it’s best to start at a visitor center, as this will introduce you to the park and all it has to offer. If you can, visit more than one center, as each one has unique exhibits and different information to offer.

The visitor centers in the park include:

• Gulf Coast Visitor Center
• Shark Valley Visitor Center
• Ernest Coe Visitor Center
• Royal Palm Visitor Center
• Flamingo Visitor Center

Take a Hike (or a Stroll)

The best way to really connect with the Florida Everglades? Go on a hike or a walk. This allows you to get up close and personal with the amazing plants and animals that call the park home. We especially love the Anhinga Trail, which puts you on a boardwalk through the wetlands. There are a wide variety of birds found along the path at any given time, and often you will find alligators sunbathing along the way as well.

Attend Ranger Programs

Ranger programs are always a good way to learn more about any given national park. In Everglades National Park, we really like the nighttime ranger walk along the Anhinga Trail. Because it takes place at night, this walk often allows guests to see alligators in their most active state, something you certainly won’t soon forget.

Hop on an Airboat

No trip to the Everglades is complete without a ride in an airboat. Yes, these boats are loud, but the airboat tours offered in the Everglades give you the opportunity to go where visitors cannot normally go while seeing all kinds of awesome animals in the beautiful wetlands.

…or Opt for a Tram (or a Bike)

Don’t want to ride an airboat? You could hop on the Shark Valley tram instead. This tram takes you on a tour of the park, so you can see lots of awesome scenery in a short amount of time.

Alternatively, you can ride a bike along the Shark Valley Tram Road to see the same awesome scenery at your own pace while getting some exercise.

As you can see, camping in the Everglades is an awesome experience that every RVer should have at least once. Why not start planning your trip today?

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About the author: Chelsea Gonzales

Chelsea has the amazing opportunity to take part in full-time RV living and traveling with her tiny tribe. She homeschools her five-year-old son as they travel, and takes full advantage of their unique situation by using the entire world as her son’s classroom. A group of total Disney fanatics, Chelsea and her family often find themselves in the Orlando area in order to visit the Disney parks, but they have also visited over 25 of the 50 states with plans to see many more along the way. No matter where her travels take her, Chelsea enjoys riding bikes, gazing at beautiful sunsets, finding new coffee shops, Irish dancing, and sitting around a campfire with her family.

You can join her adventures through her blog, Wonder Wherever We Wander.

Dickie N. ~ “You had us on the road within two hours on Christmas day! The follow-up by Coach-Net to assure we were taken care of was great! Thank you!”