Do you need a vacation? Are you tired of the daily grind?

Well, pack your bags and take some vacation time, it’s time for a trip to the great outdoors.

Destination: Everglades National Park

From world-class fishing to airboat tours, the Everglades has it all. No wonder the park sees over a million visitors every year! 

And what’s the best way to soak up the Florida sunshine in comfort and style without breaking the bank? RV camping, of course.

If you want to know how to get started, keep reading. We packed everything you need to know into this guide to RV camping in Everglades National Park.

Everglades National Park Facts

Established in 1947, Everglades National Park covers an incredible 1.5 million acres of wetlands, forests, rivers, and lakes across southern Florida. From hiking to fishing, it’s an outdoor lover’s paradise.

Without a doubt, the best way to visit the Everglades is in the safety and comfort of an RV. But before you head off on your trip, we have a few Everglades National Park facts to get you even more excited about this national treasure.

• Everglades National Park boasts the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere, and it’s the largest designated wilderness in the eastern U.S.

• There are 23 endangered and threatened species that live in park boundaries.

• Everglades National Park is known for its diverse and unique wildlife, including the Florida panther, the West Indian manatee, and the American alligator.

• The Calusa Indians are known to have inhabited what is today Everglades National Park since before 1000 B.C.

• The Everglades was a popular destination for The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was founded in April 1933 as a part of FDR’s New Deal as an effort to employ low-income youth with conservation work on state and national parks.

• Everglades National Park is home to dozens of science and research projects on everything from climate change to hydrology.

Best Everglades National Park RV Parks and Campgrounds

Now that you know a little about the rich history and ecology of the Florida Everglades, it’s time to figure out where to stay on your trip.

Here are just a few of the best RV campgrounds near Everglades National Park.

Long Pine Key Campground

Amenities: A few miles from the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm lies one of the two RV campgrounds in Everglades National Park, Long Pine Key. The location is beautiful and open, but it’s a rustic campsite. Long Pine Key features restrooms, showers, picnic tables, fire rings, a dump station, a freshwater fill-up, and near great fishing spots. You’ll need to reserve a spot ahead of time if you want to bring your RV. 

Capacity: Long Pine Key boats 108 RV and tent campsites. However, only a select number of sites will serve RVs (max. length 45’).

More information: Long Pine Key Campground

Flamingo Campground

Amenities: The second RV park in Everglades National Park is Flamingo Campground. Both Flamingo and Long Pine Key are run by a concessionaire company, Flamingo Adventures. If you want an RV site, you’ll need to reserve one ahead of time. Flamingo sits on an open field overlooking the Florida Bay and provides tons of amenities, including water, showers, picnic tables, grills, and even an amphitheater for winter programs.

Capacity: Flamingo Campground has 150 campsites, including 65 RV sites with 20 amp, 30 amp, and 50 RV hookups.

More information: Flamingo Campground

Bear Island Campground

Amenities: If you can’t land a spot at one of the two RV campgrounds inside Everglades National Park, Miami has a few options. However, a better idea might be to head north to Big Cypress National Preserve. That’s where Bear Island Campground is located—around 20 miles north of Everglades. It’s a simple rustic campground without many amenities, but if you want to experience nature, this is the spot.

Capacity: Bear Island Campground features 40 RV sites, and it only costs $10 per night for an RV site.

More information: Bear Island Campground

Midway Campground

Amenities: Another option inside Big Cypress National Preserve, Midway Campground is open year-round. The park features a dump station, restrooms, drinking water, a day-use area, and even RV hookups. It’s also not far from Everglades! A 15-minute drive will have you at the park’s entrance.

Capacity: There are 26 RV sites and 10 campsites at Midway. RV sites feature electric hookups.

More information: Midway Campground

Southern Comfort RV Resort

Amenities: Just a couple minutes outside of the Everglades National Park entrance, Southern Comfort RV Resort offers all the amenities you could need. With a tiki bar, lavish swimming pool, game room with shuffleboard and billiards, and so much more, it will be hard to go back to rustic campsites after experiencing Southern Comfort.

Capacity: Southern Comfort has almost 1000 RV sites, campsites, and cabins for rent with plenty of full hookups available. Also, this RV resort is big rig friendly.

More information: Southern Comfort RV Resort

Best Time to Visit Everglades National Park for RV Camping

Everglades National Park is open year-round. However, some times of year are far more popular than others. 

That’s because the park only has two real seasons: the dry season and the wet season. The park schedules most of its activities in the dry season because hot, humid weather and clouds of bugs can make park visitors uncomfortable during the wet season. 

You can still visit any time of year and enjoy yourself, with the right preparation (and an RV to keep you out of the elements), but it’s usually better to visit the Everglades during the dry season. Find out more about the best time to visit Everglades National Park below.

Winter

The rainy season at the Everglades ends in mid-October. That means winter is a great time of year to visit. Ranger programs are active, temperatures are mild, and you don’t have to worry about hurricanes.

Even better, the winter isn’t nearly as popular as the spring in the Everglades, so you won’t have to fight the crowds. Consider dressing in layers because temperatures can drop to near-freezing temperatures at night on occasion.

Spring

Spring is the best time to visit Everglades National Park. Mid-October through April is considered the dry season at Everglades. During the spring, ranger programs are active, you can take more tours, and the majority of the park’s annual visitors are flocking in.

Temperatures range from highs of 77°F to lows of 53°F—the perfect climate to enjoy the outdoors. Just remember to bring extra water and sunscreen—dehydration comes on fast in the Everglades.

Summer

Summer is the peak of the wet season in Everglades. While you can visit this time of year, you need to come prepared. The Everglades are often hit with hurricanes and receive an incredible 56 inches of rainfall during the wet season. 

Mosquitoes and other insects are out in droves during the summer in the Everglades, and it’s about as humid as weather can get! Still, if you plan on kayaking or canoeing, summer is a great time of year, as long as you check the weather forecast.

Fall

Fall, like summer, is the offseason for Everglades. The great part about the Everglades is that no matter the season, if you’re looking to fish, bird watch, or hike, you have the same recreational opportunities year-round. Just remember to bring the bug spray and sunscreen! 

Things to Do in Everglades National Park

Now that you know where to stay and when to visit, it’s time to decide what to do on your RV camping trip to Everglades National Park. 

There are so many options; it’s hard to keep count. From biking to kayaking, the Everglades has it all. 

Here are just a few examples of top things to do in Everglades National Park.

• Rent a kayak, canoe, pontoon boat, or skiff, and take off down Flamingo's Canoe Trails to the beautiful Nine Mile Pond or Hell's Bay on a day trip.

• Head off down the Everglades Wilderness Waterway, a 99-mile navigable water route through the park on an iconic airboat.

• Grab a Florida freshwater fishing license, and try your hand at fishing for snapper, sea trout, redfish, bass, and bluegill.

• Take an afternoon stroll down one of the five biking trails to experience the beauty of Everglades from the land.

• The Everglades is known for its world-class bird watching. There are over 300 species to enjoy, including great egret, purple gallinules, and barred owls.

• Don’t forget to visit Everglades National Park Museum to learn about the park’s history and ecology.

Tips on Visiting Everglades National Park 

Before you head off to southern Florida for your RV camping trip in Everglades National Park, we have a few tips to keep you safe and make everything all the more enjoyable.

First, all the major roads within Everglades are RV accessible! Don’t be afraid to take a scenic tour through the park from the comfort of your RV. Of course, the best way to see all the Everglades offers is to rent a boat or kayaks. After all, this is a wetland preserve.

Here are just a few more tips before you head out RV camping in Everglades National Park:

• Don’t miss the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center on your way into the park. There’s a 15-minute film called “River of Life” that is worth the watch. You can also get maps, plan your trip, and schedule guided ranger programs from the center.

• Don’t miss the Anhinga Trail near the Royal Palm visitor center to see local wildlife from birds to alligators in their natural habitats.

• Come prepared with bug spray and even mosquito nets if you want to outdoor camp. The park is known for its dense insect population—especially during the wet season.

• Bring sunscreen and bring extra water! The Everglades has high humidity and strong sunshine year-round.

RV Rental for Everglades National Park

Photo Credit: Instagram User @thequeenofadventure

If you’re looking to avoid the bugs and experience all the Everglades has to offer in comfort without breaking the bank, RV camping is the solution.

RVs will keep you warm and dry even in the wet season at the Everglades. That way, you can experience the wonder of this historic wetlands preserve and still have a calming vacation. 

Cruise America RV rentals start at $50/Night, and with 125 locations across the US and Canada, you can start your next RV adventure anywhere.

Call today for more information.