Everglades RV Camping: Alligators, Mangroves & the Road Less Traveled

The Everglades don’t look like any other national park. No mountains, no canyons, no dramatic vistas that photograph well from a windshield. What you get instead is a slow, vast river of grass flowing south through mangrove estuaries and sawgrass prairies to the Florida Bay — 1.5 million acres of wetland that supports alligators, crocodiles, manatees, panthers, and more bird species than most birders see in a lifetime.

RV camping here is not a resort experience. It’s not even a comfortable camping experience by most Florida standards. You’re trading heated pools and pickleball courts for sawgrass horizons, alligator-filled canals, and some of the densest mosquito populations in North America. The infrastructure is basic, the amenities are minimal, and the wilderness is real.

That’s exactly the point. The Everglades reward people who show up prepared and leave the resort expectations behind. This guide covers every RV-accessible campground in and around Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve — the in-park sites, the gateway options, and the practical reality of camping in a subtropical wilderness.

For the Gulf Coast parks north of here, see our Gulf Coast Florida RV parks guide. For the island chain to the south, check the Florida Keys guide.

Inside Everglades National Park#

Everglades National Park has two front-country campgrounds accessible by RV: Flamingo and Long Pine Key. Both sit along the park’s main road, which runs 38 miles from the Ernest Coe Visitor Center near Homestead to Flamingo on Florida Bay.

Flamingo Campground#

Flamingo is the end of the road — literally. It sits at the southernmost point of the park, overlooking Florida Bay where freshwater marsh meets saltwater mangrove coast. The campground is an open field with scattered shade trees and water views that make up for what the sites lack in privacy.

The T-Loop is the RV section: 65 sites total, with 41 of those offering electric hookups (20/30/50 amp). The remaining 24 T-Loop sites are non-electric. There are no water or sewer hookups at any site, but a dump station with a water filling spigot sits in the center of the T-Loop. The A-Loop has 55 tent-only sites.

The Flamingo marina and visitor center provide the services you won’t find at the campsite — kayak and canoe rentals, boat tours into the backcountry, a small camp store, and showers. Ranger programs run during the dry season with evening talks at the amphitheater.

• Location: 38 miles south of park entrance (Homestead/Florida City)
• Hookups: Electric only at 41 sites (20/30/50 amp) — no water or sewer at sites
• Sites: 65 RV sites (T-Loop), 55 tent sites (A-Loop)
• Max rig length: 35 ft (trailers not permitted in T-Loop)
• Cost: Electric sites $50/night Mon–Thu, $60/night Fri–Sun; non-electric sites $33/$38.50
• Reservations: flamingoeverglades.com or call (855) 708-2207
• Dump station: Yes (with water fill)
• Showers: Yes (at the marina area)
• Cell signal: Weak to moderate (Verizon best)
• Park entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (7-day pass) or use America the Beautiful pass

Flamingo’s 35-foot limit is enforced, and trailers are explicitly not permitted in the T-Loop. This is a motorhome and van campground. If you’re towing, Long Pine Key or a gateway campground outside the park is your option.

What makes Flamingo special: At sunset, the Florida Bay horizon turns orange and pink behind a silhouette of mangrove islands. Roseate spoonbills feed in the shallows. Manatees surface in the marina. American crocodiles — yes, crocodiles, not just alligators — patrol the shoreline. It’s one of the only places in the world where you can see both species in the same day. The kayaking from the Flamingo marina into the backcountry mangrove channels is world-class, and the winter tarpon and snook fishing draws anglers from across the country.

Long Pine Key Campground#

Long Pine Key sits just 7 miles from the park entrance, in a pine rockland forest ecosystem that’s dramatically different from the sawgrass and mangrove landscapes deeper in the park. The campground is shaded by slash pines, with sites scattered along a loop road that winds through the forest.

This campground is seasonal — open November 1 through April 30 only. During the wet season, portions of the area flood and mosquito populations make camping impractical.

Long Pine Key has 108 sites for tents and RVs, with select sites offering electrical hookups (30/50 amp). Like Flamingo, there are no water or sewer connections at individual sites, but potable water filling stations and a dump station are available.

• Location: 7 miles from Ernest Coe Visitor Center
• Hookups: Electric at select sites (30/50 amp) — no water or sewer at sites
• Sites: 108 (mixed tent and RV)
• Max rig length: 35 ft
• Cost: $30/night Mon–Thu, $35/night Fri–Sun (plus 10% tax); group sites $55
• Season: November 1 – April 30
• Reservations: flamingoeverglades.com or call (855) 708-2207
• Dump station: Yes
• Showers: Yes
• Cell signal: AT&T and Verizon both functional
• Best feature: Immediate access to the Anhinga Trail (0.8 miles), one of the best wildlife viewing boardwalks in any national park

Long Pine Key’s proximity to the Anhinga Trail is a major draw. During the dry season, water concentrates in the sloughs along this trail, and wildlife density is extraordinary — alligators stacked along the banks, anhingas drying their wings, great blue herons stalking fish, and the occasional river otter. You can walk here from your campsite at dawn before the crowds arrive.

Choosing between Flamingo and Long Pine Key: Flamingo is remote, coastal, and has the stronger hookup options (50 amp available). Long Pine Key is closer to the entrance, better for wildlife walks, and cheaper. Flamingo requires a committed drive — 38 miles each way on a two-lane park road with a 45 mph limit. Long Pine Key lets you pop out to Homestead for supplies in 15 minutes.

Big Cypress National Preserve#

Big Cypress sits directly north of Everglades National Park along the Tamiami Trail (US-41), protecting 729,000 acres of cypress swamp, wet prairie, and hardwood hammock. The preserve operates under different rules than the national park — hunting is permitted, off-road vehicles have designated trails, and the camping options are more varied and more affordable.

Three campgrounds here accept RVs, each with a different character:

Midway Campground#

The only Big Cypress campground with electric hookups, and the only one open year-round. Midway is the most developed option in the preserve — flush toilets, drinking water, trash collection, dump station, and 30-amp electric service at the RV sites.

The campground has 36 sites: 26 for RVs and 10 for tents. The setting is open grassland along the Tamiami Trail, without the tree canopy you’d find at Monument Lake. What it lacks in shade it makes up for in convenience — year-round operation and hookups make Midway the default choice for RV campers in Big Cypress.

• Location: US-41 (Tamiami Trail), between Miami and Naples
• Hookups: Electric (30 amp) at RV sites, water available, dump station
• Sites: 26 RV, 10 tent
• Max rig length: 50 ft
• Cost: $30/night (RV), $24/night (tent)
• Season: Year-round
• Reservations: Recreation.gov, up to 6 months ahead
• Cell signal: Weak (all carriers)

Monument Lake Campground#

Monument Lake sits in the heart of the preserve with better tree cover and a more secluded feel than Midway. The lake itself offers fishing (bass, panfish), and the campground serves as a base for hiking, biking, and exploring the Florida National Scenic Trail, which passes through the preserve.

No hookups here. This is dry camping with basic facilities — vault toilets, drinking water, and trash collection. The trade-off is a more immersive wilderness setting.

• Location: US-41, centrally located in Big Cypress
• Hookups: None
• Sites: 26 RV, 10 tent
• Max rig length: 50 ft
• Cost: $28/night (RV), $24/night (tent)
• Season: August 15 – April 15
• Reservations: Recreation.gov, up to 6 months ahead
• Cell signal: Very weak

Burns Lake Campground#

The smallest and most remote of the three, Burns Lake has just 14 sites — 8 for RVs and 6 for tents. No drinking water, no dump station, no hookups. You’re self-contained or you’re not staying here.

What Burns Lake offers is solitude. During the week, you may have the campground nearly to yourself. The surrounding swamp is prime for wildlife observation — wood storks, limpkins, deer, bobcats, and the occasional Florida panther track in the mud.

• Location: US-41, eastern section of Big Cypress
• Hookups: None
• Sites: 8 RV, 6 tent
• Max rig length: 50 ft
• Cost: $24/night
• Season: August 15 – April 15
• Reservations: Recreation.gov (required), up to 6 months ahead
• Cell signal: Very weak to nonexistent

Big Cypress strategy: Midway for hookups and year-round access. Monument Lake for a better camping atmosphere and fishing. Burns Lake only if you’re fully self-contained and want maximum quiet. All three are excellent bases for exploring the preserve’s off-road trails, the Florida Trail, and the Turner River canoe trail.

Gateway Campgrounds#

If the in-park campgrounds are full, your rig is too big, or you want more amenities, several private and state park campgrounds sit near the Everglades entrances.

Collier-Seminole State Park#

Twenty minutes southwest of Naples on the Tamiami Trail, Collier-Seminole straddles the border between Gulf Coast civilization and Everglades wilderness. The park protects mangrove swamp, tropical hammock, and salt marsh, with a campground that feels remarkably wild for its proximity to Naples.

The park has 105 campsites that accommodate everything from tents to large motorhomes, all with electricity, water, grill, and picnic table. Hot showers, laundry, and a dump station are available. The canoeing here is excellent — a 13.6-mile marked canoe trail winds through mangrove estuaries to the Gulf.

• Location: 20200 E Tamiami Trail, Naples (US-41)
• Hookups: Full (electric, water, sewer via dump station)
• Sites: 105
• Max rig length: 50 ft
• Cost: $22/night + $6.70 reservation fee + $7/night utility fee
• Reservations: ReserveFlorida.com, up to 11 months ahead
• Amenities: Hot showers, laundry, dump station, boat ramp, canoe trail
• Cell signal: Moderate

Collier-Seminole is the sweet spot if you want to explore the western Everglades and the Ten Thousand Islands area without roughing it at a bare-bones national park campground. At $22/night plus fees, it’s also significantly cheaper than any private park in the Naples corridor.

Miami Everglades RV Resort#

On the eastern approach to the park, about 10 miles from the Homestead entrance, this 34-acre private resort offers the full-hookup, resort-amenity experience that the in-park campgrounds don’t provide. Pool, hot tub, camp store, organized activities, and sites with concrete pads.

This is the practical choice if you’re running a big rig that won’t fit at Flamingo (35-foot limit), or if you need full hookups, sewer, and reliable WiFi during your Everglades trip. The downside: you’re on the outskirts of Florida City, not in the park.

• Location: Florida City (east side of Everglades NP)
• Hookups: Full (30/50 amp, water, sewer)
• Sites: 300+
• Max rig length: 60 ft+
• Cost: $55–95/night (seasonal variation)
• Reservations: Direct booking, recommended 3+ months ahead for winter
• Amenities: Pool, hot tub, camp store, laundry, WiFi, planned activities

Everglades RV Campgrounds Comparison#

Campground	Hookups	Sites	Max Length	Price	Season	Best For
Flamingo (ENP)	Electric (41 sites)	65 RV	35 ft	$33–60	Year-round	Bay views, kayaking, fishing
Long Pine Key (ENP)	Electric (select)	108 mixed	35 ft	$30–35	Nov–Apr	Wildlife walks, Anhinga Trail
Midway (Big Cypress)	Electric (30A)	26 RV	50 ft	$30	Year-round	Hookups in the preserve
Monument Lake (Big Cypress)	None	26 RV	50 ft	$28	Aug–Apr	Fishing, Florida Trail
Burns Lake (Big Cypress)	None	8 RV	50 ft	$24	Aug–Apr	Solitude
Collier-Seminole SP	E/W + dump	105	50 ft	$22+fees	Year-round	Canoe trail, comfort
Miami Everglades RV Resort	Full	300+	60 ft	$55–95	Year-round	Big rigs, amenities

Wildlife Safety: The Honest Briefing#

Camping in the Everglades means sharing space with animals that can actually hurt you. This is not Yellowstone’s bison-at-a-distance situation — alligators walk through campgrounds, and the National Park Service expects you to manage the interaction.

Alligators#

You will see them. During the dry season, alligators concentrate around any remaining water, which includes campground drainage ditches, marina channels, and the ponds along the Anhinga Trail. They are not aggressive in the way bears are, but they are opportunistic ambush predators.

• Stay at least 15 feet away. They are faster than they look for short distances.
• Never feed any wildlife. A fed alligator associates humans with food and becomes dangerous. This is how “problem alligators” are created, and problem alligators get relocated or killed.
• Keep children close, especially near water. This is not a figure of speech — tragedies have occurred.
• Dogs are at risk. An alligator sees a small dog at the water’s edge the same way it sees any prey animal. Keep dogs leashed and away from pond edges.
• Night is different. Alligators are more active at night and harder to see. Use a flashlight near any water after dark — you’ll see the eye shine.

Crocodiles#

The American crocodile lives in the saltwater and brackish areas around Flamingo. They are rarer than alligators, generally more shy, and less likely to be in the campground. But they are present. The same distance rules apply.

Mosquitoes#

The Everglades mosquito situation ranges from “manageable” to “genuinely unbearable” depending on season, rainfall, and wind:

• Dry season (November–April): Manageable. Some sites and some evenings are buggy, but DEET and long sleeves handle it.
• Wet season (May–October): Potentially severe. After summer rains, standing water creates explosive mosquito breeding. There are documented cases of mosquito clouds so thick they register on weather radar in the Everglades. This is why most in-park camping is seasonal.
• Wind matters. Open, breezy sites (Flamingo’s bay-facing sites, Midway’s open grassland) are significantly better than sheltered, mangrove-adjacent sites.

Bring DEET-based repellent (30%+ concentration), long sleeves and pants for evening, and a bug net for cooking and eating outdoors. Thermacell devices help in calm air.

Vultures#

This one catches people off guard. Black vultures and turkey vultures in the Everglades have learned to pull apart rubber components on vehicles — windshield wipers, window seals, tire valve stem covers, and roof vents on RVs. The National Park Service at Flamingo provides free tarps and bungee cords for vehicle protection. Use them.

Cover your RV’s rubber-exposed components if parking for extended periods, and store any loose rubber items (floor mats, wiper blade refills) inside.

Season and Weather Planning#

The Dry Season (November–April)#

This is when you should visit. Cooler temperatures (highs in the mid-70s to low 80s), low humidity, negligible rainfall, and dramatically reduced mosquito populations. Wildlife concentrates around shrinking water sources, making observation easier. Ranger programs, boat tours, and visitor center operations run at full capacity.

The catch: everyone knows this. Flamingo and Long Pine Key fill up during peak dry season weeks (January–March). Book as early as possible — reservations open 6 months ahead for Big Cypress and 11 months for state parks.

The Wet Season (May–October)#

Hot (highs in the low 90s, heat index 100+), humid, with daily afternoon thunderstorms that dump heavy rain in 20-minute bursts. Mosquitoes are at peak population. Some campgrounds close entirely. Roads can flood temporarily.

That said, the wet season has its appeal: the park is nearly empty, birds are nesting, and the landscape is lush and green instead of the dry-season brown. If you’re visiting in summer, aim for Midway Campground (open year-round) or Miami Everglades RV Resort. Bring serious bug protection and plan outdoor activities for early morning.

Hurricane Season (June 1–November 30)#

The Everglades are as exposed to hurricanes as any place in Florida. The park sits at sea level with no elevation to buffer storm surge. Hurricane Irma (2017) caused catastrophic damage to Flamingo and park infrastructure.

If you’re camping during hurricane season: monitor the National Hurricane Center daily, have a written evacuation plan, and leave early if a storm enters the Gulf or Caribbean. Do not wait for an evacuation order. Getting out of southern Florida with an RV takes time.

Getting There and Getting Around#

Eastern Entrance (Main)#

Most visitors enter through the Ernest Coe Visitor Center near Homestead/Florida City, off Florida’s Turnpike. From Miami, it’s about 45 minutes. The single park road runs 38 miles from the entrance to Flamingo — roughly an hour’s drive with stops. Long Pine Key is 7 miles in; Flamingo is at the end.

Homestead and Florida City have full services — Walmart, Publix, gas stations, restaurants. Fill up on fuel and supplies before entering the park. Inside the park, the Flamingo marina has a small camp store, but selection and hours are limited.

Western Entrance (Shark Valley)#

Shark Valley, off US-41, is a visitor center and tram tour access point — not a campground entrance. The tram tour (15 miles, 2 hours) is one of the best wildlife experiences in the park but there’s no camping at Shark Valley.

Tamiami Trail (US-41)#

US-41 runs along the northern boundary of Everglades National Park and through Big Cypress National Preserve. All three Big Cypress campgrounds and Collier-Seminole State Park sit along this road. It’s a two-lane highway — straightforward driving but limited services between Miami and Naples. Fill up on fuel in either city.

RV Size Reality#

The Everglades are not big-rig-friendly:

• Flamingo: 35-foot max, motorhomes only (no trailers in T-Loop)
• Long Pine Key: 35-foot max
• Big Cypress campgrounds: 50-foot max (roads are fine, but sites vary)
• Collier-Seminole: 50-foot max
• Miami Everglades RV Resort: 60+ feet (the only large-rig option)

If you’re running a 40+ foot rig, your options narrow to Big Cypress, Collier-Seminole, or the private resort. Flamingo and Long Pine Key are built for smaller rigs and van campers.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Is Everglades camping safe with alligators? Yes, with common sense. Thousands of people camp at Flamingo and Long Pine Key every year without incident. Stay 15 feet from any alligator, never feed wildlife, keep pets leashed, and supervise children near water. Alligators are a managed part of the camping experience here, not an unusual threat.

Can I bring a travel trailer to Flamingo? No. The T-Loop (RV section) at Flamingo does not permit trailers. Motorhomes and self-contained vans only, with a 35-foot maximum length. If you’re towing, camp at Long Pine Key, Big Cypress, or a gateway campground.

When is the best time for Everglades RV camping? December through March. The dry season delivers the best weather, lowest mosquito pressure, peak wildlife visibility, and full ranger program schedules. January and February are the most popular months — book 4–6 months ahead for Flamingo and Long Pine Key.

Are there hookups in Everglades National Park? Limited. Flamingo has electric hookups (20/30/50 amp) at 41 of its 65 RV sites. Long Pine Key has electric at select sites. Neither campground has water or sewer hookups at individual sites. Dump stations are available at both. Midway Campground in Big Cypress has electric hookups. For full hookups, you need a gateway campground outside the park.

How bad are the mosquitoes really? During dry season (November–April): manageable with DEET and appropriate clothing. During wet season (May–October): potentially severe to unbearable, especially in sheltered areas. This is the primary reason most Everglades camping is seasonal. Bring 30%+ DEET, long sleeves, and consider a head net for evening cooking.

Can I see wildlife from my campsite? At Flamingo, yes — wading birds, manatees in the marina, occasional alligators and crocodiles. At Long Pine Key, the Anhinga Trail is a short walk and delivers dense wildlife viewing during dry season. Big Cypress campgrounds offer good birding and occasional mammal sightings. The Everglades reward early risers — dawn is the best viewing time across all campgrounds.

Is there cell service in the Everglades? Weak to moderate at Flamingo (Verizon best). Functional at Long Pine Key (AT&T and Verizon). Very weak to nonexistent at Big Cypress campgrounds. Download offline maps and don’t rely on streaming or video calls from inside the park.

What should I do about the vultures? At Flamingo, pick up the free tarp and bungee cords from the ranger station and cover your vehicle. Vultures specifically target rubber components — wiper blades, window seals, roof vent covers. RVers should cover exposed rubber on the roof if accessible. This is not optional; vulture damage is common and not covered by the park.