We recently visited Everglades National Park after a week-long cruise out of Miami. Ready for a break from boats and crowds, we opted for a different kind of adventure—exploring this massive, untamed landscape on our own with a rental car.

This post follows our one-day, self-driving route through the park, including stops at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, the iconic Anhinga Trail boardwalk, Gumbo Limbo Trail, the Guy Bradley Visitor Center, lunch at Flamingo, and a final stop at the peaceful West Lake Trail. It made for a full, active day—and yes, plenty of alligator sightings along the way.

If you want to avoid crowds and explore at your own pace, renting a car from Miami is the way to go. Rental options are plentiful from Mid-Beach to South Beach, many offering easy daily rates. We walked just one block to pick up our car and were on the road by 9:30 a.m.

Once you leave the city behind, the landscape begins to shift. The dense urban energy of Miami gives way to wide-open skies and stretches of sawgrass. At times, we felt like we had the road entirely to ourselves. About an hour from Mid-Beach, we arrived at the Homestead entrance—the park’s main gateway.

Our first stop was the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. It is well worth a quick visit to get oriented, learn about the park’s unique ecosystem, and get a sense of the wildlife you might encounter.

We were on the hunt for wildlife but only saw a few birds and fish at the visitor center pond. Don’t worry, the wildlife was yet to come.

Anhinga Trail in the Royal Palm Area

From there, we continued deeper into the park driving toward the Royal Palm area—home to one of the most popular (and rewarding) stops in the Everglades.

The Anhinga Trail boardwalk offers an up-close look at the park’s wildlife and is an absolute must-see.

We also spotted one of the park’s most distinctive birds, the Anhinga, often called the “snake bird” for the way it swims with just its long neck above the water. This guy posing just like in the pictures.

The trail goes over the pond on beautiful foliage lined boardwalks.

But let’s be honest—what everyone is really here to see are the alligators. Not too far along the trail we spotted our first one. And this was easily one of the most intense up-close wildlife experiences I have ever had.

Armed with the 5x lens on my iPhone, I kept what felt like a very safe distance. I could not believe that it took no time to spot them. There were at least ten alligators scattered around the Anhinga Trail—some floating quietly in the water, others resting along the edges of the boardwalk.

Then came the moment that raised my heart rate.

One alligator was stretched partway into the trail, and we had to walk around it to continue. Under normal circumstances, I am not sure I would have done it. But with dozens of other visitors—families, kids, everyone—calmly passing by, I followed along.

Surprisingly, the alligator seemed completely uninterested in us. No movement, no reaction—just quietly holding its ground as people carefully gave it space and moved on.

Are alligators interested in humans?

We did a little more research and found out not typically. The alligators along the Anhinga Trail are American alligator, and they are generally used to people observing from a distance. They tend to be calm and uninterested—as long as you give them space and do not approach or feed them. But we stayed cautious on the whole trail as we knew they were out there.

Our next wildlife encounter was much more my speed—a large turtle resting quietly in a pond.

Most likely, we read, this was a Florida red-bellied cooter, a common freshwater turtle in the Everglades known for its calm nature and tendency to bask near the water’s edge.

After making the .8 miles boardwalk loop on the Anhinga Trail we arrived safe and sound back to the visitors center, ready for the next adventure.

Gumbo Limbo Trail

We next walked the short, 0.5-mile Gumbo Limbo Trail, and it felt like stepping into a completely different world. Just minutes from the wildlife-filled Anhinga Trail, the scenery shifted to a shaded, tropical forest with towering trees and twisting roots.

We learned the trail is named after the Gumbo limbo tree, which you will notice right away by its distinctive reddish, peeling bark—often compared to sunburned skin. It is one of the most recognizable trees in South Florida and adds to the almost jungle-like feel of this section of the park.

Instead of scanning the water for alligators, we found ourselves looking up and around—taking in the dense canopy and quiet stillness. It was a peaceful change of pace and a reminder of how diverse the Everglades landscape really is.

Drive to Flamingo and the Guy Bradley Visitors Center

From the Royal Palm area, we continued further into the park, driving about 38 miles (just over an hour) to Flamingo at the southern tip of Everglades National Park. The drive itself is part of the experience—long stretches of open landscape with occasional wildlife sightings along the way. When we got out of the car, we walked to where the fresh waters of the Everglades meet the salt water of the Florida Bay.

The Guy Bradley Visitor Center was a worthwhile stop, overlooking the water, the center provided a great deal of information about what makes the Everglades so unique.

One of the great insight into the park’s wildlife we got, was a particular focus on manatees and the differences between alligators and crocodiles—something unique to this part of the Everglades where both species coexist.

Just outside at the marina, we were lucky enough to spot several manatee slowly gliding through the water. They seemed completely relaxed, surfacing occasionally and lingering near the docks—an unexpectedly peaceful moment after the excitement of the alligator sightings earlier in the day. As the sign in the visitors center says they really are the “Beloved Gentle Giants” of Florida.

You can take a guided 90-minute boat tour from Flamingo to explore Florida Bay and surrounding waterways. We opted to skip the tour this time and instead enjoyed walking around the area and taking it all in at our own pace. For those you wanting the super exciting, speedy air boat experience in the Everglades, you have to make your way to Shark Valley about an hour and a half North of Flamingo.

There is a lot of camping, of course, in the park. Check out these “Glamping” units out in the Flamingo area. They are only open November-April, considered “Winter Tents.” For more information click: HERE

After all of this exploring we were hungry! TIP: Pack in a picnic as the food selection is limited throughout the park. Fortunately we were near a newer feature of the park, Flamingo Lodge and Restaurant. We did not get a picture but we had a delicious Cubano Sandwich. Bonus! They also make a great margarita. After lunch and a walk around the area it was time to start the drive back towards Miami.

One Last Stop - West Lake Trail

We ended our day with a stop at the West Lake Trail, and it was the perfect, peaceful way to wind things down.

This short boardwalk loop takes you through a coastal mangrove forest—our first real interaction with mangroves—and it was fascinating to see them up close. The tangled root systems rising out of the water create a unique, almost maze-like environment that feels completely different from the open wetlands earlier in the day.

The calm water, filtered light, and quiet surroundings made it feel like a hidden corner of the park. After a full day of exploring, it was a slower, more reflective experience—and the perfect way to end our visit.

Back Safe and Sound In Miami

Everglades National Park covers approximately 2,357 square miles, making it one of the largest national parks in the United States—and a big reason why planning our route (like focusing on the Homestead-to-Flamingo drive) was so important with only one day to explore.

We returned our rental car just before 5:00 p.m. and walked back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner. A must-try in Miami is Joe's Stone Crab. We enjoyed a delicious meal, a glass of wine, and let Uber take us back to the hotel after a long, adventurous day.