Camping in Everglades National Park

Camping in Everglades National Park is the essential way to experience the park after dark, when the vast marshes, pinelands, and mangrove country feel most alive. The park has two frontcountry campgrounds: Long Pine Key, near the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, and Flamingo, deeper in the park at the southern end of the main road. Both offer car camping with basic services, and both can accommodate RVs, though campers should not expect full hookups everywhere. For travelers who want a more adventurous stay, Everglades is also a standout backcountry destination, with remote campsites scattered along the Wilderness Waterway, the Gulf Coast, and the coastal keys. These include elevated chickees over the water as well as beach and ground sites, creating one of the most distinctive camping setups in any national park. The camping experience here is less about alpine scenery and more about immersion in a raw subtropical wilderness. Dawn and dusk bring extraordinary birdlife, broad skies, and a sense of solitude that feels far removed from South Florida’s cities. At Flamingo, campers are well positioned for paddling, boating, and exploring the park’s expansive coastal waters, while Long Pine Key offers a more convenient base for hiking trails and early access to the main park road. Conditions can be intense, however: heat, humidity, and insects are all part of the Everglades package, and wildlife is never far away. This is a place where preparation shapes the trip. Practical planning matters. Camping is available year-round, but the most popular season runs through the cooler, drier months, when demand is highest and conditions are far more comfortable. Reserve early when possible, especially for winter visits, and do not assume backcountry sites are casual drop-ins; many require permits. Bring serious sun protection, abundant water, insect defense, and gear suited for warm, humid nights. If you are bringing an RV, confirm site details in advance rather than expecting resort-style amenities. Most of all, camp with flexibility and respect for the environment: the Everglades rewards travelers who arrive prepared for a rugged, elemental, unmistakably wild national park experience.