Day Trips: Everglades & the Keys

Everglades: do Shark Valley (45 min from downtown, $35/vehicle park entry) — it's a half-day and you will see gators. Keys: Key Largo is 90 minutes, Islamorada two hours — both easy day trips. Key West is 3.5-4 hours each way; doable in a day but honestly better as an overnight.

Key facts

What locals actually do here

• For the Keys, target Islamorada and leave by 8 a.m. — skip the Key West day-trip temptation.

  Two hours down gets you Robbie's tarpon feeding, a lunch at a fish shack like Islamorada Fish Company, and a beach stop, and you're back in Miami before dinner. Key West in a day is 8 hours of driving for 5 hours of fun.

  Verified Jul 2026

• Rent bikes at Shark Valley instead of taking the tram.

  Same 15-mile loop, but you set the pace and stop for every gator — and in dry season there are a lot of them sunning on the path edges. Go at opening time; reserve the tram in advance only if you're visiting December-April and can't bike.

  Verified Jul 2026

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time of year to visit the Everglades?

Dry season, December through April. Water levels drop, so wildlife crowds around the remaining water and you'll see far more gators and birds. Summer means mosquitoes, afternoon storms, and dispersed wildlife — still doable, but bring serious repellent and go early morning.

Do I need to rent a car for these day trips or are there tours?

A rental car is the most flexible and usually cheapest for 2+ people. But plenty of bus tours run daily from Miami Beach hotels to both the Everglades (half-day, airboat included) and Key West (long full day). The Key West bus is honestly not a bad move — you can nap instead of white-knuckling the Overseas Highway back at night.

What's the best Keys day trip if I don't want to drive all the way to Key West?

Islamorada, about 2 hours out, is the sweet spot: feed the tarpon at Robbie's, eat at a waterfront fish shack, hit a sandbar or beach bar. Key Largo (90 minutes) is best if you want to snorkel — John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park runs boat trips to the reef.

Airboat ride or national park — which Everglades experience is better?

Different things. Airboats (Coopertown, Gator Park, Everglades Safari Park along Tamiami Trail) are loud, fast, and fun — a 30-40 minute ride plus a wildlife show. The national park (Shark Valley or the Homestead entrance) is quieter and better for actually seeing wildlife up close. Airboats don't operate inside most of the national park; they're on the fringe.

Which Everglades entrance should I use — Shark Valley or Homestead?

Shark Valley (via Tamiami Trail/US-41) for a quick, high-wildlife-density visit — tram, bikes, observation tower. The Homestead entrance (Ernest Coe, via Royal Palm) for the classic Anhinga Trail boardwalk and the drive down to Flamingo — better if you want a fuller day. Same $35 vehicle pass covers the park for 7 days.

How bad is traffic driving to the Keys and when should I leave?

The Overseas Highway (US-1) is mostly one lane each way, so one accident or one slow RV sets the pace. Leave Miami by 7-8 a.m., especially on weekends, and plan your return to avoid Sunday afternoon northbound, which can add an hour-plus. Card Sound Road is the scenic backup if US-1 is jammed at the top.

Can you do the Everglades as a half-day trip from Miami?

Yes — Shark Valley on the Tamiami Trail is about 45 minutes from downtown, and the two-hour guided tram tour (about $31 for adults) or the 15-mile bike loop gets you alligators, herons, and the observation tower. Park entry is $35 per vehicle, good for 7 days. Leave by 8 a.m. and you're back for a late lunch.

Is Key West doable as a day trip from Miami?

Technically yes, realistically it's a slog: 160 miles and 3.5-4 hours each way on a mostly two-lane highway, more with traffic. That's 8 hours of driving for maybe 5 hours in town. If Key West is the goal, stay overnight. If you just want a taste of the Keys, stop at Key Largo or Islamorada instead.