One Day in the Everglades from Florida City

The plan

1. 6:30 AM

   Breakfast at the hotel

   The complimentary hot buffet opens at 6:30 AM — eat before you go, because there is no food service between the entrance and Flamingo.

2. 7:15 AM

   Fuel up in Florida City

   Top off the tank and grab water before heading out SR 9336. There are no gas stations inside the park, and the round trip to Flamingo is about 80 miles.

3. 7:45 AM

   Royal Palm & the Anhinga Trail

   A few minutes past the entrance station, the Anhinga Trail’s short boardwalk is the most reliable place in the park to see alligators, herons, and anhingas up close — and early morning is when the wildlife (and the light) is best.

4. 9:30 AM

   Drive the park road

   The road runs 38 miles from the entrance to Flamingo. Stop at Pa-hay-okee Overlook for the sea-of-sawgrass view and Mahogany Hammock for the boardwalk through the hardwood island.

5. 11:30 AM

   Flamingo on Florida Bay

   The end of the road: the marina and waterfront where the sawgrass meets the bay. Look for manatees and crocodiles around the marina before turning back.

6. 1:30 PM

   Robert Is Here on the way home

   The famous fruit stand is directly on the SR 9336 route back to Florida City — the milkshake is the correct reward. Key lime is the benchmark; mango in summer.

7. 3:00 PM

   Back at the pool

   You’re 20 minutes from the hotel, with the whole afternoon left. Your park pass is valid for seven consecutive days, so a sunset return later in your stay costs nothing extra.

What to book ahead

• Your park entrance pass — buying online ahead skips the entrance-station line, and the pass is valid for seven consecutive days.
• Mosquito repellent if you’re visiting May through November — seriously.
• Your room: winter dry season is the park’s busiest stretch, and Florida City fills up.

Tips from our front desk

• Go early. It’s the single biggest upgrade to an Everglades day — better light, more wildlife, cooler walking.
• The dry season (roughly December through April) is peak wildlife viewing; summer visits work if you start at dawn and bring repellent.
• Binoculars earn their space in the bag here more than anywhere else near the hotel.
• Want airboats too? They don’t operate inside the park from this entrance — add the Everglades Alligator Farm, 15 minutes from the hotel, before or after.

Common questions

Is one day enough for Everglades National Park?

For the Homestead entrance, yes — the Anhinga Trail, the overlooks along the 38-mile park road, and Flamingo fit comfortably in a day from Travelog Inn, with time left for the pool. Your pass is valid seven days if you want a second visit.

What time should I leave Florida City for the Everglades?

Right after breakfast — the hotel’s hot buffet opens at 6:30 AM, and being on the Anhinga Trail before 8 AM means more wildlife and cooler temperatures. The entrance is about a 20-minute drive.

Do I need reservations for Everglades National Park?

No reservation is needed to enter from the Homestead entrance — just an entrance pass, which you can buy online ahead or at the station. Guided boat tours at Flamingo are the exception; book those ahead in season.

What should I bring for a day in the Everglades?

Water, sun protection, mosquito repellent (essential in summer), and a full tank of gas — there are no gas stations or restaurants inside this side of the park. Fill up in Florida City before you go.