An Everglades day trip from Naples is an easy way to add adventure, wildlife, history, and local flavor to your Southwest Florida vacation. The Everglades is a vast, nearly untouched labyrinth with freshwater marshes, mangroves, coastal waterways, and diverse wildlife.

The national park is large and has many activities to enjoy and things to see, so planning your trip around the area is the best way to make the most of a single day.

Start with a Wildlife Adventure

Wildlife is one of the biggest reasons to plan an Everglades day trip. One of the many places that gives you a chance to see the wildlife is Shark Valley. There you can walk or bike the 15-mile loop, or take a narrated tram tour through the freshwater marsh. The route includes an observation tower offering expansive views across the sawgrass landscape. Keep your eyes out for alligators, wading birds, and other native wildlife as you explore.

Another popular option is the Anhinga Trail, which starts at the Royal Palm Visitor Center. The short boardwalk provides excellent opportunities to observe birds, turtles, alligators, and other wildlife in a natural wetland setting. This boardwalk is also wheelchair accessible, making it easy for everyone to enjoy the sights and sounds of wild Florida.

For a different perspective, head toward Flamingo Visitor’s Center, where visitors can explore coastal habitats and join water-based excursions. The Gulf Coast area near Everglades City also offers opportunities for boat tours and paddling through mangrove waterways and the Ten Thousand Islands.

Explore Everglades History

The Everglades is more than a wildlife destination. Its communities and waterways are closely connected to Florida's development and cultural history.

In Everglades City, the Museum of the Everglades offers a fascinating introduction to the region. Housed in a restored 1927 building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum explores more than 2,000 years of local human history and the area's development.

You can also explore the historic Smallwood Store on Chokoloskee Island, a former trading post that provides a glimpse into pioneer life in the remote Everglades. It opened in 1906 and has since been preserved as a museum. The Smallwood Store also offers boat tours of the Ten Thousand Islands.

After exploring the outdoors, make time for a meal featuring the flavors of Southwest Florida. Everglades City is particularly known for fresh seafood and stone crab during its seasonal harvest. Local dining choices range from casual waterfront seafood restaurants to historic establishments.

Plan your trip

It is important to choose your Everglades destinations before leaving Naples. Roads inside the park do not connect all of the park's main areas. Planning before visiting Shark Valley, Flamingo, and the Gulf Coast in one day can help you avoid unnecessary driving time.

Pack water, sun protection, insect repellent, comfortable walking shoes, and food if your chosen destination has limited dining. Conditions and available programs vary by season, with December through April generally considered the dry season and May through November the wet season. Always check current park alerts before setting out.

The concierge experts at the Inn at Pelican Bay can also help answer any questions you may have about your Everglades day trip.

Return to the Inn at Pelican Bay

After a full day exploring the Everglades, come back to the comfort of the Inn at Pelican Bay in Naples. Located near Vanderbilt Beach and Mercato upscale shopping, the boutique hotel offers complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, beach transportation, a heated outdoor pool, and concierge service.

An Everglades day trip is an ideal addition to a Southwest Florida getaway, and the Inn at Pelican Bay makes a comfortable home base for exploring it all.