Accommodations near NP in Florida

Question

Planning a rip to see all 3 National Parks in Florida the last week of March!

I am seeking guidance where to stay as a home base in order to visit all three.

Answer

Florida has three major National Parks that are often visited together by travelers: Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, and Dry Tortugas National Park (the latter is accessed by boat or seaplane from Key West). Planning a base to efficiently visit all three requires some strategic thinking because of the distances involved.

1. Everglades National Park: Located southwest of Miami, with popular access points at Shark Valley, Gulf Coast, and Flamingo. Staying nearby allows you to explore the park without long daily drives.

2. Biscayne National Park: Situated just south of Miami, mostly accessible by boat. A Miami base works best for day trips here.

3. Dry Tortugas National Park: About 70 miles west of Key West, only reachable by ferry or seaplane. Staying in Key West is essential if you plan to visit Dry Tortugas.

Recommended Accommodation Strategy:

Miami Base: Ideal for Biscayne NP and the eastern entrances to Everglades NP (Shark Valley or Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center). Good hotel areas include Miami Beach, Downtown Miami, or near the airport for convenience.
Everglades/Florida City Base: For deeper exploration of Everglades NP, especially Flamingo or Gulf Coast sections, staying near Florida City or Homestead is recommended. This is further from Miami but closer to the southern park sections.
Key West Base: Essential if visiting Dry Tortugas. Staying in Key West also allows a relaxed exploration of southern Everglades via boat tours, though the northern Everglades is farther.

Suggested Plan:

Split your trip into two main bases: 2–3 nights in Miami (or nearby) for Biscayne and northern Everglades access.
2–3 nights in Key West to access Dry Tortugas and enjoy the southernmost parts of the Everglades.

This approach minimizes daily long drives while still allowing visits to all three parks. If your schedule is tight, you could technically do Biscayne and Everglades from Miami and only one day trip to Dry Tortugas, but an overnight in Key West makes it far more comfortable.

Tips:

Book Dry Tortugas ferry tickets well in advance as they can sell out quickly.
Consider renting a car in Miami for Everglades day trips and then driving or flying to Key West.
Check park hours and visitor center schedules for each park to plan efficient visits.

Overall, using Miami and Key West as your two main bases gives the best balance for seeing all three Florida National Parks without excessive daily travel.

Accommodations near NP in Florida

More Everglades National Park Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions