Everglades National Park is a National Park in Florida. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Everglades
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Everglades. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Beaches (1)
Ghost Towns (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Everglades the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 64° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 88° in summer but only 41° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:12 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:22 PM | 5:55 PM | 247° | 10h 44m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:18 PM | 257° | 11h 19m |
| March | 7:34 AM | 8:04 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:33 PM | 268° | 11h 59m |
| April | 7:02 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:47 PM | 281° | 12h 45m |
| May | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:02 PM | 292° | 13h 23m |
| June | 6:34 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:16 PM | 297° | 13h 43m |
| July | 6:43 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:17 PM | 294° | 13h 34m |
| August | 6:58 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:00 PM | 286° | 13h 02m |
| September | 7:10 AM | 7:41 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:29 PM | 274° | 12h 19m |
| October | 7:23 AM | 7:53 AM | 6:27 PM | 6:57 PM | 261° | 11h 35m |
| November | 6:42 AM | 7:14 AM | 5:04 PM | 5:36 PM | 250° | 10h 55m |
| December | 7:02 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:37 PM | 245° | 10h 34m |
Computed for the park's reference point (25.3729, -80.8820); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Everglades, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 36° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:26 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.2 | 22° |
| March | 3:40 AM – 6:10 AM | 2.5 | 32° |
| April | 1:36 AM – 5:36 AM | 4.0 | 36° |
| May | 11:37 PM – 5:07 AM | 5.5 | 36° |
| June | 9:46 PM – 4:56 AM | 7.2 | 36° |
| July | 9:45 PM – 3:35 AM | 5.8 | 36° |
| August | 9:22 PM – 1:32 AM | 4.2 | 36° |
| September | 8:46 PM – 11:26 PM | 2.7 | 33° |
| October | 8:14 PM – 9:34 PM | 1.3 | 23° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
4 Estimated Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon.
Weather & best time to visit
The climate in Florida is known to be mild and sunny.The average annual temperatures for South Florida and the Keys range from 74° to 77°F (23° to 25°C). There are two seasons at the Everglades National Park: the wet season and the dry season. The wet season runs from Mid-May to November and the dry season runs from December to mid-May.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (69%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Private Vehicle | $35.00 |
| Entrance - Motorcycle | $30.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $20.00 |
| Entrance - Education/Academic Groups | $0.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Directions to Ernest Coe Visitor Center 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034 Visitors coming from the Miami area and points north should take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it ends merging with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW 344th St.) and follow the signs to the park. Visitors driving north from the Florida Keys should turn left on Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the signs to the park.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Backcountry Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Group Camping
- RV Camping
- Compass and GPS
- Geocaching
- Fishing
- Freshwater Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
