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No Entrance Fee Increase At Everglades National Park This Year

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Entrance fees to Everglades National Park this year will not increase due to a lack of accommodations at Flamingo/NPS file

A lack of overnight accommodations at Flamingo has led Everglades National Park officials to delay a planned increase in entrance fees. Current fees are $30 per private vehicle or boat; $25 per motorcyle, and; $15 per pedestrian, cyclist, or paddler entering the park's waters. All permits are good for seven days.

“Until we have a full complement of services in Flamingo, including overnight lodging, we will maintain our entrance fees at the 2019 level in keeping with the standardized fees for the National Park Service,” said Superintendent Pedro Ramos. “These entrance fees are vital to providing and maintaining the facilities and activities our visitors expect at a world-renowned national park.”

Flamingo Lodge, the only major lodging facility in Everglades National Park, closed in 2005 after being trashed by two powerful hurricanes that year. This is not to say that Flamingo lacks visitor services. Camping is available, and Flamingo’s Mission 66 visitor center, marina/boat ramp, marina store, and gas station are all open for business.

Eighty percent of the collected entrance fees remain in the park’s budget, while the other 20 percent support Park Service units across the nation that do not charge fees, such as Biscayne National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve. Revenues are used to provide visitor amenities, with at least 55 percent of the fees used to fund deferred maintenance projects. Everglades National Park has some ambitious plans over the next few years to improve visitor facilities and services.

Since January 2019, visitors entering through the park’s maritime boundary by boat, paddle craft or guided tour are also required to have an appropriate entrance pass. Private vessels pay fees consistent with motor vehicles, including the ability to use the annual pass, which covers every passenger in a vehicle or vessel.

Standard entrance passes are valid for a full week across all park locations. Free or discounted passes are available for senior citizens, current members of the U.S. military, families of fourth grade students, and disabled citizens.

Entrance passes may be purchased at Everglades National Park’s main entrance in Homestead, Shark Valley entrance, Gulf Coast Visitor Center, and online. For more information: https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/fees.htm

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