What to Expect on an Airboat Tour in the Everglades: A Complete Guide

Looking for one of the most unique animal encounters in the US? Well, you won't want to miss out on an airboat tour in the Everglade National Park.

If you're visiting Southern Florida, an airboat tour is the ultimate way to get up close to alligators in their natural habitat. Forget the zoos, and take a airboat tour in the everglades for the ultimate family-friendly excursion.

In this guide we're going to dive into detail about what an airboat tour in the Everglades looks like, and everything you need to know before visiting. Let's dive right in!

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Taking an Airboat in the Everglades: a Brief Intro

If you're heading to South Florida and looking for a one-of-a-kind adventure, then an airboat tour in the Everglades should definitely be on your list. It's the perfect way to explore the wild, swampy landscapes that make this area so iconic. 

Whether you’re visiting for the first time or you’ve been before, an Everglades airboat ride offers a mix of thrills and natural beauty. It’s the perfect activity to learn about wildlife, the special ecosystem, local culture, and the unique terrain of the "River of Grass."

 What Does an Airboat in the Everglades Tour Look Like?

An airboat tour in the Everglades consists of a high-speed boat that takes you to different parts of the areas in search for wildlife - particularly, gators!

You'll be gliding through the shimmering waters and taken to remote areas of the swamp where the alligators hang out so you can get to see them up close in their natural habitat. It’s a unique experience, and definitely something that really needs to be on your Florida bucket list.

Where is the Best Place to See Gators in the Everglades?

While you can spot gators just about anywhere in the Everglades, some spots are certainly better than others.

Everglades City and Shark Valley are two top picks for wildlife sightings. If you're booking an airboat tour in the Everglades, many of the best operators run from areas like Homestead, Everglades City, or near the Tamiami Trail.

Some tours even specialize in gator encounters, taking you deep into the less-traveled parts of the wetlands where these massive reptiles love to hang out.

Where are the Everglades in Florida?

The Everglades span a huge portion of southern Florida, stretching from Lake Okeechobee all the way down to Florida Bay. It covers more than 1.5 million acres across several counties, including Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Collier.

If you're visiting Miami or Fort Lauderdale, you're in luck - some of the best spots to hop on an airboat tour in the Everglades are just an hour or less away! These tours are accessible from several locations in South Florida, making it super easy to fit into your trip.

Taking an Airboat Tour in the Everglades: Prices & Timetables

Now that you know where you can get an airboat tour in the Everglades, let's go over the prices, and when are able to take an airboat tour.

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When are Airboat Tours in the Everglades?

There are several places that you can go for airboat tours in the Everglades, and each place has their own set of hours. Airboat tours are typically around an hour, and you can go on a shared boat tour, or rent a private one.

Here are the different hours of the airboat tour companies in the Everglades:

• Everglades Airboat Excursions: 9 am - 8 pm
• Sawgrass Recreation Park: 8 am - 6 pm
• Everglades Holiday Park: 9 am - 5 pm
• Mack's Fish Camp: 7 am - 9 pm
• Coopertown the Original Airboat Tour: 9 am - 5 pm
• Airboat Rides Miami: 9 am - 5 pm
• Everglades Safari Park: 9 am - 5:30 pm
• Buffalo Tiger's Airboat Tours: 9 am - 5 pm
• Tigertail Airboat Tours: 9:30 am - 5 pm
• Wooten's Everglades Airboat Tours: 9 am - 5 pm
• Jungle Erv's Airboat Tours: 8:30 am - 5 pm
• Captain Jack's Airboat Tours: 8:30 am - 5 pm
• Corey Billie's Airboat Rides: 9 am - 5 pm

Do We Need to Book the Everglades Airboat Tour in Advance?

Airboat tours in the Everglades can be booked upon arrival, but if you would like a certain time or you have a larger group, then we'd recommend booking in advance.

 How Much Does it Cost to Ride the Airboats in the Everglades?

Airboat tours in the Everglades are typically around $30-50/person for a shared ride, and can be closer to $100 if it is a private ride or transportation is included.

Some airboat excursions include just the boat ride itself, while others include wildlife exhibits (although we found zero value in the exhibits, and would actually recommend you not to go to them since they feel more like zoos).

Here are some airboat tours in the Everglades you can book!

 How Much Do You Tip an Airboat Tour?

Tips for airboat tours are typically 15-20% of the price of the tour. Most people give anywhere from $5-15/person, but of course this is subject to how your experience was.

Airboat Tours in the Everglades: What to Expect & Our Experience

Airboat tours in the Everglades typically go every hour, and last an hour.

Airboat Tours in the Everglades

You'll get together with your group for a quick safety briefing, and board your airboat for a fun and unique ride.

There are areas that you'll go super fast, and then the guide will bring you to swampy areas where the gators typically hang out. Once a gator is spotted, the captain will spin the boat around a few times, so that everyone gets a chance to get a good look.

We were able to see a variety of bird, and spotted 5 different gators! It was truly an exciting and cool experience that we'd recommend, and was a great way to safely get up close to the gators without affecting them in any way.

 The Gator Show

Right after our boat ride we got in line for the next Gator show. We waited for about 25 minutes, and then were let in after the previous group was leaving. We had about 10-15 minutes to walk around, and there were a few different areas with reptiles and other animals  - honestly it felt like a small petting zoo, and we were so extremely turned off.

The show was about to start, so we grabbed our seats in the bleacher-like "arena". A young guy told us a bit about gators, and proceeded to go from one to the other ripping their mouths wide open, and sticking his head in.

We were completely mortified - as they claimed to have "saved" the gators. It was clear that the animals were being used for entertainment, and it was really something we wished we didn't attend.

The guides went on to try and guilt people into tipping them, and it was honestly and awful ending to the previously amazing experience.

 Our Honest Thoughts

Overall, we were so happy that we took an airboat tour in the Everglades, and it was such an interesting experience. Our recommendation though? Choose a tour that doesn't include one of these exhibits, and enjoy the true beauty of these creatures in their natural habitat instead.

Other Things to Keep in Mind for an Airboat Tour in the Everglades

Now you know almost everything you need to know for planning an airboat tour in the Everglades - but there are a few more things worth knowing beforehand to make the most of your experience. From the weather to what to wear, a little prep goes a long way.

Weather in the Everglades

The Everglades has a tropical climate, which means it's super hot and humid most of the year, with a distinct wet and dry season. Summers (June–September) are scorching hot with frequent thunderstorms, while winters are drier and have really pleasant temperatures.

What is the Best Month to Visit the Everglades?

The best time for an airboat tour in the Everglades is between November and April. This is the dry season, so you’ll have fewer bugs, more wildlife sightings, and more comfortable temperatures. During the wet season, certain trails or roads may flood, and mosquitoes are out in full force.

 What Time of Day is Best for an Everglades Boat Ride?

Morning or late afternoon are typically the best times to go on an airboat tour in the Everglades. Wildlife tends to be more active when it's not the hottest part of the day, and the lighting is much better for photos.

How Do I Prepare for an Airboat Ride?

Getting ready for an airboat tour in the Everglades is easy! While our boat was completely covered, some may not be - so it's better to bring the essentials like sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat (with a strap if possible - airboats go fast!) just in case. 

If you are visiting in the wet season, you'll also want to bring insect repellent, so you don't get eaten alive by the mosquitos there.

And don’t forget your camera - you never know when a gator might pop up right next to you! We brought our telephoto lens, which was a game-changer for catching the gators on camera.

What to Wear on an Everglades Airboat Tour

As you'll be sitting in a covered boat, you won't really need to worry about specific attire. Just wear something light and comfortable, and potentially a light sweater to wear in cooler months to protect against the wind.

Do You Need Ear Protection on an Airboat?

If you're an adult with normal hearing, then the airboat most likely won't affect you. If you have a baby, small child, or someone sensitive to loud noises, then you should ask for headphones to put on during the ride.

Is the Everglades Airboat Worth it?

An airboat in the Everglades is absolutely worth it! We really loved the boat ride itself, but we aren't going to lie- we loathed the second part of our experience.

If you're going to choose Everglades Holiday Park, we recommend skipping the "show" and simply enjoying the airboat itself.

There are also plenty of other companies to choose from, so it';s always worth doing a bit of research before giving your money to a company with questionable values.

So are you ready for a fun airboat tour in the Everglades? It certainly is a unique animal encounter for your bucket list, and one of the coolest things to do in Florida!

Looking for other unique experiences like this around the world? Don't miss out on our other guides about animal encounters! Also, don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter, so that you can stay up to date with all of our newest travel guides and for exclusive content from us.

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