Airboats west of Miami
The best Everglades airboat tours
Airboat rides with a wildlife show, trips with a bus or pickup from Miami, a mangrove ride near Everglades City and combos with a bay cruise: here is how to pick, with honest advice on whether you will see alligators, the park fee and what is included, and short rides inside a long day.
See our 8 picks
The best Everglades airboat tour for most people is the national park ride with a wildlife show. It runs inside Everglades National Park and costs from about €32. Take the bus version from Miami if you have no car.
Our 8 picks for Everglades airboat tours
Four rides you reach by car, two with transport from Miami, one mangrove ride on the Gulf side and one combo. All eight have free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. GetYourGuide shows prices in your own currency.
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from €32 per person Our top pick 1 hour 4.5 (8,067) reviews on GetYourGuide
Everglades National Park airboat ride and wildlife show
A 35- to 40-minute narrated airboat ride and a 30-minute alligator show, with parking, at 24050 SW 8th St. The card lists a park fee of $8 per person, paid on site. About 1 hour.
Best for Most visitors with a car
Check availability: Everglades National Park airboat ride and wildlife show on GetYourGuide -
from €44 per person 5 hours 4.1 (11,210) reviews on GetYourGuide
Airboat ride, wildlife exhibit and bus from Miami
A round-trip bus from Miami, park admission, a 45-minute airboat ride and a wildlife exhibit with about 50 rescued animals. About 5 hours. You go to a meeting point; hotel pickup is not included.
Best for Visitors without a car
Check availability: Airboat ride, wildlife exhibit and bus from Miami on GetYourGuide -
from €69 per person 4.5 hours 4.5 (522) reviews on GetYourGuide
Airboat alligator tour with pickup from Miami
Transport from meeting points in Miami, a 45-minute airboat ride and all park fees. About 4.5 hours. Not for children under 3, pregnant women or wheelchair users.
Best for Visitors who want every fee paid upfront
Check availability: Airboat alligator tour with pickup from Miami on GetYourGuide -
from €37 per person 1 day 4.5 (1,379) reviews on GetYourGuide
Everglades Safari Park airboat ride
A guided airboat ride, a wildlife show, a jungle trail, exhibits, parking and earplugs, at 26700 SW 8th St. The $8 park fee per adult is paid at the ticket booth.
Best for Visitors who want more to do after the ride
Check availability: Everglades Safari Park airboat ride on GetYourGuide -
from €30 per person 40 minutes 4.3 (2,298) reviews on GetYourGuide
Sawgrass Park airboat ride and reptile exhibit
A 40-minute airboat ride with a live guide, ear protection and the reptile exhibit, in Weston, west of Fort Lauderdale. Tips are extra. This park is outside the national park.
Best for Visitors staying north of Miami
Check availability: Sawgrass Park airboat ride and reptile exhibit on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person Valid 90 days 4.3 (838) reviews on GetYourGuide
Original Everglades airboat ride and interpretive area
A guided airboat ride in the national park and entry to the interpretive area, at 22700 SW 8th St. The ticket is valid 90 days. The $8 park fee for adults over 16, food and tips are extra.
Best for Visitors whose day is not fixed yet
Check availability: Original Everglades airboat ride and interpretive area on GetYourGuide - from €58 per person
50–80 minutes 4.4 (739) reviews on GetYourGuide
Mangrove maze airboat ride and boardwalk
A 50- to 80-minute ride through mangroves near Everglades City, with headsets and boardwalk entry. Food and drinks are extra. It is on the Gulf side, far from Miami.
Best for Drivers heading to the Gulf coast
Check availability: Mangrove maze airboat ride and boardwalk on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 5 hours 4.0 (2,052) reviews on GetYourGuide
Everglades, bay cruise and open-top bus combo
A 40-minute airboat ride and wildlife exhibit, a 90-minute bay cruise past Millionaire’s Row and a 2-hour bus tour of Miami. You can spread them over several days. No hotel pickup.
Best for Visitors who also want the city and the bay
Check availability: Everglades, bay cruise and open-top bus combo on GetYourGuide
Everglades airboat tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Pickup | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everglades National Park airboat ride and wildlife show | €32 per person | 1 hour | Meet on site | Most visitors with a car | The most-reviewed ride you book alone: 4.5 from 8,067 reviews. |
| Airboat ride, wildlife exhibit and bus from Miami | €44 per person | 5 hours | Meet on site | Visitors without a car | The most-booked airboat day: 4.1 from 11,210 reviews, from about €44. |
| Airboat alligator tour with pickup from Miami | €69 per person | 4.5 hours | Pickup included | Visitors who want every fee paid upfront | All park fees included, with 4.5 from 522 reviews. |
| Everglades Safari Park airboat ride | €37 per person | 1 day | Meet on site | Visitors who want more to do after the ride | The most included at the park itself, with 4.5 from 1,379 reviews. |
| Sawgrass Park airboat ride and reptile exhibit | €30 per person | 40 minutes | Meet on site | Visitors staying north of Miami | The cheapest ride here, from about €30, with 4.3 from 2,298 reviews. |
| Original Everglades airboat ride and interpretive area | €35 per person | Valid 90 days | Meet on site | Visitors whose day is not fixed yet | A ticket you can use any day for 90 days, with 4.3 from 838 reviews. |
| Mangrove maze airboat ride and boardwalk | €58 per person | 50–80 minutes | Meet on site | Drivers heading to the Gulf coast | The only mangrove ride here, with 4.4 from 739 reviews. |
| Everglades, bay cruise and open-top bus combo | €88 per person | 5 hours | Meet on site | Visitors who also want the city and the bay | Three outings in one ticket, with 4.0 from 2,052 reviews. |
Everglades National Park airboat ride and wildlife show
€32 per person1 hour 4.5 (8,067)
Details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Most visitors with a car
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed ride you book alone: 4.5 from 8,067 reviews.
Airboat ride, wildlife exhibit and bus from Miami
€44 per person5 hours 4.1 (11,210)
Details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Visitors without a car
- Why we picked it
- The most-booked airboat day: 4.1 from 11,210 reviews, from about €44.
Airboat alligator tour with pickup from Miami
€69 per person4.5 hours 4.5 (522)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want every fee paid upfront
- Why we picked it
- All park fees included, with 4.5 from 522 reviews.
Everglades Safari Park airboat ride
€37 per person1 day 4.5 (1,379)
Details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Visitors who want more to do after the ride
- Why we picked it
- The most included at the park itself, with 4.5 from 1,379 reviews.
Sawgrass Park airboat ride and reptile exhibit
€30 per person40 minutes 4.3 (2,298)
Details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Visitors staying north of Miami
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest ride here, from about €30, with 4.3 from 2,298 reviews.
Original Everglades airboat ride and interpretive area
€35 per personValid 90 days 4.3 (838)
Details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Visitors whose day is not fixed yet
- Why we picked it
- A ticket you can use any day for 90 days, with 4.3 from 838 reviews.
Mangrove maze airboat ride and boardwalk
€58 per person50–80 minutes 4.4 (739)
Details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Drivers heading to the Gulf coast
- Why we picked it
- The only mangrove ride here, with 4.4 from 739 reviews.
Everglades, bay cruise and open-top bus combo
€88 per person5 hours 4.0 (2,052)
Details
- Pickup
- Meet on site
- Who it suits
- Visitors who also want the city and the bay
- Why we picked it
- Three outings in one ticket, with 4.0 from 2,052 reviews.
Group size is stated for 2 tours only: Airboat ride, wildlife exhibit and bus from Miami, up to 30; Sawgrass Park airboat ride and reptile exhibit, up to 25. All 8 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 23 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Which Everglades airboat tour is best?
The best Everglades airboat tour depends on one thing: do you have a car? With a car, book a ride at one of the parks on US-41. Without a car, book a tour with the bus from Miami.
Every ride on this page lasts 35 to 80 minutes on the water. The rest of your day is the drive, a show or exhibits.
With a car, book a park ride. Without a car, take the bus tour.
Airboat tours inside Everglades National Park
Only three airboat companies may run rides in Everglades National Park. Everglades Safari Park is one of them. All three sit on US-41, the Tamiami Trail. There are no airboats at Shark Valley itself.
Sawgrass in Weston and the ride near Everglades City are outside the national park. Check whether a park fee applies there.
How do you get to the Everglades from Miami?
You get to the Everglades by car or on a tour bus. Drive west on US-41, the Tamiami Trail. Shark Valley is about 25 miles west of the Turnpike.
There is no public transport to Shark Valley or the airboat parks. A seasonal Homestead trolley runs to the main park entrance in winter only. Ride apps may not come back to pick you up.
Check the park’s alerts page before you go. Our guide to getting around Miami covers buses and cars, and where to stay helps you pick a base.
Want to compare the Everglades with Key West or Bimini? See all our day trips out of Miami.
How can you see the Everglades from Miami?
You can see the Everglades from Miami in three ways. Take an airboat ride, walk or bike in the park on your own, or join the park’s tram or boat tours.
An airboat ride is the quickest way to get out on the water. The park on your own gives you trails and quiet. The tram and boat tours are slower and guided.
What to wear on an airboat tour
Wear light clothes, closed shoes and a hat that will not blow off. Airboats are loud and windy, and the sun is strong.
Bring sunscreen, water and sunglasses. Some parks hand out ear protection, such as Sawgrass Park and Everglades Safari Park.
Light clothes, closed shoes, a hat that stays on, and sunscreen.
Compare the tours: shared, private, with transport, combos
All eight picks are shared rides. Two include transport from Miami, and one combo adds a bay cruise and a city bus tour.
- Ride only, by car: the national park ride with a show, Everglades Safari Park, the original ride and Sawgrass Park.
- With transport from Miami: the bus tour with a wildlife exhibit, and the tour with pickup and all park fees.
- Far side of the park: the mangrove ride near Everglades City.
- Combo: airboat, bay cruise and open-top bus tour.
Everglades Safari Park
Everglades Safari Park is one of the three airboat parks inside the national park. Your ticket includes a wildlife show, a jungle trail, an observation platform and exhibits. Pay the $8 adult park fee at the ticket booth.
Private airboat tours
We list no private airboat tour among our eight picks. All of them are shared rides.
Ratings at a glance
On GetYourGuide, our picks rate from 4.0 to 4.5. The national park ride with a show rates 4.5 from 8,067 reviews. The combo rates lowest, at 4.0.
How long are the rides and what do they cost?
Most rides last 35 to 45 minutes on the water. The mangrove ride lasts 50 to 80 minutes. Our picks cost from about €30 to €88.
The park fee is the tricky part. Several cards list an $8 park fee per adult, paid on site. Our top pick says "park fee at own expense, only $8 even for non-US residents". Check this when you arrive.
The park’s own entry is $35 per car or $20 on foot or by bike. Since 2026, non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 each. The bus tour includes admission, and the tour with pickup includes all park fees.
Tips are extra at Sawgrass Park and on the original ride.
| Fee | Cost |
|---|---|
| Park fee listed on several cards, paid on site | $8 per adult |
| Park entry by car | $35 per car |
| Park entry on foot or by bike | $20 per person |
| Extra fee for non-US residents aged 16 and over (since 2026) | $100 each |
What else is there to do in the Everglades?
Besides airboats, you can walk or bike in the park, or take the tram at Shark Valley. Boat tours run from Flamingo and on the Gulf side.
With a second free day, try a Miami to Key West day tour. It is a long but scenic trip down the Keys.
Will you see alligators, and what about safety and kids?
You will most likely see alligators at the shows and exhibits. On the water, the rides list alligators, turtles and birds, but wild animals never come on cue.
Both alligators and crocodiles live in the park. The park asks you to keep 15 to 20 feet away from them.
Airboats are loud, so bring ear protection for kids if your park does not give it out. Check the not-suitable list. The tour with pickup is not for children under 3. Everglades Safari Park and the mangrove ride are not for babies under 1.
What are the park’s own boat and tram tours, and how do they differ from airboat rides?
The park’s own tours are slower and quieter than an airboat. They go where airboats do not.
Flamingo has two 90-minute boat tours, one into the backcountry and one on Florida Bay. The Ten Thousand Islands boat tour on the Gulf side also takes 90 minutes.
You can also explore Everglades National Park on your own, on foot or by bike.
The Shark Valley tram tour
The Shark Valley tram tour takes 2 hours on a 15-mile loop. Adults pay $36. The park advises booking from November to April.
Tips before you book an airboat tour
Know the park fee
Some cards list an $8 park fee per adult paid on site; others include it. Read the card before you pay.
Bring cash for tips
Tips are extra on some rides, such as Sawgrass Park and the original ride.
Be early for the bus
Bus tours meet at set spots in Miami. Be there early and stay put if the bus is late.
Check the alerts page
Look at the park’s alerts page before you go. Parts of the park can close for work.
Everglades airboat tours: questions and answers
What is the best Everglades airboat tour?
What should I wear on an Everglades airboat tour?
How do you get to the Everglades from Miami?
What else is there to do in the Everglades?
Are airboat tours safe for kids?
More Everglades airboat tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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See all of these tours with today's prices on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideFacts checked on 23 October 2026 against: NPS: Everglades FAQ · NPS: Everglades fees · NPS: directions · NPS: Shark Valley directions · NPS: guided tours · NPS: alerts and conditions · NPS: Shark Valley tram tour · Shark Valley Tram Tours: hours and rates.
Sources (8), facts checked on 23 October 2026
Written by the Best Things to Do in Miami editorial team.