Day Trips to Everglades from Orlando

The Everglades is one of the most sought-after natural areas in Florida by tourists. The same goes for Orlando, considered the theme park capital of the world. The combination of nature and leisure offered by both places makes this excursion one of the best things to do in Orlando.

If you are thinking of doing it, along this article I leave you the different options you have to travel from Orlando to Everglades. In addition, I will tell you which is the best in each case, the approximate prices of the trip for each of them and some tips for your trip.

If you want to take the experience to another level and get the most out of it, I recommend you take a look at the best excursions to the Everglades from Miami. The great advantage of this option is the fact that you have transportation included and organized, so you don't have to worry about it.

This type of tour immerses you in the cultural and scenic heritage of the area and completes the route with different activities. For example, you can take an airboat ride in the Everglades from Orlando or if you have the option to move south, take a tour of Miami with cruise and airboat ride included.

Details of interest

• Price: Varies depending on whether you travel in high or low season, as well as the company you choose and whether you book your ticket with a lot or little time to spare. To give you a rough idea, the bus from Orlando to Miami can cost between 17 and 42 euros.
• Travel time: Between 4 and 6 hours.
• Advantages: You will be able to enjoy the scenery or take the opportunity to rest during the trip.
• Disadvantages: There is no direct service from Orlando to the Everglades, so you will have to transfer.

If you want to enjoy the scenery in its full splendor without having your eyes on the road, going by bus may be the option that suits you best. It's also true that it's a longer trip than by car, so it's more convenient if you're going to Orlando in 7 days or for a longer or shorter period. Otherwise, you will lose leisure and tourism time just getting around.

There are several bus companies that offer this trip, as it is a very common route. The duration of the excursion is between 4 and 6 hours. It all depends on the traffic at the time of the day when you travel and the stops along the route. As for the schedules, the companies usually offer several options throughout the day.

The big disadvantage of this option is that there is no direct bus service from one point to another. It is only possible if you contract an excursion with companies dedicated to tourism. Otherwise you will have to take at least two buses to reach your destination. The best option is to get to Miami by bus and, once in the city, take another bus to the Everglades.

The most flexible way to get from Orlando to the Everglades is by car. In case you do not have your own car, I recommend that you rent one to be able to get around freely for the rest of your travel days. The duration of the journey by car from one point to another is about 3-4 hours, depending on the point from which you leave the city of Orlando and the area of the Everglades to which you are going.

There are two routes to reach the wetlands of Florida. The first option will take you to the Everglades via Florida's Turnpike towards US-41, known as Alligator Alley. This is the best way to get to the heart of the Everglades and is a very versatile route as there are different exits in the city for Florida's Turnpike.

The second route runs along the east coast of Florida via I-95 towards US-1. Along the way, you will pass through cities such as Miami or Homestead, where you can stop and stretch your legs. With this second option, you can reach areas of the Everglades such as Biscayne National Park or Everglades National Park.

Which is the better of the two routes?

As for which route is more beautiful, both offer spectacular panoramic views, although completely different from each other. While in the first one the marshes and wildlife stand out, in the second one the great protagonist is the ocean and the beaches of cities like Miami.

My recommendation is that, in addition to your tastes and priorities, you should look at the real-time traffic in each of them. Also, if you are traveling with the whole family, see what are the best plans in Orlando with children and surroundings and based on that choose one route or another to take advantage of the journey.

Interesting details

• Price: The price depends on the traffic, the current cost of fuel, if the vehicle uses gasoline or diesel, the rates of the company you choose to rent the car and the route you choose. In general terms, the price can be between 144 euros and 164 euros, not including the car rental.
• Duration of the trip: Between 3 and 4 hours without taking into account the stops you make.
• Advantages: You will be able to move around the Everglades with total flexibility and make the stops you consider appropriate.
• Disadvantages: This is a very tiring option, as you will have to drive several hours. In addition, you will have to worry about parking.

As with the bus route, there is no direct train service from the city of Orlando to the Everglades. Therefore, you will have to take a train to Miami and, from there, go to the Florida wetlands by car or bus. As of today, there is one train that runs this route: the Amtrak Silver Service, which takes just under 6 hours.

However, there are plans to open a new train line from Orlando to Miami, which would be operational, supposedly, in the summer of 2023. This is the Brightline line and is estimated to make the same trip in just 4 hours. If so, this would be your best option without a doubt.

Whatever the case may be, the reality is that the train ride is a very comfortable experience that can be included among the best things to do in Orlando. Not only will you enjoy the rich scenery of this area of Florida, but you will also have certain services at your disposal. For example, these trains usually have reclining seats, power outlets, catering services or screens with multimedia content.

As for the total duration from Orlando to the Everglades with this option, it is usually about 5 hours, depending on which train you choose. To give you an idea, the ride from Miami to the Everglades is usually about an hour. My recommendation is that you take advantage of your stop in Miami to do some of the best things to see and do in Miami.

Details of interest

• Price: It depends on the class you travel in, how far in advance you buy your ticket or the company you choose, but it is usually between 35 and 70 euros per person.
• Travel time: Between 5 and 7 hours approximately.
• Advantages: This is a very comfortable option where you can enjoy the scenery, have a drink, watch a movie or just sleep.
• Disadvantages: There is no direct route from Orlando to the Everglades by train, but you will have to travel by train from Orlando to Miami and from Miami take a car or bus to the Everglades.

Without a doubt, if you are looking for a fast option, the best thing to do is to travel from Orlando to the Everglades by plane. This way, it will take you very little time to get to your destination and you can take advantage of this time saving to do other activities around the city. Therefore, it seems to me the best option for trips to Orlando in 3 days or other short periods where you have to make the most of your time.

As with train and bus travel, there are no direct airplane routes from Orlando to the Everglades. So, you will have to fly to Miami, which will take about an hour. From there, you can take a rental car or bus to the Everglades.

One of the great advantages of this option, besides the speed it offers, is that flights between Orlando and Miami are very frequent. This route is one of the most demanded in Florida, so several flights are offered throughout the day and there are many companies operating in both cities.

Details of interest

• Price: Everything varies depending on how far in advance you buy your ticket, the time of day you travel and the company you choose. In general terms, the price of a plane ticket between Orlando and Miami is usually between 50 and 200 euros.
• Travel time: About two and a half hours.
• Advantages: It is the fastest option.
• Disadvantages: There is no direct route from Orlando to the Everglades by plane.

In addition to all the options I have shown you to go from Orlando to the Everglades, you can also choose to hire an organized tour that includes round trip travel between the two destinations. The Everglades is one of the biggest natural attractions in Florida and has a great tourist demand.

Many Orlando tourists include a visit to this swampy area in their travel itinerary. Therefore, you will have no problem finding companies in the sector that offer organized tours. Depending on the company, you will go by bus, minibus or train to the Everglades. There are even some that offer hotel pick-up service. In addition, these excursions also include different activities, such as a boat ride, an airboat tour of the Everglades or a cultural tour of Miami.

The first and most obvious advice I give you is to make sure you choose the right mode of transportation. Depending on your personal conditions, there will always be one that suits you best. For example, if you are traveling with children, my recommendation is to move by car. In addition to this, if you go by car, check the current traffic on each route, so you don't have to waste time with unwanted congestion.

Of course, when checking, it is also important to look at the weather forecast in the Everglades for that day. You don't want the experience to be spoiled by the occasional thunderstorm or sweltering heat. In this regard, for me the important thing, in this and all travel, is planning.

Create a travel itinerary with these and other issues, such as the stops you are going to make. For example, if you go by car, train or bus and pass through Miami, you can take one of the best tours of South Beach in Miami or ride one of the best cruises in Miami.