This giant watershed flows south from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands, and provides residents of South Florida with water for drinking and irrigation. Everglades National Park is the third largest national park, totaling 1,506,539 acres in Dade, Monroe and Collier counties. The nearest park entrance is the Gulf Coast Visitor Center and Park Ranger Station off State Road 29 south of Everglades City. Boat tours begin at 9 a.m. and run every 30 minutes to 5 p.m. There is a fee.
Canoe rentals are also available.
The main visitors center entrance of the park is near Homestead on State Road 27. Four miles past that center is the Royal Palm Visitor Center. The Flamingo Visitor Center is 38 miles past the Main Visitor Center. The full marina offers canoe, houseboat and skiff rentals, charter fishing and boat tours. Tram tours are also offered at Flamingo.