How to Get to Everglades from Orlando

The Everglades is one of Florida's most sought-after natural areas for 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 will show you the different options you have to travel from Orlando to Everglades. In addition, I'll tell you which one is the best in each case, the approximate cost of the trip for each of them and some tips for your trip.

If you want to take the experience to the next level and get the most out of it, I recommend you take a look at the best tours to the Everglades from Miami. The great advantage of this option is the fact that transport is included and organised, 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 Miami or take a tour of Miami with a cruise and airboat ride included.

Interesting details

• Price: Varies depending on whether you are travelling in high or low season, as well as the company you choose and whether you book your ticket on short or long notice. 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.
• Pros: You'll be able to enjoy the scenery or take the opportunity to rest along the way.
• Disadvantages: There is no direct service from Orlando to the Everglades, so you'll have to transfer.

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

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

The big drawback of this option is that there is no direct bus service from one point to another. This is only possible if you book a tour with a tour company. 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. If you don't have your own car, I recommend renting one so you can get around freely for the rest of your travel days. The driving time from one point to the other is about 3-4 hours, depending on where you start from in Orlando and where you are going in the Everglades.

There are two routes to get to the Florida wetlands. 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 several different exits in the city for Florida's Turnpike.

The second route takes you along the east coast of Florida via I-95 towards US-1. Along the way, you'll pass through towns such as Miami and 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 the former features marshlands and wildlife, the latter is dominated by 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 travelling with the whole family, check what are the best plans in Orlando with children and surroundings and, based on that, choose one route or another to make the most of the journey.

Interesting details

• Price: The price depends on traffic, the current cost of fuel, whether the vehicle uses petrol or diesel, the rates of the company you choose to rent the car from and the route you choose. Generally speaking, the price can range from around 144 euros to around 164 euros, excluding car rental.
• Journeytime: Between 3 and 4 hours, not taking into account the stops you make.
• Pros: You'll be able to move around the Everglades with complete flexibility and make as many stops as you like.
• Disadvantages: This is a very tiring option, as you will have to drive for several hours. Plus, you'll have to worry about parking.

As with the bus route, there is no direct train service from Orlando City to the Everglades. So you'll have to take a train to Miami and from there, head to the Florida wetlands by car or bus. At present, 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 is expected to be operational in summer 2023. This is the Brightline line and is expected to make the same journey in just 4 hours. If so, this would be your best option without a doubt.

Whatever the case may be, the reality is that train travel 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 sockets, 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 trip 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: Depends on the class you are travelling in, how far in advance you buy your ticket or the company you choose, but it's usually between 35 and 70 euros per person.
• Journeytime: Approximately 5 to 7 hours.
• Advantages: This is a very comfortable option where you can enjoy the scenery, have a drink, watch a film or just sleep.
• Disadvantages: There is no direct route from Orlando to the Everglades by train. 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 quick 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. This is why I find it the best option for 3-day trips to Orlando or other short periods when you need to make the most of your time.

As with train and bus travel, there are no direct air routes from Orlando to the Everglades. So you'll 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, in addition to the speed it offers, is that flights between Orlando and Miami are very frequent. This route is one of the most popular in Florida, so there are several flights throughout the day and many airlines operate between the two cities.

Interesting details

• Price: It all varies depending on how far in advance you buy your ticket, the time of day you travel and the airline you choose. Generally speaking, the cost of a flight between Orlando and Miami is between ¤50 and ¤200.
• Travel time: About two and a half hours.
• Advantages: It's the fastest option.
• Disadvantages: There is no direct route from Orlando to the Everglades by air.

In addition to all the options I've shown you for getting from Orlando to the Everglades, you can also choose to book an organised tour that includes round-trip travel between the two destinations. The Everglades is one of Florida's greatest natural attractions and is in high demand by tourists.

Many Orlando tourists include a visit to the Everglades in their travel itinerary. So you will have no trouble finding companies in the industry that offer organised tours. Depending on the company, you'll travel by bus, minibus or train to the Everglades. Some even offer a 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 piece of advice is to make sure you choose the right mode of transport. Depending on your personal conditions, there will always be one that suits you best. For example, if you are travelling with children, my recommendation is to travel by car. In addition to this, if you are driving, 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 check the weather forecast in the Everglades for the day. You don't want the experience to be spoilt by the odd thunderstorm or sweltering heat. In this regard, for me the important thing, on this and all trips, is planning.

Create a travel itinerary with these and other things, such as the stops you are going to make. For example, if you're going by car, train or bus and passing through Miami, you can take one of the best tours of Miami's South Beach or go on one of Miami's best cruises.