Are you heading to South Florida this year? If you’re like most people, you will want to know where you can go to have the best chance of spotting alligators.
The best places to see alligators in the Everglade are along the Anhinga Trail or the Shark Valley Tram Road in Everglades National Park. You can also see them from the water by taking an airboat ride. Nearby, the visitor centers at Big Cypress National Preserve are excellent places to spot alligators.
Read on to find my best tips on where to see alligators in the Everglades.
The Five Best Places to See Alligators in the Everglades
The Everglades, or the “river of grass” is located in southern Florida and is a large area of grass and shallow water. This area isn’t a true swamp, rather it contains water that is gently flowing, which means it doesn’t stagnate and is full of an abundance of wildlife, including fish, mammals, wading birds, songbirds, and reptiles. While there are many animals that can be seen here, none is more popular or more commonly spotted than the American Alligator. For many people, no visit to the Everglades would be complete without seeing one of these massive reptiles in person.
While there are many places throughout Florida where you have a chance of seeing an alligator, when you are visiting the Everglades it makes sense to stop at several of these tried-and-true spots. In fact, while nothing is guaranteed, it would be surprising to not see an alligator in these locations.
Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park
The Anhinga Trail is the best place on the eastern side of Everglades National Park, and one of the best places in the state, to see alligators. This short trail is nearly perfect for anyone. It starts as a paved trail, which then switches to a boardwalk loop which is completely accessible and stroller-friendly. The trail is short enough (less than a mile round-trip) that most kids and toddlers can easily handle the whole thing, and they will see enough cool critters to keep them entertained, too. Not only can you spot alligators here, but you are also likely to see turtles, fish, and diving birds. Try to visit on a warm, sunny day for the best basking action.
Shark Valley Tram Road, Everglades National Park
This may be the best spot to see alligators in the whole national park. This area is strangely named, as it’s far from the ocean and there are no sharks here. Instead, the 15-mile Shark Valley Tram Road winds through flat, iconic “river of grass” Everglades scenery. You can take the tram road on foot, on rented bikes, or on the Shark Valley Tram. This area is full of alligators, so it would be unusual to not see one on this road. You can also try hiking the two smaller trails near the visitor center.
Flamingo Marina
You may spot alligators and their rarer, more elusive cousins, crocodiles, at the southern edge of Everglades National Park. This is the only area in the world where these two animals live together. One of the best places to look out for crocodilians on this side of the park is around the Flamingo Marina.
Watch out for alligators and crocodiles around the edges of the water, and even right in the middle of the marina. There are also several small hikes you can take here, including boardwalks, as well as kayaks for rent and boat tours.
Big Cypress National Preserve
Big Cypress National Preserve is located along the western and northern sides of Everglades National Park. This area, while having more cypress swamps and fewer grassy areas, is still a haven for alligators. There are several excellent trails here where you can see alligators, or simply check out the canals, waterways, and trails next to either visitor center. One advantage of stopping in Big Cypress National Preserve to spot alligators is its convenient location just off Highway 41.
Airboat Ride
Airboat rides are great ways to see alligators, learn more about the Everglades, and have a lot of fun all at the same time! While there are no airboat rides in Everglades National Park, there are many located in the areas of the Everglades that are outside of the park. Many tour companies offer more than just an airboat ride. You may be able to see a wildlife show, pet or hold a baby alligator, walk through a small wildlife area, sample alligator meat, and more. Look for a reputable tour company that will offer educational and safe tours for your family and try to find someone that offers experiences beyond airboat rides for a full day of adventuring.
How to Find Alligators in the Everglades
Finding alligators in Florida is relatively easy, and if you are in the Everglades you are nearly guaranteed a sighting. The Everglades is a perfect alligator habitat- full of relatively shallow water, but with plenty of banks and raised hammocks for basking in the sun.
The best way to find alligators in the Everglades is to look along areas of water where there are shallow, sunny banks. These are the areas where alligators can be spotted on shore.
The Best Time for Alligator Spotting
The best time for watching alligators is debatable. Alligators are most active during the wet season (late spring through fall) and during this time there is also plenty of water and food for them. Many people mention this season as the best time for spotting gators for these reasons.
However, because there is more water during the wet season, you might not see as many alligators. Although they are more active in the summer, all the activity could happen out of sight. In addition, alligators are cold-blooded and stay submerged to cool off during very hot weather. They don’t need to bask as much when it’s hot outside. The disadvantages of going alligator spotting in the summer include the dangerous heat, biting insects, and frequent thunderstorms.
Other people prefer the dry season (winter) for alligator viewing. During the dry season, waterholes can become shallow or disappear, forcing alligators and other animals to concentrate in the pools that remain, many of which are near viewing areas such as the Anhinga Trail. Alligators are also more likely to bask during cooler (but not cold) weather, such as is common in South Florida in the winter.
However, because alligators are cold-blooded, they are more likely to lay low during the winter, moving more slowly and staying in the water when air temperatures are chilly. They are also less active, and on cloudy or cold days they might not come out of the water at all.
Everglades National Park, Florida.
My Opinion:
In my opinion, the best time for spotting alligators is during the cooler months. I prefer early spring or late fall for alligator-watching because it’s still warm enough for the reptiles to enjoy basking, there are lots of sunny days that encourage them to leave the water, and the weather is nice for humans, too. Let’s face it, visiting southern Florida during July and August isn’t on anyone’s list of great ideas. We have been to the Everglades in the dry season several times and never had any problem spotting gators. We once spotted 12 in one day along the Anhinga Trail on a sunny, warm day in February.
Good Alligator Weather
The weather on the day you visit could have more to do with your success than the season. In general, you want a nice, warm, sunny day that will get those alligators out of the water and basking on the banks. You don’t want the air to be too hot, as that will encourage them to stay submerged. Cold days are also not great, as the air is usually colder than the water, again encouraging them to stay under. For us, sunny, warm days between October and April have been perfect for spotting alligators (and enjoying the tropical weather).
