Everglades National Park Tickets and Entrance Fees: What You Need

The biggest 2026 change: the $100 nonresident fee

From 2026, Everglades is one of 11 US national parks charging an extra fee to visitors who are not US residents. The others are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.

Every non-US resident aged 16 or older pays:

the normal park entrance fee + an additional $100 per person

unless they are covered by an annual pass or an America the Beautiful pass. The National Park Service says this includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, a commercial use authorization group or a concessioner tour group.

For international visitors coming from Miami, check this before comparing tour prices.

Example: an international couple driving from Miami

Suppose two non-US resident adults drive into Everglades National Park together in one rental car.

• Standard private vehicle fee: $35
• Nonresident fee: $100 × 2 adults = $200
• Total: $235

That is before any airboat, tram, boat tour or rental. For three or four nonresident adults, compare that with the America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass.

America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass

Since January 1, 2026, the America the Beautiful annual pass has two prices: $80 for US residents and $250 for nonresidents. The $250 pass covers:

• the whole private vehicle where vehicle fees apply (or two motorcycles),
• or the passholder plus three additional adults where fees are charged per person.

It also covers the nonresident fee at the parks that charge it. That makes it relevant for:

• international families,
• groups of three or four adults,
• road trips taking in several US national parks,
• and travelers visiting more than one of the 11 parks with the nonresident fee.

For one or two adults visiting only the Everglades once, run the numbers before assuming the annual pass is cheaper. Passholders need photo ID with the pass.

Do you need a separate ticket for each person in a car?

For the standard vehicle fee, no. A $35 private-vehicle pass covers the passholder and everyone traveling in that vehicle for seven consecutive days.

The nonresident fee is different. Non-US residents aged 16 and over are charged individually, so a group of international adults cannot pay one $35 vehicle fee and consider everyone covered. The exception is a car whose passholder carries a valid annual or America the Beautiful pass: the National Park Service says those passes cover entrance and nonresident fees for the passholder and the passengers in a private vehicle.

What does the $35 vehicle pass cover?

The private-vehicle pass gives one vehicle and its passengers entry to Everglades National Park for seven consecutive days at all park entrances. You can use the same pass to visit, say, Shark Valley on one day, the Homestead entrance and Royal Palm on another, and Flamingo later in the week, without buying a new pass each day.

Remember that the park’s entrances are far apart and do not connect inside the park; our guide to getting from Miami to the Everglades covers the driving.

Do Shark Valley and the Homestead entrance need separate tickets?

No. Both are part of Everglades National Park, and a valid seven-day entrance pass works at every park entrance while it lasts. You do not buy one ticket for Shark Valley, another for Homestead and another for Flamingo.

Commercial activities inside the park do cost extra, though. The park says separate fees apply for camping, concessioner-operated tours and rentals.

Is the Shark Valley tram included with park admission?

No. Park entry and the Shark Valley tram are separate purchases. Your park pass gets you into Shark Valley; the narrated tram tour is run by a park concessioner and has its own ticket and reservations. It is one of the most common budgeting mistakes.

If you plan to visit Shark Valley, budget for:

1. Park entrance
2. A tram ticket, if you are taking the tram

You can also explore the loop by bicycle or on foot, although bicycle rental also costs extra. Without a car, the Everglades nature and wildlife tram tour from Miami combines transport from North Miami with a tram ride at Shark Valley; check its inclusions for how park fees are handled.

Do you have to take the Shark Valley tram?

No. Once you are in the park, you can explore Shark Valley by tram, by bicycle or on foot. Private cars are not allowed on the 15-mile loop. The tram is convenient because it is narrated and stops near the observation tower, but it is not compulsory.

Are airboat tours included in Everglades National Park admission?

No. A National Park Service entrance pass does not include an airboat ride. Airboats are commercial experiences, and the National Park Service lists three authorized airboat businesses operating in the airboat area of the park, all on the Tamiami Trail:

• Coopertown
• Gator Park
• Everglades Safari Park

Each sells its own ticket, and how park fees are handled depends on how you book. On the Everglades Safari Park airboat ticket, for example, an $8 park fee is paid at the ticket booth when you check in. The Gator Park airboat ticket from $32 covers the boat and wildlife show, with park entry paid separately at the counter. Always check the inclusions on the specific booking page.

Why do some Everglades airboat tickets cost so much more?

Because two products sold as an “Everglades airboat tour” can include completely different things.

A direct attraction ticket might include:

• the airboat ride,
• a wildlife show,
• attraction access.

A Miami tour package might include:

• round-trip transport from Miami,
• a guide,
• airboat admission,
• attraction admission,
• and several hours of tour logistics.

The higher price may be paying for transport and convenience, not a better airboat. The half-day vs full-day guide shows how the time splits.

Does a Miami Everglades tour include the park entrance fee?

Sometimes, but do not assume it. Tour companies handle fees differently, and the park charges commercial tour vehicles by seat count ($125 for a 7–15 seat van, $200 for a 16–25 seat minibus and $300 for a coach of 26 seats or more), so operators have their own reasons to bundle it or pass it on.

Before booking, look for wording such as:

• National Park entrance included
• park fee included
• admission included
• fees payable locally
• nonresident fee not included

This matters more in 2026, because the nonresident fee is a large sum for an international family. The US2U airboat tour lists “all Everglades park fees for non-US and US citizens” among its inclusions, and the small-group airboat tour with transportation includes the park entrance fee in its $69 starting price.

Does the $100 nonresident fee apply to commercial tours?

Yes. National Park Service guidance says the fee applies to non-US residents aged 16 and over entering the 11 parks even as part of:

• commercial tour groups,
• commercial use authorization groups,
• and concessioner tour groups.

A tour ticket does not exempt an international visitor from the fee on its own. Either the operator includes it, or you pay it, or an eligible annual or America the Beautiful pass covers it under the pass rules.

What counts as a nonresident?

For this fee, the National Park Service separates US citizens and residents from everyone else. To buy the resident version of the America the Beautiful pass, visitors show proof such as:

• a US passport,
• a US state- or territory-issued driver’s license or ID,
• or a permanent resident card (green card).

International tourists should plan around nonresident pricing unless they clearly meet those requirements.

Everglades Annual Pass

The Everglades National Park Annual Pass costs $70 and is valid for 12 months from purchase, with unlimited visits to the park. It admits the passholder and the passengers in a single vehicle, or on one motorcycle.

The park lists it as available to US citizens and residents, so it suits South Florida locals planning several visits, for whom it pays for itself on the second carload. For an international tourist, the relevant comparison is usually the $250 Non-Resident America the Beautiful Annual Pass.

America the Beautiful passes

America the Beautiful passes cover entrance fees and standard day-use fees at federal recreation lands, including national parks. Different versions exist for different groups:

• the resident annual pass ($80),
• the nonresident annual pass ($250),
• senior annual ($20) and lifetime ($80) passes for US citizens and residents aged 62 or over,
• free military, access, fourth-grade and volunteer passes for those who qualify.

Eligibility rules vary. If you already have an eligible pass, bring it with photo ID; it is the only entrance pass you need.

Can you buy the Everglades entrance pass online?

Yes. The National Park Service sells digital entrance passes online, and you show the pass on your phone (or a printout) at the entrance station. It is useful if you want the entrance fee sorted before leaving Miami.

Save the pass so you can open it without a signal, and keep your phone charged, because mobile reception can be weak in remote areas.

Can you buy the pass when you arrive?

Yes. The park lists in-person purchase points at:

• the Homestead Entrance Station,
• the Shark Valley Entrance Station,
• and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center on the Gulf Coast.

All of them are card only, so bring a credit or debit card or have your digital pass ready.

Is Everglades National Park free on certain days?

The National Park Service sets several entrance-fee-free days each year. From 2026, those days are free only for US citizens and residents. Nonresidents still pay the standard entrance fee and the nonresident fee unless an eligible pass covers them, so international visitors should not build a budget around a free day. The remaining 2026 fee-free dates are October 27 and November 11.

Do children pay?

Children 15 and younger do not pay the per-person entrance fee, and the nonresident fee applies only from age 16.

Commercial attractions set their own child ages and prices, so an airboat park may charge a child ticket even though the child owes nothing to the National Park Service. They are separate pricing systems.

Do you pay to enter Shark Valley by bicycle?

Yes. Visitors aged 16 and older entering on foot or by bicycle pay the per-person entrance fee, currently $20 for seven consecutive days, and nonresidents pay the nonresident fee on top. If you have an eligible pass, use that instead under its coverage rules.

Do you pay to enter on foot?

Yes. The pedestrian entrance fee is $20 per person aged 16 or older, valid for seven consecutive days. Children 15 and younger enter free.

Motorcycle fee

The motorcycle entrance fee is $30, valid for seven days, and admits up to two private motorcycles with up to four people in total. Nonresidents aged 16 and over still need to account for the nonresident fee separately.

Do you pay parking fees at Shark Valley?

The National Park Service charge is the entrance fee, not a separate parking ticket. Parking is limited, though, and in the busy winter months the lot can fill, so paying for entry does not guarantee a space straight away. The park suggests visiting on weekdays and arriving before 10 am; if you have a tram reservation, arrive early.

Does park admission include bicycle rental?

No. Bicycle rental at Shark Valley is a separate commercial charge, and you can bring your own bike instead. A cycling visit can therefore involve the park entrance fee plus a rental if you need one.

Does park admission include Flamingo boat tours?

No. Boat tours at Flamingo are run by a park concessioner and charged separately from park entry. The Flamingo Marina backcountry boat tour (4.4/5 from 47 reviews) is one of them, and the same goes for Florida Bay tours, rentals and other commercial activities.

This is the rule everywhere in the park:

entrance fee ≠ tour ticket

Does park admission include camping?

No. Camping fees are separate. The entrance pass covers entry, not overnight stays or campsites, and the same applies to backcountry permit fees.

What should you budget for a basic DIY visit?

For a US resident couple arriving in one private vehicle and doing only free park activities:

• Vehicle entrance: $35
• Extra admission for passengers: $0
• Total entrance cost: $35

The Shark Valley tram, bicycle rental or an airboat cost extra. For non-US residents, the nonresident fee changes the calculation substantially.

What should international visitors budget?

For non-US residents aged 16 and over, start with:

the standard entrance fee + $100 per adult

Then add any commercial activities. Two international adults entering by private car pay:

• $35 vehicle fee
• $200 in nonresident fees

before any tour costs. For larger parties or a trip to several national parks, compare the $250 America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass.

Is the nonresident pass worth it for one Everglades trip?

It depends on how many of you there are.

One nonresident adult in a private car

$35 plus $100 comes to $135, well under the $250 annual pass for a one-off Everglades visit.

Two nonresident adults

$235 against $250: still slightly cheaper to pay at the gate for a single Everglades visit, but close enough that a second park on the same trip tips it.

Three or four nonresident adults traveling together

$335 or $435 at the gate against $250 for the pass, which covers the whole car (or the passholder plus three adults where fees are per person). The pass wins clearly.

Visiting several US national parks

The annual pass becomes much more compelling, especially if the trip includes any of the other ten parks with the nonresident fee.

Check the current pass terms before you buy.

Direct airboat ticket vs Miami package

When comparing prices online, split each product into three parts.

1. National Park fees

Is entry included, and is the nonresident fee included?

2. Attraction ticket

Which airboat ride or commercial activity are you getting?

3. Transportation

Does the ticket include round-trip transport from Miami?

That makes comparisons much easier. A walk-up airboat ticket from $32 and a $50 to $130 tour package with transport are not competing versions of the same thing; the package includes several hours of transport. Our tour-choice guide compares them side by side.

Common ticket mistakes

Mistake 1: Assuming airboat admission equals national park admission

It does not necessarily.

Mistake 2: Assuming park admission includes the Shark Valley tram

It does not.

Mistake 3: Buying a new park pass at each entrance

The standard pass is valid for seven consecutive days at all park entrances.

Mistake 4: Forgetting the 2026 nonresident fee

For international adults, it can be the largest park-related cost.

Mistake 5: Assuming a tour ticket automatically covers the nonresident fee

The fee applies to nonresidents in commercial tour groups too, so check whether the operator includes it.

Mistake 6: Comparing tours by headline price only

Transport, attraction tickets and park fees are bundled differently from tour to tour.

What ticket should you buy?

Driving to Shark Valley once

Buy the standard Everglades National Park entrance pass and allow for any nonresident fees.

Driving to Shark Valley and Homestead within a week

Use the same seven-day entrance pass.

Taking a tram

Add the separate Shark Valley tram ticket.

Taking an airboat

Add the commercial airboat ticket unless your package clearly includes it.

Joining a Miami tour

Read the inclusions carefully and check how park and nonresident fees are handled.

Visiting several US national parks

Compare the America the Beautiful annual pass that fits your residency.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Everglades National Park cost in 2026?

The standard entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle or $20 per person entering on foot or by bicycle, each valid for seven days. Non-US residents aged 16 and over pay an extra $100 each.

Is there an extra fee for international visitors?

Yes. Non-US residents aged 16 and older pay an additional $100 per person at Everglades National Park, unless they are admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful pass.

Is Shark Valley included in Everglades National Park admission?

Yes, Shark Valley is part of the park and your entrance pass covers it. The narrated tram is a separate paid activity.

Do I need a separate ticket for an airboat ride?

Yes. Commercial airboat tours are separate from park admission unless your package explicitly bundles the relevant fees.

Is Everglades Safari Park included in the park ticket?

No. Everglades Safari Park is one of the three authorized airboat concessions, and its airboat tour has its own price. On the Safari Park ticket sold on GetYourGuide, an $8 park fee is paid at the ticket booth, so check the inclusions of the ticket you buy.

How long is the standard entrance pass valid?

Seven consecutive days, at all park entrances.

Can I use one vehicle pass at Shark Valley and Homestead?

Yes, while the pass is still valid.

Are children free?

Children 15 and younger do not pay the National Park Service per-person entrance fee or the nonresident fee. Tour operators may still charge their own child prices.

Can I pay cash?

No. Everglades National Park’s entrance stations take credit or debit cards and digital passes only.

Is the America the Beautiful pass accepted?

Yes. Any valid America the Beautiful pass covers park entry, and the National Park Service says valid passes also cover the nonresident fee for the passholder and the passengers in a private vehicle.

The bottom line

For a simple Everglades visit, remember one rule: the National Park Service entrance fee and the commercial tour ticket are usually two separate things.

In 2026 the standard Everglades entrance fee is $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle and $20 per person on foot or by bicycle, each valid for seven days. For international visitors, the big change is the additional $100 nonresident fee for each non-US resident aged 16 or older, unless an annual or America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Then add whatever you want to do: the Shark Valley tram, a bicycle rental, an airboat, a Flamingo boat tour or transport from Miami. Check those parts separately and you will know exactly what you are paying for.

Fees were checked against the National Park Service’s Everglades fee page and its nonresident fee guidance in October 2026. Fees, pass rules and tour inclusions can change, so confirm them before you buy.

Ready to book? Compare Everglades tours with park fees included →

Related reading:

• How to get from Miami to the Everglades
• Everglades National Park airboat tours
• Everglades Safari Park from Miami
• Which Everglades tour from Miami is right for you