There are four rows for parking in the parking lot. In the middle of the lot, there is a grassy median that has an interpretive sign, sitting benches and garbage and recycling bins. There is a crosswalk on the east side, allowing for safe crossing to the visitor center building. As you approach the visitor center there will be accessible restrooms, a water fountain and a water bottle filling station on the north side. On the south side, you will see an open Everglades interpretive area, with a large park map and information on places you can check out. There are also garbage and recycling bins. There is a boardwalk that takes you to the visitor center and there are a few interpretive signs along the boardwalk’s railing. About 60 yards (55 meters) down the boardwalk you will reach the front doors to the visitor center. There is a silver button with a blue accessibility symbol on the south side. After you go through the front doors, you will enter the foyer. In the foyer, there is a silver button with a blue accessibility symbol on the right-hand side. In the visitor center, there is a bookstore on your left-hand side. The bookstore sells clothing, books, gifts and other items. Across the bookstore, on the right, there is a large Everglades map mounted on the wall. The map describes points of interest and places to visit while in the park. To the right of the bookstore, there is a large green and brown desk staffed by Park Rangers and volunteers. Park maps, Junior Ranger booklets and other information are available there. There is a television above the information desk and to the right. The screen shows weather information, a schedule of ranger programs and other pertinent information that varies seasonally. Across from the information desk, is a large and detailed exhibit called “Winter Refuge in a Gator Hole”. This circular exhibit allows the visitor to feel things such as an alligator tail and alligator tracks. The exhibit is replicating an alligator hole in the winter. There is a large alligator replica in the center, with bird replicas hanging from the ceiling, and more birds and vegetation surrounding the alligator and along the edge of the exhibit. As you follow the circular exhibit, there are screens on the exhibit panel that show alligator behavior and at the far end of the circular exhibit is a replica mother alligator with her young. Across from the circular exhibit and back towards the front doors is a movie theater that plays the park’s orientation film on request. Between the doors of the movie theater is an exhibit on the Nike Missile Site housed in a glass case and illuminated by a single lamp. The case contains newspaper clippings and other artifacts from the Cuban Missile Crisis. Across from the Nike Missile Site and to the right of the far end of the circular exhibit is an exhibit about birds. The exhibit is a small, dark booth with two spotting scopes. Birds can be seen flying in a video through the spotting scopes. Across from the exhibit with the spotting scopes, is an exhibit called ‘The Great Water Debate’ that explains water issues in South Florida. Different telephone receivers can be picked up and one could listen to the opinions and concerns of various stakeholders about water in the Everglades. To the right of ‘The Great Water Debate’ is a wall mural called ‘The Big Picture’ and it shows how human activity has disturbed the Everglades ecosystem endangering the environment and life within it. On the exhibit panel are lighted buttons that can be pressed to show different aspects of the Everglades. To the left of ‘The Great Water Debate’ exhibit, is a mosaic tile design of South Florida on the floor. There are large windows showing the patio area and to the left is an exhibit on invasive species. The invasive species exhibit is a brown kiosk with a small television screen that shows a video playing on a loop. On the other side of the mosaic tile design of South Florida is an exhibit on the past and present-day indigenous Seminole and Miccosukee peoples and their lands. To the left of the Seminole and Miccosukee exhibit, are double doors that lead to the visitor center patio. There is a silver button with a blue accessibility symbol on the right-hand side on the wall. The patio has rocking chairs, benches and interpretive signs. The deck in the patio overlooks a large freshwater borrow pit lined with tall and green vegetation.

The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is the visitor center closest to Homestead for Everglades National Park. It is open 365 days a year and offers educational displays, orientation films, and informational brochures. Park Rangers are available to help plan your trip. There is a giftshop that sells souvenirs and snacks. In the summer time it is open 9AM - 5PM and in the winter it is open 8AM - 5PM.

Pink Grasses are in bloom next to a lake and the Ernest Coe Visitor Center

Ernest Coe Visitor Center

Visitors stand around a colorful display which has models of alligators turtles and birds.

Ernest Coe Wildlife Display

Rocking chairs sit lazily in the shade on a wooden platform overlooking a small lake

Ernest Coe Rocking Chairs

An interpretive display which shows different park users, a map and telephones that tell their story

Coe VC Interpretive Display

A wide boardwalk with handrails leads to a visitor center

Ernest Coe Visitor Center Boardwalk

Men's, women's and family restrooms, and water fountains and a water-bottle fill station

Restrooms and Water Fountains at Ernest Coe Visitor Center

Brown sign that reads Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center with greenery behind the sign

Ernest Coe Visitor Center Sign

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center

Everglades National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center has scheduled operating hours.

Summer Season Hours (Mid-April through Mid-December)

Everglades National Park Passport Stamp in Homestead Florida Earnest Coe site

Classic NPS Passport Stamp Ernest Coe 

Classic NPS cancellation with site name and date

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center was in a beige triple-wide trailer. The trailer has four long windows that face west. The entrance to the trailer is by white double doors. There is a silver, metal, accessible ramp that leads to the front doors of the trailer. The ramp is decorated by exhibits in the shape of mangrove trees. The exhibits are brown at the bottom and green at the top. Attached to the ramp is a brown sign with white letters that reads Everglades National Park Gulf Coast Visitor Center. There is also a National Park Service arrowhead attached to the ramp in front of the double doors. At the beginning of the wooden boardwalk that leads to the trailer is a gray box labeled “Camping Permits” on a wooden stand. North of the camping permit box are trash and recycling bins. North of the visitor center is a wooden boardwalk that leads to the restroom trailer. The restroom trailer is white and has five stalls one of which is accessible. Along the wooden boardwalk are trees, mostly mahogany with Spanish moss hanging from their branches. The visitor center parking lot has two rows of parking that are separated by a grassy median. West of the parking lot is Chokoloskee Bay, a ½-mile wide body of water. Across the bay is a continuous line of mangrove trees. All around the parking lot are trees, mainly palm trees. West of the parking lot is a flagpole which flies the American flag. Inside the visitor center and just to the right when you first walk in is a framed poster that reads “Ranger Natural Service.” Just to the left of that is a gray donation box with a glass front. The glass has the National Park Service arrowhead on it. Just to the left of the donation box is a closed door with no public access. To the left of that is a black, tall table. The table has various maps of the 10,000 Islands. Above the table hanging on the wall is a framed poster that reads “Heroes of the Everglades.” To the left of the black table and framed poster is an encased skin of a Burmese python. The skin extends from the floor of the visitor center to the ceiling. Left of the skin is a framed picture from 2018 of Park Rangers and volunteers holding a 13-foot long Burmese python. Below the picture is a bumper sticker that reads “Report invasive species” and “www.ivegot1.org.” Below that is a small informational card that reads “Seen something exotic? Report your sighting!” To the left of the bumper sticker, framed picture and informational card are two more doors with no public access to them. Attached to a false gray wall is a large poster that reads “Cities of Shell” informing you on the archaeology of the 10,000 Islands. Above the poster and to the right is a replica of a white ibis hanging from the ceiling. Below the poster on the floor is a long folding table with a black tablecloth over it. To the left of the “Cities of Shell” poster is another slightly smaller poster whose title is “Gentle Giant” and it informs on the manatee. The poster is varying shades of blue and has several pictures of the West Indian Manatee on it. To the left of that is a letter-sized, laminated sheet of paper that reads “Sawfish Hotline” and gives you a number to call if you see a sawfish. To the left of that is another large horizontal poster whose title is “Vanishing Relic” and it informs on the Smalltooth Sawfish, an endangered species. The poster is varying shades of gray, light blue and white, and there are several pictures of sawfish and fishermen with sawfish. To the left of the “Vanishing Relic” poster is a wooden case with a replica sawfish inside and behind a glass window. Below the sawfish exhibit is a plastic, life-sized sea turtle. To the left of the exhibit is the information desk. The desk is long and black with a banner hanging from it that reads “Everglades National Park,” The banner is black with a small arrowhead symbol on the bottom right corner. Behind the information desk are three whiteboards. One reads “Sites at Capacity” and the other two are for seasonally variable information. Behind the information desk is also a large map of Everglades National Park. To the right of the large Everglades National Park map are two plastic wall hangers that contain several binders and books. To the left and above the Everglades National Park map is a clock. Left of the information desk is a tall desk with two desktop computers and a printer. To the left of the desk with the computers is a smaller, brown desk. Left of the brown table are two refrigerators. To the left of the refrigerators are two tall, black desks belonging to the park concession. Left of the black desk is the defibrillator. To the left of the defibrillator is the exit which is the same as the entrance to the visitor center trailer.

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center and canoe/kayak launch are currently closed due to construction. For more information, call 239-232-0057. The Gulf Coast visitor area serves as the gateway for exploring the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove islands and waterways accessible only by boat that extends to Flamingo and Florida Bay.

Gulf Coast Visitor Center Interior

A sign reads "Gulf Coast Visitor Center" hanging on a cement wall

Gulf Coast Visitor Center Sign

Well-lit interior space with a tall desk in the background, a carpeted floor and posters displayed

Well-lit interior space with a carpeted floor and posters displayed on walls

A beige trailer with a metal ramp leading up to the front doors

Temporary Gulf Coast Visitor Center

A silver metal ramp with black traction tape and handrails on both sides

Entrance to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center

Gulf Coast Visitor Center

Everglades National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center is closed during construction of the new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center and site re-development.

The Gulf Coast entrance serves as the gateway for exploring the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove islands and waterways that extends to Flamingo and Florida Bay accessible only by boat in this region.

A circular, purple stamp that reads 'Everglades National Park' above and 'Gulf Coast, FL' below

Gulf Coast Passport Stamp

The Guy Bradley Visitor Center is open year-round and features educational displays, informational brochures, a bookstore and more. Campground facilities, a public boat ramp, marina store, a fish cleaning station, and hiking and canoeing trails are located near the visitor center.

A large pink building with "Guy Bradley Visitor Center" above the double-door entrance.

Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo

A large green lawn with two pink buildings in the background

Flamingo Visitor Center Under Construction

The inside of a visitor center with large exhibits and an ocean view.

Guy Bradley Visitor Center Interior

Guy Bradley Visitor Center (at Flamingo)

Everglades National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, the Guy Bradley Visitor Center is open from 8 am to 5 pm daily. During times of limited staffing, the visitor center may be closed for lunch.

The concession at Flamingo operates a marina store, provides narrated boat tours, and offers boat rentals. Fuel is also available. To contact the marina store, please visit flamingoeverglades.com or call 855-708-2207.

Circle Passport Stamp for Flamingo Visitor Center in Everglades National Park

Flamingo Visitor Center Stamp Everglades

Classic National Park Passport Stamp Everglades National Park, Flamingo, FL.

As you cross the parking lot of five rows, you may notice the clumps of large mahogany and gumbo limbo trees with their peeling red bark. A small quiet picnic table sits amongst the trees. Before entering the building, there are signs detailing the variety of experiences that visitors can create. Information on tram and bicycle prices, tour length, and expectations of your experience are posted outside the building. There are a couple of large satellite images, to the left of the door, showing the fifteen-mile long path and the habitats that it traverses through. The large, white building holds both a visitor center and a concessionaire for bicycle and tram tour sales. Alongside the main entrance doors is a blue accessibility symbol on the right-hand side. The right-hand door will open automatically into a foyer where an extremely large black and white mural by Clyde Butcher is displayed. The mural depicts a sawgrass prairie in wet season, with the classic Shark Valley Lookout Tower in the background. The quote by Gifford Pinchot (Pin – Shoh), “It is a region so different that it hardly seems to belong to the United States. It is full of the most vivid and interesting life on land, in the air, and in the water,” is placed in the middle of the mural. If you would like to talk to the concessionaire, turn right, otherwise head left into the well-lit, Shark Valley Visitor Center. As you turn left into the visitor center, immediately upon the left wall is the floor plan with a tactile braille display. An emergency exit plan is displayed as well. As you walk further into the visitor center, to your left, a four-foot-tall wooden board rests against the wall and details the height of several Florida birds. This is fascinating for our younger visitors. Next to the bird display is our stamp table, a very popular item. To the right of the stamps is the ranger station, where numerous pamphlets and informational brochures are available. Behind the ranger station, upon the wall is an enormous map of Everglades National Park, detailing all the visitor centers, trails and ecosystems. To the left of the park map is a blowup map of the 15-mile paved Shark Valley Loop Trail. Two TV screens to the left and right of the park map show a continual slideshow of information on weather, ranger programs and frequently asked questions. Two wheelchairs are available and placed behind the ranger desk. Various Everglades educational props can be found on display behind the ranger desk. To the right of the ranger desk, is an additional surface filled with brochures on Everglades National Park, invasive species and junior ranger books. If you turn around, the opposite side of the room contains more exhibits for hands-on learning. Along the far wall is an exhibit detailing the differences between Florida’s wet and dry seasons. The display shows a month by month basis, detailing the temperature, humidity and hydroperiod (amount of time that water is present) within Everglades National Park. Furthermore, there is a touch table display detailing how water flows during wet season, the importance of periphyton (puh-rif-i-ton), how the land topography affects the water flow and why this area is called the River of Grass. Additional mini displays explain common Florida animals and how their lifecycles are tied to the seasonal changes in Everglades National Park. A detailed photo of an alligator mentions how they are ecosystem engineers. A large three-dimensional wood stork stalks and hunts for fish across a display that mentions their role in the Everglades as well. In the center of the room is a teardrop shaped, standalone exhibit. It is covered with photos of Everglades ecosystems. If you open the doors on the display, additional information on the Everglades equation can be found. A door on the limestone bedrock, hardwood hammocks, willow heads and sawgrass marsh open under your hands and provide additional details on their roles. This display tells the story of swamp manipulation that began in the 1880s, and how important the protected area of Shark Valley is today. To your right after leaving the exhibit area is a set of glass doors that lead you out of the visitor center, and under a canopy, where you can wait for your designated tram tour to begin. As you wait, you can sit upon several benches, and enjoy a park film which will prepare you for your exploration of Shark Valley.

Shark Valley Visitor Center provides the gateway to a panoramic 15-mile loop trail and observation tower. Open year-round, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the visitor center also hosts exhibits, park film, and association bookstore, alongside the Shark Valley Tram Tour concessionaire. The GPS address for the visitor center is; 36000 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33194.

A gray visitor center building under a blue sky with some clouds

Shark Valley Visitor Center Exterior

A sign reading 'Shark Valley Visitor Center' hangs on a concrete wall

Shark Valley Visitor Center Sign

A brown information desk and green display table show a map of the area

Shark Valley Visitor Center Information Desk

Colorful table top interpretive and touch displays sit in a small museum

Shark Valley Interpretive Exhibit

A gray framed glass door and colorful informational poster at the Visitor Center Entrance

Shark Valley Visitor Center Entrance

The front doors to the Shark Valley Visitor Center with a wayside exhibit off to the side

Shark Valley Visitor Center Exterior - Front

Men's and women's restrooms with a yellow Wet Floor Sign displayed

Shark Valley Visitor Center Restrooms

Lit, indoor exhibit area with tables, maps and interpretive panels

Shark Valley Visitor Center Exhibit Area

Shark Valley Visitor Center

Everglades National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Shark Valley entrance gate is open from 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM.  The Visitor Center has scheduled operating hours from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Shark Valley Visitor Center Parking Lot

Passport Stamps for Everglades Shark Valley, FL

Classic NPS Passport Stamp Shark Valley 

Classic NPS passport stamp Everglades National Park Shark Valley

Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther. An international treasure as well - a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance, and a specially protected area under the Cartagena Treaty.