There is a 2026 change that anyone traveling from outside the United States needs to know before buying Everglades tickets, and many travel guides still miss it: since January 1, 2026, every visitor who is not a US resident and is 16 or older pays an extra $100 per person on top of the regular entrance fee. The park's official wording describes it as a nonresident fee in addition to the standard entrance fee, valid for 7 days. Regular entry still costs $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle and $20 on foot or by bike. So a couple in a car no longer pays $35: they pay $235. And there is a way to pay less that few people mention: the $250 nonresident annual pass covers the whole vehicle and waives the $100 fee at all eleven parks where it applies. Last checked September 10, 2026.
The fees at a glance
- Standard entrance: $35 per vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person on foot or by bike. Valid for 7 consecutive days.
- Nonresident fee: $100 per person aged 16 or older, on top of the entrance fee, since January 1, 2026. Also valid for 7 days.
- Nonresident annual pass: $250, covers the whole vehicle or the pass holder plus three adults, waives the $100 fee and is good for a year at the eleven affected parks.
- Proof of residency: a US passport, a state-issued driver's license or ID, or a permanent resident card.
- Best season: December to April. From May to November it rains and there are lots of mosquitoes, according to the park itself.
The math that decides what you pay
This is the part that changes your budget, so it's worth running real numbers. The $100 fee applies per person aged 16 and up and is added to the vehicle fee.
| Group | Entrance plus fee | With the $250 pass |
|---|---|---|
| One person in a car | $135 | $250 |
| Two adults in a car | $235 | $250 |
| Two adults and a 17-year-old | $335 | $250 |
| Two adults and two kids aged 12 and 10 | $235 | $250 |
| Four adults in a car | $435 | $250 |
The conclusions are clear. With three or more people aged 16 or older, the $250 annual pass is cheaper even for a single visit to a single park. With two adults it's roughly a wash, and the pass wins as soon as you visit a second park. And for one person visiting only the Everglades, paying the entrance and the fee is the cheapest option.
What makes the pass such good value: it covers the entire vehicle, or the holder plus three adults where fees are charged per person, and it's valid for a year at the eleven parks with the fee. Those eleven are Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.
In other words, a trip that combines the Everglades with the Grand Canyon, a fairly common pairing on a two-week itinerary, justifies the pass on its own. See our Grand Canyon South Rim guide if the canyon is part of your plan.
How residency is checked
The park accepts three documents as proof of residency to avoid the fee: a US passport, a driver's license or ID issued by a US state or territory, or a permanent resident card. Nothing else.
That has a practical consequence for many readers: a tourist visa, however long, does not exempt you. Neither does a driver's license from your home country or an International Driving Permit. Anyone traveling on a B1/B2 visa or an ESTA pays the $100.
On the other hand, anyone with permanent residency or a state license is exempt, which matters for mixed families: in a car with one resident and two visitors, the fee applies only to the two visitors.
The measure followed a Department of the Interior announcement on November 25, 2025, and took effect on January 1, 2026. It's not a rumor or a proposal: it's published on the park's own fees page.
The park entrances, and which one to use from Miami
The Everglades doesn't have a single gate, and that's the first source of confusion. The park is huge and you enter through different areas, each with its own access point and character.
The Shark Valley entrance is the closest to Miami, on the highway that crosses South Florida, and it's where you'll find the loop road with the observation tower, which you can explore on foot, by bike or on the guided tram. It's the best choice when you're short on time or traveling with kids.
The Homestead entrance, to the south, leads to the area with the widest variety of trails and continues all the way to Flamingo, on the coast. It takes more hours and gives you the full park experience.
The Everglades City entrance, on the west coast, opens up the Ten Thousand Islands area and boating. It's far from Miami and works best as a stop on the way to the Gulf Coast.
Your paid entry is valid at every entrance for 7 days, so one ticket covers Shark Valley and Homestead on different days. That improves the $235 equation for a couple quite a bit: you can make two or three outings for the same price.
The season decides everything
The park itself is blunt about this: the dry season, from December to April, is the best and busiest time. Temperatures are pleasant and you'll see the greatest variety of wading birds and their predators, because animals gather around the remaining water.
From May to November is the wet season: it rains and, in the park's words, there are lots of mosquitoes. Ranger-led programs are also reduced in the summer months. If you're visiting Miami in July and want to see the Everglades, know that you'll get a much less impressive version of the park.
That lines up with the city's own calendar: the months that are good for Miami are the good months for the park.
There are fee-free days during the year, including Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, July 4 and Veterans Day. One caveat: those days waive the entrance fee, so confirm at the gate whether the nonresident fee is also waived, because they are separate charges.
How to get there and what to bring
No public transportation goes into the park, so you'll need a car or an organized tour. From Miami, Shark Valley is less than an hour away by highway and Homestead a bit farther south. The rules for driving with a license from another country are in driving in the US with a foreign license.
If your route uses South Florida toll roads, ask your rental company how tolls are billed before you leave the lot, because toll programs add daily fees.
What to bring: insect repellent in any season, and absolutely from May to November; enough water, because the trails have no refill points along the way; sunscreen and closed-toe shoes. The park is flat and doesn't require any fitness, but it's open and has no shade.
With kids, the plan that works is Shark Valley early in the morning, when more animals are visible and it's cooler.
Address and official website
Address: Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034. This is the park's main entrance. Shark Valley, the other common access point from Miami, is on the Tamiami Trail.
Official website: nps.gov/ever, the National Park Service page for the park, where the $100 fee for nonresident visitors aged 16 or older is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter the Everglades as a foreign visitor?
Standard entry costs $35 per vehicle, and since January 1, 2026, there's an added $100 fee for each nonresident visitor aged 16 or older. A couple in a car pays $235, valid for 7 days.
Is the $250 nonresident annual pass worth it?
Yes, from three people aged 16 or older, even for a single visit: it covers the whole vehicle, waives the $100 fee and is valid for a year at the eleven parks where the fee applies. With two adults it's roughly even, and it pays off if you visit a second park.
Which national parks charge the $100 fee?
Eleven: Acadia, Bryce Canyon, Everglades, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. It applies per person aged 16 and older and is added to the regular entrance fee.
How do you prove you're a resident to avoid the fee?
With a US passport, a driver's license or ID from a US state or territory, or a permanent resident card. A tourist visa or a license from your home country does not exempt you.
When is the best time to visit the Everglades?
December to April, the dry season, when the weather is pleasant and the variety of birds is greatest. From May to November it rains, there are lots of mosquitoes and guided programs are reduced.
Which Everglades entrance should you use from Miami?
Shark Valley is the closest and the best choice when time is short, with its loop road and observation tower. Homestead, to the south, offers the fullest experience, and your paid entry is valid at every entrance for 7 days. In Homestead, the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is at 40001 State Road 9336.
How much is Everglades entry on foot or by bike?
$20 per person, versus $35 per vehicle and $30 per motorcycle, all valid for 7 consecutive days. Add the $100 nonresident fee for anyone 16 or older who can't prove residency.