Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center

"We enjoyed our visit at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center when visiting the Everglades National Park from the South. The rangers there are very helpful and can offer valuable information for your visit. The visitors center offers brocures, maps and information about the Everglades National Park as well as some wonderful exhibits. There is a nice gift shop as well as clean restroom facilities and boardwalk to a lake adjacent to the center. The building and grounds are beautiful and well cared for. Don't forget to get your National Parks Passport stamped here."

"Definitely stop at the visitor center for sure for lots of info and there's some guided tours, a good film and a deck you can walk out to view fish and other wildlife right there. Do the Anhinga trail for sure and youll see Gators and birds. Its less then a mile with nice boardwalks. The Gumbo Limbo trail is right there as well. I would skip the others as theres not much to see unless you're into trees, canoeing or kayaking where there's some trails that you can rent there. We did Drive all the way down to Flamingo which is Florida Bay about 35 miles, remember its 35 miles back! You can see some manatees and there's crocodiles that feed near the marina that sometimes come up onto the dock we were told. We seen some swimming. They also have a good visitor center with lots of info and some guided tours and theres nice clean washrooms. Bring snacks you cant buy anything. Honestly though it's a long drive with nothing in between but alot of grass and water. I would use my time by going to Shark Valley off US 41, its also in the National Park so you wont pay again. We seen a Croc there basking in the Sun and there's lots of alligators and birds. See my Shark Valley review If this review helped you please give it THUMBS UP. Follow me"

"Before going into the park stop at the visitor center. The film shown is really good, exhibits are too. Get a map and begin the drive. We stopped at Royal Palm - two short trails. Both really beautiful in their own way. Saw a large turtle swimming in lily pads. Gator, egret, great blue heron, snake. Gumbo limbo trees are my favorite! On to Pa-hay- okee overlook. We only went this far."

"My partner and I went on Nov 15, 2023, when it was raining and flooding like no tomorrow. First, we recommend visiting Robert is Here as you enter, and to get a key lime milkshake. Totally worth it. We visited the Ernest F Co entrance and the lady at the front was super kind and even put on a movie for us to see before we went to explore the Everglades! It was super rainy AND windy and our ponchos barely helped us. We opted to drive and stop at certain points. She recommended that we go very slowly so as not to miss animals, but it was unfortunately, not the best weather that day. We saw an alligator, a ton of birds on our way there and fro, and even saw wild manatees! They were so close! Our shoes were soaked by the end of it so we recommend wearing appropriate footwear if its rainy that day, and a change of clothes and food to snack on. If you stay late, there aren’t many streetlights and there were many puddles so beware! We would love to visit again when we next go to Florida:)"

"What a fun experience! Are girls got sworn in as Junior rangers in the Everglades! This visitor center is interactive for the kids and there is a nice landscaped area around the center. Staff was very friendly and informative! Small gift shop offers some souvenir options! EV charging stations are available at this visitor center."