Everglades safe to camp?

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
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Does anyone have any knowledge or advice on camping in the Everglades?

Safety issues?

Thanks

Chris
 
I went on a trip there a few years back. We camped without a problem. Whether it was safe, I'm not sure. No one died, but everyone calls me hoppy now:D. But, seriously, we camped for 4 days. Try contacting the rangers or look on nps.gov for camping suggestions.
 
chrisaloia said:
Does anyone have any knowledge or advice on camping in the Everglades?

Safety issues?

Thanks

Chris
Click to expand...

I camp there/ here often and I would recommend camping at one of the state parks for your first time or two. There are a bunch of dangerous things here (there are everywhere I guess), but it is very fun.

Do not camp here in the summer. The mosquitoes will drink your deet and chew through your bug-off shirt! Lightning storms are also a real danger in the summer.

Black bears have never given me a problem, but hogs have gotten too close for comfort a few times. Gators can be a problem depending on where you camp. If there is water nearby there is probably an alligator around (you don't see most of them, but they are still there). Panthers are here but there are so few of them that you may never see one (I have yet to see one in the wild while camping). Snakes... we have more than our share.

The everglades is a very big place and it can be quite dangerous if you get lost. Stick to the coastal areas in the winter and you will have a great time.
 
The biggest problem is that if you do not go to a designated camp area, you may end up in swampland (water to your knees) and that would definitely not be a fun area to camp. Other then that, it's a national park, so like all national parks any US citizen or legal resident may camp there without legal issue. If you know a good dry spot to camp, it could definitely be a fun little adventure.
 
Sounds like an awesome place.

"Stick to the coastal areas in the winter and you will have a great time." Hog Feet.

Why?

Thanks for the info
 
There are canoe trails in the Everglades that are marked, they have designated camping areas. Some of these are platforms for pitching a tent.

Hog Feet wrote:
Do not camp here in the summer. The mosquitoes will drink your deet and chew through your bug-off shirt! Lightning storms are also a real danger in the summer.

This is TRUE, but it might be an understatement. The mosquitos and the "noseeums" are absolutely voracious.

You should definitely contact the NPS. A trip into the Everglades is unique. Proper planning is absolutely necessary.
 
I was in Orlando last week. I visited a friend in Lakeland and the mosquitos near his house were crazy at night. They came in our car and attacked us. I didn't have a problem at any other time I was in FL. It was kind of strange that it only happened that one time and it was really bad.
 
I used to live in Florida until I got hit by 4 hurricanes so I moved back to Kansas. I have camped in the Ozarks, the Rockies the Uintas, Canada Canoe base, Lake of the Woods, Several places in Ohio, California numerous places, Idaho Montana Kansas Missouri Illinois Wisconsin, etc. and I would never ever ever camp in the Florida Everglades in the Summer (95 degrees with 95% humidity and tons of wee nasty critters, and big snapping biters) and probably would pass in the Winter. No thank you. It reminds me of rice paddies in China.
 
psy-ops said:
Sounds like an awesome place.

"Stick to the coastal areas in the winter and you will have a great time." Hog Feet.

Why?

Thanks for the info
Click to expand...

Less bugs, less heat, beach camping with mangroves all around, less gators, nice sunsets on the beaches.
 
My experiences in the Everglades NP have been awesome. I would recommend that you stay at the Flamingo Lodge and use this as your base camp. It is very rustic but provides a good starting point where you can gather provisions(General store) and all the information you may need. As far as the mosquitos: I can't even begin to describe but it can border on insanity so keep your sense of humor and do not panic. The locals are seen carrying a towel as they walk and constantly swishing it on their backs. Some of the locals advised me as above and I swear that the mosquitos seemed to be less of a bother the more calm I remained. Contrast this with other visits and when I hardly saw a mosquito. So I guess it just depends when they are hungry. Hope this all helps.
 
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