Florida Everglades Airboat Tour: Wildlife & Gator Close-ups

Ride deep into untouched wetlands and come back with gators in frame

An airboat tour and wildlife park admission near Orlando that takes you an hour outside the city into the Central Florida Everglades. You ride a 30-minute or 1-hour airboat piloted by a US Coast Guard captain through 4,200 acres of protected swamps, marshes and rivers, then spend time at the Wildlife Park watching live demonstrations. The half-day package adds a barbeque lunch and a photo with an alligator.

Step-by-step itinerary

Everglades airboat tour and wildlife park

• Drive to Kenansville from Orlando
• Take 30-minute or 1-hour airboat tour
• Observe gators, birds, and plants
• Enjoy peaceful Everglades scenery

The experience

The drive from Orlando to Kenansville puts you at the edge of the Everglades, where the city noise stops and the wetlands begin. Your airboat tour runs 30 minutes or 1 hour depending on which option you pick, and the captain, trained by the US Coast Guard, navigates the protected swamps and marshes while pointing out gators, birds, eagles and the trees and plants that make up this part of Florida. The 4,200 acres around you have no development, no homes, just the water and the wildlife that lives in it.

After the airboat, you walk through the Wildlife Park where live demonstrations show you how the animals actually behave. If you choose the half-day package, you get a barbeque lunch and a photo with an alligator: the kind of moment people actually want to take home. Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled airboat time to check in. The whole experience is wheelchair accessible and works for all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Gator Park admission.
• a 30-minute or 1-hour airboat ride piloted by a US Coast Guard captain through the protected Everglades swamps and marshes.
• live animal demonstrations at the Wildlife Park.
• the half-day package adds a barbeque lunch and an alligator photo.

Options for this experience

18 options

30-minute airboat ride at 2pmGuide in English · 14:00Departs at 2pm; covers a 30-minute airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

10:15am, 30-minute airboat rideGuide in English · 10:15Departs at 10:15am; covers a 30-minute airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

30-minute airboat ride at 4:30pmGuide in English · 16:30Departs at 4:30pm; covers a 30-minute airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

See 15 more options

30-minute airboat ride at 3:15pmGuide in English · 15:15Departs at 3:15pm; covers a 30-minute airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

30-minute airboat ride at 9amGuide in English · 09:00Departs at 9am; covers a 30-minute airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

30-minute airboat ride at 12:45pmGuide in English · 12:45Departs at 12:45pm; covers a 30-minute airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

30-minute airboat ride at 11:30amGuide in English · 11:30Departs at 11:30am; covers a 30-minute airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

1-hour airboat ride at 4:30pmGuide in English · Available from 14 Apr 2027Departs at 4:30pm; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

1-hour airboat ride at 3:15pmGuide in English · 15:15Departs at 3:15pm; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

1-hour airboat ride at 9amGuide in English · 09:00Departs at 9am; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

1-hour airboat ride at 12:45pmGuide in English · 12:45Departs at 12:45pm; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

1-hour airboat ride at 11:30amGuide in English · 11:30Departs at 11:30am; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

1-hour airboat ride at 10:15amGuide in English · 10:15Departs at 10:15am; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

1-hour airboat ride at 2pmGuide in English · 14:00Departs at 2pm; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission and an alligator demonstration

2pm; Half-Day PackageGuide in English · 14:00Departs at 2pm; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission, an alligator demonstration, a 6x8 photo, and a BBQ lunch

12:45pm; Half-Day PackageGuide in English · 12:45Departs at 12:45pm; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission, an alligator demonstration, a 6x8 photo, and a BBQ lunch.

11:30am; Half-Day PackageGuide in English · 11:30Departs at 11:30am; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission, an alligator demonstration, a 6x8 photo, and a BBQ lunch

10:15am; Half-Day PackageGuide in English · 10:15Departs at 10:15am; covers a 1-hour airboat tour, wildlife park admission, an alligator demonstration, a 6x8 photo, and a BBQ lunch

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 1h, runs Monday to Saturday, 7 start times, from US$ 37 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to Saturday7 departure times: 09:00, 10:15, 11:30, 12:45, 14:00, 15:15 and 16:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 14 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.1 with pickup ›

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Wild Florida Airboat

Is this one for you?Pick the 1-hour airboat if you want a deeper look at the wetlands and more time to spot wildlife. The 30-minute ride covers the same territory but moves faster. Choose the half-day package if you want lunch and a photo with an alligator included. Otherwise, the standard admission gives you the airboat and the park demonstrations without the meal.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the airboat ride itself?

The airboat tour runs either 30 minutes or 1 hour, depending on which option you select at checkout. Both tours cover the same 4,200-acre area of protected swamps and marshes with a US Coast Guard captain.

What animals will I actually see on the airboat?

The Central Florida Everglades are home to alligators, birds, eagles and a range of plants and trees native to the wetlands. The captain points them out as you ride, though wildlife sightings depend on the season and time of day.

Is the half-day package worth it for the alligator photo?

The half-day package includes a barbeque lunch and a photo with an alligator, in addition to the airboat ride and Wildlife Park admission. If you want the lunch and the photo, it bundles both into one option. If not, the standard admission gives you the airboat and the park demonstrations.

Do I need to arrange transportation from my Orlando hotel?

You'll need your own transport to Kenansville, about an hour outside Orlando. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan to drive or arrange a ride separately.

What time should I arrive, and how much time does the whole thing take?

Arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled airboat time to check in. The airboat itself is 30 minutes or 1 hour depending on your option, and the Wildlife Park demonstrations add time after that. Plan for a half-day or full-day outing depending on which package you book.