Everglades National Park Wilderness Permits

Overview

Itinerary-based wilderness permit for Everglades National Park (Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness), southern Florida. 1,296,500 acres -- the largest designated wilderness east of the Rockies and the largest subtropical wilderness in the US. 47 designated campsites across 4 districts (Flamingo, Gulf Coast, Key Largo, Ingraham Highway) in three site types: chickees (10x12 ft elevated platforms over water with roofs), ground sites (earth mounds above mangroves), and beach sites (coastal shoreline). You build a multi-night itinerary selecting a campsite for each night. The marquee route is the Wilderness Waterway (~99 miles, Flamingo to Everglades City, 8+ days for paddlers). Primarily a paddling/kayaking backcountry -- navigation by nautical chart and compass through mangrove-lined creeks and bays.

Bottom Line

No lottery -- pure rolling FCFS, 90 days out, releasing daily at 10:00 AM ET. Peak season is December through April when weather is tolerable; summer (June--October) brings extreme heat, storms, and brutal mosquitoes. Popular chickees along the Wilderness Waterway and beach sites at Cape Sable fill quickly for peak-season weekends. Chickees are the most constrained -- each platform holds only 1 group of up to 6 people, so a double chickee maxes out at 2 groups/12 people total. Cancellations return to availability immediately, making alerts very effective. Flexibility on dates or willingness to mix site types (ground sites are least popular due to insects) dramatically improves options. Weekday starts and shoulder months (November, late April/May) are significantly easier. First-timers should start with a 1--2 night trip from Flamingo (Pearl Bay or Hell's Bay chickees, or East Cape Sable beach) rather than jumping into the full Waterway.

Reservations

Open year-round with no separate quota season -- the permit system runs 365 days. Rolling FCFS:

• Reservations open 90 days before trip start date, daily at 10:00 AM ET on recreation.gov
• One permit per trip -- a single reservation covers multiple consecutive nights and campsites
• Select all nights and campsites in one booking before proceeding to payment
• Cancellations return to availability immediately
• No physical pickup required -- your confirmation email is your permit. Carry a printed copy or screenshot of your final itinerary
• Rangers at Flamingo or Gulf Coast visitor centers can help book unreserved sites on the day of your trip
• Start date cannot be modified after booking -- cancel and rebook instead

Campsites and Quotas

47 campsites with two quota dimensions per site: max groups per night and max people per night.

• Chickees (single and double): 16 sites. Single chickees hold 1 group/6 people. Double chickees have two platforms -- each platform holds 1 group/6 people (2 groups/12 people total). Roofed, elevated over water, portable toilet provided. Free-standing tents only (no stakes/nails). No campfires. Max stay 1 night per site during peak season (mid-Nov through late Apr).
• Ground sites: 14 sites. Capacities range from 8--25 people and 2--7 groups. Located on earth mounds along interior bays and rivers. More insects than other site types. No campfires -- gas stoves/grills only. Some have picnic tables and docks.
• Beach sites: 17 sites. Capacities range from 8--60 people and 2--15 groups. Coastal shoreline camping. Only site type where campfires are allowed (below high-tide line only, dead/downed wood). Cape Sable beaches (East, Middle, Northwest) are the largest sites with up to 60 people/15 groups. Shallow water approach -- motor boats use caution.

Peak season max-stay limits vary by site (1--7 nights). Capacities apply year-round. Campsites must be vacated by noon.

Fees

• $21 non-refundable permit reservation fee (per trip, regardless of number of nights)
• $2/person/night recreation fee
• Separate park entrance fee required for all visitors (payable at entrance stations or purchasable online in advance). Honored passes: America the Beautiful annual/lifetime/Senior/Military/4th Grade.

Cancellation Policy

• Permit holder may cancel at any point before permit issuance/printing -- no refunds on cancellation
• $21 reservation fee is never refunded
• Group size may be increased (additional $2/person/night charged) or decreased (no refund) before issuance
• Itinerary locations may be modified before issuance
• Start date cannot be changed -- must cancel and rebook
• Abuse of the system (multiple permits, false info) can result in cancellation and restricted-list placement

Rules

• Permit with dates and campsites required for all overnight wilderness camping (except sleeping aboard boats)
• Must stay at the site listed on permit unless safety requires otherwise
• No pets anywhere in the wilderness (campsites, beaches, or ashore)
• Bring all drinking/cooking water -- minimum 1 gallon per person per day (no fresh water available in coastal wilderness). Use hard-sided containers (raccoons chew through soft-sided)
• Store food and trash in hard-sided containers or secured aboard a vessel -- not in tents
• Pack out all trash. No burying, burning, or disposing in toilets
• Use toilets where provided. Otherwise bury waste 6+ inches deep; pack out toilet paper. At beach sites, urinate in the water
• Nautical chart and compass required -- do not rely solely on GPS/cell phone
• All keys in Florida Bay closed to landing except Bradley Key (sunrise to sunset) and designated campsites
• Generators, chainsaws, personal watercraft (jet skis), and airboats prohibited
• Vessels must meet Coast Guard safety regulations
• Powerboat operators must complete the Everglades Boater Education course