Hi there!
Driving the Tamiami Trail between Naples and Miami can be a great route for many chances to see alligators in Florida!
📌 Save this post for later! Save on Pinterest! 👈📌
But, emphasis on CHANCE!
Alligators are wild and they do what they want when they want!
There’s no guarantee to see them.
That said…
You can drive along the Tamiami Trail between Naples and Miami to see alligators!
There are some places along the Tamiami Trail between Naples and Miami that alligators are known to frequent.
The Tamiami Trail can be one of the best places to see alligators in the wild in Florida!
These places can make some of the best places to see alligators! Or rather… the best places to have the CHANCE to see alligators!
And, because alligators are wild, you want to keep them wild!
Don’t feed the alligators!
While alligator attacks do happen, alligators are generally not interested in people.
It requires everyone’s help to keep it that way.
Feeding alligators is a way for alligators to become more comfortable with humans… and to learn to approach you (and other humans) for food!
And then alligators can become even more dangerous to humans!
When you see alligators, just observe!
Try not to do anything that would cause them to change their behavior.
More below on where to see alligators along the Tamiami Trail!
🐊
Where are the alligators on Tamiami Trail as you are driving from Naples to Miami?
This goes in order from Naples to Miami.
If you are driving from Miami to Naples, you can start the list from the bottom up!
1. Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk trailhead, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
👆 Tamiami Trail alligators along the road: Spot the alligator!
The Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk trailhead in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park can be a stop along Tamiami Trail of around 5 minutes to see alligators.
How to see alligators near Tamiami Trail (maybe!)
As you are driving along the Tamiami Trail, you will see a sign for the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk.
The parking for the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk is directly along Tamiami Trail.
You might not even need to walk the boardwalk in order to see alligators.
Once you park, look in the waterway that you can see from the road. I saw alligators there!
👇 Tamiami Trail alligators along the road: Spot the alligator!
So you can make this a quick stop along Tamiami Trail just to check if there are alligators at the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk parking area.
Or, if you can spend more time for stopping along the Tamiami Trail, then, you can start the trail! (Next on the list!)
2. Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
Walking the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park might be a stop along Tamiami Trail of around 1 hour to see alligators.
How to see alligators near Tamiami Trail (maybe!)
The Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk is a trail where you can see Cypress trees as you walk along the boardwalk… yes!
For the alligators, walk all the way to the end of the boardwalk. I saw alligators there!
It might take you 20 minutes to walk from the parking lot to the end of the boardwalk one way… if you don’t stop to take in the sights and sounds (birds!) along the way!
See more about this stop along the Tamiami Trail:
3. HP Williams Boardwalk, Big Cypress National Preserve
👆 Tamiami Trail alligators: Spot the alligator swimming away!
The HP Wililams Roadside Park in Big Cypress National Preserve can be a stop along Tamiami Trail of around 10 minutes to see alligators.
How to see alligators near Tamiami Trail (maybe!)
As you are driving along the Tamiami Trail, you will see a sign for the HP Williams Roadside Park. (It might be the HP Williams Wayside or HP Williams Picnic Area too.)
You can see the parking for the HP Williams Roadside Park from the Tamiami Trail.
Once you park, you’ll walk the boardwalk and look in the waterway. I saw alligators there!
👆 Tamiami Trail alligators: Spot the alligator swimming away!
👆 Tamiami Trail alligators: Spot the alligator swimming away!
You can also look further out on the other side of the river bank to see if you can get any distant views of alligators. I think I did see a far away view of an alligator.
And then you can also walk along the fence behind the bathroom to see if you can spot any alligators. I did see an alligator.
So you can make this a quick stop along Tamiami Trail just to check if there are alligators at HP Williams Roadside Park.
4. Oasis Visitor Center, Big Cypress National Preserve
The Oasis Visitor Center in Big Cypress National Preserve can be a stop along Tamiami Trail of around 10 minutes to see alligators.
How to see alligators near Tamiami Trail (maybe!)
As you are driving along the Tamiami Trail, you will see a sign for the Oasis Visitor Center.
Once you park, you’ll head to the boardwalk and look in the waterway.
This is a waterway that is directly along the Tamiami Trail.
There were SO many alligators at the Oasis Visitor Center when I was there!
👇 Tamiami Trail alligators along the road: Spot the alligator!
So I would say be sure to STOP HERE at the Oasis Visitor Center for what seems to be a very good chance to see tons of alligators!
If you are only going to make one stop as you are driving the Tamiami Trail, stop at the Oasis Visitor Center!
5. Shark Valley, Everglades National Park
Shark Valley in Everglades National Park might be a stop near Tamiami Trail of around 1-3 hours to see alligators depending on how you want to experience Shark Valley!
How to see alligators near Tamiami Trail (maybe!)
Shark Valley is in Everglades National Park.
It’s a little bit of a detour off of Tamiami Trail.
You’ll find the turn-off for Shark Valley as you are driving Tamiami Trail.
You’ll drive for around 5 minutes to get to the Shark Valley Visitor Center once you get off of Tamiami Trail.
You can walk Shark Valley for a chance to see alligators.
You can bike Shark Valley for a chance to see alligators.
You can take a tram ride through Shark Valley for a chance to see alligators!
It depends on how much effort you want to put into Shark Valley and how slowly you want to go to see the alligators… and other wildlife!
No matter which option you choose, you have a chance to see alligators.
Everglades National Park does have a national park entry fee. If you have an annual national park pass, you can use that.
See more about this detour from Tamiami Trail:
6. Everglades airboat tour
👆 Tamiami Trail airboat ride: Spot the alligator swimming!
An Everglades airboat tour might be a stop along Tamiami Trail of around 1-2 hours to see alligators depending on how long you need to wait for the next available airboat tour.
How to see alligators near Tamiami Trail (maybe!)
You will need tickets to do an Everglades airboat tour.
It will be best to book Everglades airboat tickets ahead of time, in particular if you will be going to the Everglades during busy season (think school holidays) and/or on the weekend.
Once you are on the airboat and riding through the Everglades, hopefully your airboat captain will spot an alligator!
👇 Tamiami Trail airboat ride: Spot the alligator swimming!
They are out on the water in the Everglades so much that not only do they have an eye for spotting alligators, but they know the most frequent resting areas for the alligators too!
If if your airboat captain does spot an alligator, there’s a good chance he’ll slow down the airboat so everyone can get a better look!
A speedy airboat ride through the Everglades is a classic Everglades activity, so even if you don’t see alligators, it can be worth it!
See more about this stop along the Tamiami Trail:
And that’s a bit about driving the Tamiami Trail and spots to see alligators along the way!
More for your Florida road trip:
- Where to see alligators in Everglades National Park
- Where to see crocodiles in Everglades National Park
- One day in Everglades National Park
- Driving from Miami to Key West
More Florida alligators:
- Myakka River State Park alligators
- Lake Kissimmee airboat tour to see alligators
- Wakulla Springs State Park alligators
- Lake Louisa State Park alligators
HAPPY DRIVING THE TAMIAMI TRAIL!
There are partner websites included in this post. I may earn a commission.