A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Big Pine Key vs. Everglades National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Big Pine Key and Everglades National Park. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park?

Big Pine Key

If you are yearning for a slice of paradise without the hustle and bustle of an ever-growing tourist population, the calm, turquoise waters and the untouched sands of Big Pine Key will surely do. Located 100 miles south of Miami and 30 miles north of Key West, this small community huddled in the family of Florida keys is often overlooked by many. However, Big Pine Key is truly a gem for all who seek a tropical vacation as activities like boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling are found throughout the town. Besides its oceanic wonders, Big Pine Key also boasts in containing some of the United States' best seafood restaurants. Enjoy the aquatic wonders of the Keys and stop at Big Pine Key!

Everglades National Park

Mangroves cluster about you as you gaze in awe at the splashes of oranges and reds that paint the evening sky. As cicadas hum to ancient tunes and birds swoop through the cloudless sky, a sense of serenity is instilled in you as you remain in the midst of United States' largest tropical wilderness, the Everglades National Park. Receiving over one million visitors each year, this park protects over twenty-percent of the original everglades. Unlike most national parks whose purpose relied solely in preserving geographic features, Everglades National Park was created to preserve the fragile, ever endangered ecosystem of the everglades. Declared an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance, Everglades National Park holds an array of activities for all to pursue no matter what their interests may be. Whether you are an avid bicyclist or a meager hiker, the Everglades National Park will keep you entertained from the early blush of morning into the depths of the night.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United States of America, The Best 2-Week Tours in United States of America, The Best 3-Week Tours in United States of America, and The Best Bicycle Tours in United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Everglades National Park or Big Pine Key?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Big Pine Key is $144, while the average daily cost in Everglades National Park is $146. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Big Pine Key and Everglades National Park in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Big Pine Key $64
    Everglades National Park $80
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Big Pine Key $128
    Everglades National Park $160
Compare Hotels in Big Pine Key and Everglades National Park

Looking for a hotel in Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Big Pine Key


Hotels in Everglades National Park


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Big Pine Key $56
    Everglades National Park $56

Is it cheaper to fly into Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park?

Prices for flights to both Everglades National Park and Big Pine Key change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Big Pine Key $42
    Everglades National Park $31

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Big Pine Key $42
    Everglades National Park $28

Tours and Activities in Everglades National Park

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Everglades National Park.

  • 2 Hour Chokoloskee Island Kayak Tour: $80
  • 4 Hour Everglades Kayak Tour: $120
  • 6 Hour Everglades Mangroves Kayak Tour: $200
  • Everglades National Park Dolphin, Birding and Wildlife Boat Tour (2 hours): $120
  • Flamingo Everglades Boat Tours: $48
  • Two-Hour Everglades National Park Dolphin, Birding and Wildlife Boat Tour: $120

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Big Pine Key $9.29
    Everglades National Park $7.86


When comparing the travel costs between Big Pine Key and Everglades National Park, we can see that Everglades National Park is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in North America, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Big Pine Key Expensive? and Is Everglades National Park Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Big Pine Key and Everglades National Park. Furthermore, many visitors come to Everglades National Park in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Big Pine Key is around the same temperature as Everglades National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Big Pine Key in July average around 84°F (29°C), and Everglades National Park averages at about 82°F (28°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Everglades National Park this time of the year. In Big Pine Key, it's very sunny this time of the year. Big Pine Key usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Everglades National Park during summer. Big Pine Key gets 328 hours of sunny skies, while Everglades National Park receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

Everglades National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than Everglades National Park. Big Pine Key gets 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain, while Everglades National Park receives 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Big Pine Key 84°F (29°C) 
    Everglades National Park 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Big Pine Key as well as Everglades National Park. Additionally, most visitors come to Everglades National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In October, Big Pine Key is generally around the same temperature as Everglades National Park. Daily temperatures in Big Pine Key average around 80°F (27°C), and Everglades National Park fluctuates around 78°F (26°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Everglades National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Big Pine Key this time of the year. In the autumn, Big Pine Key often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Everglades National Park. Big Pine Key gets 258 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Everglades National Park receives 275 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Everglades National Park. Big Pine Key receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Big Pine Key usually gets less rain in October than Everglades National Park. Big Pine Key gets 5.1 inches (129 mm) of rain, while Everglades National Park receives 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Everglades National Park is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Big Pine Key 80°F (27°C) 
    Everglades National Park 78°F (26°C)

Should I visit Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park in the Winter?

Both Everglades National Park and Big Pine Key are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Everglades National Park because of the museums and the cuisine.

Big Pine Key is around the same temperature as Everglades National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Big Pine Key averages around 70°F (21°C) in January, and Everglades National Park fluctuates around 67°F (19°C).

It's quite sunny in Everglades National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Big Pine Key. Big Pine Key usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Everglades National Park during winter. Big Pine Key gets 252 hours of sunny skies, while Everglades National Park receives 243 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Big Pine Key usually receives less rain than Everglades National Park. Big Pine Key gets 1.7 inches (43 mm) of rain, while Everglades National Park receives 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Big Pine Key 70°F (21°C) 
    Everglades National Park 67°F (19°C)

Should I visit Big Pine Key or Everglades National Park in the Spring?

Both Everglades National Park and Big Pine Key during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Everglades National Park this time of year.

In the spring, Big Pine Key is around the same temperature as Everglades National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Big Pine Key in April average around 77°F (25°C), and Everglades National Park averages at about 74°F (24°C).

In Everglades National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Big Pine Key. In the spring, Big Pine Key often gets more sunshine than Everglades National Park. Big Pine Key gets 326 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Everglades National Park receives 300 hours of full sun.

Big Pine Key usually gets less rain in April than Everglades National Park. Big Pine Key gets 0.8 inches (21 mm) of rain, while Everglades National Park receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Everglades National Park is June to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Big Pine Key 77°F (25°C) 
    Everglades National Park 74°F (24°C)

Typical Weather for Everglades National Park and Big Pine Key

Big Pine Key Everglades National Park
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 70°F (21°C) 1.7 inches (43 mm) 67°F (19°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm)
Feb 71°F (21°C) 1.4 inches (36 mm) 68°F (20°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm)
Mar 74°F (23°C) 1.7 inches (42 mm) 71°F (22°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm)
Apr 77°F (25°C) 0.8 inches (21 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm)
May 81°F (27°C) 2.7 inches (68 mm) 78°F (26°C) 6.4 inches (162 mm)
Jun 83°F (28°C) 4.5 inches (114 mm) 81°F (27°C) 9.4 inches (238 mm)
Jul 84°F (29°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm) 82°F (28°C) 5.9 inches (149 mm)
Aug 84°F (29°C) 3.9 inches (98 mm) 83°F (28°C) 7.5 inches (191 mm)
Sep 83°F (29°C) 5.7 inches (144 mm) 82°F (28°C) 7.6 inches (194 mm)
Oct 80°F (27°C) 5.1 inches (129 mm) 78°F (26°C) 5.6 inches (143 mm)
Nov 76°F (24°C) 2 inches (50 mm) 73°F (23°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Dec 72°F (22°C) 1.4 inches (35 mm) 69°F (21°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm)