A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Everglades National Park vs. Gainesville for Attractions, Backpackers, Food, and Families

Should you visit Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Everglades National Park and Gainesville can help you decide which place is right for you.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a unique, natural, and wild national park. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for hiking.

Gainesville

Gainesville is a high energy, active, and vibrant city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Everglades National Park and Gainesville: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Gainesville than Everglades National Park, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Gainesville is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, and shopping, while Everglades National Park is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Everglades National Park is more touristy than Gainesville and is popular for its unique habitats and wildlife such as the friendly manatees. Gainesville is well known for being the home of the University of Florida Also, Gainesville is famous for the Florida Museum of Natural History.

How is Everglades National Park different from Gainesville?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Gainesville and Everglades National Park. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

Gainesville is a great city for its historical sights. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Gainesville specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There's a surprising number of museums around town such as the Florida Museum of Natural History, the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, and the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention. Also fascinating is the Historic Haile Homestead, the Butterfly Rainforest, and the city's planetarium.

Everglades National Park offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. It's worth checking out the Museum of the Everglades, but most visitors prefer to spend their time outdoors exploring the habitats.

Is the Food Better in Everglades National Park or Gainesville? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Gainesville is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Gainesville is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Casual eateries are popular around town, particularly with the student population. There are grills, diners, and bistros that serve local dishes at affordable prices.

Everglades National Park offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There are a few casual eateries near the park. The options include taquerias and grills. You'll also find some farm fresh fruit stands on the side of the road and it's definitely worth stopping to pick up a snack.

Is Everglades National Park or Gainesville Better for Nightlife?

Gainesville is a great city for its evening party scene. However, Everglades National Park is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in Gainesville has something for everybody. The nightlife centers around the student population. The two main party areas are Midtown and Downtown. Midtown is between Northwest 17th Street and Northwest 18th Street and it's convenient for students who live on campus. The area has a great stretch of bars and clubs. The Downtown area has many of the city's top clubs, and it's popular with upperclassmen and students who live off campus.

People don't go to Everglades National Park for the nightlife. There are a couple of grills outside of the park, but the nightlife scene is very limited.

Is Everglades National Park or Gainesville Better for Hiking?

Everglades National Park is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Gainesville is not a hiking destination.

Everglades National Park is a popular spot for hiking. The trails take you through a variety of habitats and range in length from short nature walks to longer, in depth hikes. Do be aware that the insects can be brutal. Mosquitos and biting flies are both common.

Gainesville is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

Gainesville is very good for its shopping areas. However, Everglades National Park is not known for shopping.

Gainesville has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. You'll find all of the standard shopping options around town such as malls, shopping centers, and retail outlets. Two popular areas are the Neighborhoods at Butler and Celebration Pointe.

Everglades National Park has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There's a park store, but otherwise the shopping is very limited.

Is Everglades National Park or Gainesville Better for Families?

You'll find notable kid-friendly activities in either Everglades National Park or Gainesville.

Everglades National Park offers lots of family activities. An airboat ride is a highlight for many kids. There's also hiking, kayaking, and even Junior Ranger programs. Do be on the lookout for mosquitoes, which can be relentless in the park.

Gainesville is a family-friendly place to visit. You'll find outdoor activities, nature parks, and a couple of museums that will appeal to all ages. Highlights for families include A. Quinn Jones Museum and Cultural Center, the Adventure Outpost, and Alfred A. Ring Park.

Is Everglades National Park or Gainesville Better for Couples?

Both Everglades National Park and Gainesville are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Everglades National Park is a good national park for couples to visit. Hiking and enjoying a bit of nature makes for a nice romantic getaway. Go kayaking or take an airboat ride and then enjoy some time exploring the natural setting.

Gainesville is a nice destination for couples. Couples can enjoy wine tasting and fine dining or enjoying the city's many outdoor activities. Go on a picnic or explore one of the museums in Downtown Gainesville.

Is Everglades National Park or Gainesville Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Everglades National Park is notable for backpackers. However, Gainesville is a mediocre city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Everglades National Park. There are two drive-in campgrounds (Long Pine Key Campground and Flamingo Campground) that you can reach from the Homestead entrance to the park.

Gainesville is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not high on the list for many travelers, but there are some cheap motels where budget travelers can stay.

Is Everglades National Park or Gainesville Better for Students?

Gainesville is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Everglades National Park is not popular with students.

Gainesville is very popular with students. As the location of the University of Florida, you'll find many students around town. This keeps the energy high with plenty of evening activities and affordable entertainment options.

Everglades National Park is not popular with students.

Is Everglades National Park or Gainesville Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Gainesville is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its public transit.

While Gainesville offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a decent bus system that's free to students and employees of the university.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Everglades National Park. There is no real public transportation to the park so an organized tour is your best option if you don't have a vehicle.

Is Everglades National Park or Gainesville a more walkable city?

Gainesville is very good for its ease of walking around. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its walkability.

Gainesville is a somewhat walkable city. Biking is actually a popular way to get around town and some areas are pedestrian-friendly.

Everglades National Park is generally not very walkable. While there are hiking trails, to really explore the park you'll want to have a car or take an organized tour.

For even more information, also check out Is Everglades National Park Worth Visiting? and Is Gainesville Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Gainesville or Everglades National Park?

How long in Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Everglades National Park or Gainesville to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Everglades National Park than Gainesville because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Everglades National Park, and 1-2 days is enough time in Gainesville.

Families should spend more time in Gainesville than Everglades National Park. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Gainesville, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Gainesville than Everglades National Park. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Gainesville that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gainesville than Everglades National Park if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Gainesville.

One day in Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

Visitors enjoy the when visiting the unique national park of Everglades National Park. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

With food and shopping around the active city of Gainesville, there's plenty to do. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A weekend in Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

Visitors enjoy the when visiting the wild destination of Everglades National Park. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This national park offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

With shopping and museums around the vibrant destination of Gainesville, there's plenty to do. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation.A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Five days in Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

The pristine national park of Everglades National Park offers . Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the vibrant city of Gainesville. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

Many people enjoy the when visiting Everglades National Park. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Gainesville is a great place to explore. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to United States of America, The Best Wildlife Tours to United States of America, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Everglades National Park and Gainesville, we can see that Gainesville is more expensive. And not only is Everglades National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Everglades National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Everglades National Park and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Gainesville would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Gainesville than you might in Everglades National Park.

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

When is the best time to visit Everglades National Park or Gainesville?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Gainesville in the Summer?

Both Gainesville and Everglades National Park during the summer are popular places to visit. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Everglades National Park this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Gainesville for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Everglades National Park is around the same temperature as Gainesville. Typically, the summer temperatures in Everglades National Park in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Gainesville averages at about 81°F (27°C).

Gainesville gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Everglades National Park. Everglades National Park usually gets less rain in July than Gainesville. Everglades National Park gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 6.8 inches (174 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Gainesville in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Everglades National Park and Gainesville. Many travelers come to Everglades National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, many visitors come to Gainesville in the autumn for the shopping scene.

In October, Everglades National Park is generally a little warmer than Gainesville. Daily temperatures in Everglades National Park average around 78°F (26°C), and Gainesville fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

Everglades National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Everglades National Park usually receives more rain than Gainesville. Everglades National Park gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (51 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. June to November is the hurricane season in Everglades National Park. June to November is the hurricane season in Gainesville.

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Gainesville in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Everglades National Park as well as Gainesville. Many visitors come to Everglades National Park in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Gainesville for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Everglades National Park is much warmer than Gainesville in the winter. The daily temperature in Everglades National Park averages around 67°F (19°C) in January, and Gainesville fluctuates around 54°F (12°C).

Everglades National Park usually gets less rain in January than Gainesville. Everglades National Park gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2.9 inches (75 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Gainesville in the Spring?

Both Gainesville and Everglades National Park are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Everglades National Park for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Everglades National Park is a little warmer than Gainesville. Typically, the spring temperatures in Everglades National Park in April average around 74°F (24°C), and Gainesville averages at about 69°F (20°C).

In April, Everglades National Park usually receives more rain than Gainesville. Everglades National Park gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Gainesville receives 2 inches (50 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November in Everglades National Park is the hurricane season. June to November in Gainesville is the hurricane season.

Typical Weather for Gainesville and Everglades National Park