A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Everglades National Park vs. Saint Augustine for Attractions, Food, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

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 Saint Augustine 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.

Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is a colonial, historic, and notable city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Everglades National Park and Saint Augustine: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less museums and historical sights
  • Less popular for food
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular for shopping
  • Less walkable
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Popular for food and cuisine
  • Active nightlife
  • Popular beach
  • Scenic old town
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Very walkable
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Saint Augustine than Everglades National Park, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Saint Augustine is better known for its museums, food, nightlife, beaches, historical sights, and shopping, while Everglades National Park is more popular for its hiking. Everglades National Park is well known for its unique habitats and wildlife such as the friendly manatees. Saint Augustine is well known for being the oldest consistently inhabited city in the United States. Also, Saint Augustine is famous for the Colonial Quarter.

How is Everglades National Park different from Saint Augustine?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Saint Augustine 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 Saint Augustine?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

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

Many visitors head to Saint Augustine specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. It's history is brought to life with many monuments and museums. The Lightner Museum, the Old Jail Museum, the Lincolnville Museum, and Castillo De San Marcos are among the city's most notable sights. Also worth a visit is the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.

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 Saint Augustine? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Saint Augustine has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The food scene is influenced by the long history of the city. You'll find flavors that are influenced by Spanish, African, and Native American cultures. There are several popular dishes around town such as fried shrimp, clam chowder, and shrimp and grits.

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 Saint Augustine Better for Nightlife?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is very good for its evening party scene. However, Everglades National Park is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint Augustine has a few options to choose from. There are wineries, pubs, live music venues, and a number of activities that take advantage of the outdoor setting.

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 Saint Augustine Better for Beaches?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is a great city for the beach. However, Everglades National Park is not a beach destination.

Saint Augustine is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. Head to the beach to relax and swim. There are miles of sandy beach nearby, with some of the most popular being Ponte Vedra Beach, known for its golf courses, Vilano Beach, with its charming atmosphere, and the scenic Anastasia State Park.

Everglades National Park is not a beach destination.


Is Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine Better for its Old Town?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is an unbeatable place for its historic old town charm. However, Everglades National Park does not have a historic old town.

With a famous historical old-town, Saint Augustine offers plenty to see. As the longest running, continuously occupied city in the United States, the Historic Downtown is at the heart of the city. It's filled with quaint restaurants, historic hotels, and charming streets. You can take carriage rides or wander through the historic sites. Many of the buildings date back to the 1700s and offer a glimpse into Florida's past.

Everglades National Park does not have a historic old town.

Is Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine Better for Hiking?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Everglades National Park is a great destination for its hiking experiences. However, Saint Augustine is not a hiking destination.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Everglades National Park. 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.

Saint Augustine is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is a great city for its shopping areas. However, Everglades National Park is not known for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Saint Augustine. The Historic Downtown has unique art galleries and boutiques. St. George Street is the perfect place to pick up a souvenir and Aviles Street is the oldest street in the United States. It's also filled with artisan boutiques. Plaza de la ConstituciĆ³n is known for its long running public market and it often has live entertainment.

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 Saint Augustine Better for Families?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is a great city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Everglades National Park is not as popular, but is still a nice national park for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Saint Augustine. Kids will love the Alligator Farm but there's also a surprisingly fascinating archaeological park - The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. The Colonial Quarter is fun for all ages as well, as is a visit to Fort Castillo De San Marcos. If you have some time, head outside of town to the Marineland Dolphin Adventure, which is well worth the trip.

Everglades National Park is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Is Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine Better for Couples?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is a great city for couples. Also, Everglades National Park is not as popular, but is still a nice national park for romance.

Saint Augustine is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. The Ancient City has a charm that is unique in Florida. There is beautiful architecture and a historical atmosphere that is romantic and genuine. You can enjoy a carriage ride and then sample some local cuisine before heading to the beach.

Everglades National Park is a nice destination for couples. 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.

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

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Everglades National Park is a great destination for backpackers. However, Saint Augustine is a city with minimal options 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.

Saint Augustine is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There's a hostel in town as well as a couple of affordable inns.


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

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is adequate for times when you don't have a car. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its public transit.

Public transit is mostly limited in Saint Augustine. The Old Town Trolley travels through the historic center. There's also a bus service through the region, but you really need a private vehicle to explore everything.

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 Saint Augustine a more walkable city?

Everglades National Park
Saint Augustine

Saint Augustine is a great city for its ease of walking around. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its walkability.

Saint Augustine is a very walkable destination. It's one of the more walkable cities in the area. Downtown, Uptown, and even near the beach have accessible areas with sidewalks and pedestrian-friendly zones.

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 Saint Augustine Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Saint Augustine or Everglades National Park?

How long in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

It's fun to spend time in either Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Saint Augustine due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Everglades National Park, and 3-4 days is enough time in Saint Augustine.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Saint Augustine 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 Saint Augustine.


  • How many days in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine? Ideal Length of Stay
    Everglades National Park 2-3 
    Saint Augustine 3-4

One day in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

The adventure-filled destination of Everglades National Park offers . Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

With food and shopping around the historic city of Saint Augustine, there's plenty to do. Visiting the old town is also a must. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.


A weekend in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

The national park of Everglades National Park offers . Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. A weekend here is typical. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

With shopping and museums around the colonial destination of Saint Augustine, there's plenty to do. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Five days in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

Everglades National Park is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. This national park offers something for everyone. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the historic city of Saint Augustine. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

Many people enjoy the when visiting Everglades National Park. Hikers are also drawn to this area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Saint Augustine is a great place to explore. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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.


Which place is cheaper, Saint Augustine or Everglades National Park?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Everglades National Park is $146, while the average daily cost in Saint Augustine is $159. 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 Everglades National Park and Saint Augustine in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Everglades National Park $80
    Saint Augustine $86
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Everglades National Park $160
    Saint Augustine $172
Compare Hotels in Everglades National Park and Saint Augustine

Looking for a hotel in Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine? 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 Everglades National Park


Hotels in Saint Augustine


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Saint Augustine Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Everglades National Park $56
    Saint Augustine $39

Is it cheaper to fly into Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine?

Prices for flights to both Saint Augustine and Everglades National Park 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
    Everglades National Park $31
    Saint Augustine $49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Augustine

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Saint Augustine.

  • Cooking Class/Dinner W/ Celebrity French Chef OR Private Chef Ser: $105
  • Feast of Saint Augustine Walking Food Tour: $139

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Everglades National Park $28
    Saint Augustine $18

Tours and Activities in Everglades National Park

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

  • Flamingo Everglades Boat Tours: $48
  • 2 Hour Chokoloskee Island Kayak Tour: $80
  • Everglades National Park Dolphin, Birding and Wildlife Boat Tour (2 hours): $120
  • Two-Hour Everglades National Park Dolphin, Birding and Wildlife Boat Tour: $120
  • 4 Hour Everglades Kayak Tour: $120
  • Small Group Boat, Kayak and Walking Guided Eco Tour in Everglades National Park: $200
  • Small-Group Everglades Boating Kayaking and Walking Eco Tour: $200
  • Everglades National Park Small Group Guided Boating & Walking Tour Expedition: $200
  • 6 Hour Everglades Mangroves Kayak Tour: $200

Tours and Activities in Saint Augustine

Here are a few actual costs in Saint Augustine for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Arcimoto Electric Vehicle Adventure Rental in St. Augustine: $96
  • 1-Hour Your Studiyo Admission Ticket: $34
  • : Step back in time with pastime private historical tours: $38
  • A Self-Guided Audio Tour of St Augustine's Twisted History: $20
  • Adventure Boat Tours - Ghost Boat - Boo Cruise: $40
  • Adventure Boat Tours - Sunset Water Tour in St. Augustine: $38
  • Adventure Meets History Tour in St Augustine: $89
  • Afterlife Tours- Beyond the Grave Tour: $25
  • Airboat Adventure in Saint Augustine with a Guide: $80
  • Bay to City Nights of Lights Tour by Boat and Cart: $150
  • Best of St. Augustine with Scenic Cruise: $193
  • Bones Under Us, Ghost Tour with Archeology: $30

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Everglades National Park $7.86
    Saint Augustine $25

Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Augustine

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Augustine:

  • The Original Haunted Pub Tour: $24
  • St. Augustine Haunted Pub Crawl: $30
  • Ghosts and Spirits of St Augustine Pub Crawl Tour: $39
  • Toast of St. Augustine Walking Pub Crawl - drinks included: $63


When comparing the travel costs between Everglades National Park and Saint Augustine, we can see that Saint Augustine 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 Everglades National Park Expensive? and Is Saint Augustine Expensive?.



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

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 Saint Augustine in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Everglades National Park as well as Saint Augustine. The hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Everglades National Park this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Saint Augustine for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

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

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Saint Augustine. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Everglades National Park this time of the year. In the summer, Everglades National Park often gets more sunshine than Saint Augustine. Everglades National Park gets 316 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Augustine receives 286 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Saint Augustine. Everglades National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. Everglades National Park usually gets more rain in July than Saint Augustine. Everglades National Park gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Saint Augustine receives 5.4 inches (137 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Everglades National Park 82°F (28°C) 
    Saint Augustine 82°F (28°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine in the Autumn?

Both Saint Augustine and Everglades National Park are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Everglades National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Saint Augustine in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Everglades National Park is generally a little warmer than Saint Augustine. Daily temperatures in Everglades National Park average around 78°F (26°C), and Saint Augustine fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

It's quite sunny in Saint Augustine. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Everglades National Park. Everglades National Park usually receives more sunshine than Saint Augustine during autumn. Everglades National Park gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Augustine receives 214 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It's quite rainy in Everglades National Park. In October, Everglades National Park usually receives more rain than Saint Augustine. Everglades National Park gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Saint Augustine receives 2.9 inches (73 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 Saint Augustine.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Everglades National Park 78°F (26°C) 
    Saint Augustine 70°F (21°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine in the Winter?

Both Saint Augustine and Everglades National Park during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Everglades National Park in the winter for the museums and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Saint Augustine for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Everglades National Park is much warmer than Saint Augustine in the winter. The daily temperature in Everglades National Park averages around 67°F (19°C) in January, and Saint Augustine fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

It's quite sunny in Everglades National Park. In the winter, Everglades National Park often gets more sunshine than Saint Augustine. Everglades National Park gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Saint Augustine receives 191 hours of full sun.

Everglades National Park usually gets less rain in January than Saint Augustine. Everglades National Park gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Saint Augustine receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Everglades National Park 67°F (19°C) 
    Saint Augustine 53°F (12°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Saint Augustine in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Everglades National Park and Saint Augustine. Most visitors come to Everglades National Park for the natural beauty during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Saint Augustine because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Everglades National Park is a little warmer than Saint Augustine. Typically, the spring temperatures in Everglades National Park in April average around 74°F (24°C), and Saint Augustine averages at about 68°F (20°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Saint Augustine this time of the year. In Everglades National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. Everglades National Park usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Saint Augustine during spring. Everglades National Park gets 300 hours of sunny skies, while Saint Augustine receives 285 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Everglades National Park usually receives more rain than Saint Augustine. Everglades National Park gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Saint Augustine receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November in Everglades National Park is the hurricane season. June to November in Saint Augustine is the hurricane season.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Everglades National Park 74°F (24°C) 
    Saint Augustine 68°F (20°C)

Typical Weather for Saint Augustine and Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park Saint Augustine
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 67°F (19°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Feb 68°F (20°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 56°F (13°C) 3.9 inches (100 mm)
Mar 71°F (22°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 62°F (17°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Apr 74°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 68°F (20°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
May 78°F (26°C) 6.4 inches (162 mm) 74°F (24°C) 3.7 inches (93 mm)
Jun 81°F (27°C) 9.4 inches (238 mm) 80°F (27°C) 5.7 inches (146 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.9 inches (149 mm) 82°F (28°C) 5.4 inches (137 mm)
Aug 83°F (28°C) 7.5 inches (191 mm) 82°F (28°C) 7.8 inches (199 mm)
Sep 82°F (28°C) 7.6 inches (194 mm) 79°F (26°C) 7.1 inches (180 mm)
Oct 78°F (26°C) 5.6 inches (143 mm) 70°F (21°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm)
Nov 73°F (23°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 62°F (17°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm)
Dec 69°F (21°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm) 56°F (13°C) 2.7 inches (69 mm)