A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Everglades National Park vs. Santa Monica for Families, Food, Couples, and Backpackers

Should you visit Everglades National Park or Santa Monica?

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 Santa Monica can help you decide which place is right for you.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a pristine, adventure-filled, and unique national park. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a energetic, active, and lively town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Everglades National Park and Santa Monica: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Everglades National Park or Santa Monica?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Santa Monica. Although Everglades National Park and Santa Monica are both popular with visitors, Santa Monica has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Santa Monica is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Everglades National Park is known for its hiking and impressive beauty. Santa Monica is more touristy than Everglades National Park and is popular for its active lifestyle and fun-filled activities. It is also home to the Santa Monica Pier. Everglades National Park is popular for its unique habitats and wildlife such as the friendly manatees.

How is Everglades National Park different from Santa Monica?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is very good for its historical sights. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its sights and museums.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Santa Monica. There's a thriving arts scene and a number of museums around town. Check out the Museum of Flying, the California Heritage Museum, or the Santa Monica History 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 Santa Monica? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Santa Monica is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Santa Monica has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. You'll find a diversity of restaurants in the area, many of which make use of the town's many farmer's markets. The restaurant scene has a beachy vibe with a lot of outdoor dining opportunities. There are also a range of cuisines to choose from such as Mexican, Italian, casual, and upscale.

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 Santa Monica Better for Nightlife?

Santa Monica is a great town for its evening party scene. However, Everglades National Park is not known for nightlife.

The nightlife in Santa Monica has something for everybody. There's a relaxed and laid back vibe to the nightlife scene. Many venues offer outdoor seating and live music in a casual setting. You can hang out on a patio and enjoy the California climate while you sip cold drinks and the beach town atmosphere.

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 Santa Monica Better for Beaches?

Santa Monica is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Everglades National Park is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Santa Monica is a very popular vacation destination. Santa Monica Beach is large and lined with bike trails. It's also filled with activity and you'll find many water sports, beach volleyball, and surfing in the area. There's also the famous Santa Monica Pier, which has an amusement park aquarium, Ferris wheal, dining, and shopping.

Everglades National Park is not a beach destination.

Is Everglades National Park or Santa Monica Better for Hiking?

Everglades National Park is notable for the nearby hiking options. However, Santa Monica 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.

Santa Monica is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Everglades National Park or Santa Monica?

Santa Monica is a great town for its shopping areas. However, Everglades National Park is not known for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Santa Monica. It's easy to pass the time shopping in Santa Monica. There are independent vendors, fashion boutiques, and art galleries. Head to Montana Avenue or Main Street for some of the best shopping.

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 Santa Monica Better for Families?

Santa Monica is an unbeatable place 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.

Santa Monica is one of the most popular family destinations. Many families spend their days hanging out on the beaches, soaking up the sun, and even trying to surf. There's a boardwalk as well as bike paths that are perfect for people watching. You should also check out the Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, which is a thrilling amusement park.

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 Santa Monica Better for Couples?

Santa Monica is a great town for couples. Also, Everglades National Park is not as popular, but is still a nice national park for romance.

Santa Monica is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Fun days on the beach, peaceful walks at sunset, and a wild nightlife scene make this the perfect couples destination for couples who enjoy activity and excitement.

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 Santa Monica Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Everglades National Park is notable for backpackers. Also, Santa Monica is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Everglades National Park is a great national park to visit for backpackers. There are two drive-in campgrounds (Long Pine Key Campground and Flamingo Campground) that you can reach from the Homestead entrance to the park.

Santa Monica is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There's no shortage of activities in the area, whether you're into surfing, partying, or sunbathing. There's also at least one hostel that's great for budget travelers and backpackers.

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

Everglades National Park is not a good place to visit for its public transit. However, Santa Monica does not have public transit.

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.

Santa Monica does not have public transit. The Metro E Line connects the city to downtown Los Angeles. There's also the Big Blue Bus as well the Santa Monica Circuit, which are small electric carts that offer free rides between Wilshire Boulevard and Marine Street, and from the ocean to Fifth Street.

Is Everglades National Park or Santa Monica a more walkable city?

Santa Monica is a great town for its ease of walking around. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its walkability.

Santa Monica is a very walkable destination. The city is very walkable, particularly in the more touristy areas.

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 Santa Monica Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Santa Monica or Everglades National Park?

How long in Everglades National Park or Santa Monica?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Everglades National Park and Santa Monica. In our opinion, Santa Monica has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Santa Monica than Everglades National Park. In general, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for Everglades National Park, and 1-3 days is enough time in Santa Monica.

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

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

One day in Everglades National Park or Santa Monica?

In Everglades National Park, many people enjoy the that this unique national park offers. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

With food and shopping around the lively town of Santa Monica, there's plenty to do. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. 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 Santa Monica?

Everglades National Park is a fun place to experience. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

With shopping and museums around the funfilled destination of Santa Monica, there's plenty to do. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. If you have a weekend, this town 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 Santa Monica?

You'll find around the wild destination of Everglades National Park. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the energetic town of Santa Monica. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people come for the beaches. One of the main draws to the area is the beaches. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Everglades National Park or Santa Monica?

Everglades National Park is a popular place to visit. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Santa Monica is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. 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 Santa Monica, we can see that Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica Expensive?.

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

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 Santa Monica in the Summer?

Both Santa Monica and Everglades National Park during the summer are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Everglades National Park for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Santa Monica because of the beaches and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Everglades National Park is generally a little warmer than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Everglades National Park average around 82°F (28°C), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 70°F (21°C).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Everglades National Park. Everglades National Park usually gets more rain in July than Santa Monica. Everglades National Park gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0 inches (0 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Santa Monica in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Everglades National Park and Santa Monica. The autumn months attract visitors to Everglades National Park because of the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the shopping scene are the main draw to Santa Monica this time of year.

Everglades National Park is a little warmer than Santa Monica in the autumn. The daily temperature in Everglades National Park averages around 78°F (26°C) in October, and Santa Monica fluctuates around 67°F (20°C).

Everglades National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Everglades National Park usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Everglades National Park gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (6 mm) of rain each month for the autumn. The hurricane season in Everglades National Park is June to November.

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Santa Monica in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Everglades National Park as well as Santa Monica. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Everglades National Park this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Santa Monica for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Everglades National Park is a little warmer than Santa Monica. Typically, the winter temperatures in Everglades National Park in January average around 67°F (19°C), and Santa Monica averages at about 57°F (14°C).

Everglades National Park usually gets more rain in January than Santa Monica. Everglades National Park gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.7 inches (17 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Santa Monica in the Spring?

Both Santa Monica and Everglades National Park are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Everglades National Park for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Santa Monica in the spring for the beaches.

In April, Everglades National Park is generally a little warmer than Santa Monica. Daily temperatures in Everglades National Park average around 74°F (24°C), and Santa Monica fluctuates around 61°F (16°C).

In April, Everglades National Park usually receives more rain than Santa Monica. Everglades National Park gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Santa Monica receives 0.2 inches (4 mm) of rain each month for the spring. June to November is the hurricane season in Everglades National Park.

Typical Weather for Santa Monica and Everglades National Park