Airboat in Everglades

A private and semi-private airboat outfit on Tamiami Trail, running small open boats into the Everglades from a truck stop dock.

Geprüft Oktober 2026

Best for visitors who want their own boat and captain without a gator-park show attached. The trade-off: private rides aren't cheap, and the cheapest seat is a shared one-hour loop on a fixed schedule.

Picking a tour

The semi-private ride is the budget option: one hour, about 8 miles, no more than 11 passengers, and it leaves only at 10 am, noon and 2 pm. Private tours run 1, 1.5 or 2 hours, covering roughly 8, 13 or 17 miles, and can be scheduled whenever there's availability. The operator's own pick is the 1.5-hour, and the extra distance matters, since going deeper means more variety in what you see. The 2-hour adds time to stop and explore an island. Expect alligators, birds and turtles in open water. There are no cages or tanks here.

What it costs

Semi-private is $60 per adult, $30 for kids 6 to 12, and free under 6. Private tours are priced for two: $200 for an hour, $275 for 90 minutes, $375 for two hours, plus $60 for each extra person. Sunset and night tours start at 4 pm and cost more, from $275 for an hour for two up to $475 for two hours. Door-to-door pickup is bundled with the longer private tours at $475 or $575, with a four-guest minimum. With 4.6 from about 710 Google reviews, most people seem to feel they got their money's worth.

Getting out there

The dock sits at the Pilot Travel Center on SW 8th Street, so don't be thrown when your GPS lands you at a truck stop. The drive from South Beach runs 35 minutes to an hour depending on traffic, and Tamiami Trail traffic is real, so build in slack for a timed semi-private departure. The office is open 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays. Walk-ups are accepted when there's room, but reservations are recommended, and at least a day ahead for sunset rides.

Anfahrt

1. The address is the Pilot Travel Center on SW 8th Street. The dock is there, not somewhere past it.

Reservierung

Cancel at least 48 hours out for a full refund. Later cancellations and no-shows get charged 50%.

Gut zu wissen

Private boats carry ice and water, and you can bring whatever food and drinks you like onboard.

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