From alligators to exotic snakes, a day at Everglades Alligator Farm is an exciting experience. Take a day trip through South Dade to visit Homestead’s Everglades Alligator Farm. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., this Old Florida-style attraction is small and easy to navigate, perfect if you’ve got small children in tow. Even though the farm is landscaped with shade trees, orchids, ponds and waterfalls, it is a working alligator farm with more than 2,000 gators. During a visit, you can watch an alligator show, and witness an alligator feeding – all included with the general admission, which is $25 for adults, $19 for children aged 4-11, and free for children under 4. Other ticket and package options include animal encounters, airboat tours and VIP experiences.

Alligator Show

You'll be amazed as the Everglades Alligator Farm’s handlers step into an arena and use capturing techniques passed down by Native Americans to handle and restrain the alligators. You’ll learn all about alligators, as well as their reptilian relatives, such as crocodiles and caimans, in this educational and exciting show. Every show ends with the opportunity to take your picture holding a baby alligator. Alligator shows are at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Alligator Feeding

For a spectacle you can’t “un-see,” stick around for an alligator feeding as several hundred gators emerge from their breeding pond for lunch. Not only will you see how fast these creatures can move, but you’ll also witness how they feed in the wild. Catch the alligator feedings at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. or 4 p.m.

Airboat Rides

Gliding across the glades aboard a high-speed airboat is easily the most exciting part of a visit to the Everglades Alligator Farm. You’ll spy on alligators in the wild, as well as turtles and tropical wading birds. It’s an exciting ride as the boat zooms across the river of grass making hairpin turns across a habitat you won’t see anywhere else. Airboat packages include general admission, a 20-25 minute airboat ride and shows, starting at $32 for adults, $24 for children aged 4-11, and free for children under 4.

Extended private airboat tours are also available, for a duration of 45-60 minutes. With this package, take advantage of the opportunity to step off the boat and explore the prairies of the Everglades. If you’re coming with a large group, the private tour might be a more suitable option, which allows for up to 25 people starting at $400 for a party of 10 (all ages). The ticket price includes general admission and access to the shows, as well. An advanced reservation is required for this tour.

Local's Tip

Stop by Robert is Here, a popular fruit stand and farm located along the road to Everglades Alligator Farm. This is a great place to grab a mango, strawberry or Key lime milkshake and marvel at the truly amazing selection of exotic tropical fruits, honeys, jellies and jams produced on nearby farms in the Redland.

By: Shayne Benowitz & Carolyn Keating | March 28, 2022