The Wet Season and Dry Season: When is the best time to visit the Everglades?

One of the most common questions we get down here in the Everglades is “When is the best time to visit the park?”.

For some, it’s when the air is cool and most of the mosquitoes have cleared out. For others, it’s when the orchids are blooming and the water levels are high. The truth is, each season in the Everglades brings its own unique magic, and no matter when you visit, you’re sure to leave with unforgettable memories.

Unlike much of the U.S., South Florida experiences just two seasons: the wet season (May through November) and the dry season (December through April). Each of these seasons has unique characteristics that will shape your Everglades experience. Below, we’ve broken down what to expect during each, so you can decide which season is right for your adventure.

NOTE: The duration of these seasons fluctuates from year to year. Be sure to check for updates from the park for current park conditions

An Everglades Cypress dome in the Wet and Dry season

Dry Season 

The dry season here in the Everglades is the busiest time of year. As water sources shrink, wildlife congregates around the remaining ponds and sloughs, making viewing wildlife simpler and more comfortable. This season also coincides with the holiday months, drawing more visitors to the park. Periodic cold fronts sweep through South Florida, bringing crisp, comfortable weather. Cool, dry air stabilizes the atmosphere, removing large cumulonimbus clouds, and suppressing any showers and thunderstorms. Any rain associated with these frontal passages typically arrives in the form of squall lines that sweep through so quickly that they have little opportunity to drop substantial amounts of rain.

The dry season extends from about December to mid-May, with temperatures ranging from the low 50s to upper 70s (12 to 25 degrees Celsius) and low humidity. Continental weather fronts occasionally bring near-freezing temperatures to south Florida. Often-breezy winter weather conditions can create a wind chill factor that makes perceived temperatures feel considerably cooler than what the thermometer reads.

Mosquito numbers are at their lowest during this time but are still present in most areas during dusk and dawn, so if you plan on camping, be sure to prepare accordingly.

Wet walks during the dry season can be a chilly experience, especially once you step into the water. However, wildlife viewing in the cypress domes often improves during this time. Water levels drop and pool in the center of the dome, often referred to as the “gator hole”, creating a refuge for wildlife and increasing your chances of sightings. Also, most of the cypress needles have fallen by mid-season, offering clearer views through the trees and making it easier to spot wildlife.

Wet Season 

I like to call this the “Everglades restoration period”. This is the season of growth. Lubber grasshoppers, blooming air plants, and vibrant green landscapes signal the Everglades in full swing. Summers in the Everglades are characterized by towering cumulus clouds drifting across the sky and the daily afternoon thunderstorms, breathing life back into prairies and sloughs that dried out over the winter season. Summers are hot and humid, but high temperatures are tempered by these thunderstorms.

Watching a big, isolated thunderstorm storm roll through the Everglades is one of the most rewarding experiences the wet season has to offer. These storms arise when the warm, moist air coming off of the seemingly endless sawgrass prairie combine with an unstable atmosphere, creating cumulonimbus clouds. Thunderstorms can be as brief as a few minutes or as long as several hours.

Visitation tends to be at its lowest during this time of year, which is great for those who are looking to get away from big crowds and enjoy the everglades without the ruckus. The wet season extends from about mid-May to November, with temperatures ranging into the low 90s (30 to 35 degrees Celsius). The majority of the year’s average annual rainfall (nearly 60 inches, or 152 cm) falls during the wet season. Higher water levels also mean a boom in mosquito activity. As larvae hatch, their numbers can grow quickly. Mosquitos are especially prevalent in shady areas such as hardwood hammocks, cypress domes, and mangrove forests.

Whether you’re drawn to the crisp, cool days of the dry season, or the lush, wet afternoons of the wet season, there’s no wrong time to experience the Everglades. Each season transforms the landscape in its own way, highlighting different ecosystems, species, and natural phenomena that make this place so extraordinary. As one of the most unique and biodiverse ecosystems in the world, there’s always something new to discover, no matter the time of year.

Ready to see it for yourself? Book a tour with the Everglades Institute and let our expert guides help you uncover the hidden wonders of this remarkable ecosystem. As part of the Florida National Parks Association, proceeds from our tours go directly toward supporting South Florida’s national parks, including Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas National Parks. Your visit not only creates unforgettable memories but also contributes to the preservation and protection of these wild places for generations to come.

So, whichever season you choose to visit the park, come explore with us!