Fast, loud, and genuinely fun airboat rides through the Ten Thousand Islands backcountry.
Speedy's runs airboat tours out of Everglades City, right on the Gulf Coast edge of the Everglades where the mangroves give way to the Ten Thousand Islands. This is the wilder, quieter side of the park, and an airboat is the best way to actually get into it.
The rides lean into the fun. Expect speed, 360 spins on open water, and the kind of mangrove tunnels you'd never reach by kayak. Reviewers have called it "a roller coaster on the water," which is pretty accurate. The boats fit families well, and kids tend to love it.
The captains are the real draw here. Guides like Haas, Kevin, Freddy, and Miles show up in reviews consistently for being friendly, funny, and genuinely knowledgeable about the ecosystem. You'll hear about mangrove ecology, local wildlife, and the geography of the backcountry. Wildlife sightings (alligators, birds) happen regularly, though the Everglades doesn't guarantee anything on any given day. The guides are good about pointing you toward spots to check out on your own after the tour.
Annie handles the front desk and sets a welcoming tone from the moment you arrive. It's a smooth operation. Everglades City is about 35 miles from the main park entrance near Homestead, so plan this as its own destination or pair it with a Gulf Coast visit.
488 reviews
6 years ago
I really enjoyed going on this boat ride through the everglades as I have never done this before. The boats were cool, there was the appropriate protective gear and the driver (Haas) was very cool, with a great sense of humor. He was very knowledgeable and was able to tell us a lot about the area. Sadly we didnt see any alligators as they are hard to spot, but there is still a lot of other wild life you will see during this 1 hour tour.
5 years ago
Miles was our captain. He was very friendly. If you like to go fast and the 360 spins on the water, this ride is for you. There were several of those on this ride. We didn't see any animals or gators and I missed having the headset/mics allowing the captain to describe the mangrove areas and the local history. This was disappointing. The ride was just ok for me but the kids really enjoyed the ride.
7 years ago
We had such a great time on our airboat ride. Annie at the front is a sweetheart and our captain, Kevin, took us for a very fun ride. Very cool experience. It's like a roller coaster on the water. You'll be amazed at the places those airboats can get in to. Such beautiful scenery in glades. We would definitely go again.
4 years ago
Even though we didn't spot any wildlife yesterday, we had so much fun on our first airboat ride! If you get the chance, book it - it's so dang worth it. Thank you, Freddy, for being a great tour guide! We appreciate you and especially the advice to drive down the road to see some gators. We sure did!
9 years ago
Was a fun time. The guide was super friendly and very informative. We got to see an alligator and he explained about the Mangrove trees. Our kids liked it too (6yrs and 2yrs)
Small-boat airboat tours through the Ten Thousand Islands, guided by people who've lived here their whole lives.
Airboat rides through the mangroves, gator encounters, and an animal sanctuary — all in one trip.
A free waterfront stroll through the heart of Ten Thousand Islands country.
Dockside fried seafood, stone crab, and cold beer right on the water in Everglades City.
Charming rooms, a screened pool, and the best location in Everglades City for your backcountry adventure.
Small-group kayak and canoe tours through the mangrove tunnels of the Ten Thousand Islands.