Homestead is the closest sizable town to Everglades National Park's main entrance, and it does double duty as a gateway to two different worlds: the sawgrass and mangroves of the Everglades to the west, and the tropical fruit farms of the Redland to the north and east.
The Basics
The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, the park's main entrance, is about 10 miles southwest of downtown Homestead. That makes Homestead the practical base for anyone planning to hike the park's most famous trails, like Anhinga Trail near the entrance, or drive the main park road toward Flamingo.
The Redland: Florida's Tropical Fruit Country
Homestead sits at the edge of the Redland, Miami-Dade's agricultural district named for its distinctive red clay soil. The area's climate supports crops that don't grow almost anywhere else in the continental U.S., including mango, avocado, lychee, and papaya. It's why the region's dining scene leans heavily into fresh produce and Caribbean and Latin American flavors, visible in spots like Havana Spice, Soriano Brothers Cuban Cuisine, and La Diosa Bakery-Restaurant.
Coral Castle: Florida's Strangest Roadside Attraction
Coral Castle is one of the most genuinely odd attractions in South Florida. Between 1923 and 1951, a Latvian immigrant named Edward Leedskalnin single-handedly quarried and carved roughly 1,100 tons of oolite limestone (popularly called "coral rock") into a sculpture garden of furniture, gates, and monuments, reportedly working alone at night with no explanation of his methods. He started the project in nearby Florida City and relocated the stones to the current Homestead site in 1936. It's an easy add-on for a Homestead day that isn't solely about the park.
Wildlife Without Leaving Town
You don't have to drive into the park to see an alligator. Everglades Alligator Farm, just outside town, combines alligator exhibits with airboat rides on private wetlands adjacent to the park boundary — see our airboat tours guide for how it compares to operators elsewhere.
Biscayne National Park, Right Next Door
Homestead is also the access point for Biscayne National Park, a separate park just east of town covering coral reefs and mangrove shoreline. The Dante Fascell Visitor Center and Biscayne National Park Institute are both based here, making a two-park day trip realistic if you're staying in Homestead.
Where to Stay and Eat
Homestead has the largest lodging and dining selection of the three gateway towns, including the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites. Beyond the Redland-influenced spots above, the dining scene ranges from Shiver's BBQ to Flama Brazilian Steakhouse. Browse the full dining directory and lodging directory for everything else in town.
Nature Beyond the Park Boundary
The Redland area is dotted with pine rockland preserves worth a stop if you have extra time: Lucille Hammock Preserve, Lucky Hammock (a well-known local birding spot), and several other hammock preserves protect a habitat found almost nowhere else.
