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Shark Valley Visitor Center is a great place to plan your trip.
NPS Photo
Directions
Physical Address:
36000 SW 8th Street
Miami, Florida 33194
Expect long wait times to enter the Shark Valley area particularly between 10am - 3pm. The Shark Valley parking lot can fill up quickly and becomes 'one car out, one car in'. We recommend arriving 1.5-2 hours early for any scheduled tram tours. Please call the visitor center at 305-221-8776 with any questions about access
No Vehicles Permitted Beyond the Entrance Road and Parking Lot: All visitor access beyond the entrance road and parking lot is by foot, bicycle or tram only. Vehicles are not permitted to drive on the Tram Road or to the Observation Tower.
Vehicles Restricted to Parking Area: For the safety of visitors and wildlife, private vehicles are strictly prohibited beyond the designated parking areas at the Shark Valley entrance.
Ride Service (Uber, Lyft, Taxi) Due to the remoteness of this area we are finding that visitors arriving by "on-demand" transportation services are unable to acquire return transportation on those services. We suggest checking with your driver for return arrangements or have an alternative taxi option. There is no other public transportation to this site.
Shark Valley Visitor Center is located on Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail / SW 8th St.) 25 miles west of the Florida Turnpike, exit 25A (from the north) and exit 25 (from the south).
Take U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) approximately 70 miles east to Shark Valley.
Searching for the Shark Valley Visitor Center on Google gets you directions. Approximate GPS Coordinates: 25°45'27.60" N 80°46'01.01" W
Due to the remoteness of this area we are finding that visitors arriving by "on-demand" transportation services are unable to acquire return transportation on those services. We suggest checking with your driver for return arrangements or have an alternative taxi option. There is no other public transportation to this site.
Shark Valley Observation Tower
NPS Photo
Plan Your Visit
Hours of Operation (Every Day)
Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Shark Valley Tram Tours: 8:30AM - 6:00PM
Parking Gate & Lot: 8:30AM - 6:00PM
Amenities
Airboat tours are not physically located at Shark Valley. Airboats are offered through three concession services located 15-20 minutes east of Shark Valley on Rt. 41. Please use one of the following addresses to take an airboat tour at the park:
Visitor access on the Tram Road and to the Observation Tower is by foot, bicycle or tram only. No private vehicles permitted beyond the entrance road and parking lot.
Stop for the tram or government vehicles while riding bicycles.
Helmets are required for children under 16 years of age.
Be prepared for weather conditions. There is very limited shade along the tram / bicycle trail and a water fountain at the observation tower (7 miles south of the parking lot).
Roller blades, skateboards, long boards, scooters (except mobility scooters), and motorized vehicles are NOT allowed on the tram / bicycle trail. E-bikes are allowed.
Do not bring pets. Pets are only allowed in the parking lot (not allowed on the tram/bicycle trail). They pose a risk to themselves, their handlers, and the wildlife due to the similarity in size of the prey that alligators consume.
Do not feed, touch, or harass wildlife; it is illegal.
No fishing allowed.
There are no airboats at Shark Valley. The 3 airboat concessions within Everglades National Park are 15-20 minutes away from Shark Valley. Learn more.
Visitor access on the Tram Road and to the Observation Tower is by foot, bicycle or tram only. No private vehicles permitted beyond the entrance road and parking lot
During peak visitor season at Shark Valley (typically from December into April each year), parking is extremely limited and usually fills by 10 am. Visiting on weekdays, and arriving before 10 am or after 3pm, could help avoid long entrance station lines and delays, and difficulty finding a place to park.
Be flexible. Arrive with alternative plans and destination in mind or plan to wait in line for a parking spot during busy times. Wait times at the entrance station can be over an hour on the very busiest winter weekends and holidays.
One car out, one car in. Once the parking lot is full, we are only able to allow one car in while another one exits.
