Theodore Roosevelt Presidential LibraryPublic Lands Directory

Alerts and conditions

Information ORV Permits Sold Online

Starting May 1st, 2026 ORV permits will only be able to be purchased online. Please visit the link to learn more.

Read the full alert

Information Park Passes

Park passes, including: America the Beautiful, Veteran, Lifetime, etc., are UNAVAILABLE for purchase/pickup within Big Cypress. Shark Valley Visitor Center (Everglades) is the closest location to Big Cypress for purchase.

Overview

The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida's southwest coast. Conserving over 729,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to diverse wildlife, including the Endangered Florida panther.

From the National Park Service

History

The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.

What to see and do

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Auto and ATV
  • ATV Off-Roading
  • Scenic Driving
  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Boating
  • Boat Tour
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Group Camping
  • RV Camping
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Guided Tours
  • Boat Tour
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Hunting and Gathering
  • Hunting
  • Paddling
  • Canoeing
  • Kayaking
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Browse hiking, biking and paddling routes on AllTrails

Plan your visit

Hours

Big Cypress National Preserve: The preserve is open 24 hours a day 365 days a year. The Oasis Visitor Center and the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center are closed on December 25th. No fee is charged for access to the preserve.

Getting there

Big Cypress National Preserve is located along Tamiami Trail East (US 41) and I-75 in southern Florida. The preserve can be accessed by driving from the cities of Miami and Naples. The preserve's two visitor centers are located along Tamiami Trail East.

Visitor centers

Campgrounds

  • Bear Island Campground (40 sites) — reserve
  • Burns Lake — reserve
  • Gator Head (9 sites)
  • Midway Campground (36 sites) — reserve
  • Mitchell's Landing (11 sites) — reserve
  • Monument Lake (36 sites) — reserve
  • Pinecrest (4 sites) — reserve
  • Pink Jeep (9 sites)

Weather

Big Cypress National Preserve experiences two predominant seasons- wet and dry. RAINY SEASON (May through October) While visiting during this season you may find daily afternoon thunderstorms, high humidity, temperatures in the mid-to-high 80s and a multitude of mosquitoes. DRY SEASON (November through April) Falling water levels within Big Cypress make this a pleasant time to hike, camp, and watch wildlife.

Phone: 2396952000

Whose lands these are

These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.

Photos

A water filled swamp filled with lush green ferns and trees.
Depths of the Swamp · NPS Photo
The milky way dominating a starry night sky over palm trees and a visitor center
Big Cypress Milky Way · NPS Photo
palm trees emerge out of the fog in an orange sunrise
Sunrise in Big Cypress · Richard Eskin
A prairie foreground with tall pine trees in the background. A large blue sky with white cloud
Prairies and Pine Lands in Big Cypress · NPS photo
Two Alligators rest on a river bank
Alligators of Big Cypress · Al Sunshine

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