Everglades Elevated Boardwalk

Breathtaking Views of Untouched Nature in South Florida

Who knew that a rest stop on Alligator Alley would turn into one of my favorite local attractions?

If you aren’t familiar, Alligator Alley is about 80-miles of highway that connects the east and west coasts of South Florida. It’s a boring, very flat strip of road where the only visual entertainment is gator counting—and the excitement of hitting the single, slight bend.

Yes, you really can see alligators sunning themselves along the banks that line this expansive stretch of highway. We’ve counted more than 50 on a single trip from Fort Lauderdale to Naples. (FYI: there is a barrier fence that keeps them off the road.)

One day, while scrolling through Instagram, I saw a post about a new boardwalk being built along the Alley. At first, I assumed it was AI-generated content. I’m a frequent traveler across this stretch of road and had never seen—or even heard—any mention of a boardwalk.

The attraction officially opened in August 2025, with the draw of easy access, plenty of parking, no stairs, a viewing tower, boardwalks suspended above the water, beautiful Everglades views, and the bonus of being pet-friendly.

In late December, as we were driving across the Alley and counting gators, I turned to my husband and asked, “Hey! Have you seen that new boardwalk that was being built out here?”

“I think we already passed it,” he responded, not seeming to share my interest. Meh.

I was still curious. I figured I would have definitely noticed a tall wooden tower rising out of the otherwise flat Everglades landscape. I went back to gator counting.

On the drive home, as the sun began to set over the sawgrass, the boardwalk popped back into my mind. I searched for it in my maps app. Bingo.

“We’re about 30 minutes away from that new boardwalk. Think we can catch the end of the sunset?”

“We can try!”

Luck was on our side—we arrived at the perfect time. I was surprised we hadn’t seen it from the road; it’s somewhat tucked away. As we walked up, I was immediately impressed by the beautiful entrance and the giant bronze alligator welcoming visitors.

I especially loved that the lookout tower is universally accessible, using gradually inclining ramps instead of stairs. We stopped multiple times along the way for photos. And as we made our way back down, we heard gasps from people walking along a nearby boardwalk who had just spotted an alligator floating below.

Side note: My dog, who had zero issues walking up the ramp, had developed a fear of walking back down and had to be carried. She’s a princess, so I allowed it. 

All in all, it was a perfect impromptu stop during what is usually an extremely uneventful drive. I’ll be back!

Pro Tips

• If you want to visit, enter “Everglades Elevated Boardwalk” into your map app. There are multiple signs along the route pointing to rest and recreation areas. Make sure you get to the right spot by using GPS.

  
  

• When you arrive, you don’t have to park in the small lot next to the bathrooms. There’s plenty of additional parking right next to the boardwalk.

  
  

• Bring bug spray. We were lucky to visit during an unseasonably cold spell. On a warm night—which is approximately 99.9% of nights in South Florida—the bug count is likely off the charts. Let your windshield be your guide.

Check out the quick video from my visit and follow along on IG for more Great Escapes.