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1. Home
2. Day Trips by Theme
3. Best Places to see Florida Alligators
BEST PLACES TO SEE
ALLIGATORS IN FLORIDA
By Mike Miller May 14, 2022
Links to Alligator Attraction Websites at end of the Article
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida is
home to about 1.3 million alligators.
They show up in all 67 Florida counties and an old saying in Florida is that if
you have a pond, lake, stream, or swamp, you will have alligators.
American Alligators
10Save
This is amazing because in 1967 they were listed as an endangered species. In
1973 the Endangered Species Act outlawed alligator hunting.
Hunting and trading in alligator hides and meat slowed down to a trickle and the
animals have made an amazing recovery.
Alligator Hunter on Lake Panasoffkee
10Save
They are so common now in Florida that you will see them not only in their
natural habitat, but on golf courses and even now and then in a residential
swimming pool.
Take a look at this monster in Daytona Beach.
It is not surprising the University of Florida calls its sports teams "The
Gators" and nicknamed its football stadium "The Swamp." Its mascots are Albert
and Alberta.
Albert and Alberta, Florida Gator Mascots
10Save
An obscure fact is that there are two types of alligators living in the world
today.
There is a Chinese alligator, and the ones we have here in Florida, American
alligators. Only an expert can tell the difference.
There are dozens of places to see live alligators in Florida. Here are some
ideas for places to see gators.
BEST PLACES TO SEE ALLIGATORS IN FLORIDA
IN THE WILD
EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
40001 State Road 9336
Homestead, FL 33034
Tel: 305-242-7700
Tour Boat at Everglades National Park
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Of the 1.3 million alligators in Florida, more than 200,000 of them live in the
Florida Everglades.
A location in the park not far from Miami is the Shark Valley Visitor Center.
There is a paved path from the parking area to the observation tower. A tram
tour will take you there and you will probably see alligators along the way.
There are also boat tours at the entrance in Everglades City. You will almost
always see alligators on one of these tours.
Everglades City also has many places where you can get private airboat rides
that will take you through alligator habitat.
This brackish water environment is one of the best ways to see wild alligators
in their natural home.
Big Cypress National Preserve is on the west side of the Everglades. Big
Cypress Loop Road is a quiet scenic drive you can take where you will usually
see wild alligators.
The loop road is connected at its east and west ends to the Tamiami Trail
(US-41). The Trail connects Miami to Tampa and goes through Naples and other
Southwest Florida cities.
Another route through the Everglades is I-75, known locally as "Alligator
Alley." This highway connects Fort Lauderdale to Naples.
There are several rest areas along the route where you can pull off and maybe
see some alligators and other Florida wildlife.
HILLSBOROUGH RIVER STATE PARK
15402 US-301 North
Thonotosassa, FL 33592
Tel: 813-987-6771
Hillsborough River
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Although only 20 minutes north of downtown Tampa, the park and Hillsborough
River have a lot of alligators.
The park has 7 miles of nature trails and many places to enjoy outdoor
recreation.
This is a good place to bring your kayak or canoe and go paddling in the river.
You will almost always see alligators in their natural habitats.
MERRITT ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
1987 Scrub Jay Way
Titusville, FL 32782
Tel: 321-861-0669
Alligator at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
10Save
This huge 140,000 acre refuge is located adjacent to Kennedy Space Center. The
refuge is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year.
The best place to see wildlife, including alligators, is the Black Point
Wildlife Drive.
You drive your own car as slow as you'd like and take a good look at everything
around you.
You will almost always see alligators either swimming slowly by or basking in
the sun beside the warm water on sunny days.
MYAKKA RIVER STATE PARK
13208 State Rad 72
Sarasota, FL 34241
Tel: 941-361-6511
Myakka River State Park, Alligators in Deep Hole
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This beautiful 37,000 acre park is in Sarasota County and Manatee County.
No one knows for sure how many alligators call this park home, but at least 120
have been counted at one time on one viewing.
There is a place on the lower lake called Deep Hole where an amazing number of
alligators like to congregate. It sometimes look like a gator family reunion.
It requires a special permit to visit Deep Hole that you have to obtain at the
ranger station.
ST. JOHNS RIVER
Vintage Postcard of the St Johns River
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The north flowing St. Johns River begins in the marshy areas west of Vero Beach
and flows north to Jacksonville. Along the way it widens out into several
lakes.
Two of these lakes are loaded with alligators: Lake George and Lake Jesup.
It is estimated that Lake Jesup is home to 13,000 alligators. One survey
counted 2,322 alligators in Lake George.
You can take airboat tours on these lakes. One place that offers an airboat
trip on Lake Jesup is Black Hammock Fish Camp at 407-807-6623.
Some other places you can access these places are at Old Florida Places on the
St. Johns River.
BEST PLACES TO SEE ALLIGATORS IN FLORIDA
IN CAPTIVITY
Sometimes nature and weather do not want to cooperate in letting you see
alligators out where they live in the wild.
That is why the best chance of safely seeing a gator is in one of the many
Florida attractions that promise you a good time while teaching you about
alligators.
Here are some that I think you will enjoy.
EVERGLADES ALLIGATOR FARM
40351 SW 192nd Avenue
Homestead, FL 33034
Tel: 305-247-2628
Feeding Alligators at Everglades Alligator Farm
10Save
This is the oldest alligator farm in South Florida. It is located near the
entrance to Everglades National Park.
More than 2,000 gators live at this farm. They put on alligator shows, offer
airboat tours, and alligator feeding demonstrations.
EVERGLADES WONDER GARDENS
27180 Old 41 Road
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Tel: 239-992-2591
Baby Gator at Everglades Wonder Gardens
10Save
This historic attraction was established in 1936. It is one of the smallest of
its kind.
It is a refuge for rescued birds and reptiles who are given a home in the
tropical settings of banyan trees and other botanical tropical plants.
More than 300 animals live here, including 37 alligators who spend their days
relaxing on what the park calls Alligator Beach.
GATORAMA
10665 US-27
Palmdale, FL 33944
Tel: 863-675-0623
Huge Gator and Brave Man at Gatorama
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Alligators and crocodiles are raised here and sold for their meat and skins.
You can enjoy animal encounters and alligator shows.
One of their most popular events is the Gatorama Annual Hatching. This is a
unique opportunity to hold an alligator egg as it is hatching.
The alligator eggs are incubated slowly over a period of time. You need to buy
a ticket for a specific hatching time.
It is thrilling to hold an egg while a baby gator is struggling out to get their
first look at the world.
Once the juvenile alligators have hatched, they will be taken to their "nursery"
for care and feeding.
Gatorama also have a large collection of animals other than gators that the kids
will enjoy interacting with.
GATORLAND
14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837
Tel: 407-855-5496
Vintage Postcard Gatorland Entrance
10Save
Gatorland goes way back before the theme parks came to the area, and it is still
holding its own.
It is located on 110 acres and was founded in 1949 by Owen Godwin. It is still
owned by his family.
Generations of Floridians and tourists have enjoyed this park. Kids love to
handle the baby alligators and other reptiles.
Jim, Lee, Suzy and Friend at Gatorland
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Gatorland has an abundance of alligators that you can wander among (safely) and
enjoy watching them being fed along with other shows.
The also have two ziplines where you can soar above the hungry reptiles.
JUNGLE ADVENTURES
26205 E. Colonial Drive
Christmas, FL 32709
Tel: 407-568-2885
Swampy the Building at Jungle Adventures
10Save
This small attraction is located on US-50 between Orlando and the Space Coast.
It is a re-creation of a Florida natural habitat.
You can handle a baby alligator and enjoy their "Gator Jamboree Feeding" where
the guides hand feed the large alligators.
They have a river boat that takes you through natural habitat where you will see
alligators, birds, and more.
ST. AUGUSTINE ALLIGATOR FARM ZOOLOGICAL PARK
999 Anastasia Blvd.
St. Augustine, FL 32080
Tel: 904-824-3337
Maximo the Crocodile and Brave Man
10Save
This historic attraction opened in 1893 and is on the National Register of
Historic Places.
It has 24 species of crocodilians, including Maximo, a giant crocodile. Maximo
is 15 feet 3 inches long and weighs 1,250 pounds.
He is the largest animal in the attraction and is a salt water croc from
The attraction is loaded with tropical birds and a wide variety of animals. It
is truly a zoological park rather than only an alligator attraction.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zipline
10Save
For the adventurous, there is a zipline where you can soar safely above the
exhibits for an overhead view of an amazing variety of animals.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clark's Fish Camp, Mandarin, Florida
Never Feed an Alligator in the Wild
or it will think you are food.
10Save
Some restaurants and fish camps in Florida have alligators in captivity for
visitors to take a look at up close and personal. One such is Clark's Fish Camp
on Julington Creek in Mandarin. It's not only a great place to eat, but has a
world class taxidermy exhibit.
Sweetie the Alligator
10Save
Another is the Florida Key Lime Pie Company in Cocoa Beach. They have a pet
gator named Sweetie who lives at Jungle Adventures in Christmas but spends
weekends at the restaurant.
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LINKS TO WEBSITES OF PLACES IN THIS ARTICLE
Everglades National Park
Hillsborough River State Park
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Myakka River State Park
Black Hammock Fish Camp
Everglades Alligator Farm
Everglades Wonder Gardens
Gatorama
Gatorland
Jungle Adventures
St Augustine Alligator Farm
Clark's Fish Camp
Florida Key Lime Pie Company
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By Mike Miller, Copyright 2009-2022
Florida-Back-Roads-Travel.com
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