We chose a walk-in site near the water. In reality, it's more of a grassy park-like setting near the water, with many other campers nearby (depending on how crowded it is when you're there; we were there on a Friday night on President's Day weekend, so it was crowded). There is no privacy in these sites, and it can be a long walk to the bathhouse. One closer bathhouse that appears on the map has been reduced to a sand mound now. We found it closer to walk to the nearby non-walk-in sites to use their bathhouse. They offer cold water showers, but we didn't try them. We were only there for 1 night and skipped showering.

The weekend we were there, the other campers were rather noisy (sigh). We would have preferred a less crowded time to visit.

The campground does provide good access to the marina (a short drive, probably less than 1 mile). Near the marina are the restaurants and a gift shop. Dinner at the restaurant was excellent.

This campground is a good start for many of the canoe and hiking trails the Everglades offers, especially if you start here and work your way out. Anhinga Trail (at the opposite end from Flamingo) is a great way to end the visit.

• Campground Type: National Park
• Campsite Type: Tent
• Price Range: $10 - $20
• Cleanliness: Satisfactory
• Campground Facilities: Satisfactory
• Recreational Facilities: Satisfactory
• Campsite Satisfaction: Satisfactory
• Family Friendliness: Satisfactory
• Service: Excellent

The cabins are great if you want more room and you like to cook your own meals. However, be forewarned to bring all your food with you as there are no grocery stores in Flamingo and the marina carries a limited amount of things to cook. The biggest difference in the cabins versus the lodge is the fact the cabins offer a separate bedroom with a sofa bed in the living room. The cabins also offer cooking facilities. The cabins do not have televisions, while the lodge rooms do.

Our room consisted of two double beds, a table with two canvas captain chairs, a television, a window air-conditioning unit and a tile bathroom. The lodge is run by the Amfac Corporation for the national park service. While the accommodations are not luxurious by any stretch of the imagination, they are comfortable and suited us fine for the two nights we were there. The lodge also features a great swimming pool, which is inside a screened area to keep the mosquitoes away, and features a great view of Florida Bay. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

While I wouldn''t want to spend every vacation there, it is worthwhile to see the Everglades at least once.