The Everglades Boardwalk Rest Area Is the Perfect Pit Stop for Orlando Families Driving to South Florida

There’s been a lot of buzz about this new rest stop in South Florida. So when my family and I were on our way, heading home after something magical, I had to see it for myself. In our case, it was a lovely stay at Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach, followed by a Disney cruise out of Fort Lauderdale.

About halfway back to Orlando, we pulled into what we expected to be a basic highway rest stop and instead found ourselves walking a boardwalk through the Everglades with our son, spotting wildlife, stretching our legs, and resetting before the final stretch of the drive.

If you’ve ever done the long, straight shot across Alligator Alley with kids, you know how valuable a truly good stop can be. This one is not just a bathroom break. It is a surprisingly calm, educational, and genuinely enjoyable place to pause as a family.

Bonus! This makes a great pit stop for Spring Break family trips!

Everglades Boardwalk Pit Stop

Unlike most interstate rest areas, the Everglades Boardwalk Rest Area includes a raised boardwalk that winds through wetland habitat. You are not looking at a few trees behind a parking lot; you are walking out into the Everglades itself.

As we walked, we saw two medium-sized alligators resting near the water, along with birds and native plants. For kids, it feels like a mini nature adventure. For parents, it feels like a safe, contained way to experience a taste of real Everglades wildlife without needing to book a tour, drive miles off the highway, or worry about wandering into unsafe areas.

Along the boardwalk are benches and educational signs explaining what you’re seeing, which makes it easy to turn a simple stretch break into a learning moment.

A Small Playground is a Big Help

Near the main building is a fenced-in playground area designed more for imaginative play than climbing. There aren’t tall structures or risky equipment, which makes it especially good for younger kids, kids who prefer ground-based play, or children who need a safe space to move around without sensory overload. My son is elementary school age, but thankfully, he has a vivid imagination.

While there, he pretended to be an airboat tour guide, and my husband and I were his excited passengers. The lily pads and aquatic life silhouettes in the ground around the playground added to the creativity.

Because it’s fenced, parents can relax a bit while kids explore. It felt calm and low-stress, which is exactly what you want when you’re halfway through a long Florida drive.

Important Note About Dogs and Pets

We also noticed a few people walking their dogs along the paths, which makes this a rare find for families traveling with pets. The open space and boardwalk make it easy to give dogs a real walk instead of just a quick leash break.

Just be aware that this is still the Everglades. We saw alligators in the water near the boardwalk, so keeping pets leashed and close is important.

Clean bathrooms, snacks, and the basics that matter on a road trip

Inside the main lobby, the building still has that classic rest-area feel, but it was clean and functional when we visited. The restrooms were in good shape, which matters more than anything when traveling with kids.

There are vending machines with sodas, snacks, and ice cream novelties, not significant fuel, but helpful if you’re in a real pinch. Sometimes that small reset — a cold drink, a bathroom break, and a few minutes outside — is all it takes to turn the rest of the drive around.

There are also small educational displays inside, adding to the feeling that this stop is meant to be more than just functional. My son loved the interactive light board in the center, showing where the water flows from Orlando down to the Everglades. A perfect moment for this Orlando family.

Quick Guide: Everglades Boardwalk Rest Area

Address: Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley), Mile Marker 35, near Weston, Florida

This Florida Department of Transportation rest area also serves as an Environmental Education Center, designed to let travelers experience the Everglades while taking a break from the drive.

Features include:

• Restrooms
• Benches and shaded seating areas
• Multi-level Everglades boardwalk
• Wildlife viewing areas (including alligators and birds)
• Observation tower with elevated views of the wetlands
• Small fenced playground for imaginative play
• Educational signage, exhibits, and kiosks
• Vending machines with drinks, snacks, and ice cream novelties
• Pet-friendly walking areas (leashes required)

This stop turns what would normally be a quick bathroom break into a chance for kids to see real Everglades wildlife, stretch their legs, and learn something new before continuing on to South Florida or back home to Orlando.

Need more wildlife adventures? Try these animal encounters in Orlando.