Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Sawgrass Recreation Park

    4.4 (478 reviews)
    Closed • 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Sawgrass Recreation Park Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Sawgrass Recreation Park

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Shirley N.

    We wanted to maximize our time while in Florida for a cruise. Our ship offered a post shore excursion on an airboat to the Everglades then later to FLL. Years back we got a chance to visit Everglades National Park but never did an airboat. Our group of 36 people were taken here where we were given stickers with a letter on it. When your letter is called on the PA, you line up single file to get on the next available airboat. Earplugs are available if you need them. Our airboat tour was about twenty minutes. Just enough to appreciate the Everglades. We spotted one gator and a couple of birds. The airboat wasn't as noisy as I anticipated as the engine is in back. Hold on to your hats and baseball caps as it's windy. There's a gift shop and a food truck around the corner. You can visit the wildlife exhibit and there's a talk from a naturalist on the two gators in residency. There's an opportunity to pet a baby gator too. Now I can check off airboat experience off my bucket list.

    Lisa D.

    Great value for money . Airboat ride was fun .and the reptile show after was interesting and cute !

    Airboat selfie
    Laurie D.

    Amazing! I would highly recommend Captain Jimmy for your boat ride. He was very knowledgeable and informative. it was a beautiful day and great experience. Uncle Joe was thrilled to check this off his bucket list. Thank you Summer for helping us get this booked. You were so thoughtful and kind.

    Boat
    Christie H.

    We had an excellent time. The ride started on time and lasted 40 minutes which I felt was a nice amount of time to be out on the boat. Our captain was knowledgeable and I felt safe. We didn't see any gators, but I still loved the ride just the same. There is also a very small animal area that you can look at a couple of gators and turtles and things like that up close and there's a food truck that serves alligator. Those were fun touches.

    Night ride
    andrea s.

    We had the absolute BEST time visiting sawgrass recreation park. Our family loves gators so we planned two excursions in one day to increase our odds of seeing some. We checked in at the office and were given wristbands with our boat number on it. Before our boat left we headed down to the little exhibit area where we were able to see gators of various sizes, touch them, and view other animals. Our captain for our day ride was captain Michael. He was wonderful, patient, and made the trip fun! We saw three tiny gators which was a win because the prior boats hadn't seen any due to the heat. Luckily we went out at 4:30 when it was starting to cool down. We used the restrooms on site prior to heading to dinner at sawgrass mills mall which is a 15 minute ride away. We had dinner and then made our way back to the dock for a night trip! It was by far the most FUN thing we have done on our vacation. The dark sky gives it more of an adventurous feeling as we zoomed through the Everglades looking for gators using only a small flashlight. It was magnificent! We saw 11 gators in total some small and one HUGE who scared the dickens out of me- I LOVED it and highly recommend a night ride if you are up for it. Captain Disco was awesome and very knowledgeable. We will absolutely be back!!

    Amber J.

    Had a blast on a beautiful day on Captain Andrews airboat. We were able to see three gators on our midday trip, sunning themselves on the banks and in the grass. Tickets were very easy to purchase. The workers were super friendly, full of information, the ticket and gift shop is very clean and well organized, plenty of cool trinkets to buy as well as unique shirts, hats, and other items. The whole back wall is a cooler full of cold drinks and beer. Our trip was exciting and enjoyable. The airboats are loud but they offer free earplugs. Once it gets up to speed, the breeze is amazing and the turns are smooth as butter. Andrew took us by a few spots where he knows the gators hang out and we got to see a few cool guys sunbathing. The Everglades are just so beautiful and this gives you front row seats to the river of grass. After your excursion, they allow you to tour their reptile sanctuary, most notable are the adorable little gators at the front. The keepers in this area are incredibly knowledgeable and let us pet the gator. I appreciate the resident pass, where if you go once, you get a cool card where you can return for free for the year, as well as a 10% off discount. We definitely plan to return soon!

    Miami Tours
    Trista H.

    My sister organized an Everglade Tour through Miami Tours while we were vacationing in Miami. We were transported via a double decker bus from the Miami Tour location. The bus driver provided historic details throughout the ride. The actual transportation ride was longer than the Everglade tour itself. After arriving at Sawgrass, there is a couple minutes to use the restroom before boarding the airboat. Earplugs are provided. Hats are to be worn backwards to avoid them flying off during the tour. A photo op can be taken advantage of before boarding the boat and purchased afterwards if one wishes. During our tour the gators were scarce; only seeing two the entire time and no other animals at all. Our tour lasted about 30 minutes. Our tour guide was ok, nothing too impressive. After the airboat tour one can stroll through animal exhibits and the gift shop. We were hoping to dine at the Gator Grill; however, the grill was closed after our tour. Overall, after experiencing the amazing airboat tour in Louisiana, this airboat tour was extremely disappointing to me. My feeling was a waste of time and money. I also found it distasteful how many times the Miami Tour bus driver and Sawgrass boat driver mentioned/requested tips.

    Lea D.

    I had a friend in town who was visiting Florida for the first time and he had never been on an airboat so I knew we had to come here. We got our tickets online and had an easy check in when we arrived. There was about an hour before we could get on the boat so we grabbed some beers and walked around the area. They had some animals to check out, a little alligator show, and some shops. It was cute but definitely a quick walk through. The airboat was fun! Obviously you can't control the wildlife so we only saw one gator but it was still cool to drive around the water and learn more about the habitat. The whole experience was maybe 2.5 hours but overall we had a good time.

    Adam S.

    We've lived in South Florida for close to a decade and I've never had the opportunity to take an airboat ride in the Everglades! When we had company in town for the holidays, we wanted to all take an airboat ride out together. I looked at a few different companies and Sawgrass Recreation Park seemed to have the best reviews and they were our top selection for vendors. Before booking, check their online website and the Yelp page for any promos currently being offered. We got a few dollars off by using promo code "RackCard" that was found on a brochure in the local mall (however this offer expired at the end of 2023). For the tour we booked in advance, we chose the group tour session for $26/person which included general admission to the park (to see the various animals on site) and also a 30 minute airboat ride. We arrived at the start of our time window and checked in at the tour center and were provided our armbands for our tour and were warmly greeted by staff. We walked around to see the various animals and they frequently have a baby gator out to take photos with guests. Our time window for the boat tour was 5 pm and right at sunset, it's a beautiful time to book a boat tour if you can. The staff lines everyone up and escorts everyone to their boat and introduces you to your two boat captains. The captains take you out in the Everglades and give you a brief overview of the area. We didn't see any gators during our tour but either way we still really enjoyed the boat ride and was an amazing experience and all staff was super nice and welcoming. It's a true A+ experience!

    Business card
    Mary Ann C.

    What an amazing place to visit with friends, family and large groups. I can't wait to go back for an airboat ride. This is a family owned business. The owners grew up here in Broward county. They have been providing Everglades fun for two generations. Are you adventurous? They have airboat rides at night! I'm sure that the ride is exciting to say the least. Go for the gators, go for family fun, and go to support this local family owned business.

    Gator Bites

    Had such a great time. Only saw one gator very briefly but our guide tried really hard to track it down again. The airboat was a blast. Gator bites were delish. We loved the exhibit as well, Nick is so knowledgeable and has a great sense of humor.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    17 days ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lea D.
    233
    593
    1727

    3 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 27
    Thanks 3
    Love this 28
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chantel M.
    216
    11
    10

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike Z.
    106
    340
    2012

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Had a blast and despite the chilly weather, we still saw a couple of gators. Definitely recommend going here.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    The staff was knowledgable and super friendly. Had a great time with our family-Thank you

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Had a great time . All of the staff were friendly and answered all questions. Will definitely be back!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J P.
    0
    51
    24

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dave G.
    35
    32
    14

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Awesome fun! Captain Disco did a fantastic job finding the gators and educating us. Great time and great staff!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John K.
    161
    3
    0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 12

    Sawgrass Recreation Park Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sawgrass Recreation Park

    Review Highlights - Sawgrass Recreation Park

    “We knew it wouldn't be likely to see much due to how warm it still is, but just being on the airboat is worth it!”

    Mentioned in 134 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Parks 1,544 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Blackwater Airboat Tours - One of the many alligators we saw along the tour

    Blackwater Airboat Tours

    5.0(15 reviews)
    4.8 mi

    Looking for an amazing airboat tour of the Everglades but DON'T want to go to a tourist trap? This…read moreis your place! I did a lot of research and knew that I wanted more time on the airboat in the open nature and less time (or no time) at a Gator Farm looking at trapped animals. Several great reviews, the duration and price, and the ability to have a boat to ourselves? Blackwater was it, and we could NOT have made a better choice! Captain Gerald took amazing care of us, taking us into nooks and crannies that the big boats wouldn't get to, teaching us about how locals use the wild for medicine, food, and fun. He even took us to his beautiful home in the middle of the Everglades, where we learned about his amazing work as a preservationist. I expected a fun day and walked away with so much more: a renewed love of nature, a sense of awe at the work of our local preservationists, and an expanded knowledge about the history of my home state!

    Highly, highly, highly recommend Blackwater Airboat Tour!! We took a private airboat tour through…read morethe Everglades with some friends when we were in Ft. Lauderdale over spring break. It was so much fun and worth every dollar. Captain Jason is an incredible tour guide. He taught us so much about the area and the gators. We got to see several gators up close and then he allowed everyone on the boat a chance to drive the boat for at least 10 minutes each. Even our 7 and 8 year olds got to drive the boat! It was much, much more fun than I had even imagined! It was definitely the highlight of our vacation.

    Photos
    Blackwater Airboat Tours
    Blackwater Airboat Tours - Another beautiful day in the glades...

    Another beautiful day in the glades...

    Blackwater Airboat Tours

    See all

    Jungle Queen Riverboat - BBQ dinner was delicious!

    Jungle Queen Riverboat

    3.8(572 reviews)
    21.7 mi
    •$$$

    What a nostalgia trip! I went on this boat maybe 35 years ago and remembered it fondly. I still…read moreremember several of the stories and jokes I heard aboard way back then. When my family was embarking on a cruise from Fort Lauderdale, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to introduce my own kids to the Jungle Queen. It's a short boat ride that takes you through the canals behind the mansions and quasi-famous homes on the water. Your guide on board will tell you about the homes and landmarks you pass en route. There is a bar on board, so no need to sail sober! LOL There are also a few snacks for purchase. The air movement on the boat keeps you from getting too warm, even when the sun is blazing, but don't forget your sunscreen. There's no bad seat aboard. All in all, it's a nice little boat ride if you're looking to get outside and burn some time in Fort Lauderdale. There is a string of food shops along the waterfront outside the entrance, so you can plan to grab lunch or dinner before or after your ride. We really enjoyed our trip, but I'm deducting one star due to the boat traffic (which I know they cannot really help). Maneuvering around all the other drunks in their watercraft was kind of a drag.

    Food (ribs specifically) gave my whole Family food…read morepoisoning:( Other than that we had a great time while we were there lol.

    Photos
    Jungle Queen Riverboat - Live entertainment - she was excellent!!

    Live entertainment - she was excellent!!

    Jungle Queen Riverboat - Dinner. Chicken tenders, baked beans, mac n cheese, slaw and cornbread

    Dinner. Chicken tenders, baked beans, mac n cheese, slaw and cornbread

    Jungle Queen Riverboat - More mansions

    See all

    More mansions

    Sawgrass Recreation Park - parks - Updated October 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...