Back to the full Top 10
#2 on this list
Death Valley National Park
California
Wildflower season can begin late month after wet winters.
- Price
- Check current price
- Reader rating
- No reader votes yet
- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
#3 on this list
Everglades National Park
Florida
Heart of dry season — best wildlife viewing of the year.
- Price
- Check current price
- Reader rating
- No reader votes yet
- How we assessed it
- Specification researched
Specs side by side
| Spec | Death Valley National Park | Everglades National Park |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Eastern California, Mojave Desert | Southern Florida |
| February High / Low | 73°F / 46°F (Furnace Creek average) | — |
| Lowest Elevation | -282 ft at Badwater Basin | — |
| Total Acreage | 3.4 million acres | — |
| Vehicle Entry Fee | $30 (valid for seven consecutive days) | — |
| Peak Season | November through March | December through April |
| Primary Terrains | — | Sawgrass marsh, mangrove estuary, cypress swamp |
| February Highs | — | Mid-70s to low-80s Fahrenheit |
| Wilderness Permits | — | Required year-round via Recreation.gov |
| Main Hubs | — | Homestead, Shark Valley, Everglades City |
What our reviewers liked and didn't
Death Valley National Park
- Prime hiking temperatures with daytime valley highs in the comfortable 70s
- Potential for early-season wildflower displays on lower alluvial fans
- Incredible geographic contrast from salt flats to snow-dusted peaks
- Extensive cross-country backpacking and primitive camping options
- Vast distances between services demand rigorous vehicle prep and fuel planning
- Presidents' Day weekend draws heavy crowds to popular trailheads and camps
- Sharp backcountry gravel roads frequently cause tire damage and breakdowns
Everglades National Park
- Lowest mosquito and biting fly activity of the entire calendar year
- Receding water levels concentrate exceptional volumes of bird and reptile life
- Mild, dry temperatures make multiday paddling trips comfortable and safe
- Backcountry chickee platforms offer a truly singular wilderness sleeping setup
- Heavy midwinter crowds cause parking backups at Shark Valley and Royal Palm
- Tidal shifts can easily ground paddlers on slick, impassable mudflats
- All drinking water must be hauled from the trailhead on backcountry trips
Prices change constantly — the figure shown is the last verified catalog price, and the buy buttons always go to the current listing.