What to expect during the Everglades dry season — from wildlife sightings to water levels and how seasonal conditions impact your Airboat tour

The dry season runs from November through April, bringing lower water levels, cooler temperatures, and incredible airboat tour wildlife viewing. As water recedes across the Florida Everglades, fish concentrate in the last remaining areas of water — attracting alligators, wading birds, otters, and other native wildlife to a feeding frenzy. For guests on an Everglades airboat tour, this often means more frequent and closer wildlife sightings in the natural habitat.

Cooler, drier weather also makes for colder rides (layer up!) and beautiful golden-hour views across the River of Grass, creating the perfect conditions for a memorable Florida Everglades Airboat experience.

As we move into March through May, conditions can become extremely dry depending on seasonal rainfall. Drought severity varies year to year, and low water levels may impact certain airboat routes or tour availability.

If you have a River of Grass Airboat Tour booked during the Everglades Dry Season, we closely monitor Everglades water levels and will contact you within a week of your tour date with an update.

“The miracle of the light pours over the green and brown expanse of saw grass and of water, shining and slow-moving below, the grass and water that is the meaning and the central fact of the Everglades of Florida. It is a river of grass.”
― Marjory Stoneman Douglas