USA · AIRBOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Airboat Tours in the USA

30 tours  ·  from $33

A flat-bottomed boat with an aircraft engine on the back is the only sensible way across the sawgrass. These 15 compare the Everglades operators on ride length, boat size and whether a wildlife show is bolted on afterwards.

From Miami: Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show & Bus Transfer - The 45-minute airboat ride
Airboat Tours, Everglades Tours, Florida Tours, Show, Tour Reviews, Wildlife, Wildlife Tours in the Everglades

From Miami: Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show & Bus Transfer

1.From Miami: Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show & Bus Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 8,622 reviews · 5 hours · from $49Our pick

Travel by air-conditioned bus from Miami to Everglades Holiday Park, then ride an airboat with an expert captain such as Kyle, Jose, or German. Look for alligators, turtles, birds, and vultures before an alligator show and free group photo. Bus commentary is available in English or Spanish, but the Everglades portion is in English only.

“Everything was great. It was just the time that was a bit short. One more hour would have been enough for everyone to take a picture with the baby alligator without being rushed by the guide to hurry, as well as eating something outside instead of gobbling our sandwiches in a rush in the bus on the way back.”

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Miami: Everglades National Park Airboat Tour & Wildlife Show - The wildlife show adds the human story
Airboat Tours, Everglades Tours, Florida Tours, National Parks, Show, Tour Reviews, Tours, Wildlife, Wildlife Tours in the Everglades

Miami: Everglades National Park Airboat Tour & Wildlife Show

2.Everglades National Park Airboat Tour & Wildlife Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 7,296 reviews · 1 day · from $42

At Gator Park, you’ll take a 35 to 40 minute narrated airboat ride through Everglades National Park, followed by a 30 minute alligator and wildlife show. Guides such as Cody, John, Tom, and Jay are known for mixing facts with humor. Allow about two hours, plus park admission and transport.

“It was fun and very informative. Cody did an amazing job and knew answers to all the questions. Great for all ages.”

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New Orleans Airboat Ride - Into the cypress swamp for 1 hour and 45 minutes
Airboat Tours, New Orleans Tours, Tour Reviews

New Orleans Airboat Ride

3.New Orleans Airboat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4,891 reviews · 2 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $59

Travel from New Orleans to Lafitte for a 1-hour-45-minute airboat ride through cypress swamp near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. Choose a large boat or a six-to-eight-person craft. Guides such as Ronnie, Mark, Shane, and Captain TikTok mix local stories with wildlife viewing. Alligators are most common in warm weather, but birds and other wildlife appear year-round.

“Great experience, saw gators up close. Guide was awesome! He took us around not just to look for gators and was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend!”

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Florida Everglades Airboat Tour and Wild Florida Admission with Optional Lunch - The captains make the difference
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Florida Everglades Airboat Tour and Wild Florida Admission with Optional Lunch

4.Florida Everglades Airboat Tour and Wild Florida Admission with Optional Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,576 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $37Top rated

Head about an hour south of Orlando to Kenansville for a 30-minute or 1-hour airboat ride across 4,200 acres of protected wetlands. Captains such as Alex, Curtis, Jeff, and Bobby point out alligators, birds, and bald eagles. Your ticket also covers Wild Florida’s animal park, with an optional barbecue lunch and alligator photo.

“It was amazing, and was a learning experience. Our driver was wonderful, funny, knowledgeable of wild life and took his time showing the wild life”

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Miami Combo: City Tour, Biscayne Bay Cruise and Everglades Airboat Ride - Miami by double-decker bus
Airboat Tours, City Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Everglades Tours, Florida Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Miami Combo: City Tour, Biscayne Bay Cruise and Everglades Airboat Ride

5.Miami Combo: City Tour, Biscayne Bay Cruise and Everglades Airboat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 2,487 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $69

Spend about nine hours seeing three sides of South Florida: Miami Beach and Little Havana by double-decker bus, Millionaire’s Row by boat, and the Everglades by airboat. Captain Jack is one of the airboat guides mentioned by name. Expect a full day, shared transport, lunch at your own cost, and a busy schedule that needs careful attention.

“Was well organised and very enjoyable. Most staff were helpful and friendly bar one in the shop. Everyone enjoyed it”

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New Orleans: High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride - Why Jean Lafitte is the right setting
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New Orleans: High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride

6.High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 2,380 reviews · 100 minutes - 4 hours · from $65

Take a 100-minute airboat ride through Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, about 35 minutes from New Orleans. Stadium seating keeps your view clear as captains such as Bebop, Dewey, and Ian explain the swamp, Cajun life, and local wildlife. Expect high-speed runs, quiet photo stops, alligators, birds, and an open boat that can get wet in rain.

“Very educational and a lot of fun - highly recommended..”

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Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show, and Roundtrip Bus From Miami - The alligator and wildlife show
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Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show, and Roundtrip Bus From Miami

7.Everglades Airboat, Wildlife Show, and Roundtrip Bus From Miami

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,886 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $49

Travel by air-conditioned motorcoach from Miami to Everglades Holiday Park, then ride an airboat through the wetlands and watch an alligator and wildlife show. Guides such as Ronet Blanc, Raphael Acosta, Captain Zack, and German have earned praise for clear facts and good organization. The tour runs about four hours, though traffic can stretch the day.

“Nice but very touristy, this wasn’t what we expected. If you want to visit the real Everglades national park I think this is not your best choice”

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Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tours & Rides - Expect information, not constant speed
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Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tours & Rides

8.Everglades Holiday Park Airboat Tours & Rides

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,884 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $47

Ride an airboat across the Everglades with live narration, look for alligators, birds, turtles, and iguanas, then enjoy the park’s wildlife attractions. Captains such as JoJo and Sebastian add lively local detail. The boat trip lasts about an hour, with free parking and one group photo included.

“This place is wonderful, clean and well run. I would highly recommend this place! Do the animal meet too!”

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Everglades: Sawgrass Park Day Time Airboat Tour & Exhibits - Check in first, then let the park assign your boat
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Everglades: Sawgrass Park Day Time Airboat Tour & Exhibits

9.Everglades: Sawgrass Park Day Time Airboat Tour & Exhibits

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,857 reviews · 40 min · from $33Best value

At Sawgrass Recreation Park, you get a 40-minute daytime airboat ride with an English-speaking captain, followed by alligator and reptile exhibits. Captains such as Nick, Disco, John, and Andrew mix Everglades ecology with local stories. You may spot alligators, herons, osprey, and other wildlife, then touch a baby alligator.

“Please do not allow dogs on this boat. It is far too loud for dogs. One of the passengers had a dog with him and wanted to end the tour halfway through because he realized it was too loud for his dog.”

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Large Airboat Swamp Tour with Transportation from New Orleans - Finding Alligators, Herons, Eagles, and Turtles
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Large Airboat Swamp Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

10.Large Airboat Swamp Tour with Transportation from New Orleans

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,832 reviews · 4 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $90

You’ll ride a 16-passenger airboat through the Jean Lafitte wetlands near New Orleans, with captains such as Ernie, Kenny, Duwey, and Captain Bebop sharing local knowledge. Expect fast runs, quiet wildlife searches, photo stops, and possible sightings of alligators, herons, turtles, and bald eagles. Hotel transport is included.

“We had a very good boat ride. Our captain was very knowledgeable, showed us a couple of gators, even though it was cold outside. We had a great woman bus driver who was very knowledgeable about New Orleans and the communities it was very educational. But we love going fast on the airboat.”

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Florida Everglades Airboat Adventure and Wildlife Encounter - The 30 to 40 minute airboat ride
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Florida Everglades Airboat Adventure and Wildlife Encounter

11.Florida Everglades Airboat Adventure and Wildlife Encounter

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,791 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.) · from $33

Travel from Fort Lauderdale to Sawgrass Recreation Park for a 30 to 40 minute guided airboat ride through the Everglades, followed by alligator and reptile exhibits. Captains such as Andrew, Ron, and Jimmy explain the ecosystem while you look for alligators, birds, turtles, and fish. The $33.12 ticket includes about two hours at the park.

“We literally paid for a boat ride, saw 4 birds and that was it. Absolutely no alligators!! The worst part is our guide didn’t even address the lack of alligators. Obviously, we know that he cannot control what the alligators do, but what upset us was that he didn’t even set expectations or address the issue!! But he made sure to request a tip. It was a complete waste of money and a total let down!”

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Orlando: Everglades Airboat Ride and Wildlife Park Ticket - The 30-minute airboat ride across protected wetlands
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Orlando: Everglades Airboat Ride and Wildlife Park Ticket

12.Everglades Airboat Ride and Wildlife Park Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,459 reviews · 30 minutes - 1 hour · from $36

At Wild Florida, you’ll take a guided 30-minute airboat ride through protected Central Florida wetlands, then visit the wildlife park and live alligator show. Captains such as Jeff, Lauren, Todd, and Mike are known for spotting birds and gators while explaining the ecosystem. Bring weather-ready clothes and allow extra time for the park.

“I was very happy that no-one gets wet on the airboat ride and that they provided ear defenders for everyone and also life jackets for the children. Bobby our pilot gave us lots of information about the wildlife and didn't rush us taking photos and asking questions. There was a good number of bird species including Bald eagles around the lake and we managed to identify about 20 with the help of the staff. Afterwards we visited the zoo which was very well maintained and saw a huge number of Aligators as well as lots of other animals. The shop was beautiful and the cafe was reasonably priced and very…”

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Miami: Everglades Safari Park Airboat Tour - Why the wildlife sightings can change
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Miami: Everglades Safari Park Airboat Tour

13.Everglades Safari Park Airboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 1,267 reviews · 1 day · from $41

At Everglades Safari Park, an English-speaking captain guides you across the River of Grass on a 40-minute airboat ride. Look for alligators, turtles, deer, wild hogs, raccoons, birds, and native plants, then watch the Wildlife Nature Show and walk the jungle trail. Captain Joe is one of the entertaining guides you may meet.

“Great trip, guides were very informative! Saw 2 aligators including an alligator nest with up to 50 eggs! Tour stayed there till we all saw what we wanted, tour was about 45 mins all up also included a show afterwards. Also saw a gannet flock through the Everglades. Such an unforgettable experience, defo recommend!!”

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New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour - Oak Alley’s grand entrance and difficult past
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New Orleans: Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour

14.Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 906 reviews · 8h 30m · from $160

Travel from New Orleans to Oak Alley Plantation for a guided house tour, then ride an open airboat through Barataria Basin with a local captain. Expect Greek Revival architecture, 28 oak trees, slavery-era history, alligators, birds, and hotel pickup. Guides may include captains Ernie, Bobby, or Bee-Bop.

“Our Louisiana Tour Company's Swamp Airboat Tour was the highlight of our trip to New Orleans! Shout out to Donna who was our great motor coach driver! The Swamp Airboat Tour itself was amazing! Perfect length of time and our guide's knowledge of all things about the swamp (including alligators) was incredible! Seeing 9 alligators was a real plus too! I highly recommend this tour!”

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Airboat Adventure in Saint Augustine with a Guide - Fast water, narrow creeks, and the airboat thrill
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Airboat Adventure in Saint Augustine with a Guide

15.Airboat Adventure in Saint Augustine with a Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 902 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Ride an airboat through the St. Johns River tributaries from Trout Creek Memorial Park with captains such as Becca, Justin, Fernando, and Rebecca. Expect fast runs, quiet wildlife searches, alligator and turtle sightings, local history, and clear headset audio. The 90-minute tour returns to the marina.

“Very informative, great music playing during the fast boat periods in the headset. Overall it was a beautiful experience and I would 100% recommend going!!”

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New in Airboat Tours

★ 4.5Private Tour: Florida Everglades Airboat Ride and Wildlife AdventureFrom $140498 reviews
★ 4.5Everglades Airboat Tour from Fort Lauderdale with transportationFrom $75545 reviews
★ 5.0Everglades National Park Biologist Led Adventure: Cruise, Hike + AirboatFrom $295685 reviews
★ 5.0Semi-Private 1-Hour Airboat Tour of Miami EvergladesFrom $81355 reviews
★ 4.0Wild Everglades Airboat Ride and Gator EncountersFrom $50357 reviews
★ 4.7Kissimmee: Everglades Airboat Adventure TourFrom $70367 reviews
★ 4.8From Miami: Everglades Airboat Ride and Nature WalkFrom $189459 reviews
★ 4.4Everglades: Mangrove Maze Airboat Tour and BoardwalkFrom $64588 reviews
★ 4.8Everglades Eco Airboat Small-Group Tour & 2 Private IslandsFrom $138366 reviews

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