Florida’s Alligator Alley: an Unexpected Highlight of Our Trip
Big Cypress Alligators
There’s a stretch of highway in South Florida called Alligator Alley. It’s really just I‑75, but driving it in winter can be a unique adventure, and potentially a highlight of your trip.
Big Cypress National Preserve
Big Cypress National Preserve
We were on our way from the west coast of Florida back to the east, heading from Naples to Miami. On the way out, we’d taken the straightforward route on I‑75 and caught a glimpse of a few gators. But for the return trip, we decided to take the scenic route—through Big Cypress National Preserve, turning off on Loop Road right before sunset. I’d read that it was a good place to spot wildlife, but I wasn’t prepared for how many gators we’d actually see.
By the end of the drive, we’d counted 38!
Gator resting on a rock in Big Cypress National Preserve
They were everywhere—some floating in the water just off the road, others stretched out on the banks like they were sunbathing. In winter, when the water cools down just a bit, gators come out to warm themselves in the sun. It’s one of the best times of year to see them out in the open, especially if you’re in a taller vehicle that gives you a better view of the canals along the road.
Alligator in the wild
Black Crowned Night Heron and Gator Below
Seeing them felt like more than just checking something off a list. Alligators have been part of my life in a funny way. When I was little, my dad tried to give me cough syrup, and I snapped my jaws at him. From that day on, he called me “Gator.”
Over the years, it stuck. After my first trip to Florida in my late 30s—when I finally saw a gator in the wild—I gave him a little figurine to mark the moment. After he passed, that figurine ended up on my desk. It’s still there. My mother-in-law has added to the tradition with gator keychains and stuffed animals. It’s become a quiet thread in my life.
Big Cypress National Preserve
That drive through Big Cypress felt like a small moment, but a meaningful one. The late-day light, the birds calling from the trees, the gators everywhere—it was peaceful and a little surreal. And while this wasn’t a scheduled tour, we were just passing through on the way back to our home base at Marriott’s Villas at Doral in Miami, it ended up being one of the most memorable parts of our trip.
If you’re thinking of driving Alligator Alley, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Go in winter if you can. Cooler temperatures mean more active wildlife and fewer bugs.
Loop Road is a detour worth taking. It’s a 24-mile scenic road that runs parallel to I‑75, partly gravel, and a little rough in spots, but totally drivable. Go slow and keep your eyes open.
You don’t need a special vehicle, but having a higher one helps for spotting gators along the canals.
Bring binoculars if you have them. We saw herons, egrets, ibises, and anhingas. The birds here are just as worth watching as the gators.
Alligator Alley might seem like just a road on the map, but it’s absolutely worth making time for. What looks like simple swampland from a distance is actually a beautiful and diverse ecosystem, full of birds, gators, and towering cypress. We felt lucky to witness it, even for a short stretch. What could’ve been just a drive turned into a quiet, meaningful moment.
I’d love to go back and see more—maybe take a guided swamp walk or spend a full day in the preserve. But even just passing through reminded me how much is waiting when you slow down and really look.
Have you ever taken a detour that ended up being the best part of a trip? Or spotted wildlife in a place you didn’t expect? I’d love to hear about it.
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