Best Day Trips From Weston (2026 Guide)

An airboat carrying passengers glides across sawgrass wetlands in the Florida Everglades

One of the quiet advantages of living in Weston is where we sit. Head east and you are in the middle of Broward in twenty minutes. Head west on US-27 and you are staring at open sawgrass. You do not need a hotel to have a real day out.

Here are six day trips that work from Weston, with what they cost and what to know before you go.

1. Flamingo Gardens, Davie

Where: 3750 South Flamingo Road, Davie
Drive time from Weston: About 15 minutes
Parking: Always free

Botanical gardens and a wildlife sanctuary with animals that cannot be returned to the wild. Flamingo Gardens is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. The Flamingo Pond Snack Bar runs 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, and the Grill is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

Worth knowing: September is BAMM month. Buy one admission at the regular price and get a second one of equal or lesser value free. Those tickets are only sold at the Gift Shop during September. Strollers and wheelchairs are available to rent, from $7 for a manual wheelchair to $30 for an electric one.

Check flamingogardens.org for current hours and ticket prices before you drive over.

2. Butterfly World, Coconut Creek

Where: Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Road, Coconut Creek
Drive time from Weston: About 35 minutes
Hours: Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You walk through screened aviaries full of free flying butterflies. It is small, it is calm, and small kids love it.

Plan your timing. The Lorikeet Encounter opens at 10:30 a.m., or 11 a.m. on Sunday. Last entry is 4 p.m., and the staff recommend arriving by 3 p.m. so you are not rushing. The last lorikeet feeding is 4:15 p.m. and nectar cups are $2 each, cash only.

Tickets are sold in person when you arrive, so there is nothing to book ahead. They are closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. If the sky looks bad, call 954-977-4434 first.

3. Sawgrass Recreation Park airboat tours

Drive time from Weston: A short hop west on US-27
Cost: Airboat adventure plus animal sanctuary admission starts at $30.95

This is the closest real Everglades experience to Weston. The general admission ticket gets you a guided airboat tour and entry to the alligator and reptile exhibit.

Reservations are required, because tours sell out. Book online or call 954-389-0202 to hold a time.

For something different, Gator Nights runs every Wednesday and Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. and starts at $45. Seeing the Everglades after dark is a completely different trip. Details at evergladestours.com.

4. Everglades Holiday Park

Cost: 60 minute airboat tours from $29.99, Animal Encounters $49.99, private tours from $449
Drive time from Weston: Around 20 minutes

The other big airboat operation on our side of the Everglades. Their standard tour runs about an hour. Add an Animal Encounter if the kids want to get close to the gators. Private tours are available for larger groups and special occasions.

Prices are before tax and booking fees. See evergladesholidaypark.com.

5. Shark Valley, Everglades National Park

Drive time from Weston: Roughly an hour, south and west
Cost: A park entrance pass is required, sold online or at the gate

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Shark Valley is a 15 mile paved loop trail through open sawgrass with an observation tower at the far end. You can walk it, bike it, or ride the tram. Alligators sun themselves right next to the path. Wading birds are everywhere.

Read this part before you go. Private vehicles are not allowed past the entrance road and parking lot, so it is foot, bike or tram only. Parking fills up and often runs one car in, one car out between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. If you have a tram tour booked, arrive 1.5 to 2 hours early. Call 305-221-8776 for current conditions.

One more warning from the park: rideshare drivers can drop you off, but visitors often cannot get a ride back. There is no public transportation to Shark Valley. Drive yourself or arrange your return trip first.

Airboat tours are not at Shark Valley. Three concession operators sit 15 to 20 minutes east on Route 41.

6. Make it a season: the South Florida Adventure Pass

If you plan to hit more than one of these, look at the South Florida Adventure Pass. It bundles five attractions for one price, including Zoo Miami, Butterfly World, Flamingo Gardens, the Museum of Discovery & Science and Sawgrass Recreation Park. For a family that likes to get out on weekends, it usually beats buying tickets one at a time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the closest day trip to Weston?

Flamingo Gardens in Davie, at roughly 15 minutes. The airboat parks on US-27 are close behind.

Which day trip is best with young kids?

Butterfly World. It is shaded, it is short, and there is no long walk. Flamingo Gardens is a close second, and stroller rentals help.

Do I need to book an airboat tour ahead of time?

Yes. Sawgrass Recreation Park requires reservations and tours sell out. Booking ahead is a good idea at Everglades Holiday Park too.

Can I see alligators without paying for an airboat?

Yes. The Shark Valley loop trail at Everglades National Park puts you close to alligators on foot or by bike, and you only pay the park entrance pass.

What should I bring?

Water, sunscreen, bug spray and a hat. Everything on this list is outdoors, and shade is limited at Shark Valley and on the airboats. Afternoon storms are normal in the summer and early fall, so morning trips are safer.

Are these trips doable in half a day?

Butterfly World, Flamingo Gardens and either airboat park all fit comfortably in a morning or an afternoon. Shark Valley is a full day once you add the drive and the parking wait.