Airboat Tour Service Areas Across South Florida
Private airboat tours South Florida guests can reach from Broward, Palm Beach and north Miami-Dade, launching from three ramps on the quiet northern edge of the Everglades. Find your city, see how far the nearest launch is and ride with a native captain.
“Text or call me and I’ll get you out on the water — I can’t wait to see you out in the swamp!”— Captain Billy, owner & native Everglades guideAces Airboat Tours runs private airboat tours South Florida guests reach from three launches on the northern Everglades edge: The Landing in Parkland, the Sawgrass Expressway ramp at Atlantic Boulevard and Stub Canal in western Broward. Broward and south Palm Beach are a short drive, central and north Palm Beach and north Miami-Dade a longer one. Every ride is a private boat.
Which Parts of South Florida Do We Serve?
We serve Broward County, Palm Beach County and the northern part of Miami-Dade, all from launches on the northern edge of the Everglades. That edge runs along the west side of the metro, behind the levee where the suburbs end and the sawgrass begins.
This is a different part of the Everglades from the one most visitors picture. Many of the best-known airboat parks sit along the Tamiami Trail west of Miami. We ride the Water Conservation Areas and the marsh at the southern end of the Loxahatchee refuge, which see far fewer boats. For many airboat tours South Florida visitors take, the boat holds dozens of people. Ours hold your group and nobody else.
Our captains know this water closely. Captain Billy, the owner, has spent more than sixty years in and around the Everglades and built his airboats by hand. Captain Bill has more than thirty years as a naturalist captain. Between them they have run this marsh in every season and every water level.
Below you will find what each county's trip looks like, how the three launches differ and a simple way to pick the right one. The city grid lists every community with real mileage to its nearest launch.
Three Counties, Three Different Trips
Each county gets a different trip, mostly because of distance. Here is the honest version.
Broward County is home ground. The Everglades begins at the county's western edge, so cities like Coral Springs, Parkland, Tamarac, Sunrise and Weston sit close to a launch, and even the beach towns are a straight drive west. Our Broward County airboat tours overview breaks it down by city.
Palm Beach County starts at our doorstep. The Landing sits right on the county line, so Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach are an easy trip, while West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter are a real drive south. See Palm Beach County airboat tours.
North Miami-Dade is a longer drive. Miami sits on a broad plain between the Everglades and Biscayne Bay, but its nearest airboats run off the Tamiami Trail, not our side. Guests from Miami and Aventura come north because they want a private, uncrowded ride and do not mind the drive. Read how far the Everglades is from Miami first.
If you are staying in Homestead or south Miami-Dade, Everglades National Park and the Tamiami Trail operators are much closer, and we will tell you so. Comparing airboat tours, South Florida travelers should weigh the drive honestly.
The Three Launches, Explained
Each launch puts you on a slightly different stretch of the northern Everglades, and Captain Billy picks the one that fits your route and your tour.
- The Landing, 15490 Loxahatchee Road, Parkland. At the very end of Loxahatchee Road on the Hillsboro Canal. The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge stretches north, and Water Conservation Area 2A opens to the south. It is the natural choice for Parkland, north Broward and Palm Beach guests.
- Sawgrass Expressway at Atlantic Boulevard. Just west of the expressway interchange beside Coral Springs, at the levee on the edge of Water Conservation Area 2. It is the easiest pick for most of central and south Broward, Fort Lauderdale and anyone driving up from Miami-Dade.
- Stub Canal. Our third ramp in western Broward. Captain Billy uses it when it suits your route and your tour, and tells you in advance.
Whichever ramp you use, our airboat tours South Florida guests take run on the same private boats with the same two captains. The exact meeting spot is always confirmed when you book. Full details and maps are on our pickup locations page, and our Everglades airboat tours overview describes what a ride from each looks like.
Every South Florida Community We Serve
North Broward
Central Broward
South Broward
South Palm Beach
Central Palm Beach
Western Palm Beach
North Palm Beach County
North Miami-Dade
We also welcome guests from Lazy Lake, Sea Ranch Lakes, Manalapan, Briny Breezes, Cloud Lake, Glen Ridge. Text or call Captain Billy and he will point you to the closest launch.
How to Pick Your Launch and Your Tour
Pick your launch by where you start, then pick your tour by time of day. This table covers the most common starting points:
| Starting from | Usual launch | Popular first tour |
|---|---|---|
| Parkland, Coral Springs, Boca Raton, Delray Beach | The Landing or Sawgrass ramp | Day tour |
| Fort Lauderdale, beach hotels, central Broward | Sawgrass ramp | Sunset tour |
| Weston, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Hollywood | Sawgrass ramp or Stub Canal | Sunrise tour |
| Wellington, West Palm Beach, Jupiter | The Landing or Sawgrass ramp | Bird watching |
| Miami, Aventura | Sawgrass ramp | Private tour |
Then follow three steps:
- Find your city in the grid above and note the nearest launch.
- Decide on daytime, sunrise, sunset or the Red Eye Gator night tour.
- Text Captain Billy your plan and he will confirm what works.
Cruise passengers sailing from Port Everglades often fit a ride in on arrival day or the day before boarding; tell Captain Billy your ship times. For anyone planning airboat tours, South Florida traffic is the wild card, so leave extra time.
Text or Call Captain Billy Today!
“Text or call me and I’ll get you out on the water — I can’t wait to see you out in the swamp!”— Captain Billy, owner & native Everglades guide
Airboat Tours South Florida Guests Remember: Why the North Side
The north side of the Everglades gives you open marsh without the crowds, and a private boat lets you enjoy it at your own pace. Sawgrass runs to the horizon, tree islands hold roosting birds and long canals follow the levees. It is wild, working Everglades country, and you share it with far fewer boats than on the busier corridors.
Wildlife is the reason most people come. We see American alligators on the vast majority of trips, but they are wild, so we never promise. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission explains how they live across the state. Great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, anhingas, ibis, ospreys and turtles show up on almost every ride, and roseate spoonbills are a bonus.
The boats make the difference too. Two 8-passenger airboats, four 2-passenger airboats and one 15-passenger group boat mean every seat is a front-row seat. Families, couples, bachelor parties and company outings all ride privately. See them on our boats page and the photos in our gallery.
Guests who use wheelchairs ride on boats with a boarding ramp. Read more on accessible airboat tours, or see the what to expect guide before your first ride.
Booking From Anywhere in South Florida
No matter which county you start from, booking works the same way: one text or call to Captain Billy at 561-660-2419. Few airboat tours South Florida offers are booked straight with the owner, but Captain Billy answers the phone himself and will ask where you are coming from so he can point you to the right launch.
Tell him four things: the date, the number of people, the city or hotel you are leaving from and the time of day you want. He will match the boat, confirm the meeting spot and send directions. Each tour is a private boat, so the rate is set by the boat size and the length of the ride; he will quote yours on the spot.
We do not run a shuttle. Most guests drive, and plenty use a rideshare from their hotel. If you are coming from a cruise or a beach hotel, mention your schedule and he will plan the timing around it. For a longer trip, our Fort Lauderdale distance guide helps with planning.
Weather matters out here. Check the National Weather Service in Miami before you leave; summer storms pass quickly, and rides shift if lightning is nearby. Then read what past guests say on our reviews page, where Aces holds a 4.9-star Google rating, and see our FAQ for anything else.
Popular Airboat Tours
Everglades Airboat Tours
The signature private ride through wild sawgrass, tree islands and gator water.
Explore Tour
Sunset Tours
Ride out as the sky lights up over the open marsh.
Explore Tour
Red Eye Gator Night Tours
Scan the marsh by spotlight for glowing alligator eyes.
Explore Tour
Sunrise Tours
Cool air, glassy water and the most active wildlife of the day.
Explore TourFast Airboat Tours
Full-throttle sawgrass runs, spins and slides with a pro at the stick.
Explore TourPrivate Tours
Your group, your captain, your boat. No strangers aboard.
Explore Tour3 Convenient South Florida Pickup Points
Choose the launch closest to you — every ride heads into the same wild, gator-filled Everglades sawgrass.
Stub Canal
Off the Sawgrass Expressway area — easy access from Broward County.
Book From HereSawgrass Expressway at Atlantic Blvd
Convenient ramp right off the Sawgrass Expressway at Atlantic Boulevard.
Book From HereThe Landing
Our north Broward launch on Loxahatchee Road near Parkland.
Book From HereWhat Our Guests Say
Real Google reviews from guests who rode the wild Everglades with Captain Billy and Captain Bill.
We booked a 2 hour private tour, which seems to be the right amount of time to see everything. Very easy meeting spot at a boat landing. Our captain was fantastic and I can't say enough great things. He put us on some alligators. We will definitely be back.
The Red Eye Gator tour is the best way to see gators, an absolutely awesome experience zipping through the Everglades during twilight. Lots and lots of gators awake and active. Captain Billy is very knowledgeable and one hell of a captain!
What an absolute amazing experience! Our captain is one of the most experienced men in the Everglades. We explored the wildlife including up to 30 alligators, several species of birds, frogs and fish. Well worth it, and you get a private party instead of being with strangers.
Called Captain Bill at 9 AM and asked if he could do a 10 AM run. He said yes and met me right on time. We saw two alligators, a pink spoonbill and numerous herons. If you want the real Everglades with someone who actually lives in them, book Captain Bill. Highly recommended.
We booked a 2 hour private tour, which seems to be the right amount of time to see everything. Very easy meeting spot at a boat landing. Our captain was fantastic and I can't say enough great things. He put us on some alligators. We will definitely be back.
The Red Eye Gator tour is the best way to see gators, an absolutely awesome experience zipping through the Everglades during twilight. Lots and lots of gators awake and active. Captain Billy is very knowledgeable and one hell of a captain!
What an absolute amazing experience! Our captain is one of the most experienced men in the Everglades. We explored the wildlife including up to 30 alligators, several species of birds, frogs and fish. Well worth it, and you get a private party instead of being with strangers.
Called Captain Bill at 9 AM and asked if he could do a 10 AM run. He said yes and met me right on time. We saw two alligators, a pink spoonbill and numerous herons. If you want the real Everglades with someone who actually lives in them, book Captain Bill. Highly recommended.
Airboat Tour Questions
Where is the best airboat tour in South Florida?
It depends on where you are staying and how you like to ride. For a private boat with no crowd, the northern Everglades west of Broward and south Palm Beach is the quiet side, and that is where Aces runs. For airboat tours, South Florida visitors staying near Homestead will find Everglades National Park and the Tamiami Trail closer.
Do you offer airboat tours near Miami?
We serve Miami and Aventura guests, but our launches are a real drive north, with the Sawgrass Expressway ramp usually closest. People make that drive for a private, uncrowded ride. If you would rather stay close, the Tamiami Trail operators west of Miami are nearer.
Which airboat launch is closest to me?
Find your city in the community grid above; it shows the nearest launch and real mileage. In short, The Landing in Parkland suits north Broward and Palm Beach, and the Sawgrass Expressway ramp suits central and south Broward and Miami-Dade.
How much is an airboat tour in South Florida?
Every Aces tour is a private boat, so text or call Captain Billy at 561-660-2419 for your rate. It depends on your group size, the boat and the length of the ride, and there are no add-on fees.
Do airboat tours pick up from hotels or cruise ships?
We do not run a shuttle, so most guests drive or take a rideshare to the launch. Text Captain Billy your hotel or ship schedule and he will choose the launch that makes pickup and drop-off simplest.
What is the best time of year for an airboat ride in South Florida?
Any month works because gators are active all year. The dry season, roughly November through April, brings cooler mornings and wildlife gathered in deeper water. Summer is green and lush, with afternoon storms, so mornings and evenings are best then. Captain Billy runs airboat tours South Florida families book in every season.
More Everglades Airboat Adventures
Find Your Launch and Ride the Northern Everglades
Wherever you are in South Florida, one text gets you a private boat and a captain who knows this marsh. Text or call Captain Billy today.
“Text or call me and I’ll get you out on the water — I can’t wait to see you out in the swamp!”— Captain Billy, owner & native Everglades guide