A Travel Price Comparison for United States of America Everglades National Park vs. Mystic for Attractions, Families, Food, and Couples

Should you visit Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Everglades National Park and Mystic can help you decide which place is right for you.

Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a wild, pristine, and adventure-filled national park. Everglades National Park is a gorgeous place to visit. Other reasons to visit include hiking. See Everglades National Park travel costs.

Mystic

Mystic is a laid back, charming, and quaint town. It's also popular because of the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Mystic travel costs.

Everglades National Park and Mystic: Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Good for hiking
  • Known for its beauty
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
  • Good for backpackers and budget travelers
Things to Consider
  • Less museums and historical sights
  • Less popular for nightlife
  • Less popular for shopping
Pros
  • Popular museums and historical sights
  • Active nightlife
  • Popular beach
  • Fun shopping
  • Family-friendly
  • Good for couples and romance
Things to Consider
  • Less popular with backpackers


Is there more to do in Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Mystic than Everglades National Park, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Mystic is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Everglades National Park is more popular for its hiking and impressive beauty. Everglades National Park is well known for its unique habitats and wildlife such as the friendly manatees. Mystic is well known for its New England charm and local character. Also, Mystic is famous for the Mystic Seaport Museum.

How is Everglades National Park different from Mystic?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Mystic and Everglades National Park. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Mystic is a great town for its historical sights. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Mystic specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There's a decent selection of museums around town with some of the favorites being the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Mystic Museum of Art, the Denison Homestead Museum, and the Old Lighthouse Museum, The Mystic Aquarium is also a popular destination.

Everglades National Park offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. It's worth checking out the Museum of the Everglades, but most visitors prefer to spend their time outdoors exploring the habitats.


Is the Food Better in Everglades National Park or Mystic? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Mystic is very good for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Everglades National Park is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Mystic is becoming an appealing option for foodies. As a coastal town, you'll find no shortage of seafood at many restaurants. Popular dishes include oysters, shrimp, or fish. There are also many casual restaurants that serve comfort food for classic American favorites like mac and cheese, pasta, or burgers.

Everglades National Park offers some easy restaurants to choose from. There are a few casual eateries near the park. The options include taquerias and grills. You'll also find some farm fresh fruit stands on the side of the road and it's definitely worth stopping to pick up a snack.

Is Everglades National Park or Mystic Better for Nightlife?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Mystic is very good for its evening party scene. However, Everglades National Park is not known for nightlife.

If you're looking for night time activities Mystic has a few options to choose from. Head downtown for the most interesting bars and breweries. You can sip wine or enjoy a cocktail at a laid back pub with friends or family.

People don't go to Everglades National Park for the nightlife. There are a couple of grills outside of the park, but the nightlife scene is very limited.

Is Everglades National Park or Mystic Better for Beaches?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Mystic is a great town for the beach. However, Everglades National Park is not a beach destination.

Mystic is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. The beaches are accessible from town and offer a laid back setting that's not overly developed. Families will like Ocean Beach Park but Williams Beach Park is one of the easiest beaches to access. If you're willing to drive a bit out of town, you should check out Misquamicut State Beach.

Everglades National Park is not a beach destination.


Is Everglades National Park or Mystic Better for Hiking?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Everglades National Park is an excellent place to visit for its hiking trails. However, Mystic is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Everglades National Park. The trails take you through a variety of habitats and range in length from short nature walks to longer, in depth hikes. Do be aware that the insects can be brutal. Mosquitos and biting flies are both common.

Mystic is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Mystic is a great town for its shopping areas. However, Everglades National Park is not known for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Mystic. Head downtown for scenic shopping streets with boutiques, artisan craft shops, and jewelry stores.

Everglades National Park has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There's a park store, but otherwise the shopping is very limited.

Is Everglades National Park or Mystic More Beautiful?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Everglades National Park is a good destination for its scenery and beauty. However, Mystic is not a destination known for its beauty.

Everglades National Park is a gorgeous place to visit. The natural beauty is impressive and it's easy to see why this is a highlight for many visitors to southern Florida.

Mystic is not a destination known for its beauty.


Is Everglades National Park or Mystic Better for Families?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Mystic is a great town for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Everglades National Park is not as popular, but is still a nice national park for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Mystic. Animal lovers will enjoy wandering around the many trails at Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center or visiting the famous Mystic Aquarium. You can also visit the shops around Olde Mistick Village or dine at one of the many kid-friendly restaurants.

Everglades National Park is a family-friendly place to visit. An airboat ride is a highlight for many kids. There's also hiking, kayaking, and even Junior Ranger programs. Do be on the lookout for mosquitoes, which can be relentless in the park.

Is Everglades National Park or Mystic Better for Couples?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Both Everglades National Park and Mystic are notable destinations to visit as a couple.

Everglades National Park is a good national park for couples to visit. Hiking and enjoying a bit of nature makes for a nice romantic getaway. Go kayaking or take an airboat ride and then enjoy some time exploring the natural setting.

Mystic is a nice destination for couples. Check out Mystic Seaport or drive down the coastline and visit the lighthouses. You'll also find breweries around town as well as many fun or romantic restaurants.

Is Everglades National Park or Mystic Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Everglades National Park is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Mystic is lacking in options for backpackers.

Everglades National Park is very popular with the backpacker crowd. There are two drive-in campgrounds (Long Pine Key Campground and Flamingo Campground) that you can reach from the Homestead entrance to the park.

Mystic is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. It's not high on the list for most backpackers.


Is Everglades National Park or Mystic Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Neither Everglades National Park or Mystic offer decent public transit.

Public transit is quite limited in Everglades National Park. There is no real public transportation to the park so an organized tour is your best option if you don't have a vehicle.

Public transit is limited or non-existant in Mystic. There is a bus but it has limited stops and only runs on weekdays.

Is Everglades National Park or Mystic a more walkable city?

Everglades National Park
Mystic

Everglades National Park and Mystic are respectable when it comes to walkability.

Everglades National Park is generally not a very walkable national park. While there are hiking trails, to really explore the park you'll want to have a car or take an organized tour.

Mystic is generally not very walkable. While parts of town are very walkable, you'll need a car if you want to see the sights that are a bit further away.

For even more information, also check out Is Everglades National Park Worth Visiting? and Is Mystic Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Mystic or Everglades National Park?

How long in Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Everglades National Park and Mystic. In our opinion, Mystic has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Mystic than Everglades National Park. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Mystic than Everglades National Park. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Mystic, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Mystic than Everglades National Park. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Mystic that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.


  • How many days in Everglades National Park or Mystic? Ideal Length of Stay
    Everglades National Park 2-3 
    Mystic 2-3

One day in Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Many travelers enjoy the when visiting the destination of Everglades National Park. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With food and shopping around the charming town of Mystic, there's plenty to do. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.


A weekend in Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Everglades National Park is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

With shopping and museums around the charming destination of Mystic, there's plenty to do. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation.A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Five days in Everglades National Park or Mystic?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Everglades National Park. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the laid back town of Mystic. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people come for the beaches. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Travelers enjoy the when visiting the unique destination of Everglades National Park. This national park offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Mystic is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.


For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America, and The Best G Adventures Tours to United States of America.


Which place is cheaper, Mystic or Everglades National Park?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

  • Everglades National Park Prices
    USA Prices
    Mystic Prices
    USA Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Everglades National Park $169
    Mystic $248

The average daily cost (per person) in Everglades National Park is $169, while the average daily cost in Mystic is $248. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Everglades National Park and Mystic in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Everglades National Park $80
    Mystic $125
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Everglades National Park $160
    Mystic $250
Compare Hotels in Everglades National Park and Mystic

Looking for a hotel in Everglades National Park or Mystic? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Everglades National Park


Hotels in Mystic


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Mystic Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Everglades National Park $56
    Mystic $56

Is it cheaper to fly into Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Prices for flights to both Mystic and Everglades National Park change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Everglades National Park $54
    Mystic $90

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Everglades National Park $28
    Mystic $24

Tours and Activities in Everglades National Park

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Everglades National Park.

  • Flamingo Everglades Boat Tours: $52

Tours and Activities in Mystic

For Mystic, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour: $30
  • Mystic Moonlit Graveyard Ghost Tour: $30
  • Mystic Seaport Museum Adventure : $32
  • Mystic's Ghosts GPS Self Guided Audio Walking Tour w/EMF Reader: $7.80
  • Ghosts of Christmas Past Downtown Walking Tour: $30
  • Guided Ghost Tour of Downtown Mystic at Night: $35
  • Guided Graveyard Ghost Tour by Moonlight: $35

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Everglades National Park $7.86
    Mystic $31

Sample the Local Flavors in Mystic

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Mystic:

  • Paranormal Pub Crawl: Beer Tour: $75
  • Paranormal Pub Crawl: Beer Tour: $75
  • Spirits of Cocktail Pub Crawl: $100
  • Spirits of Cocktail Pub Crawl: $100


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Everglades National Park and Mystic, we can see that Mystic is more expensive. And not only is Everglades National Park much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Everglades National Park would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Everglades National Park and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Mystic would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mystic than you might in Everglades National Park.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Everglades National Park Expensive? and Is Mystic Expensive?.



When is the best time to visit Everglades National Park or Mystic?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Mystic in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Everglades National Park and Mystic. Many visitors come to Everglades National Park in the summer for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Mystic for the beaches and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Everglades National Park is a little warmer than Mystic. Typically, the summer temperatures in Everglades National Park in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Mystic averages at about 73°F (23°C).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Mystic this time of the year. In Everglades National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. Everglades National Park usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Mystic during summer. Everglades National Park gets 316 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 293 hours of full sun in the summer.

Everglades National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Everglades National Park usually receives more rain than Mystic. Everglades National Park gets 5.9 inches (149 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 2.8 inches (72 mm) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Everglades National Park 82°F (28°C) 
    Mystic 73°F (23°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Mystic in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Everglades National Park as well as Mystic. Most visitors come to Everglades National Park for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Mystic because of the shopping scene.

In October, Everglades National Park is generally much warmer than Mystic. Daily temperatures in Everglades National Park average around 78°F (26°C), and Mystic fluctuates around 53°F (12°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Mystic. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Everglades National Park this time of the year. In the autumn, Everglades National Park often gets more sunshine than Mystic. Everglades National Park gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 211 hours of full sun.

Everglades National Park receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Everglades National Park usually gets more rain in October than Mystic. Everglades National Park gets 5.6 inches (143 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, June to November in Everglades National Park is the hurricane season.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Everglades National Park 78°F (26°C) 
    Mystic 53°F (12°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Mystic in the Winter?

Both Mystic and Everglades National Park are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The winter months attract visitors to Everglades National Park because of the museums and the cuisine. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Mystic this time of year.

It's quite cold in Mystic in the winter. Everglades National Park is much warmer than Mystic in the winter. The daily temperature in Everglades National Park averages around 67°F (19°C) in January, and Mystic fluctuates around 28°F (-2°C).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Everglades National Park. Everglades National Park usually receives more sunshine than Mystic during winter. Everglades National Park gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Mystic receives 170 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Everglades National Park usually receives less rain than Mystic. Everglades National Park gets 2.2 inches (55 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.5 inches (89 mm) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Everglades National Park 67°F (19°C) 
    Mystic 28°F (-2°C)

Should I visit Everglades National Park or Mystic in the Spring?

Both Mystic and Everglades National Park during the spring are popular places to visit. The natural beauty are the main draw to Everglades National Park this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Mystic for the beaches.

In the spring, Everglades National Park is much warmer than Mystic. Typically, the spring temperatures in Everglades National Park in April average around 74°F (24°C), and Mystic averages at about 48°F (9°C).

In Mystic, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Everglades National Park. In the spring, Everglades National Park often gets more sunshine than Mystic. Everglades National Park gets 300 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Mystic receives 225 hours of full sun.

Everglades National Park usually gets less rain in April than Mystic. Everglades National Park gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Mystic receives 3.7 inches (94 mm) of rain this time of the year. Also, the hurricane season in Everglades National Park is June to November.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Everglades National Park 74°F (24°C) 
    Mystic 48°F (9°C)

Typical Weather for Mystic and Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park Mystic
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 67°F (19°C) 2.2 inches (55 mm) 28°F (-2°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Feb 68°F (20°C) 2.1 inches (53 mm) 30°F (-1°C) 3.5 inches (88 mm)
Mar 71°F (22°C) 2.4 inches (61 mm) 38°F (3°C) 4 inches (101 mm)
Apr 74°F (24°C) 3.1 inches (78 mm) 48°F (9°C) 3.7 inches (94 mm)
May 78°F (26°C) 6.4 inches (162 mm) 58°F (15°C) 3.5 inches (89 mm)
Jun 81°F (27°C) 9.4 inches (238 mm) 67°F (20°C) 2.6 inches (67 mm)
Jul 82°F (28°C) 5.9 inches (149 mm) 73°F (23°C) 2.8 inches (72 mm)
Aug 83°F (28°C) 7.5 inches (191 mm) 72°F (22°C) 3.9 inches (99 mm)
Sep 82°F (28°C) 7.6 inches (194 mm) 64°F (18°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Oct 78°F (26°C) 5.6 inches (143 mm) 53°F (12°C) 3.3 inches (83 mm)
Nov 73°F (23°C) 2.9 inches (73 mm) 44°F (7°C) 4.5 inches (115 mm)
Dec 69°F (21°C) 1.9 inches (48 mm) 33°F (0°C) 4.1 inches (105 mm)