Okefenokee Swamp Park

Our visit to Okefenokee Swamp Park was absolutely incredible! From start to finish, it was one of the most unique and memorable outdoor experiences we’ve had. The highlight of our trip was the boat tour — we saw so many alligators! There were gators were sunbathing along the banks, we saw them from the boat ride, train ride, and while walking along the paths. If you’re hoping for lots of gator sightings, this is the place! Much to our surprise, there were zero bugs during our visit. We went in February, the weather was overcast but warm (in the 70s), and it turned out to be the perfect time to explore. Comfortable temperatures and no mosquitoes made the day even better. The boardwalks and observation areas provide stunning views of the swamp, and the scenery is peaceful and breathtaking. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and everything was well maintained and family-friendly. If you love wildlife, beautiful natural scenery, and unforgettable adventures, this park is a must-visit. We can’t wait to go back!

We had a wonderful day at the swamp, the people were very friendly. We took the boat ride and also the train ride. The park is very well maintained and it's easy to negotiate around. They don't an amazing job of trying to educate the public. Just a word of caution people who are looking for a wild swamp land this is not the place. But it is a great place to bring kids for the education

Visited the park for the Christmas light show and it was a perfect night! The train ride was relaxing and they had hot beverages you could purchase prior to boarding. It was a pretty cool night so the kids loved the hot cocoa. There were two fires going for s'mores or just to stay warm. I would definitely recommend going for the Christmas events. It's certainly worth the $15 per person! We plan to visit again in 2025 with more of our family.

Great place to visit. We were there February 5th. Visit in spring or summer. We when during a cold spell. No animals were out in the water. But dang sure worth visiting the park. The train & boat tour is real good. The girl that did our tour was very good and knew her history on Okefenokee. They have a great snack cafe. Good food. They have an animal center that they tell you about the animals that live there. Can even pat a few.

This was my first visit to the Okefenokee Swamp and this was an excellent introduction. The 45 minute train ride was fun but the audio system needs improvement since you could barely hear anything that the guide was saying. We ate lunch at the snack shack and the hot dogs and hamburgers were good. The boat ride was great. I learned a lot about the swamp, i.e. Christmas lichen, alligator nests. We also saw lots of alligators during the visit.

I love that they are conserving nature.Kids loved the train ride and seeing and touching the animals. If you have little ones that move alot; you might not want to do all three activities in one day (train boat and animal encounter). I opted out of the boat ride and it was just right for my 3 year old. She was sad to leave the alligators. The train stopping and letting you walk around the old houses was really nice.

Decided to carry the grandchild to the Okefenokee Swamp Park just outside of Waycross, GA. He had a great time seeing all the lights and riding the train. The train ride was filled with various light displays. The train ride took around 20 minutes to complete. Make sure you are dressed for the weather because the train cars are open to the weather. All Swamp park staff was very nice….even the Grinch!! We had a great time and would return again next year.

We had a great visit to the Okefenokee Swamp State Park! We started with a 45-minute guided boat tour, which was absolutely beautiful. We saw plenty of alligators, turtles, and the amazing cypress swamp scenery—peaceful and full of life. The guide shared interesting facts about the swamp’s ecosystem and history, making it both relaxing and educational. After that, we took the 45-minute train ride through the park. It was a nice experience, though the train moved a bit slow and there wasn’t as much to see along the way. Still, it was enjoyable and gave us a good sense of the park. The animal show we got to see a live American alligator, a gopher tortoise, a box turtle, and even a gray rat up close. The presenters did a great job explaining the animals’ behaviors and how they fit into the swamp environment. The Okefenokee Swamp itself is truly impressive — a 438,000-acre, peat-filled wetland that straddles the Georgia–Florida line and stands as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. It’s the largest blackwater swamp in North America and definitely worth a visit if you love nature, wildlife, and a bit of adventure.

Great time today, park not crowded, weather a bit cool and not to much activity or sightings of reptiles with the cooler temps, well worth the time spent, almost total silence except for a few of the birds in the area. All the employees are so friendly and helpful with any and all questions, each and everyone one them went out of their way to make your time spent them memorable. I highly recommend a visit there to learn about our ecosystem and how everything works together and how we have to treasure our little blue planet

We really enjoyed our visit. The boat and train rides were fun and informative. The park was really clean. Weather was great. Reptile show was cool. Gift shop was nice. Definitely fun times.

Drove over an hour from the Golden Isles area on a recommendation of the shuttle tour driver. We booked our tours on the antiquated web page prior to our visit. When we arrived at 11 am, we were informed that we had been bumped from our noon boat tour in favor of a school group. We now had to wait until 2 pm or return another day. This is our last day in town, so we unhappily opted for the 2 pm boat tour. Even the employee said there isn't 3 hours of stuff to do in the park, however, we walked around for 2 hours, had lunch at the snack shop and then arrived 15 minutes early for our boat tour, only to be told they couldn't accommodate everyone that they booked. The boat was a small boat with 5 rows and there were 13 people scheduled for the tour. We all were also booked for the 3pm train and 4 pm reptile experience, so no-one wanted to wait for the next boat which the employee couldn't guarantee would have space or when it would arrive, for fear of missing the train at 3. After the employee decided she could get everyone on the boat, we decided to forgo. It would have been very cramped and uncomfortable. The exhibit buildings are old and not well kept. It is like nothing has been updated since the 80's. From other reviews, it seems the boat tour and train ride are great, but understand that the general public comes secondary to school groups. The employees that we encountered were friendly and extremely apologetic, therefore the 2 stars. The management at the park is non-existent. We were able to get a refund, but left very disappointed and feeling like even if we come to the area again, we will not return. Our time is valuable, especially when traveling. We wasted an entire day. My recommendation would be to call ahead and make sure there are no school groups or large groups visiting the day you want to go, as we got the clear message that we were not as important as the groups.

Somewhat disappointed in our visit. The boat ride was just OK. We didn't see much wildlife, just 2 alligators, and lots of spiders. There was some scenery but we went by too fast to appreciate any of it. And the guide said she was behind schedule so she went even faster for the last 15 minutes. The nature show was also just OK. It is geared towards kids, not really an adult event, my wife did enjoy petting the snake and alligator! The train ride was a waste of time, beginning with not being able to understand the guide because the speakers on the train were in poor condition. And again, we didn't see any wildlife! For $35 per person it should have been a better experience!

There isn't a senior discount listed on their prices but they do have one. Ask for it before you pay. We had 4 seniors and after we paid, we found out about the discount. Cashier would not correct it. Don't do the train, it's a waste of time and money. Take the boat tour, you'll see 3 or 4 small alligators. Be sure to take the boardwalk to where the captive alligators are. They are HUGE.

Lots to see out here you can go check out the wildlife and get great exercise. They have walking trails for days

What a fun little excursion in the Okefenokee! We were expecting to just drive through the park but to our surprise there was a lot to do here! Since we got there later in the day we had to decide between the boat tour our the train tour. Having just been to Louisiana recently and doing an alligator boat tour there we opted for the train tour. Our conductor, Katie did a great job giving us the history of the swamp and how the Indians and later the white man lived off the land. We visited the pioneer island and she told us about the various buildings that are there. She was very informative and friendly! Since it was a colder day we only saw one alligator but the train ride was fun! The nature center and honey house were very informative as well and we walked along the boardwalks and saw the alligators. If you have kids this is a great and educational day tour. Highly recommend!

Beautiful nature- great opportunity to take pictures. Boardwalks are wonderful. Climb the tower. The train ride is fun. Have been there many times since I was little. Always enjoyable.

It was a beautiful place. The boat ride was awesome. We saw a lot of wildlife including gators, turtles, snakes, squirrels, birds and even an armadillo. The Guide was super informative and a bit of a comedian (Thanks Joey for an awesome ride). We highly recommend this when you visit. By the way, we are huge dragonfly lovers and they were EVERYWHERE. They even landed on us and were unafraid. This really made my heart happy.

I took grandkids on homeschool day. They offered a great discount. The boat ride was very interesting and informative.

What could be better than this amazing state park?? Alligators... black bears... turkeys....eagles....turtles....snakes...lots of water... Spotless showers and comfort stations. Very spacious camp spots all with water and power. Reservations must be done on line, you can not just drive up. Fire pits, paved driveways, tables and bbq grates We tent and there was plenty of flat, shady places to set up. Of course we had mosquitoes and yellow flies, but what do expect we were in a swamp. Easy access to the swamp for kayaks and canoes. With the COVID closures there were no tours.. so it was amazing paddling with no motor noises. Water was very high so we had access all the way to the river. We will return.

Lovely well maintained park with gators galore. Springtime visit is comfortable and not crowded. We went to Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (MAIN Entrance) during spring break. We took a 90 minute boat tour with Okefenokee Adventures. Our tour guide Joey, a native of the area was both super knowledgeable and entertaining. We also drove the Swamp Island Drive 7 mile nature road to Chesser Island Homestead. Could have spent a whole day on just that road, exploring hiking trails and biking. Overall great trip and great time of year to go.

If you want to experience Florida or Georgia you cannot leave without visiting the swamp. This is the land of the modern dinosaurs. Family fun and the waterways are awesome.

Very enjoyable. Great for all ages. Very educational to. Depending on the season you go they have a great train ride with Christmas lights.

We came here this weekend and rented some kayaks, it was amazing. We had so much fun. We had seasoned kayakers with us as well as beginners and it was a great experience for both. I just started kayaking and was a bit weary about the alligators, but thank God we did not see any. The landscape was stunning, after a 1 mile stretch we took a little path to the right and were basically kayaking through sea roses and huge leaves and high grass. It was amazing. We ended at a platform where you can hang out and relax. Definitely will come back.

We took a boat ride from the Folkston entrance and highly recommend it. Love that our guide/naturalist Jenny took time to educate us on the history of the swamp and the nature around us, for instance allowing us to touch the red root fruit and explaining and showing us why the water has the unique dark color. We saw lots of wildlife on the ride. If you're looking for a way to see the Okefenokee, this is the way to go.

North Entrance is awesome and has a lot to offer. Train tour, boat tour, lots of our buildings, small museum and great nature show. Lots of gators and other wildlife.

Wonderful place to learn more about the great Okefenokee swamp. They are also in the midst of updating their mission and exhibits to make it an even more educational visit.

Very Very very Swampy ;) Very Very very Swampy ;) Very Very very Swampy ;) Very Very very Swampy ;)

It's a cool swamp to come and visit. Pricey for what there is to do. After 45 minutes we had seen everything in the park. The train was only running in the afternoon and we had limited time there. The swamp tour boat was fun should include that in the regular admission price. The tour guide was awesome. But the YELLOW FLIES were out of control. Yes we bought there $10 bug lotion. I'm still itching from bites a week later. It was fun to hike to the tour. We only saw 1 alligator on the entire boat ride. Most of the alligators we saw were outside the park entrance. The highlight foe the kids was holding Tiny the alligator and then holding the snakes. Great presenter too. But to me it was expensive for what you got.

A very beautiful space to appreciate and learn a lot about the swamp ecosystem, as you cruise on pleasant 90 minute tour of the calm black waters of the Okefenokee. The point where the canal enters the overarching cypress trees, dressed in Spanish moss is almost ethereal. A nice place a spend time with family.

This was our WOW moment when visiting Okefenokee Swamp Park! It was a drive for us coming from Omni Amelia Island but it was all worth it. What an incredible first time "up close & personal" experience with the gators! We even got to see Erin & her babies along with some intimidating large size gators & vultures, too. We walked the plank trail which was right above water level which was somewhat eerie not knowing what we may encounter surrounding us. One more thing...Shane our guide on the riverboat cruise through the swamp was hilarious & entertaining who completed our total gator experience. Thank you all!!!

This is like an oasis in the desert. The countryside is a lot of nothingness for miles...then you enter the gates and wow. Everyone was very welcoming. It has so much to see and do. We went for the deluxe package: private boat tour, the wildlife show (that was just ok), and then the train ride. Beyond that, there's lots of other areas to explore: the nature center, the gator exhibit. Ordinarily, there would be concessions, etc. But due to Covid, it's different. All in, we spent about 4 hours there. Granted it was HOT! But it's the middle of summer. The swamp itself is just beautiful. So much history. Definitely climb the tower!

Pretty legit park: we went for the Christmas event train ride where they had fire pits, sold s'mores ingredients and got chocolate, had Christmas Carolers, a phenomenal train ride with music and lights and an overall great experience. Would love to see this beautiful park during the daylight as well! Friendly people, nice location, will be back!

Superb, informative, beautiful opportunity for photography and kniwledge-gathering. Something unique for anyone who is not from this area. What woukd you rather see, real live alligators and water lilies or plastic keychain souvenirs?

An awesome experience!! We went in April and the weather was perfect! It was not busy that day either.

We enjoyed the park and especially enjoyed the Okefenokee adventures where we rented a jon boat for a trip through the swamp. Reasonable price and a trip we won't forget!

Nature, educational, and views are amazing. Watch the alligator show and see the largest fresh water swamp in the southern United States

Our swamp guide Chris aka The Turtle Man was the absolute best guide. He is a naturalist and an incredible storyteller. He has so much knowledge of the wildlife as well as the history of people in the south. He was also funny with great little quips and good humor. It made for a very entertaining 1.5 hour ride. We didn't see an alligator on the water because the levels were too high, however when we drove the refuge loop we did see a huge one and that satisfied us. We saw a pair of big beautiful cranes and wildflowers and egrets and hawks. A great blue heron flew in front of us for a long stretch it was so peaceful to see. We enjoyed our tour there.

It was fun to hear the nature and see what we saw of it.the cost was a little bit high for only seeing 1 gator and it was small and the yellow flies were awful to us but that's ta be expected for a swap lol

Brilliant 90-minute tour by boat of the swamp, where we saw alligators, turtles and lots of other flora snd fauna. Our guide was very knowledgeable. Afterwards we did a self-guided drive and walk that were also really good. Excellent value and fascinating experience.

Must visit here while in Georgia.boat tours with tour guide. You get to go out and see gators. Just make sure to Bring bug repellent. When out in swamp there is sure to be deer flies and yellow flies. Great place for the whole family.

We really enjoyed our Train Ride through the Christmas Lights. Even with a little rain, the lights were still wonderful. The Park is well-run, and efficient. We plan to return in the warmer months, to see gators and such

I have always wanted to visit the Okefenokee Swamp and the trip did not disappoint. We rode the train and did the boat tour. our boat guide was awesome. My son even got to drink real swamp water. It is a must-do.

Okedachokey swamp is kind of neat for the outdoor shooting range. You need a state park pass to shoot there, they are marginal in cost. Bring cardboard, zip ties, targets. Everyone will hold fire if you wait to ask. People are really nice there. Though it's a little weird, everyone to their eyeballs in firearms and ammo, in the middle of nowhere... yet somehow safe? Clean up after yourself. Put your brass in the trash and targets too. It's quite a trip getting there. Recommend to drive something higher like at least an SUV. A car will likely bottom out on this strange dirt road.

Okefenokee Adventure Park in Folkston, GA was AMAZING!! My husband and I took the 90 minute boat ride through the swamp and saw many alligators. Our guide was very knowledgeable on the swamp. He educated us on the plants and animals that inhabit the swamp. We can't wait to bring our grandchildren back!

Went here for the first time in 25 years. For a family of 5 was out about 120 bucks but man it's worth it. Pulling up in the parking lot you could hear the gators singing to each other. We didn't even make it inside the front door and seen one sunning. The tickets we got included the boat the train and the reptile show. The tour guide was amazing and knowledgeable. Also loved his sense of humor. On the train ride the girl who gave it was knowledgeable also. We stopped at the pioneer days island and got a taste of life in the swamp 100 years ago. Then during the reptile show we got to hold a baby gator a turtle a two snakes. Inside the building there was a black bear viewing area. And they had a honey bee exhibit. Being a bee keeper I found it nice. The trail to the tower was nice. I weigh 400 and made it and climbed it. Super amazing view of a beautiful place. Great for kids

The tour was very informative. Our guide was extremely knowledgable (turtle Man). if you have a chance -take ithe tour. Glenn

Turtle Tim is the man. Great tour and I always love coming to this park. It's so quiet and serene. I've seen wood peckers, owls, osprey, gators and a few moccasins ( one of which is too many ). Highly recommend this beautiful place !!!

First time there. Everyone really friendly. Did the train ride around the park, then the boat tour. Boat tour was great, came upon the mother gator guarding her nest and lots of small gators near the boat. The s n ack shack was pretty good. Alligator on a stick and frog legs. They also had deep fried squash chips-delicious.

Gators fish turtles nature trails really cool place lots of wildlife and family fun worth checking out

Our family visit to the Okefenokee swamp in 2008 is an occasion we will never forget. The snake show and boat tour of the swamp were outstanding. This was shortly after a fire had devastated thousands of acres. Someone from Waycross had discarded a Bassador puppy about 3 months old on the long lonely road leading to the swamp. It was 95 degrees outside and the puppy was malnourished and thirsty. We made every effort to find an owner and finally were told that such dogs are often discarded there. We named him Pogo, after the Okefenokee comic strip, and brought him home to Virginia where he lived for 12 wonderful years. See our tribute and the love he brought into our lives at: https://jasoncanon.com/pogo-rip

A great place to enjoy a day of sun shine and nature! The folks working here are super great and very informative. Lots of history to explore and such a beautiful area!

Guide was outstanding. She is from the area but had experience from other parks. Had a wealth of background information that provided context to what we saw. Had lunch at the cafeteria. Friendly service and good food. Tour date 5/3/2021

Buyer beware! Hokefenokee swamp is a much better name. For $27 per adult, you get a 300 yard boat tour , barely leaving the parking lot. Saw one gator, which could have been an animatronic for all we know. Next was the cheesiest train tour, akin to a kiddie park with a guide who we could hear every 20th word. It stopped for a 10 minute break and we couldn't find the exit fast enough. We did walk to the tower and climbed that which was anticlimactic as well. Little did we know that this was not run by the National Park but a private company. Save your money and go to a more authentic visit of the swamp. It was like the let down after a big party.

This is a really cool place to visit! The Okefenokee Swamp is a great reminder of the "real Florida" that many native Floridians grew up with. A huge first tip is of course bring (and use) lots of bug spray! It's a swamp for Pete's sake. As we explored the grounds, I couldn't help but immediately notice an alligator just feet off one of the pathways. That's a good start if you ask me. He was just observing things. We opted to hike the raised path to check out the tower. My awareness was heightened because this wooden pathway is literally inches above the swamp water in some parts. Hmmm...where are the gators and his friends? (By the way we did have to sign a release to do this hike). The reward at the end was well worth it! We climbed to the top of an observation tower high above the swamp offering views that extended for miles. Totally awesome. After the climb down and hike back, we settled in for a very informative, live demonstration by an energetic outdoorsman. He showed us various turtles and snakes and was very interactive with the audience. We felt engaged throughout the 30 minute show. Next we were ready for some A/C and a small bite so we opted for the small restaurant on the property. Surprised to say the least, the food was great! Cooked to order and homemade sauces. Check! Nothing fancy but probably better than any food at a swamp before! With the train bell ringing, we jumped onto the train that wraps around the property for a brief tour. It's about a 45 minute tour with a stop in the middle to get out, stretch your legs and snap some photos. Plenty of opportunities to explore and connect a little with nature. We skipped the guided boat tour but that looked like fun too. Overall a great family-friendly experience!

This place is starting to look pretty run-down. I remembered it being fun ~15 years ago, but was disappointed on this return visit. Not many animals to see and those that were there had dilapidated enclosures. That said, we did not take the boat ride or see their educational animal presentation, so maybe those would've enhanced our experience.

I didnt want to go. Anyone that talked to me before we left KNEW how bad I didnt want to go. I dont care for the heat, I dont like bugs. Lets face it, I am not a country girl. Now, having said that - I loved this place. We had a fantastic time. The park was clean, educational and full of exhibits that appealed to my lil artsy self. We took the hour long boat tour and when our tour guide started talking with this deep south 'yer in fer a good time' spill I thought - oh hell let me just drown myself now. Now, I happen to believe that you indeed CAN judge a book by a cover. NOT true with 'TJ, the boat guide' He was wonderful. I could go on for hours about this trip. This artsy atlanta city chick had a blast. Worth the drive, great family destination. 12 admission with no boat tour 16 w/ 30 min tour 20 w/ 1 hour tour I would highly recomment the hour tour but ask for TJ The train tour left a lot to be desired, we had a canned tour guide but it was still a nice ride through the park.

Poorly maintained. Most walkways of the park are not well maintained. Most exhibits are not updated or lacking. Fairly high ticket price for full family based on what was available. Good be very nice place for day trip but needs a lot of work.