Homestead’s award-winning National Parks Trolley service returns Saturday, December 29, 2018 with new routes and stops while still offering a free ride, free guided tour, and free admission to Everglades & Biscayne National Parks every weekend through April 21, 2019. The Trolley hub is in Historic Downtown Homestead, where visitors can enjoy local restaurants, visit the free Historic Homestead Town Hall Museum, or catch a show at the Seminole Theatre.
The Homestead National Parks Trolley can be boarded at the hub located at Losner Park in Historic Downtown Homestead at 104 N. Krome Avenue or at an additional stop at the Marriott Hotels complex located on Campbell Drive just east of Exit 2 of Florida’s Turnpike. The trolley also connects to bus routes from Miami-Dade County public transportation and there is plenty of free parking adjacent to the trolley stop Downtown.
From Downtown Homestead, the National Parks Trolley will bring visitors to Everglades National Park’s Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center and the Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm. From Royal Palm, it will adjoin to tours of the Historic Nike Missile Site. On the way back from the Everglades, the Trolley stops at iconic local fruit stand Robert Is Here, known for its selection of tropical fruits and creamy milkshakes. Trolley riders will have the chance to pre-order from the stand or browse the unique array of fresh produce.
The Trolley also travels from Downtown Homestead to Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center and boardwalk and to the atoll beach at Miami-Dade County’s Homestead Bayfront Park. At Biscayne National Park, visitors can explore this mostly aquatic park by taking the Island Boat Tour to Boca Chita Key.
The National Parks Trolley is the only public transportation available to these nearby natural treasures and is one of the first programs of its kind in the nation. The groundbreaking program boasts a variety of prestigious awards including the National Parks Service Director’s Partnership Award and the City-County Communications and Marketing Association Savvy Award.
The Homestead National Parks Trolley is the result of coordinated efforts, spearheaded by Vice Mayor Stephen Shelley, between National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) in collaboration with National Park Service and the City of Homestead. NPCA is America’s voice for National Parks and works to protect and enhance America’s National Park System for current and future generations.
For more information on the Homestead National Parks Trolley schedule and routes as well as ranger-guided tours at the National Parks and other activities, please visit: www.cityofhomestead.com/gateway or call (305) 224-4457.