Airboats, Swamp Grass, and Old Florida at Boggy Creek

Somewhere along the line, airboats became one of those iconic Florida experiences people imagine when they think about the state. Right up there with alligators, palm trees, and people wearing flip flops year-round.

It had also been years since I’d done an airboat ride myself, so when family came to visit Orlando, heading out to Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures was an easy decision.

Boggy Creek is one of those classic Central Florida places that feels very different from the polished Disney version of Florida. It’s swamp grass and wetlands and gift shops full of alligator-related merchandise. The kind of place where you half expect someone to hand you boiled peanuts on the way to the dock.

We went in May and it’s been an unusually hot summer so far — it was already over 90 degrees before we even climbed onto the boat.

A few things we learned immediately:

First, don’t bother wearing a hat unless it has a strap. I brought one for the sun, but the boat isn’t covered and the wind is intense once you get moving. Mine blew off almost immediately and I spent most of the ride clutching it in my lap. The guide said hats sometimes wind up in the giant fan blades and get shredded.

Second, wear the ear covers. If you’re like me, you’ll initially think, “I don’t need ear protection for a boat ride.” A few minutes later you’ll be putting them on while attempting to communicate with the people beside you entirely through exaggerated facial expressions.

The thing that surprised all of us most was how smooth the ride was. Before we went, I think we all pictured the boat bouncing violently across grass and swamp water like some kind of backwoods safari machine.

It really wasn’t. The boat skimmed over the water and marsh surprisingly smoothly, even when cutting across patches of tall grass or floating branches.

There also isn’t a ton of narration while you’re moving because there can’t be. Once the boat gets going, conversation becomes mostly theoretical. The guide can really only talk when the engine is idling, so a lot of the experience is just scanning the wetlands and enjoying the adventure.

At one point the guide spotted something in the distance and veered into a grassy area hoping to find a larger alligator.

Instead, we found flies. Thousands of them.

For about thirty seconds the boat passed through a cloud of swamp flies thick enough that everyone started ducking and swatting the air at the same time.

Florida nature does not always believe in personal space!

We saw several small alligators during the ride, though no giant prehistoric monsters dramatically launching themselves from the water. According to the guide, the heat keeps many of the gators tucked away during the middle of the day.

We did see birds everywhere. Herons, egrets, and anhingas — big black birds that perch on branches with their wings stretched open like they’re trying to air themselves out while simultaneously posing perfectly for photos.

The guide told the single best/worst joke I’ve heard in a while: “What’s the difference between an alligator and a crocodile?”

“You see an alligator later. You see a crocodile after a while.” Get it?

Outside of the airboat rides, Boggy Creek has turned itself into a bit more of an attraction complex than just a dock and a boat launch. There are food and drinks available, a butterfly garden you can walk through, and a gem mining area for kids.

You can also pay extra to pet a Highland cow. We skipped this, mostly because I couldn’t help but wonder how a shaggy Scottish cow survives in the Florida heat.

The whole place has a very family-friendly old Florida roadside attraction feel to it. Not polished theme park Florida. Actual Florida. The version with swamp grass, airboats, questionable jokes, sunburn potential, and relatives laughing while waving flies away in the middle of a marsh.

That’s part of the charm.

Planning Your Visit

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures is located near Kissimmee, about 30–40 minutes south of most of the Orlando attractions depending on traffic. They offer a variety of tour lengths, private tours, and sunset rides. Our guide recommended the sunset ride for the best time of day to escape the heat and also see the wildlife.

You can learn more or book a ride directly through the Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures website:
https://www.bcairboats.com