Dry Tortugas is easily one of the most unique of the US national parks! This island is rich in its flora, birdlife, aquatic life and history. Dry Tortugas is located on an island 70 miles off the coast of Key West and requires some planning to reach. It’s worth the cost and prior planning to visit such a remote and beautiful place.
One of the most notable parts of Dry Tortugas is Fort Jefferson. This giant fort was built by the United States army in the mid-1800’s. (Actually, it was mostly built by prisoners and Irish immigrants). It was constructed in order to protect an important trade route in the Gulf of Mexico, but was never fully completed. Fort Jefferson was designated a national monument in 1935 and Dry Tortugas became a national park in 1992.
The fort is the most recognizable part of this park, but Dry Tortugas is also known for its bird life, coral reefs, turtles, fish and unique vegetation.
Dry Tortugas is actually made up of 7 islands, but most visitors just visit Garden Key, where Fort Jefferson is located. A couple of the islands are just patches to the sand, and some are closed to the public.
During a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, you can partake in snorkeling, take a ranger-led tour of the fort, or just explore on your own. This unique park easily deserves a spot on your national park bucket list! This guide is based on my experience visiting Dry Tortugas in March 2022.
How To Get To Dry Tortugas National Park
There are two main ways to reach Dry Tortugas National Park - a ferry or a seaplane. Both leave from Key West. There are a few ways to get to Key West, but I recommend flying into Miami, renting a car, and taking a Florida Keys road trip! However, if you’re short on time, you also fly directly into Key West.
The ferry option accommodates more people and is more affordable (although it’s still not cheap). The Yankee Freedom Ferry is the only ferry you can take to reach the island. They can carry 175 passengers per day and the ferry leaves at 8 AM and returns around 5:15 PM. The ride takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes each way, so day trippers have 4-5 hours to explore the island and have lunch.
Need to Know: Weather delays and cancellations are possible when it comes to visiting Dry Tortugas.
The ship is spacious with two levels, and has a snack bar serving snacks, sodas, souvenirs and even alcohol on the way back. It’s really common for the ride to be rocky, so dramamine is highly recommended if you’re prone to seasickness. I had a bit of a rocky ride on our way back, but the crew was super helpful in providing ginger ale and other help. Plus, they offered dramamine at a very affordable price.
Need to Know: The ferry recommends parking in the City Parking Garage on Grinnell Street during your trip, which costs $40 per day.
You’ll want to book your ferry tickets as soon as possible, as they often sell out. Tickets typically sell out at least 2-4 weeks in advance, but sometimes sell out 3 months in advance for peak times. Ticket prices can vary a bit, but typically it costs $250 per adult ($235 if you have an America the Beautiful Pass) and $195 per child.
There is one seaplane operator that takes guests to Dry Tortugas - Key West Seaplane Adventures. You can choose between a half or full day trip to Dry Tortugas via a seaplane. The half day excursions cost $494 per adult, and the full day costs $868 per adult. Like the ferry, the seaplanes also tend to sell out at least a couple weeks in advance.
One of the top benefits of the seaplane (in my opinion), would be to experience the island before or after the day trippers have left. If given the choice, I would recommend the earliest time available to arrive before the ferry. (Of course, camping is an even better way to have that experience). The travel time on the plane is about 40 minutes each way (compared to over 2 hours each way on the ferry). The seaplane also provides beautiful views from above.
The final way to reach Dry Tortugas National Park is via your own personal boat. You can learn more about that from the national park website.
When to Visit Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park can be enjoyed year round, but Spring tends to be the best time to visit. March and May offer warm temperatures (but not too hot), calmer seas and the best visibility for snorkeling. I visited March and had great weather!
Summer is the busiest time at Dry Tortugas and the temperatures are usually hot and humid. This might be the best time if you know you want to spend a lot of time in the water!
Fall is typically the least crowded time of year to visit, but it’s also hurricane season. It’s the time where you might experience quick, heavy rain showers, and you’ll have to keep an eye out for potential hurricanes, but might be a worthy risk for lower crowds.
Winter is a nice time to enjoy cooler weather, lower humidity and to see migratory birds.
Personally, I recommend combining your trip to Dry Tortugas with a Florida Keys road trip and/or visits to the other Florida national parks. In my opinion, winter and spring are the best times to enjoy these areas.
The Best Things To Do in Dry Tortugas National Park
So you’ve arrived on the island on your day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park - now what? Along with enjoying your lunch provided by the ferry, looking for birds and relaxing on the beach, here are 3 of the best things to do when you arrive at Dry Tortugas National Park.
Take a Tour of Fort Jefferson
There is a tour of Fort Jefferson offered daily at Dry Tortugas National Park. It lasts 45-60 minutes and is a wonderful way to learn all about the history of the island. The fort is certainly an impressive piece of architecture. It was designed to have 450 cannons and has 2,000 arches.
Our guide was great and it was really interesting to learn all about the island and its history.
Explore the Island and Fort on your own
While you'll see some of the fort on the tour, there is a lot more to explore on your own. I was a little surprised by how big the fort actually was. It’s 3 levels and there are plenty of interesting nooks to explore.
It’s also really fun to walk around the moat wall that surrounds the fort. We spent about an hour exploring the fort and the rest of the island. Unfortunately, this left us very little time left for snorkeling, but we still had a great time.
Go Snorkeling
I had planned to snorkel, but after spending most of the day exploring as much of the island as I could, I ran out of time. However, I was able to take a quick dip in the cool ocean water. They explained on the ferry where the best spots for snorkeling were, and recommended snorkeling along the moat wall. There is a lot of opportunity to admire fish, coral and artifacts such as anchor chains.
Fun Fact: There have been over 250 shipwrecks near Dry Tortugas. The reef between these islands and mainland Florida is the largest living barrier reef in the United States.
Camping at Dry Tortugas National Park
While I loved my day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, I left wanting more time on the island, so I hope to return someday to camp!
There is a lot to consider when camping at Dry Tortugas. First, you’ll need to reserve a camping reservation on the Yankee Freedom ferry. The camping spots go on sale 6 months in advance and often fill up very quickly. The seaplane does not transport campers.
There are only 10 campsites, and they are first-come, first-serve. If they’re taken by the time you get over there, you’ll have to share the grassy overflow area.
This is a primitive campground. There are bathrooms on the island, but no water. You’ll need to bring all your own supplies, including your water, fuel, tent, food, etc. You’ll also need to pack out all of your trash.
From the night skies to the sunrises and sunsets, I think camping here would be magical! Be sure to read all of the information and guidelines on the National Park website if it’s something you’re interested in.
FAQs about Dry Tortugas National Park
Is a day trip enough time for Dry Tortugas National Park?
This really depends on your travel style. I think that a day trip is great for most people, but personally, I thought it was a little rushed to explore Dry Tortugas National Park. After taking the guided tour and exploring a lot of the fort, I ran out of time for snorkeling, but was disappointed. If you’re someone who really likes to see places thoroughly, I would recommend trying to snag camping reservations for Dry Tortugas.
Are there bathrooms on Dry Tortugas National Park?
There are restrooms available for campers, but day trippers must use the bathrooms aboard the Yankee Freedom ship.
What is the cheapest way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park?
Unfortunately, this park is not cheap to reach. However, the most affordable way to reach the park is by taking the ferry!
Is there a visitor center on Dry Tortugas National Park?
Yes, there is a visitor center and a gift shop on the island. As for food, food is provided by the ferry, and extra can be purchased from the ferry snack bar.
How far in advance do I need to book my trip to Dry Tortugas National Park?
This can vary depending on time of year, but both the ferry and seaplane tickets usually sell out between 2 weeks and 3 months in advance. I recommend booking as soon as you can! If your dates are sold out, keep checking for cancellations.
Can you rent gear for snorkeling or scuba diving?
Snorkeling gear is provided by the Yankee Freedom ferry at no extra cost. You cannot take diving gear on the ferry or seaplanes - you can only dive here if you visit via a private boat.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you plan your Dry Tortugas day trip! From the remote ocean views to the historic fort to the coral reefs, there is no other place quite like this. This is such a unique national park and makes an incredible addition to a Florida Keys road trip.
For more Florida travel guides, check out these blogs:
- How to Visit Biscayne National Park
- How to Spend 3 Days in the Everglades and Big Cypress
- An Epic Miami to Key West Road Trip
- Things To Do in Crystal River
- Things To Do in Orlando Besides Disney
Thanks for Reading!
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