How to visit Dry Tortugas National Park

Today we are sharing a guide on how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. Did you know that Florida has eleven National Parks? It’s true, and Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most unique.

The other National Parks in Florida include:

• Big Cypress National Preserve
• Biscayne National Park
• Canaveral National Seashore
• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
• De Soto National Memorial
• Everglades National Park
• Fort Caroline National Memorial
• Fort Matanzas
• Gulf Islands National Seashore
• Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
• and, of course, Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the unique parks within the National Parks Service. The remote location is only accessible by ferry service, seaplane, or your own boat. (Or, maybe, your own private jet, if you have one, but that is probably quite complicated.) As a result, it is one of the least visited parks in North America.

It’s a great place to visit with some of the best snorkeling in the United States. Dry Tortugas is one of the most remote National Parks, with fewer guests than most National Parks. However, the crystal clear water, white sand beaches, and loggerhead turtles make it a must-see.

It’s also a great spot for history buffs who would like to visit historic Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson is the largest masonry structure in the United States. The masonry fort has also been used as a prison. Prisoners include Dr. Samuel Mudd, a doctor who set the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth.

A guide to Dry Tortugas National Park

Let’s get to this guide on how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park, including Dry Tortugas FAQ. A Dry Tortugas Day Trip is a must if you’re visiting Key West. But first, you’ll have to know how to get there and how to spend your time once you reach Dry Tortugas National Park.

Where is Dry Tortugas National Park Located?

The first question in this guide to how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park is just where is it?! The Dry Tortugas are located near the Florida Keys.

It is the last group of islands in the keys, approximately 70 miles west of Key West. The 100-square-mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Thanks to the remote location, you’ll find fewer crowds here.

When Was Dry Tortugas National Park Founded?

This national park was founded on October 26, 1992. This park, as well as the Everglades, form the UNESCO Everglades and Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve. If you’ve visited Everglades National Park, you know the two parks could not be more different. Each is unique and worth a visit during your Florida vacation, if possible.

Currently, Dry Tortugas National Park has a visitor center. Actually, it has three visitor centers, including a discovery center, a historic seaport, and a bookstore.

What is the history of Dry Tortugas National Park?

Fort Jefferson was built in the mid-1800s to protect the United States’ gateway to the Gulf of Mexico. It was created to protect a lucrative shipping channel. Although it is massive, it was technically never finished. The occasionally rough seas (mixed with shallow waters and coral reefs) were also home to many shipwrecks.

A lighthouse was constructed on Garden Key in 1825 and Loggerhead Key in 1858 to warn ships of the reefs and shallow waters.

If you love lighthouses and want to learn more about them, check out The Ultimate List of Florida Lighthouses.

Fortunately, the fort was never attacked. However, during the Civil War, the fort was also used as a military prison, primarily for Union deserters. As mentioned earlier, the most famous prisoner – Dr. Samuel Mudd – was the physician who set the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth.

Fort Jefferson National Monument was designated as a National Monument by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935.

How Large is Dry Tortugas National Park?

This national park is about 100 square miles or 65,000 acres. Most of the park is turquoise waters. Therefore, you won’t be able to explore all that acreage on dry land.

The seven islands that make up the park include:

• Garden Key
• Loggerhead Key
• Bush Key
• Long Key
• Hospital Key
• Middle Key
• East Key

The only three islands open to the public are Garden Key, Bush Key, and Loggerhead Key. Bush Key is only open for a few months each year. The rest of the islands contain bird nesting sites. Therefore, no one is allowed in these areas of the park.

When is the Best Time to Visit Dry Tortugas National Park?

If you want to know how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park, you may wonder when you should visit. You can easily visit this national park in Florida at any time of the year. However, it is important to keep a few things in mind as you plan your visit.

May through October gives you an increased chance of having a hurricane nearby during your trip. So be prepared if you plan to visit during the summer months and into hurricane season.

Windy conditions are possible from November through April. The wind can create large swells in the water. As a result, it can be impossible to enter the water for swimming, snorkeling, or kayaking.

I recommend visiting this national park between October and January. It is during this time that Bush Key is open. You may find rough waters during the winter months, but it may be calm; it’s hard to say!

How to visit Dry Tortugas National Park

Unfortunately, you cannot drive to Dry Tortugas National Park, and there is no road trip off the coast of Key West. The only way to reach this beautiful area far off the gulf coast of Florida is to take a ferry ride or seaplane. Both the seaplane and ferry leave from Key West. Planes will leave from Key West Airport.

If you have your own private boat, you’ll need a boating permit, but we won’t go into that in detail today. However, if that is your situation, check out the National Park Service FAQ to learn more.

It is best to book your passage well in advance as the seats fill up quickly each day. The most popular way to visit the remote island chain is the Dry Tortugas Ferry. We recommend a full day trip.

Ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park

The only ferry authorized to enter the water in Dry Tortugas National Park is the Yankee Freedom. The Yankee Freedom ferry (The Yankee Freedom III) leaves Key West at 8 am. It then makes the two-and-a-half-hour ride to the dock at Garden Key.

The ferry costs $200 for adults and $145 for kids through the age of 16. The price includes the ride to the park, breakfast snack, a park access ticket, a box lunch, and a tour of the fort. You can also access snorkeling gear if you want it, although we recommend bringing your own.

(snorkeling gear link)

The ferry leaves to return to Key West at 5:30 pm.

If you want a quicker journey to the park, you can hop on a plane by Seaplane Adventures. They are the only seaplane service to the park. Although more expensive, a seaplane is the fastest way and a unique experience as you fly low over the blue water.

The plane ride takes approximately 40 minutes each way. Seaplane Adventures offers half-day and full-day options.

A half-day excursion costs $371 for adults and $297 for children 12 and under. This includes two and a half hours on the island.

Full-day excursions are $644 for adults and $515 for kids 12 and under. This includes six and a half hours on the island.

These fees do not include the entrance to the national park. The entrance fee for the park is $15 for everyone aged 16 and over.

Things to Do at Dry Tortugas National Park

I have given you plenty of information here on how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. However, knowing exactly what you can do at this park is probably what you have been waiting to see!

So, let’s get going with everything you can do while visiting this spectacular area in Florida!

Explore Fort Jefferson

Most people travel to this national park to spend time exploring Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts. This historic fort is located on Garden Key (the largest island.) So, you won’t even need to island-hop if you don’t want to during your visit.

You can easily take your family on a self-guided tour of Fort Jefferson. However, I don’t recommend this because you won’t learn as much about this massive structure.

Most guided tours last between 45 and 60 minutes. That is plenty of time to learn about the fort’s history and hear a few captivating stories with tour guides. We highly recommend this 45-minute tour of the fort.

However, it won’t be enough time to count all 16 million bricks used to construct this fort. If the kids need something to do, they can start counting anyway.

Make sure you take the time to walk along the trail along the top of the fort before you leave. The views from there are incredible!

FYI… There are no rails along the top. So stay away from the sides and keep young kids close to you to avoid an accident.

Become a Junior Ranger

Kids can work with Park Rangers and become Junior Rangers through the Junior Ranger Program. This is one of the best things to do at Dry Tortugas National Park for kids.

Wander Around Bush Key

You are in luck if you plan your visit to Dry Tortugas National Park for October through January. Bush Key is open during those months.

The walking trail happens to be on the white sandy beach. I can definitely think of worse ways to spend an hour or two in sunny Florida!

Go Swimming or Snorkeling

The water in Dry Tortugas is perfect for both swimming and snorkeling. Time in the water can be spent checking out colorful coral reefs, sea turtles, other marine life, and tropical fish. You might even discover an octopus or shark out in the water.

The best places to go snorkeling include the Moat Wall, South Coaling Dock Ruins, and the North Coaling Dock Ruins. The shallow waters make it easy to have a great time snorkeling.

If you want to go swimming, South Swim Beach is the place to go. All the beaches in Dry Tortugas are wonderful. In addition, South Swim Beach offers fantastic views of Fort Jefferson with no waves.

Although your ferry ride includes access to snorkel gear, I recommend bringing your own, if possible. Check out some of our favorite snorkeling gear below.

Check Out the Wildlife

The islands within Dry Tortugas serve as bird nesting sites. Therefore, it is possible to see almost 300 different species of migratory birds during your visit. These birds are the only wildlife you will see out of the water.

If you love bird watching, make sure to check out our post: The Ultimate List of Florida Birds. I wonder how many you’ll see at las Tortugas?

Visit Loggerhead Key

You must take a boat to reach Loggerhead Key. It is 3 miles away from Garden Key. There are no ferries or private charters, so you must arrange your own transportation.

You can kayak to the island. However, you must have your own kayak. A permit is also needed for Loggerhead Key before departing from Garden Key.

If you decide to kayak between the islands, you will need to camp on Garden Key for the night. There isn’t enough time to complete this journey in a single day. Also, you will miss the last ferry or seaplane off the island.

Go Camping

If one day in Dry Tortugas National Park is not enough, you can always camp there!

There are eight campsites on Garden Key. All the campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, you will need to make your camping reservation well in advance. I’m talking between 9 and 12 months in advance. This is a popular place to camp, and with good reason.

Each campsite has a picnic table and grills. In addition, there is an overflow area for extra campers. Everyone must share the picnic tables and grills in that area.

Tips for Visiting Dry Tortugas

There is no cell phone service or access to the internet at Dry Tortugas. Keep that in mind as you are planning your visit. Is that really a bad thing?! I don’t think so.

You won’t find a store or a vending machine on the islands. You will need to bring food and snacks with you for your time in Dry Tortugas. So make sure to pack enough food and snacks for your day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park.

Another pro tip: it is best to be prepared with extra clothing. The weather in Dry Tortugas can change quickly. What starts as a warm, sunny day can easily change to windy, rainy, and cooler. Rain gear and extra layers can be helpful. I recommend bringing an emergency poncho, just in case.

How to visit Dry Tortugas National Park

I hope you enjoyed this guide on how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park. Did it make you want to visit? Let me know in the comments. On the other hand, maybe you love National Parks, and you’re ready to visit one of the least visited National Parks. Either way, we are glad you joined us today.

Should we do another blog post about some of the other National Parks in Florida? Or even the state parks in Florida? Let us know what you think. Did you know that Florida has 175 state parks?!

More things to do in Florida

If you enjoyed this guide on how to visit Dry Tortugas National Park, you might also enjoy the following:

• 30 things to do from Miami to Key West
• The 40 best places to eat in Key West Florida
• 35 Things to Do in Key West with Kids
• The best Gulf Beaches in Florida
• The best place to find sharks teeth in Florida

We also have many posts about Orlando, theme parks, Key West, etc. If it’s about Florida, you can find it here! If you have any special requests for blog posts, let us know in the comments.

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