One of the most unique national parks we’ve been to is the Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida. It is also the most expensive park to visit due to its remote location. Dry Tortugas is located 70 miles west of Key West, in the middle of the ocean. This means the only way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park is to either take a boat (chartered or private), the public ferry, or a seaplane. Therefore, it takes a lot of prior planning and money to visit this gorgeous park. However, it is worth it! Dry Tortugas is home to the historic and photogenic Fort Jefferson, clear teal water, an abundance of coral reefs and marine life, and sea birds. It’s seriously on our top 10 to visit in Florida.

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History of Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson

Dry Tortugas is rich in cultural heritage. The seven keys (Garden, Loggerhead, Bush, Long, East, Hospital, and Middle) are together known as the Dry Tortugas. They are positioned on the edge of the main shipping channel for the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the western Caribbean. Because of its strategic location, there were a large number of vessels going through its surrounding water. This shipping channel was also used among the Spanish explorers and merchants traveling along the Gulf Coast.

In the mid-19th century, the largest all-masonry fort, Fort Jefferson was built to protect the extremely lucrative shipping channel. However, the fort was never completed because of the fear that additional cannons or bricks would place more stress on the structure. This fort was a place where soldiers served and died. There are many tales about pirates and treasures regarding the waters surrounding this place.

In 1992, this collection of islands was declared a national park. Although, most of the park is actually underwater. Dry Tortugas was established to preserve Fort Jefferson, protect the island the fragile marine ecosystem, and also be the only tropical reef in the United States. The tropical reef here is the third largest reef in the world.

How to Get to Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is located 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. It is literally in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the ocean with no connection road. Because of its remote location, you can only get here by boat or seaplane. There are 3 options for transportation to the park with at least 2 of them starting out from Key West.

Taking the Ferry Boat

This is the most affordable way to visit Dry Tortugas (unless you own a boat). There is only one ferry that is allowed to dock at Dry Tortugas, which is the Yankee Freedom III. The Yankee Freedom III departs from the Key West Ferry Terminal and takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes each way. The ferry boards at 7:30 am and returns to Key West at 5:30 pm. This means you’ll have about 4.5 hours at the park. If you’re planning on camping, you have to take either the ferry or your own boat.

At the time we went, it was $200 per adult for a day trip. This price includes a park entrance, breakfast and lunch, snorkel gear, and a 45-minute narrated tour of Fort Jefferson. If you have America the Beautiful pass, you can save $15/person (up to 4 people per pass), by choosing the option when booking. You will need to show your pass at the Ferry. Since the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park has limited seats, we recommend booking in advance. You can get your ticket here.

Flying on the Seaplane

Taking a seaplane to Dry Tortugas is an adventure all by itself. Imagine soaring above the clear teal water, the green islands, and the wildlife below. However, it is also very pricey. It will cost you about $644 for a full day, and $371 for half a day per adult. Seaplane Adventure is the only company that is allowed to go to the park. Therefore, if this is what you want, you’ll need to book very far in advance. There are only 2 planes, with 10 seats per plane that fly each day. So seats are very limited.

So the advantage of taking a seaplane is that you’ll get to Dry Tortugas faster (40 minutes), which means you’ll have more time to spend there (6.5 hours). You also get beautiful aerial views and don’t have to deal with choppy waves. The cons, besides it being expensive, it doesn’t include breakfast, lunch, or the narrated fort tour. Also, if you’re planning on camping, you cannot take the seaplane. It is for day trips only.

Taking a Private Boat (Chartered or Owned)

You can get to Dry Tortugas by using your own boat or charter one. Don’t forget, you will need a boat permit, even if you aren’t planning on visiting Fort Jefferson. Boat permits are free and must be filled in person on Garden Key before any recreational activity. This includes kayaks. Learn more about Boat Permits here.

Tips on Visiting Dry Tortugas

When is the Best Time to Visit?

You can visit Dry Tortugas National Park any time. However, November to April is the best time to visit. The wind tends to be less strong, so the water is a lot calmer. The weather is also cooler.

What Should I Bring?

Comfortable footwear – since you’ll be walking a good amount
Swimsuit – if you’re planning to go in the water, you definitely should!
Sun protection such as hat, sunglasses, and lots of sunscreen
Towels and change of clothes
Light jacket – the weather can change quickly out there
Binoculars – if you’re into birdwatching
Camera – it’s beautiful there!
Snorkeling gear – there are complimentary ones but you can bring your own if you prefer. The complimentary ones are very basic.
IDs – you will need to show your ID to board the ferry

Don’t forget, you will need to carry all of this with you, walking around the island. So, make sure to bring only what you can carry.

Other Things You Need to Know

There are no lockers on the boat or on the island. However, there haven’t been any thefts here. Also, if you need help there are Law Enforcement Rangers at the park.
If you’re taking the ferry, make sure to bring medicines for motion sickness if you are prone to it. Even though Yankee Freedom is equipped with a state-of-the-art ride control system that helps to smooth out the ride, you should still come prepared. Dramamine or ginger chews can help with motion sickness.
Since it is a remote area, there is no cell reception here. Also, if you bring a cooler, there is no ice here. If you’re camping, you’ll need to bring EVERYTHING, including fresh water.
There are composting toilets located near the campground. However, whenever the ferry is docked, these toilets are locked. The toilets on the ferry become the public restrooms for everyone.
If you want to rinse off after a long day in the water, you can use Yankee Freedom’s free fresh water to do so.
No pets are allowed except for service pets.
DO NOT TOUCH OR STEP ON CORAL REEF! It will harm the reef.

What To Do in Dry Tortugas National Park

Taking a Tour at Fort Jefferson

Fort Jefferson was built between 1846 and 1875 to protect the Gulf from potential enemies as well as to safeguard U.S. trade routes between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River. Even though it took 30 years, the fort was never completed. The construction was mostly by slaves and prisoners. Fort Jefferson is the largest all-masonry fort in the United States.

The fort consists of a three-tiered structure with decorative brickwork and 2,000 arches. It was designed to support 450 guns and garrison 1,500 men. There is a protective moat surrounding the 3-foot thick walls with a drawbridge that could be raised to keep the enemies out. At one point, the fort housed about 2,000 people. It was described as “a dark, mean place.” Fort Jefferson wasn’t all sunshine and clear water like it is now. It has a dark past. Prisoners and slaves were forced to work in the blazing sun while surviving on minimal rations. Diseases such as yellow fever and scurvy were rampant. In addition, boredom and acute loneliness also play a big factor, not only for prisoners and slaves but soldiers as well.

As you can see, Fort Jefferson is also full of history and cultural heritage. It is a haven for history buffs. When you’re visiting Dry Tortugas, taking a tour of Fort Jefferson is a must-do! There is so much to see. You can either do the complimentary narrated tour if you come with the ferry or walk around by yourself. We opted to do a self-guided tour because we wanted to spend more time alone, but you’ll learn more on the tour. Besides the history, the fort is also super photogenic with interesting architecture.

Go Snorkeling

This is our favorite activity on Dry Tortugas! The water can’t get much better than here. Not only is the water warm, but it is also very clear. You can swim and snorkel all around the island, except for the whole area where the dock is and the seaplane beach, for obvious reasons.

The water here is shallow. It is perfect for beginners. You don’t need to go far to see an abundance of marine life. The North and Southern Swim Beach are the best places if you’re a beginner. If you’re an experienced snorkeler, you can go around the moat wall, head over to the coral head, or the historic Coaling Pier pilings. Please note that you cannot swim or snorkel inside the moat. Also, make sure to look but not touch and don’t stand on the coral.

Even though we barely left North Swim Beach, we saw tons of colorful fish, interesting coral, sea urchins, and a live Queen Conch. Don’t forget, you cannot collect anything on the island to bring back with you, so don’t even think about taking those cool-looking conch shells. Also, make sure to keep an eye out for fire coral. They can cause burning skin reactions.

Walk Around the Moat Wall

The moat wall is circling all around the island and Fort Jefferson. It makes for a nice stroll and provide beautiful sceneries and different perspective of the fort. If you love photography, you’ll love this stroll. That being said, it is quite a bit of a walk so make sure to budget your time so you can do all the activities that you want to do. Since we prefer to snorkel, we only had a little bit of time to walk the moat wall

Bird Watching

Dry Tortugas National Park is a paradise for birdwatchers. Imagine seeing 100,000 sooty terns all in one place at one time. This is what you can see near Bush Key between March and September nesting season. There are also tons of other birds such as masked and brown boobies, roseate tern, double-crested cormorant, and magnificent frigatebirds.

Camping

If you want to spend more than a few hours on Dry Tortugas, you’ll need to camp there overnight. If you want to camp, you have to either use the ferry or use your own boat. You cannot take the seaplane.

The ferry only has room for 10 campers each day. Since it is such a desirable camping area, you’ll need to reserve a camping spot far in advance, sometimes at least 9 months into the future. The only place you can camp here is at Garden Keys and there are only 8 campsites available first-come, first-served. If these spots are all taken, you can use the overflow area but you’ll need to share tables and grills with other overflow campers. If you arrive at the park with the ferry, you WILL have a spot to camp.

Don’t forget, this is primitive camping so you need to bring EVERYTHING, including fresh water. You also must have a tent to be allowed to camp. The camping fee is separate from the ferry and park fees. It is $15 a night for individual sites and $30 a night for group sites. It is self-service with cash only. Make sure to bring extra supplies since the ferries can be canceled if the weather is bad. For more info about camping at Dry Tortugas, check it out here.

Kayak / Paddleboard

Paddling is a great way to see clear water below and get to places that most visitors can’t get to. However, there isn’t any place for you to rent kayaks or paddleboards at Dry Tortugas National Park. You will need to bring them yourself whether by ferry or private boat. Also, you CAN NOT bring them on a day trip on the ferry. You’ll need to be camping there to bring your own kayaks and paddleboard. In addition, you will need to bring a PFD (Personal Floatation Device), a signaling device (typically a whistle and/or hand-held mirror), and a portable VHF radio prior to getting to the park.

Once arrived at Fort Jefferson, you’ll need to get a boat permit. Boat permits are free at the dock house information room. Then, the kayak can be launched at the dinghy beach. There are many routes that you can take depending on your experience, from quick paddles around Garden Key to longer open water. Bush and Long Key are the closest to Fort Jefferson. The trip around these islands usually takes a few hours. If you want to go to Loggerhead, it is 3 miles to the west of Garden Key. You’ll need to be an experienced paddler for this. This trip will require crossing over the deep, open water with very strong currents. However, you’ll be rewarded with wonderful snorkeling and empty beaches.

Beside Dry Tortugas, don’t forget to check out some other interesting Florida’s parks such as Shark Valley at the Everglades National Park, or Biscayne National Park.

Happy Adventuring. Don’t forget to check out the related posts below for more inspiration on your upcoming adventures. While you’re at it, go follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our Youtube channel! We’ll love you forever!

Recommended Gear

These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

adventure gear

Good hiking shoes are recommended on these adventures. Vy uses the Merrell Women’s Moab 2 hiking boots

Good hiking shoes with good traction are best. Dustin’s shoes are Targhee III Waterproof

There isn’t a lot of shade in the desert. Make sure to use lots of sunscreens! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30.

Face sunscreen is also important. We love these tinted, organic All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter.

You should bring plenty of water on your hikes. Vy loves the Camelback L.U.X.E.

For shorter hikes, the Patagonia Women’s Nine Trails Pack 18L is perfect to hold water and your essentials.

Sedona can get very cold in the winters and springs. We love our packable Patagonia Puff Jackets! You can get Vy’s version here, and Dustin’s version here.

If you want something lighter, we love the packable Patagonia Women’s Houdini® Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Houdini® Jacket

other things to bring

Depending on where you’re staying, make sure to pack groceries and other essentials ahead of time.
Lunch and snacks are recommended for longer hikes. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.