National park · United States
Dry Tortugas National ParkParque Nacional Dry Tortugas
Go only if you will book the ferry or seaplane ahead: the park is 113 km (70 mi) of open water from Key West and has no road in. Day trip by ferry (about 4 h ashore) or seaplane (half or full day); camp overnight if you want sunset and stars without the day crowd.Go only if you will book the ferry or seaplane ahead: the park is 70 mi (113 km) of open water from Key West and has no road in. Day trip by ferry (about 4 h ashore) or seaplane (half or full day); camp overnight if you want sunset and stars without the day crowd.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
261 km² (101 sq mi)101 sq mi (261 km²)
approximate
Established
1992
Best months
Mar–May
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
- Florida ↗Most Florida toll roads are cashless: rent a transponder or you pay the rental company's admin fee per day.
- Florida ↗Hurricane season runs 1 June to 30 November; peak August–October. Flexible bookings beat cheap non-refundable ones in those months.
- Florida Keys ↗Directions are given by mile marker (MM), not street address; numbers rise north from MM 0 in Key West.
- Florida Keys ↗Monroe County adds a US$0.50 tax to state park entrance fees; the Florida State Park Pass does not cover it.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 261 km² (101 sq mi)101 sq mi (261 km²)
- About 261 km², almost all of it water; the seven islands total roughly 0.6 km² of land (check).
- Established
- 1992
- Best months
- Mar–May
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Key West
Dry Tortugas is seven low coral-and-sand islands about 113 km west of Key West, in open Gulf water with no road in and no bridge from the rest of the Florida Keys. Almost the whole park is sea: the land is a few hectares of Garden Key, Bush Key and Loggerhead Key. Fort Jefferson, begun in 1846 and never finished, is the largest all-masonry fort in the United States, and it is the reason most people cross. The park was proclaimed a national monument in 1935 and redesignated a national park in 1992. You arrive by the Yankee Freedom ferry or by seaplane, both from Key West, or in your own boat; the day crowd leaves mid-afternoon, so the fort at sunset and the dark sky belong to campers at Garden Key Campground.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national site · 1935Proclaimed a national monument in 1935; redesignated a national park in 1992.
Size and age
261 km² (101 sq mi)101 sq mi (261 km²) · national park since 1992
About 261 km², almost all of it water; the seven islands total roughly 0.6 km² of land (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Key West.
Why go
- Fort Jefferson is the largest all-masonry fort in the United States, and you can walk the whole brick circuit in about an hour.
- Snorkelling straight off Garden Key's moat wall, with coral, tropical fish and clear water on calm days.
- The boat ride out is the trip: 113 km (70 mi) of open Gulf with sooty terns, frigatebirds and flying fish.The boat ride out is the trip: 70 mi (113 km) of open Gulf with sooty terns, frigatebirds and flying fish.
- Camping here is the only way to see the fort at sunset and the sky after dark, when the day boats have gone.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepAvoid
- OctCaution
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanMild; windy spells and rougher crossings
- FebMild; wind can cancel seaplane legs
- MarWarming, often calm
- AprOften the calmest, clearest month
- MayWarm water; calm before the storm season
- JunHot and humid; storm season starts
- JulHot; afternoon storms
- AugPeak hurricane risk; crossings can be cancelled
- SepHighest storm risk; trips often cancelled
- OctStorm season tail; calm spells return
- NovCooling; wind picks up
- DecMild; windy, rough seas possible
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sooty terns and brown noddies nesting on Bush KeyJan–Sep · Bush Key landing is closed during nesting. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Magnificent frigatebirds over the fortAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Migrating songbirds and raptorsMar–May, Sep–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Sea turtles in the surrounding waterApr–Sep | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Lionfish around the fort wallsAll year · Invasive and venomous; report sightings to park staff and never touch one. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Key West
Yankee Freedom ferry from the Ferry Terminal at the foot of Grinnell Street; about 2.5 h each way, roughly 4 h ashore.
2.5 h each way
Open the page →
From Key West
Seaplane from the airport side of the island; about 40 min each way, half-day or full-day ashore.
40 min each way
Open the page →
From Miami
Drive the Overseas Highway to Key West, sleep there, then take the morning ferry or seaplane.
3.5–4.5 h drive
Open the page →
From Private boat
Your own or a charter boat from Key West or Marathon; no dock space is guaranteed.
2.5–4 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Garden Key | Fort Jefferson, the dock, the campground, the small gift shop and the moat-wall snorkel area. | Open to anyone who arrives by ferry, seaplane or private boat. |
| Loggerhead Key | The lighthouse island, 4.8 km (3 mi) west of Garden Key, with a small beach and snorkel spots.The lighthouse island, 3 mi (4.8 km) west of Garden Key, with a small beach and snorkel spots. | No public ferry; reachable only by private boat, and landings are restricted (check). |
| Bush Key | Mangrove island next to Garden Key, with a long-abandoned coaling dock and frigatebird colony. | No landing; view from the water or the fort walls. |
| Research Natural Area | About half the park, closed to anchoring and fishing to protect coral and breeding birds. | Boats may pass through; no anchoring or fishing. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions on Garden Key and its neighbours, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance (7-day pass) | US$15 | person | 2026 estimate; usually already included in ferry and seaplane tickets. |
| Yankee Freedom ferry day trip | US$200–220 | adult | 2026 estimate; includes park entrance, breakfast, lunch and snorkel gear. Child fares lower. |
| Seaplane half-day trip | US$380–420 | person | 2026 estimate; about 2.5 h ashore. |
| Seaplane full-day trip | US$650–700 | person | 2026 estimate; about 6.5 h ashore. |
| Garden Key Campground | US$15 | site per night | 2026 estimate; plus the per-person park entrance fee. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entrance permit or guide
Camping permit or guide
Private boat permit or guide
Diving and fishing permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$15
- US$200–220
- US$380–420
- US$650–700
- US$15
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on NPS — Dry Tortugas National Park before you go.
Park rules
- No campfires
- Fires are banned on Garden Key; cook on a camp stove and bring all fuel with you.
- No anchoring in the Research Natural Area
- About half the park is closed to anchoring and fishing; use the marked moorings at Garden Key.
- Pack out everything
- There is no rubbish collection and no fresh water for campers; carry out all waste and bring your own drinking water.
- Drones
- Launching drones is not allowed in the park (check).check
- Wildlife distance
- Do not land on Bush Key during nesting and keep well clear of turtles, birds and the fort's resident rats.
Where to stay
In the park
Garden Key Campground
Eight sites plus a group site and overflow space, a short walk from the dock; no shade, no water, no fires.
Near the park
Key West
The only practical base: hotels, hostels and guesthouses, and the ferry and seaplane docks.
Safety
Lionfish stings medium
Sun and heat with no shade high
Rough crossings and cancellations medium
Strong currents outside the moat medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The ferry and seaplane operators can help passengers with limited mobility on and off; ask when booking.
- The fort's ground level and dock area are reachable with help; upper ramparts and the campground paths are uneven brick and sand.
Visiting lightly
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and never stand on coral.
- Carry out all rubbish, including food waste, since nothing is collected on the island.
- Book with operators that follow the park's mooring and wildlife rules, and keep your distance from nesting birds.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Dry Tortugas National Park?
The park entrance fee is about US$15 per person for a 7-day pass (2026 estimate), and it is normally already included in your ferry or seaplane ticket. The ferry day trip runs about US$200–220 per adult with meals and snorkel gear; seaplane trips run about US$380–420 for a half day and US$650–700 for a full day. Camping is about US$15 per site per night plus the entrance fee.
What are the best hikes in Dry Tortugas National Park?
There are no real hiking trails. The walk everyone does is the fort circuit at Fort Jefferson on Garden Key, about 1–1.5 hours on brick and sand. Beyond that it is beach walking, the moat-wall snorkel and, by private boat only, a landing at Loggerhead Key.
When is the best time to visit Dry Tortugas National Park?
March to May: warm, often calm and clear, with the best chance of a smooth crossing and good snorkelling. December to March is mild but windy, and June to November is the tropical storm season, when trips are sometimes cancelled. September carries the highest storm risk.
How do you get to Dry Tortugas National Park?
Only by boat or seaplane. The Yankee Freedom ferry leaves Key West and takes about 2.5 hours each way, giving roughly 4 hours ashore. Seaplanes take about 40 minutes each way and offer half-day or full-day trips. Private boats can also cross, but must check in at Garden Key.
Can you camp on Dry Tortugas?
Yes, at Garden Key Campground: eight sites, a group site and overflow space, all a short walk from the dock. You must bring all your own drinking water and pack out all rubbish. Camping is not allowed anywhere else in the park.
Do you need a reservation?
Yes for the ferry, the seaplane and the campground, especially from December to April. Day-trip seats sell out days or weeks ahead in high season, and the campground is small.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go