• Our Blog
  • Airport Lounges
  • About Us
  • Why work with us?

Mobile Menu

  • Search
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The RTW Guys

Live More. Travel More. Spend Less.

  • Our Blog
  • Airport Lounges
  • Destinations
    • North America
      • Canada
      • Mexico
      • United States
        • Puerto Rico
    • South America
    • Central America
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • South Pacific
    • Africa
  • About Us
    • Where Have We Been?
    • Why Work With Us?

How To Get To Dry Tortugas National Park and What To Do There

September 22, 2018 By //  by Halef 4 Comments

dry tortugas pinterest

Dry Tortugas National Park is a group of seven islands, located about 70 miles southwest of Key West in Florida. It is a beautiful gem in the Gulf of Mexico.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) due to its remote location, your options for visiting these beautiful islands are very limited.

Here’s how to get to Dry Tortugas, as well as a few tips on what you can expect – a sort of “rough guide” to Dry Tortugas NP.

dry tortugas national park window
Dry Tortugas is waiting for you!

How to get to Dry Tortugas National Park

There are three options that you can choose if you want to visit Dry Tortugas National Park:

  • Yankee Freedom III ferry
  • Key West Seaplane Adventures
  • Private boat

Yankee Freedom III Ferry

The great majority of visitors will arrive on the National Park Service-approved ferry, Yankee Freedom III. Yankee Freedom III operates a daily trip, year-round except on Christmas Day, to Dry Tortugas National Park from the Key West Ferry Terminal.

Arrive at the check in desk by 7 am for registration and departure, and you will be back at the Key West pier around 5:30 pm. It’s a fun 2.5 hour boat ride each way, and you will end up spending around 4 hours on the Dry Tortugas.

The Dry Tortugas Ferry is $180 for adults, and a reduced price ($125 and $170) for children, students, seniors, or active US military personnel.

We’ll keep them current here, but you can also check the official Yankee Freedom rates and reservation page. They’ll always have updated prices and information for the Key West to Dry Tortugas ferry.

dry tortugas national park ferry
Yankee Freedom III ferryboat to Dry Tortugas National Park

Go with Dry Tortugas Seaplane

This is another popular option to get to Dry Tortugas National Park: the Dry Tortugas Seaplane. You know – if you want to arrive in style. Look at this view!

Dry Tortugas National Park Key Garden
Bird’s eve view of Key Garden. Photo courtesy of Key West Seaplane Adventures.

If you have the budget for it, arriving by seaplane is an adventure in itself.

Key West Seaplane Adventures offers two different options for a flight to Dry Tortugas:

  • Half day – $356 per person for four hours
  • Full day – $625 per person for eight hours

They have significant discounts for children 12 and under. For more information on Dry Tortugas Tours and rates, check the Key West Seaplane Adventures official website.

Taking off! Photo courtesy of Key West Seaplane Adventures.

Private Boat to Dry Tortugas

Although it is the least common way to visit Dry Tortugas National Park, some people opt to take their own private vessels (think yachts and fishing boats).

You will need to obtain a boating permit for your vessel and follow other National Park regulations. You can moor your vessel in Key Garden (where Fort Jefferson is located).

Overnight mooring is prohibited in any of these Keys.

dry tortugas national park fishing boats
Fishing boats dock

Yankee Freedom III Review

We decided to take the Dry Tortugas ferry for the full-day experience. That meant leaving our Airbnb to be at the Key West Ferry Terminal for check in at 7 am.

Thankfully we found great Cuban Coffee just a few minutes walk away. Go to Cuban Coffee Queen – it’s worth it!

Checking in with the Yankee Freedom is easy and well-organized. Just give the staff your last name and they’ll give you your laminated boarding pass. It is worth coming in early to beat the crowd. Your arrival time dictates the order of when you board the boat and choose your seats.

You’ll want a good spot for the ferry to Dry Tortugas!

dry tortugas national park yankee freedom check in
Yankee Freedom check-in desk at the Key West Ferry Terminal

Seating on Yankee Freedom III ferry

The benefit of arriving early for check-in is to reserve your seating preference upon boarding. It’s first-come, first-served.

Most people sit inside for the trip over so they can enjoy the air conditioning.

dry tortugas national park yankee freedom seating
Interior seating inside the main cabin

While it is nice to sit inside the air-conditioned main room, some travelers prefer the upper-level indoor seating or the sundeck. We did!

dry tortugas national park yankee freedom sundeck
Sundeck on the upper level

Our preference was the bow of the ferry, where you can enjoy the breeze and beautiful scenery of the Florida Keys.

We spotted lots of flying fish, as well as loggerhead sea turtles and dolphins!

dry tortugas national park yankee freedom bow
Front row for the best view!

Food and Drink on the Yankee Freedom

Your day trip to Dry Tortugas NP includes a simple breakfast and lunch. Don’t expect much from these meals – breakfast includes bagels, yogurt, cereal options, and fruit cocktail.

Basic lunch is do-it-yourself sandwiches – bread, cheese, tomatoes, deli meats, chips, and soda or water. You can always purchase additional meals and snacks, such as hot dogs, burgers and pretzels, from the main bar. Drinking water, brewed coffee, and tea are always available throughout the journey.

On the way back to Key West, alcoholic beverages and beer are available for purchase.

Prices for beverages on board are regulated by the National Park Service, which keeps the prices reasonably low. To give you an idea:

  • hotdog or burger with chips: $5
  • pretzels or an ice cream bar: $2
  • wine and mixed drinks: $4 and $5 respectively
  • domestic beer: $3
  • soda: $1
  • bottled water: $2

You can use cash or cards on board. As is common in the United States, tip for great service – you’ll find a tip jar at the bar.

dry tortugas national park yankee freedom lunch
Lunch line at the ferry to Dry Tortugas NP

What to do in Dry Tortugas?

There are seven islands that make up Dry Tortugas National Park. It was 11 during the Ponce de Leon era in the 1510s. Only three of the Keys are open to the public. Even if you come in your own private boat, you are not allowed to dock on the closed Keys.

You will most likely start your visit at Garden Key, the home of Fort Jefferson. Fort Jefferson is a fortification that was built in the early to mid-1800s. Technically, it’s never been completed.

The main activities for visitors are camping, snorkeling, fishing, and of course, touring Fort Jefferson. See below for separate sections on each.

Kayaking is possible, although you will need to bring your own equipment. Exploration of the nearby keys – Loggerhead Key and Bush Key – requires careful planning and may be time-sensitive. So plan accordingly with the ferry schedule if you arrive on the Yankee Freedom day trip.

You can coordinate with the visitor’s center regarding kayaking requirements and any more information you need.

dry tortugas national park moat
Fort Jefferson moat

Dry Tortugas Camping

While we didn’t personally camp in Dry Tortugas, here are the basics.

Camping in Dry Tortugas is rewarding for people who decide to do it, but you will have to plan . Dry Tortugas campground is one of the most beautiful settings you can imagine. However, space is very limited. A maximum of 68 campers can stay here and space is on a first-come, first-served basis.

To reserve, call Yankee Freedom’s phone at 1-800-634-0939. There is no other way to do it. Groups of 10-20 people will have to fill out this form and email it as an attachment to drto_maintenance@nps.gov

The official rates for Dry Tortugas camping are $200 per adult and $145 per child plus a $15-$30 campsite fee. You pay when you arrive on the campground.

Expect to have a “primitive” stay here – you will have to be self-sufficient. There is a basic hole-in-the-ground toilet and no bathing facilities. You will have to bring your own necessities, including water and food, shelters, and medication. And of course, you must carry out your trash with you.

Remember, it can get very hot here. Bring lots of water. There is literally nothing here. You bring everything yourself and you take everything home with you.

And forget electricity and cellular service in Dry Tortugas. It doesn’t exist. But that’s why you want to go there, right?

dry tortugas national park camping
Camping in Dry Tortugas

Dry Tortugas Snorkeling and scuba

If you arrive on the Yankee Freedom III, they’ll provide you with all the snorkeling gear you need once you arrive on the Dry Tortugas. You need to sign the snorkeling waiver prior to snorkeling.

Dry Tortugas snorkeling is spectacular. The best snorkeling in Dry Tortugas is at the main dock, which is to the right of the main entrance to Fort Jefferson. You can spot many fish, including several big barracudas and even a few bait balls.

If you know you will be snorkeling, and bringing your own mask is not too much trouble, we recommend it. The masks they give you are OK, but they fog up easily during use. You don’t want a foggy mask here.

While it is possible to scuba dive in the Dry Tortugas, the ferry day trip itinerary doesn’t allow enough time to do that. They don’t allow any scuba diving gear on the boat.

You can find more information about scuba diving in Dry Tortugas National Park on the NPS’s web site.

dry tortugas national park snorkeling
Snorkeling in Dry Tortugas

Dry Tortugas Fishing

It is possible to fish in the Dry Tortugas and there are designated areas to do so. Check with the Visitor’s Center upon arrival for more information on where you can and cannot fish. Remember to arrange your own State of Florida saltwater fishing license before boarding the ferry.

Dry Tortugas Tours

If you arrive with the Dry Tortugas ferry, your price includes a guided tour. You can sign up for one of the two slots for a quick 20-minute history of the Dry Tortugas, followed by a walking tour to several notable Fort Jefferson spots.

For your own exploration, you can get an itinerary along with a brochure and a Dry Tortugas map from the NPS Visitor’s Center.

dry tortugas national park tour
Guided tour in Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas Visitor’s Center

The National Park Visitor’s Center is a great way to start your journey here. The Dry Tortugas Visitor’s Center is right at the entrance to Fort Jefferson.

You can learn more about Dry Tortugas, as well get brochures and the Dry Tortugas Map.

dry tortugas national park visitors center
Visitors Center in Fort Jefferson

Things to know before your visit to Dry Tortugas

While it is easy to find information about the Dry Tortugas and its history, here are a few things that we wish we knew before our Dry Tortugas visit.

Dry Tortugas National Park Fort Jefferson
That view!

Dry Tortugas Weather

The temperature in Dry Tortugas ranges from mid 50s (12 C) in the winter to mid 90s (35 C) in the summer. When we were there, it was blazing hot!

Be mindful of planning your trip during hurricane season. The Yankee Freedom ferry runs every day except Christmas Day, and rarely cancels a trip unless there is a hurricane threat.

For more, check out this Dry Tortugas vlog on our YouTube Channel:

Safety in Dry Tortugas

The grounds of Fort Jefferson are uneven and, in some places, even hazardous. Unfortunately, it is not wheelchair accessible in many areas. Even if you walk, you will need to watch your step.

There’s a lot of loose brick and mortar, plus things poking out of the ground. There are no guard rails on the high bluffs. Just be careful!

Consider wearing comfortable walking or hiking shoes instead of flip-flops. Don’t hurt yourself – the nearest hospital is 70 miles away from the Dry Tortugas. Any emergency evacuation will be extremely difficult. And it would most certainly be extremely expensive!

Don’t let your preference for flip-flops cost you tens of thousand of dollars or more!

dry tortugas national park fort jefferson
Fort Jefferson, upper level

Bring a bag for wet clothing

This posts may contain affiliate links to products, tours, or accommodations. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no additional costs to you.

Of course, if you are planning on snorkeling in Dry Tortugas or lounging on the beach, bring the essentials: bathing suit, sunglasses, towels, sunscreen and hat. But also bring a bag to carry all of your wet items back to Key West, which we forgot to do!

You’ll also want to protect your valuables from water and sand while you’re there. We highly recommend this Geckobrands Waterproof dry bag. It’s inexpensive. It keeps your camera, phone, wallet, and more dry and out of the sand. We have this bag and it’s great.

A friendly note about sunscreen, a few years ago we learned that all sunscreens are not created equal. Many products are harmful to coral.

Our suggestion is to consider purchasing sunscreen that is friendly to the corals and other aquatic life – like this one.

dry tortugas national park moat exploration
A very nice walk on the moat!

Bring a water bottle

Dry Tortugas can be brutally hot and humid at mid-day, especially in the summer. If you are planning on spending a few hours on the island, don’t forget to bring your own water from the ferry.

There is no drinking water available on the island, but you can refill your water bottle (or purchase bottled water for $2) on the boat.

Hydration is essential!

dry tortugas national park yankee freedom coffee
Coffee Station on Yankee Freedom III

Drone flying in Dry Tortugas

The U.S. National Park Service bans drone flying in all of the areas it serves, including in the Dry Tortugas National Park – no drones allowed.

Check out the Dry Tortugas official web site here for more information.

Dry Tortugas bird-watching

If you are into wildlife, birding in Dry Tortugas National Park is great fun! Upon arrival, you can immediately spot many frigate birds and their 7-foot (over 2 meter) wingspans, soaring above Fort Jefferson.

It’s a sight to see!

Do your homework first with a Dry Tortugas birding guide. You can find this information online and even purchase a bird guide at the Visitor’s Center.

Bring a pair of binoculars – just in case you need a reminder!

dry tortugas national park invitation
Come and explore Dry Tortugas National Park!

Whatever you decide to do, and no matter how you choose to get there, we think you’ll enjoy your visit to Dry Tortugas National Park.

Are the Dry Tortugas on your bucket list?

Pin this for later

  • dry tortugas pinterest
  • dry tortugas pinterest
  • dry tortugas pinterest

Some photos courtesy of Key West Seaplane Adventures. Visit them if you want to fly to the Dry Torgugas.


For More on the United States: When we travel, we use Lonely Planet. By buying a book at one of the Amazon.com links below, we get a small referral fee at no additional cost to you.

Want more like this? Subscribe to our newsletter below (mobile) or in the sidebar (desktop) to get our posts delivered to your mailbox! And like our Facebook page and Instagram feed. We’re also on YouTube. Watch our Travel vlogs right here.

Halef
Halef

Halef moved from Indonesia to the US nearly two decades ago to go to college here. He hasn’t looked back. He’s been to over forty countries and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. He’s a Landscape Architect in Atlanta, GA.

Filed Under: Destinations Tagged With: florida, planning, united states

Previous Post: « Strata Lounge Auckland International Airport – Priority Pass Lounge
Next Post: Swissport Lounge Chicago O’Hare Airport Priority Pass Lounge Review »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. john

    January 13, 2020 at 9:38 am

    Thank you very much for the information, did not have to surf many websites.

    Reply
  2. Catriona Hill

    March 18, 2020 at 10:24 am

    why are you recommending a sun screen that is NOT coral reef safe?

    Reply
  3. Michael

    March 18, 2020 at 6:55 pm

    The sunscreen I recommended IS reef safe. In fact, the words REEF SAFE are actually in the name. Please re-read.

    Reply
  4. Whatever is Worthy

    February 15, 2021 at 8:22 pm

    Thank you! I plan to go to the park soon. This is very informative.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Stay Up-To-Date

Where are we? What are we doing? How much did it cost? All in one bi-weekly email. Plus personal stuff you won't find on the blog.

  • Our Blog
  • Airport Lounges
  • About Us
  • Why work with us?

Site Footer

32

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Copyright 2017-2020 by The Round the World Guys · All Rights Reserved
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Privacy Policy