A Day Trip to Dry Tortugas National Park
Name: Dry Tortugas National Park
Location: Florida (about 70 miles west of Key West)
Established: 1992
Size: 100 square miles
Annual Visitors: 54,281 people visited in 2017 (link)
A view of historic Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park from the water
Located 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, sits Dry Tortugas National Park, made of seven small islands and home to historic Fort Jefferson.
Visitors who make it to Dry Tortugas, by boat or seaplane only, will be rewarded with crystal clear turquoise water, colorful coral reefs, shipwrecks, tropical bird breeding grounds, abundant sea life and an unparalleled isolated beach experience. Dry Tortugas National Park is very different from most other national parks and it is one we feel that is not to be missed.
How did we end up at this national park, one of the most isolated and off-the-beaten-path? Our original plan was to take a few days off to experience the iconic road trip of driving Route 1 from Miami to Key West. During our planning, we saw Dry Tortugas National Park on the map just west of Key West and thought, “hey, maybe Key West won’t be the end of our journey” and not long after, we found ourselves reserving boat tickets. With renewed excitement for a vacation we were already really looking forward to, we realized our trip wouldn’t end at Mile Marker 0 in Key West, but instead about 70 miles west at Dry Tortugas National Park. Spoiler alert: we loved this bucket list place!
One of the many scenic views from atop Fort Jefferson
Know Before You Go Travel Tips:
- Plan ahead – Visitors to Dry Tortugas must plan ahead for the best experience here, especially booking boat or seaplane tickets in advance. During peak seasons, tickets can sell out early. There are no services at the park, meaning there is no food, water or restrooms available. There are no trash cans and there’s no fuel for boats. Visitors must be self-sufficient for their entire stay. Pack in and pack out anything needed.
- No cell phone service – Cell phone service drops off between Key West and Dry Tortugas, rendering a cell phone nearly useless at the park unless you’re using it as a camera. The main island is walkable without a map, though visitors should agree on a time and meeting location before separating from their party.
- No internet or wifi – Internet and wifi are nonexistent.
- Trail expectations – Visitors can hike around historic Fort Jefferson. The grounds consist of mainly flat, grassy areas near the fort and sandy beach areas near the water.
- Sun protection – There are very few trees on the island and very little shade so prepare accordingly or be ready to hide out in some of the shadows cast from the fort!
- Things to bring – Comfortable footwear, a bathing suit, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses are definitely recommended. We brought our own snorkel gear as well but it was also available on the island and included in the price of our ferry ticket. Those looking to pack light could leave the snorkel gear at home.
Looking over the water with Dry Tortugas Light, a lighthouse located on Loggerhead Key (about three miles away from Fort Jefferson), in the distance on the left
How to Get There:
Dry Tortugas National Park is an island in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors can arrive by boat, either personal watercraft or chartered ferry, or seaplane.
Boat Options
Most visitors arrive on the Yankee Freedom III, a high speed catamaran with open air seating on the top of the vessel and air conditioned interior seating. This was our transportation method of choice. The daily schedule is very predictable, leaving from Key West around 8:00am and arriving at Fort Jefferson around 10:30am. Breakfast and lunch are included as well as restroom facilities (these were kept very clean, it was great!). The boat docks at Fort Jefferson and remains docked for people to come and go however they want. Since there are no restrooms on the island, visitors can head back on board to use the facilities. The Yankee Freedom III leaves Fort Jefferson around 3:00pm and returns to Key West around 5:30pm. Total round trip cost per person is around $185 and includes the $10 national park admission fee.
For those looking to spend a lot more money (like thousands of dollars), it is possible to charter a private yacht. Right now it’s a little out of our budget (ha).
Seaplane Options
Seaplanes offer an alternative method of transportation. The main advantage of taking a seaplane is a shorter travel time of about 45 minutes from Key West, giving visitors more time to explore the park area. It’s also a way to get a pretty amazing aerial glimpse of the islands. The trade off is the cost. At around $356 per person, it’s almost double the cost of taking the boat.
The Yankee Freedom III docked at Dry Tortugas along with a seaplane
History
In 1513, Juan Ponce de Leon was the first European to visit this area, which he dubbed “Tortugas” (turtles in English) after catching over 100 sea turtles. The “Dry” part was added to the name to notify other sailors and visitors that fresh water was not available, only salt water, an important tip for seafarers.
In the 1800s, Dry Tortugas was a very strategic point for control of the Straits of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The intent was to protect the southern US coastline from attacks and also protect one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
A cannon situated atop the fort
Since this area was highly valuable, the US began work on a lighthouse in 1825 and then started construction on a large fortification, Fort Jefferson, in 1847. By 1860, the work was only half complete when it was stopped and used as a military prison during the Civil War.
Exploring the inside of Fort Jefferson
One of Fort Jefferson’s most famous prisoners was Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was involved in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln but sustained a broken leg and sought out Dr. Mudd for assistance who harbored him until the next day. Dr. Mudd was arrested and convicted, sentenced to life imprisonment at Fort Jefferson. Visitors can see his cell on the bottom level of Fort Jefferson near the park headquarters.
Looking across the interior fort area
By 1888, the military all but discontinued use of the fort because of frequent hurricane damage and the corrosiveness of the salty, tropical climate. After this it became a quarantine station for the Marine-Hospital Service. In 1935, Fort Jefferson was designated a National Monument by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and finally in 1992, it was designated as a national park by President George H. Bush.
Fort Jefferson, a hexagon shaped fortress constructed of over 16 million handmade bricks, still stands to this day. Visitors to Dry Tortugas can explore this historic fort in depth.
The main entrance to Fort Jefferson, right near the boat dock
Visitor Center Locations:
Garden Key Visitor Center, located inside Fort Jefferson
Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, 35 E Quay Rd, Key West, FL 33040
The main visitor center on the island where we got our passport stamped!
When to Go:
Dry Tortugas National Park operates year round and most people will find the weather very favorable. Average high temperatures range from the low 70s in December and January to the low 90s in July and August. Average low temperatures rarely dip below the mid 60s in the winter and the mid 70s in the summer. Summer months bring a greater chance of rain but also the opportunity to experience sea turtles coming on land to lay their eggs so there’s a bit of a trade off.
We visited in October and had a beautiful, sunny day with a high of 84 and a low of 81. When hiking around the fort in the direct sun it felt pretty toasty. We balanced out the heat by hopping in the water to do some snorkeling afterwards and it felt great!
One of the last pictures we took from the top of the fort before we hiked down to the beach shown here to go snorkeling
Where to Stay:
At Dry Tortugas, there’s no park lodge and there are no hotels or motels nearby. Tent camping at Garden Key is the only lodging option. The primitive campground offers 10 first-come, first-served sites. All campsites have a three-night maximum for those visitors arriving by ferry.
What to Do:
As with other national parks, the best way to experience Dry Tortugas is to get out and venture around the island. Outdoor activities and opportunities abound here.
Tour Historic Fort Jefferson
Once we arrived at Dry Tortugas, our primary tour leader on the Yankee Freedom III, named Hollywood, offered an optional guided tour of Fort Jefferson. We’d definitely recommend taking this tour. We learned about the rich history of the area and really appreciated the location a little more, plus it was included in the price of our tickets, so why not?
Some park guests taking in the fort tour with us
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is plentiful as well and with water depths ranging from about 5 to 15 feet, all skill levels can feel comfortable in the water. Most ferry boats and seaplanes offer snorkeling gear included in their ticket prices, making it extremely easy to borrow equipment to go exploring.
Other water activities
In addition to snorkeling at Dry Tortugas, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy the water including swimming, kayaking, scuba diving and fishing. The crystal clear waters have excellent visibility which offers some great underwater viewing opportunities without a lot of special equipment.
Hit the Beach
Let’s be honest. Sometimes it’s nice to just simply sit on the beach, relax, and enjoy the peacefulness of the water and the beauty of the surrounding area. Bring a towel, kick back and relax.
Nearly everywhere we explored at Dry Tortugas had stunning views like this
Wildlife
Dry Tortugas boasts plenty of wildlife. Bird watching is abundant here as part of the island is a bird nesting area with birds migrating between South America and the United States. Almost 300 avian species have been known to migrate through the park each year including flamingos, warblers, owls, terns, pelicans, and falcons.
The coral reef system here is considered among the best in the Florida Keys. Many different kinds of tropical wildlife can be seen here in the coral reef area, including fish, sponges, sea stars and anemones. Nurse sharks and sea turtles also inhabit the waters.
We saw a number of different birds and fish, including some huge barracudas visible from the top of the fort.
A moat!
Fun Facts:
Less than 1% of Dry Tortugas National Park is above land; 99% is underwater.
The park is home to over 30 species of coral.
Dry Tortugas National Park contains a moat to prevent storm surges from hitting the fort walls at full force.
The walls of the fort are between 8-11 feet thick.
There are over 200 shipwrecks around the island.
Dry Tortugas serves as an important nesting area for Green sea turtles and Loggerhead sea turtles.
When construction began on Fort Jefferson, bricks were shipped in from Pensacola. These bricks are light pink and brown and can be seen along the ring of the bottom of Fort Jefferson. But as the Civil War progressed during construction of the fort, a number of Southern providers defaulted on their contracts, forcing bricks to be brought in all the way from New England. These bricks are dark red and can be seen along the top of the fortress.
Happy to have visited such an incredible national park
Additional Resources
You can find more information on the National Park Website here.
Our goal is to visit every national park in the United States. Along the way, we’ll create a post to share basic information about the park, how to get there, things to do, fun facts, and some photos from our visit. Click here to see which other parks we’ve visited. These posts are intended to provide supplemental information. Always confirm specific details directly with the park before visiting to gather the most accurate and up-to-date travel tips.
