Dry Tortugas National Park is a beautiful collection of 7 islands sitting about 70 miles west of Key West. It is one of the least visited National Parks in the system as the only way to get there is by ferry, seaplane, or boat.

Dry Tortugas gets its name from a couple of different sources. The Tortugas is due to all the turtles on the island when Ponce de Leon (that’s right, the fountain of youth guy) landed there, he called the land “Las Tortugas”. Since there was no fresh water on the islands, they would be labeled as “dry” on the mariner charts of the day.

The Keys of Dry Tortugas National Park

There are seven keys, or islands, that make up Dry Tortugas National Park. Unfortunately, four of them are closed to the public.

Hospital Key

Hospital Key is a small island that had a (wait for it) hospital on it for the prisoners and residents of Fort Jefferson. Hospital Key is closed to the public, most likely to contain the leftover hospital zombies.

East Key

East Key is the smallest of the keys, it’s pretty much just a sandbar that sits about 6 feet above the surf and is also closed to the public. While small, it still has a purpose as various types of flora and fauna inhabit the key along with a small collection of wildlife.

Middle Key

Middle Key is closed to the public because there are times when it’s not even above water. Seasonal weather and tidal conditions will cover the island for weeks and sometimes months.

Long Key

Long Key is connected to the east end of Bush Key by a sandbar. It’s a mid-sized key at 8,000 square meters filled with sand and trees and it’s also closed to the public.

Bush Key

Bush Key is located right next to Garden Key, separated by a channel that disappears from time to time. Known as Hog Key during the fort’s tenure due to the raising of hogs there for fresh meat for the residents of Fort Jefferson.

No more hogs are raised on the island as it’s a bird sanctuary for Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies. Bush Key is open to the public…only part of the year. It’s closed between February and September during nesting season.

Loggerhead Key

Loggerhead Key is the largest of the keys in the park and it’s open to the public! That’s right, it’s open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. The only way to get there is by small boat. It’s a three-mile paddle from Garden Key. If you come on a private or commercial boat, there are mooring buoys around the island for you to tie off and then take a small boat in.

On the island there is a lighthouse and a couple of small buildings, including one that’s been deposited on the beach and broken in half. You’re not allowed to go into any of the buildings and be sure to stay on any pathways.

The coral reefs that are around Loggerhead Key are spectacular for snorkeling and diving. There is also the Windjammer shipwreck about a mile southwest of the island. It’s under 20 feet of water and is perfect for scuba diving.

Unfortunately, if you came to the park by ferry or seaplane you won’t be able to make it out to Loggerhead Key. Dry Tortugas National Park doesn’t rent kayaks, so you’ll just have to enjoy it from across the water.

Garden Key

Garden Key is the second largest of the Dry Tortugas National Park islands. It’s 14 acres includes beaches, tropical island trees, campgrounds, a fort, and a moat around the fort. The park headquarters are located on Garden Key, and this is where the ferry, seaplanes, campers, and private boaters check in.

Fort Jefferson

Fort Jefferson takes up much of the land on Garden Key. Building of the fort started in 1846 and lasted for 30 years while never really being completed. That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t used though, it was one of the largest masonry forts in the nation at the time. During the Civil War, Fort Jefferson was used as a prison, it even housed four men involved with President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

The sheer size of the fort helped to keep the peace. Why build such a massive fort in the middle of the ocean you ask? It’s actually in the middle of a very busy shipping lane on the Gulf Stream. All ships going to Europe and eastern North America from South America sail near there and any traffic that goes to the Mississippi River from the east passes by Fort Jefferson.

Make the most of your trip from Key Largo to Key West, plan your Florida Keys trip here!

Getting to Dry Tortugas National Park

There are three ways to get to Dry Tortugas:

• The Yankee Freedom Ferry
• Seaplane Charter
• Private/Commercial Boat

The Yankee Freedom Ferry

The Yankee Freedom Ferry is the most economical way to get to Dry Tortugas, besides getting a job at the National Park Service and waiting years for a ranger spot to open. It’s $220/195/165 depending on if you’re military, senior, or under 16 years old.

You’ll want to make reservations at least three weeks before your trip just to be sure to get a spot. Probably two months if you’re wanting anything around Christmas/New Years week. If you’re flexible and only have one or two people you can check the website every day and see if anything opens up.

The ferry boards at 7:30 a.m. and it’s a two-and-a-half-hour ride to Dry Tortugas National Park. If it’s a calm day, it’s a great ride but be aware that it can get choppy in rough weather. So pack your Dramamine, if you don’t have any, you’re safe because they sell it on the boat.

The seating on the Yankee Freedom is air conditioned on the lower deck and the upper deck is split between outdoor seating and indoor air-conditioned seating. There is also space to stand on the main deck at the front of the boat.

Bagels, fruit cups, coffee, juices, and water are available on the morning cruise out. Subs are included and are served on the way back to Key West. There is also a grill that you can order from, they have a limited menu. Plus, they open the cocktail bar for the way back and serve beer, wine, and spirits.

Everyone must be on the ferry by 2:30 and it gets back to Key West around 5:00 p.m.

Seaplane Charter

Seaplane Adventures in Key West offers 1/2 day and full day excursions. Flight time is about forty minutes and gives you 2 1/2 hours to spend on Garden Key, or 6 1/2 hours if you opt for the full day package.

The cost is $466/373 adult/child for the 1/2 day, and $819/655 for the whole day. The advantages of taking the seaplane are it’s less crowded and you get a lot more time on the island if you spring for the whole day charter. Not to mention how cool it is to fly in a seaplane!

Private/Commercial Boat

If you have a boat that will make 170 miles round trip without needing to refuel, then you can take your own boat. The cost to get into the park is $15 and is good for seven days. You will need to tie up on one of the mooring buoys around the island and take a smaller boat in.

There are plenty of commercial boats that you can hire out to take you to Dry Tortugas National Park. Some will take you for the day, while others will make it a multiple day trip. As always it comes down to how much that you want to spend.

Exploring Dry Tortugas National Park

Fort Jefferson

There are two free tours offered by Yankee Freedom, one’s a short 20-minute general information tour that is given inside the fort. They go over the uses and history of the fort, as well as the building of the fort. If you don’t want to spend too much time on a tour, this one is very informative.

The second tour is a comprehensive tour around the fort. You’ll learn about the people who lived there and what they did during their days they spent at the fort. You’ll walk around the fort and learn about the buildings and what life was like living in the fort. This is a great learning experience, and you should definitely do it.

If you’d rather take your time and not have 20 people surrounding you and getting in your pics, then there is a self-guided tour that starts at the ranger office and museum. There are information stations throughout the fort and signs to guide you on your trip.

The Beaches at Dry Tortugas National Park

There are two main beaches on either side of the fort. The south side beach gives you the most room. It’s shallow so a lot of people like to hang out in the water. The north side is a smaller beach, so pick a side that suits your beach personality. Both offer great snorkeling with a chance to see unlimited marine life.

Snorkeling at Dry Tortugas National Park

The best snorkeling is by the Coaling Dock Ruins. You’ll see big tarpon, plenty of reef fish, and amazing coral. Be careful around the coaling docks, it’s more open and the water will get choppy. Snorkeling along the moat wall is popular too. Reef fish, stingrays, anchors, sea turtles, even sharks will show up. If you can get out to Loggerhead Key there’s a great reef to snorkel there too. You can spend hours snorkeling around the reefs in Dry Tortugas National Park and not get bored!

The Best Way to Enjoy Dry Tortugas National Park

The answer is…however you want!

If you go by ferry, they have a great long tour of the fort if you’re really into history. If you want just a little history and some extensive beach/snorkel time, then take the short tour and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach.

If you came by another boat or seaplane, you could explore the fort on your own for as long as you want, they have a self-guided tour, and the fort is open from sunup to sundown.

The snorkeling is fantastic, and the beaches are wonderful! So, if that’s your thing, then lay out your beach towel, don your snorkel gear, and enjoy.

The colors of the water are spectacular, so you’ll want to make sure that you bring your camera, it’s pretty hard not to get a good shot!

What to Take to Dry Tortugas

• Bathing suit and beach towel
• Change of clothes
• Reef safe sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Camera
• Snorkel gear (most operators will supply this if you don’t have any)
• Snacks (if you take the seaplane)
• Walking shoes if you’re touring the fort

Whether you’re going to Dry Tortugas National Park for the history, the snorkeling or just to hang out on the beach you won’t be disappointed. Dry Tortugas is a beautiful national treasure, and it should be on your list of must-see destinations.