The Cheapest Way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park

Are you looking for the cheapest way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park? I was dreaming of the beautiful blue waters before my visit, but I always like to travel as budget friendly as possible. Dry Tortugas National Park is located 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. It is one of the more challenging national parks to get to, but it’s worth the effort.

What is the cheapest way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park?

There are only two ways to get to the park, unless you have a private boat. The first, is the Yankee Ferry Freedom (the cheaper option) and the second way is via Sea Plane (the quicker option). This blog post includes everything you need to know about taking the Yankee Ferry Freedom to Dry Tortugas National Park.

What should I bring on the ferry?

Bring anything you need for the day at Dry Tortugas National Park. It is important to note, anything you bring on the ferry will need to come off once you arrive at Dry Tortugas so pack accordingly.

I brought a backpack with a microfiber towel, protein bar, water bottle (there is a refill station available once you arrive to Dry Tortugas), my phone, sunscreen (reef safe!), hat, sunglasses, and a change of clothes.

I wore my swimsuit and water sandals with shorts and a sun shirt. There are restrooms available at Dry Tortugas and I changed out of my wet clothes before getting back on the boat to return to Key West.

What can I expect while I am on board the ferry?

There are two levels of seating a top deck and bottom level. There are seats that are forward or backward facing. On the bottom deck the seating is all inside. On the top deck there is some seating inside and outside. Keep in mind if you chose an outside seat you will likely be exposed to the sun.

Your breakfast can be picked up as you board and you can take your time eating. There is not much else to do while you are on the ferry. I recommend bringing headphones and downloading music, an audiobook, or podcasts to listen to. Some people were able to read a book or play cards. You will not have cell phone service once you leave the ferry terminal.

What type of meals are served on the ferry?

You can pick up breakfast as you board the boat. Drinks are served after you set sail. When I visited in April 2024, breakfast included a bagel with cream cheese, butter, or jelly, yogurt, a fruit cup or apple, and coffee, water, or juice.

Lunch is served once you arrive at Dry Tortugas and you can eat on the boat or take it to go and enjoy it at a picnic table or beach on Garden Key. When I visited, lunch included a Jersey Mikes sub, chips, carrot and celery slices, and a cookie. There was also water, tea, or lemonade to drink.

The ferry accommodates for dietary restrictions. You can ask for gluten free bread, no cheese, vegetarian sandwich (veggie and humus), or a classic peanut butter and jelly once you are on board. They will make an announcement after boarding to place your order.  

Overall, the meals were adequate and kept me full throughout the day. However, I did pack a couple snacks to have with me just in case. There is also a snack bar with additional food and beverages available for purchase during the ride. Alcoholic beverages can also be purchased starting at 1:30 PM.

Tips for Managing Sea Sickness

If you are prone to sea sickness, KEEP READING. This isn’t to scare you, but I don’t think there’s enough information out there to warn people of this. The ferry sits on top of the water like a pontoon boat and you can feel side to side and up and down motion even in calm water. It was described as “nothing like you’ve ever experienced before” by the crew.

Our trip to the island was relatively calm, but I still wasn’t feeling great after about 2 hours on the boat. On our way back the water was choppier and we were feeling it on the boat. I actually did better on the way back thanks to the tips I learned from my trip out there. Take it from me, and use these tips so you can have a smoother ride both ways!

Tips before you get on the ferry

First and foremost, be proactive. Take Dramamine 1 hour before your departure. I did not do this on the way there, but did on the way back and I was really glad I took it beforehand. If you don’t want to buy an entire box of Dramamine they have it for sale for $1 per dose on the boat.

Consider wearing sea bands. I had purchased these previously so I went ahead and wore them, but I can’t really say if they helped.

Tips while you are on the ferry

Sit on the bottom level of the boat towards the back (if you can) and in a forward-facing seat. You will feel slightly less movement towards the back versus the front of the boat and on the bottom level compared to the top.  

Take a barf bag as soon as they are handing them out (trust me, you want it just in case!). I thankfully did not have to use one, but others were not so lucky.

If you really are not feeling good, move to the outside area of the back of the boat. Be aware there may be people getting sick back here. However, the location and open air really helped calm my stomach on the way there.

Grab ginger ale from the snack bar (it’s free!) and slowly sip on it. An attendant or less sea sick friend can get this for you.

Avoid the bathrooms if you can. The enclosed space made the movement feel even worse for me.

Avoid alcohol on the way back. Seriously, just do not do it if you are prone to sea sickness.

Don’t let this scare you, I’ve talked to many people who had NO PROBLEMS with the movement of the boat. I have been known to get motion sickness, especially when I was younger and I think our trip back was a bit rougher than usual. The staff does a great job of making themselves available to help you in any way they can!

Ready to set sail on the Yankee Ferry Freedom, the cheapest way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park?

Is this Florida National Park still on your bucket list? I hope this blog post makes you feel more prepared to take the Yankee Ferry Freedom, the cheapest way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. Overall, I thought the cost of the ferry was reasonable for everything included. The beautiful blue waters of Dry Tortugas were well worth the trip on the ferry! Be sure to check out my tips for visiting Dry Tortugas National Park before you go! If you found this post helpful, please share it with a friend and don’t forget to subscribe to my e-mail list.