15 Tips for Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park
I’ve rounded up my 15 best tips for visiting Dry Tortugas National Park. It was on my Florida bucket list for a few years before I was finally able to check it off! I was so excited when I got to visit in April 2024. It is one of three national parks in Florida and is 70 miles west of Key West. Snorkeling and touring Fort Jefferson are among the top activities to do in the park. If you are looking for a one day itinerary of everything you should do, I’ve got you covered! However, read the tips in this post to make sure your day goes as smooth as possible!
You can only reach the park by ferry or sea plane.
There are only 2 ways to visit Dry Tortugas National Park unless you have a private boat. The first option which is more affordable is to book a seat on the Yankee Freedom Ferry. The second option is to take a seaplane which is faster, but more expensive.
Most of these tips will apply regardless of which method you choose to get to Dry Tortugas, however I have only personally taken the ferry. Therefore, a few of these tips may be more specific to taking the ferry.
Book your ferry or seaplane ticket in advance
There are a few important tips when visiting Dry Tortugas National Park related to the ferry. The first, is tickets for the sea plane and ferry typically sell out. You might get lucky by getting a seat on the ferry as a standby passenger, but it’s a big risk to take. I recommend to plan your trip in advance to ensure you have a seat. I visited in April 2024 and booked by ferry ticket about 2 months in advance. You can see how many ferry tickets remain each day on the ferry website. For the seaplane there are only 10 passengers on the plane, so you need to book your ticket early!
Arrive to the ferry terminal early
The next tip is to arrive at the ferry terminal early to get the best seat on the boat. Check in begins at 7 AM and you receive your boarding number. The ferry boards in groups of 25 based on your number. The sooner you can get on board the more choice you will have in your seat selection.
Prepare for sea sickness if taking the ferry
The ferry is like a pontoon boat that sits on top of the water. If you are like me and are susceptible to motion sickness, you want to plan ahead. It is recommended to take Dramamine 1 hour before your departure. If you don’t want to buy a box of Dramamine they sell it on the ferry for $1 per dose. Other tips include siting on the bottom level of the ferry, towards the back in a forward-facing seat.
Bring something to do on the ferry
My last tip related to the ferry is to bring something to do. It takes 2.5 hours from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. This leaves you with a lot of downtime. I recommend downloading music, an audiobook, TV show, movie or podcast to help the time pass. You can also bring your kindle, a book, or cards if you aren’t susceptible to motion sickness.
IMPORTANT: You will not have cell phone service once you leave the ferry terminal in Key West until you return. Make sure you have anything you will need downloaded ahead of time.
Plan your visit in the spring
Dry Tortugas National Park is open year-round, but my recommendation is to visit during the spring. While the weather is never a guarantee, spring should provide slightly milder temperatures on land compared to the summer and warm enough water temperatures to enjoy snorkeling.
The average temperature in Dry Tortugas is 60 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit between March and May. We visited in April and the weather was perfect! The water was warm enough we were comfortable snorkeling and it wasn’t too hot while we explored on land.
Hurricane Season is from June 1st to November 30th
Another reason why I recommend the spring time is it avoids hurricane season. Hurricane Season lasts for 6 months of the year and a tropical storm or hurricane can develop at any time. However, historically September tends to bring the highest threat of hurricanes so I would definitely avoid visiting then. To be honest thought, after the hurricane season we have experienced in 2024, I would be cautious to book a trip anytime between August through November.
You can’t visit Bush Key from February through mid-September
Dry Tortugas National Park is 99% underwater. There are 7 islands in the park including Garden Key, Loggerhead, Bush, Long, Hospital, Middle and East. Garden Key is where Fort Jefferson is located and the ferry docks. This is the most visited island. Between mid-September through January visitors can also access nearby Bush Key. This may be the main reason not to book your trip in the spring, like I previously suggested. Bush Key is closed the remainder of the year to protect birds nesting.
One other island can only be reached if you have access to a private boat or kayak. Loggerhead Key is open during daylight hours. There are no kayak rentals available. If you reserve a camping with kayak ticket for the ferry you will be able to bring your kayak with you and paddle the 3 miles to Loggerhead Key. These tickets are hard to reserve and you must call for availability. Camping tickets sell out 9-12 months in advance. East Key, Middle Key, Long Key and Hospital Key are closed to the public.
Be prepared for minimal shade at Dry Tortugas National Park
Once you arrive at Garden Key there is minimal shade available. The main area you can escape the sun is inside Fort Jefferson. The beach area is mostly sunny with a small amount of shade provided by the Fort. We did store our backpacks along the fort wall while we went snorkeling to try and keep our lunch a little cooler.
Pack only as much as you can comfortably carry
An important tip for visiting Dry Tortugas National Park is to pack light. There are some items I recommend bringing, but once the ferry docks you must take ALL your belongings with you for the day.
I brought a backpack with a microfiber towel, snacks, water bottle (there is a refill station available once you arrive to Dry Tortugas), my phone, sunscreen, hat, headphones, sunglasses, Dramamine, and a change of clothes. I found all these items to be helpful to have and would recommend bringing them with you!
Bring reef safe sunscreen
Since there is little shade, you will want to pack sunscreen! Look for reef safe brands to protect the beautiful coral reef you are going to see. I recommend SunBum as a reputable reef safe sunscreen.
Bring a microfiber towel
Microfiber towels are great to have for Dry Tortugas National Park. They are thin, easy to pack, and quick to dry. A microfiber towel is much easier to pack for the day so you don’t have to worry about taking back a heavy, wet towel.
Pack a change of clothes
There are restrooms and changing rooms available on Garden Key. If you plan to swim or snorkel, I recommend bringing a change of clothes. Especially if you are taking the ferry back you do not want to have to spend 2.5 hours in your wet bathing suit.
Explore Fort Jefferson first
When you arrive to Dry Tortugas, explore Fort Jefferson first. The snorkel gear isn’t ready right away so this helps you maximize your time at Dry Tortugas. After you explore the fort, you will be able to pick up your lunch and snorkel gear and spend the rest of the day at the beach.
If you want to take the narrated tour it begins at 11 AM so consider spending the first 30 minutes walking the moat wall, exploring the fort on your own, or exploring the rest of the island.
Don’t forget to check out Loggerhead Key Lighthouse
Garden Key Lighthouse is hard to miss once you arrive to Fort Jefferson as it sits on top of the fort. However, you can get glimpses of another Florida Lighthouse if you walk around the fort on the moat wall to the west side. Loggerhead Key Lighthouse can be seen in the distance! I also got glimpses of it while on the ferry on the way to Garden Key.
Have a great trip to Dry Tortugas National Park by following these tips!
If you made it this far, I hope you have found my tips for visiting Dry Tortugas National Park helpful. Please feel free to leave a comment below with any questions! If you enjoyed this article, make sure to share with a friend or subscribe to my e-mail list so we can stay in touch.
