Dry Tortugas National Park

Overview

About

Dry Tortugas National Park is on a group of islands about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida.
The park is made up of seven small islands spread over 7 miles, with rich bird life, coral reefs and other sights.

The heart of the park is Garden Key. Fort Jefferson on the island was built in the 19th century and was then the largest coastal fort in the United States.

Travel tips

Getting there: the park lies about 70 miles west of Key West in open sea and can only be reached by boat or seaplane. Key West is about three and a half to four hours' drive from Miami and has an airport.

By ferry: the concession ferry leaves Key West and takes about two to two and a half hours each way, as a day trip; meals, snorkel gear and a tour are normally included.

By seaplane: seaplanes fly from Key West in about 40 minutes and make a half-day trip in the morning or afternoon.

Garden Key: boats call at Garden Key, where Fort Jefferson stands; you can walk around the top of the walls, and there are guided tours.

Snorkelling: there are coral reefs and fish in the shallows around the island, and you can snorkel from the beach; the ferry normally allows a couple of hours.

Birds: in spring and summer, seabirds, especially terns, nest on the nearby small islands.

Season: seas are rougher in winter and spring; summer is hot with thunderstorms, and hurricane season runs June to November.

Where to stay: a simple campground on Garden Key does not take reservations for individual sites; campers arriving by ferry arrange it through the ferry operator, which has limited places, and you bring all water, food and supplies; most visitors stay in Key West.

Caution: there are no shops, drinking water or shade on the island, so use sun protection and do not take coral or shells.

Getting there

You can get there by boat or seaplane from Key West at the southern tip of Florida.
The boat takes about 2 to 2.5 hours each way.

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