The Ultimate Guide to the Dry Tortugas National Park

As a born and raised Key West Conch, my favorite thing to do in the Florida Keys is visit the Dry Tortugas. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the park five times in my life. I’ve visited four times by ferry and once by seaplane. (That was the BEST)! In this post, I’ll give travel tips based on my most recent trip via the ferry in July 2021, and I’ll touch upon the seaplane experience.

Ferry vs. Seaplane – I’ve experienced both, and the seaplane is truly phenomenal. When my mom took the seaplane in July 2021, she counted 37 sea turtles on her 30-minute flight from Key West to the Dry Tortugas. You can also see sharks, fish, dolphins, birds, and other wildlife. The seaplane is $361 for a half day trip or $634 for a full day. Here’s a link to their website.

If you don’t feel like splurging on the seaplane, the ferry is excellent, too. The only ferry that goes to the Dry Tortugas is the Yankee Freedom. The ferry is $190 per person. FYI locals – There’s a very generous local discount if you provide your Monroe County license as proof of residency. Here’s a link to their website.

I never get seasick, and I enjoy being on the water in any capacity, so I didn’t mind the 2-hour boat ride each way. I spent the return trip looking at my pictures from the trip while sipping a margarita, and I felt like we were back in Key West in no time.

On the ferry

As of July 2021, masks are REQUIRED on the ferry if you are INSIDE. If you’re outside, they’re not required. Masks are provided or you can bring your own. I recommend wearing a buff or bandana around your neck so that you can pull it up and down as needed rather than fumbling around in your pockets or backpack to find your mask before you board.

Selfie with Fort Jefferson in the background

BRING SNACKS. Breakfast and lunch are provided, but I was hungry between meals. I recommend bringing snacks (more than you think you’ll need) so that you can enjoy the experience of a lifetime without your stomach growling.

HYDRATE. Bring your own reusable water bottle. I like to fill mine halfway with water then freeze it overnight. In the morning, fill it up the rest of the way and you’ll have ice cold water for hours. There’s a water cooler on the boat to refill your bottle, but I wouldn’t rely on that as your sole source of hydration. Bring at least 32 ounces of water per person.

Lunch is included in your ferry ticket. On my trip, Jersey Mike’s subs were provided for lunch. Passengers had the option of a ham and cheese sandwich, turkey and cheese, vegetarian, or a PB&J. Lunch was served with chips, a non-alcoholic drink of your choice (water, Pepsi, or Brisk), and two chocolate chip cookies.

Lunch from Jersey Mike’s included in your ferry ticket

The ferry opens up a cash bar on the ride home and drinks are surprisingly affordable. We paid just $5 per pina colada or margarita. I really appreciate the Yankee Freedom for not price gouging, like airports do.

To do, or not to do the tour, that is the question. On my most recent visit, I decided to skip the tour. I took the tour when I visited in September 2020, and this time I wanted to spend all my time snorkeling. The tour is interesting, especially if it’s your first time visiting the fort, but it lasts about an hour, and you only have about 3.5 hours at the park.

If you don’t want to spend your limited time on the tour, you can download a brief history of Fort Jefferson before the ferry leaves and read it on the way. The guides can help you do this. Another option is to split the difference and join the tour for the first 15 minutes. A tour guide will give a brief introduction to the park and then you can go off on your own.

I’m glad I went on the tour in the past, but I’m also glad I didn’t do it again this time. We had the beach and snorkel spots almost completely to ourselves for our first hour at the park since most people were on the tour.

View from inside the fort

When is the best time of year to visit the Dry Tortugas? The answer depends on who you ask. For example, my favorite time to visit is in the summer when the water is warm like bathwater. However, the water is warm enough for year-round swimming. Some people actually prefer the water in winter because it’s cool and ‘refreshing.’ I cannot relate; I love the heat.

The busiest time to visit Key West and the Dry Tortugas is the week between Christmas and New Years. December and January are our busiest months. I’d recommend visiting during the shoulder seasons. But keep in mind that the last week in October is always crowded due to Fantasy Fest.

For locals, September is the best time to visit the Dry Tortugas. This is because September is (was) our slowest time of year, and most businesses offer local discounts. I went to the Dry Tortugas in September 2020, and the ferry offered excellent discounts on tickets.

View from the top of the fort

BOOK IN ADVANCE! Every time I’ve gone, I’ve had to book several weeks or months in advance. I wanted to camp out there this summer, but their campsites were sold out for the rest of the year. This is a little abnormal and likely a result of COVID-19. Because of international travel restrictions, tourism in Key West has been busier than ever, even during our usually slow summer months. I guess people consider us the most ‘Caribbean-esque’ vacation destination within the country.

Flowers by the ocean

The ferry offers a fresh-water shower on the way back. And the water is HOT! It was glorious. I showered off in my bathing suit (the showers are not private) then dried off in the bathroom and changed into my warm, dry clothes. I even brushed my hair! I felt super clean and comfortable on the ride back.

I rode inside the ferry on the way back to avoid getting too much sun exposure. (When you live in Florida, you try to avoid the sun as much as possible)! There was plenty of seating available, and after a long day of sweating in the sun, the air conditioning felt like heaven.

Snorkeler in the turquoise ocean

• Bathing suit
• Sunscreen (for body, lips, and face)
• Towel
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Water shoes or sturdy sandals
• A long sleeve quick-dry shirt
• A change of clothes for the ferry ride home (Don’t forget underwear! You’ll thank yourself for planning ahead when you don’t have to sit in a wet bathing suit for 2+ hours).
• Snorkel gear, if you prefer to use your own
• A waterproof dry box, to keep your phone, wallet, etc. safe and dry
• A camera (I recommend an underwater disposable camera. So fun!)
• Dramamine, if you’re prone to seasickness
• A book IF AND ONLY IF you’re NOT prone to seasickness. If you get seasick easily, avoid looking down at a book or your phone. That will make it worse. Keep your eyes forward and on the horizon.
• A trusty backpack to keep your belongings in. I prefer a backpack over a beach bag or purse because you’ll want to be handsfree and your belongings are less likely to fall out of a backpack than a beach bag.

Wearing a long sleeve boat shirt for sun protection

• Bathing suit under your clothes (I recommend wearing your bathing suit under your clothes so that you don’t have to change on the ferry or in the changing rooms at the park. Your time at the park is limited, and you don’t want to spend it changing clothes, or worse, waiting in line to change your clothes).
• Long sleeve dry fit shirt
• Quick dry shorts
• Sturdy sandals. The fort is rocky and uneven. You can expect to find broken bricks and other potential hazards. Be careful and don’t get too close to the edge.
• Sunglasses
• Put on sunscreen first thing in the morning before you board the ferry. You could easily get sunburned on the way to the fort. Don’t forget to reapply at lunchtime!
• A hat, but don’t wear it on the ferry if it’s going to fly off your head in transit. The captain definitely won’t turn around for your hat.
• Pack comfortable clothes for the ride back

Iconic view of the fort