Located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park offers visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore a marine habitat while also learning about the area’s fascinating history.
Fort Jefferson, the biggest masonry fortification in the Western Hemisphere, is at the heart of the Dry Tortugas in the center of the Dry Tortugas. The building started in 1846 and needed more than 16 million bricks before it was completed. Fort Jefferson began as a center of operations to fight Caribbean piracy; it eventually functioned as a garrison for Union troops and a jail for Confederate prisoners during the American Civil War. After the war, the fort was almost deserted, with just a few stewards remaining to look after the grounds.
Entrances and how to reach Dry Tortugas National Park
The Road to Dryness Uninhabited Tortuga Islands National Park is located 70 miles west of Key West. The island is inaccessible to vehicles. A boat or a seaplane is the only way to get around here. Preparation is the key to having a safe and enjoyable time at the park.
The Dry Tortugas National Park is only accessible by boat or floatplane because of its remote position off the coast of Florida. Visitors to Garden Key will need to use a boat or seaplane to get there. Flights from Key West frequently sell out quickly. Tourists are urged to make their reservations well in advance of their journey.
The Yankee Freedom is the only ferry permitted to go to the Dry Tortugas National Park, where most tourists arrive. In order to reach Garden Key, the catamaran leaves at 8 a.m. every day and travels for 2.5 hours at sea.
Passenger fees range from $190 for an adult to $135 for a kid between the ages of four and sixteen. Students aged 17 and above, current military members, and seniors over the age of 62 are eligible for a discount on travel for children under the age of 16. There is a 45-minute fort tour included in the ticket, as well as park admission, a snack on the way, and a box lunch. It’s also given with snorkeling gear.
Getting There
This national park may be found in the Gulf of Mexico, about 70 nautical miles west of Key West. To get to the park, there are four various ways to get there.
In the Dry Tortugas, bring your boat
If you want to get the most out of your visit to Dry Tortugas National Park, you should bring your own boat. In order to survive in the park, which is roughly 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, visitors must make meticulous preparations for their trip.
Dry Tortugas National Park is a treasure trove of prehistoric and historic antiquities, many of which can be found nowhere else in the world. You’ll find some of the most pristine coral and marine life anyplace in the Florida Keys at the westernmost edge of the world’s third-largest coral reef system.
Make a Boat Trip Schedule
If you want to get the most out of your visit to Dry Tortugas National Park, you should bring your own boat. In order to survive in the park, which is roughly 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, visitors must make meticulous preparations for their trip.
Boating Permits are mandatory
All boats entering the park must have a permit before engaging in any recreational activities. Even if you don’t intend on visiting Fort Jefferson, you still need a boat permit on Garden Key.
To Visit Dry Tortugas National Park, Arrange a Tour in Advance.
Tour providers are allowed to bring people to the island, and there are many of them. If you’re looking for something a little more tailored to your interests, you’ll have to go elsewhere.
There are a variety of tours available in the park, including the following:
- Trips to the ocean to go snorkeling
- Dive expeditions
- Fishing outings with a guide
- observing wild animals
- Excursions by Boat
The Park is accessible by ferry
There are several ways to get to the park, but the boat is the most common. Fort Jefferson may be reached by the Yankee Freedom III.
The cost of the boat journey includes the park’s admission price. Adults pay $180 for a one-day excursion. It’s $125 for kids four to sixteen years old. Check in the morning of your trip and you’ll get your money back if you already have a national park pass.
The boat ride to the park, which is 70 miles away, takes 2.5 hours. You may spend up to five hours on the island as part of a day excursion.
Taking a Seaplane Flight
The airport in Key West has a seaplane rental service that will transport you to Dry Tortugas National Park. You’ll arrive on the island in about an hour and a half after taking the aircraft.
For a fee of $300 per person, you may spend up to three hours on the island with seaplane trips that range from one business to the next.
DON’T MISS A FERRY RIDE TO THE DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK FROM THE YANKEE FREEDOM!