Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Dry Tortugas National Park lies about 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West, Florida, with no road connecting it to the mainland. A visit usually starts with a boat or seaplane trip to Garden Key, where Fort Jefferson stands beside swimming and snorkeling areas. Arrange transportation before building your itinerary, and prepare for an island with very limited supplies.

Highlights in Dry Tortugas

• Fort Jefferson: explore a vast brick coastal fort whose harbor shaped its military role.
• Garden Key snorkeling: look below the surface for reef fish and marine habitats close to shore.
• Seabirds and turtles: protected nesting areas make wildlife watching an important part of the visit.
• A night on Garden Key: primitive camping offers time after day visitors leave and a chance to watch the night sky.

Know before you go

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety on the islands and water

There are no lifeguards. Snorkel with another person, use equipment that fits, and stay out of the moat itself. An approved dive flag is required outside the designated snorkeling area. Currents, wind, and changing sea conditions matter more than how inviting the water looks.

Bring sun protection and necessary medication. Private boaters need appropriate offshore preparation, navigation, and communication equipment. Paddlers must be able to rescue themselves and describe their location if they need help. Review the park's swimming and paddling guidance before choosing a route.

Protect reefs, nesting areas, and historic remains

Keep your feet and equipment away from coral and seagrass. Leave shells, coral, and historic objects in place. Stay outside nesting closures, including vegetated areas on Bush Key. Pack out everything you bring because the park has no public trash disposal.

Pets may accompany visitors on Garden Key outside Fort Jefferson, but not on the other keys. They must remain leashed and attended. The commercial ferry and seaplane do not carry pets. Keep animals away from rodent-control bait boxes.

Transportation and camping arrangements

Book with the ferry, seaplane, or permitted charter operator for your chosen travel dates. For camping, reserve suitable transportation well ahead: the seaplane does not carry campers. Check baggage rules before packing cooking equipment; compressed gas canisters cannot travel on the ferry. Ordinary six-person campsites are first come, first served, with overflow space when regular sites fill. The group site for 10–20 people requires a reservation. Use the Garden Key camping instructions to plan supplies and contact the park about group bookings.

Private boaters should obtain their entrance pass before departure and keep a downloaded or printed copy. Plan overnight anchoring separately from camping ashore. Anchoring is prohibited within the Research Natural Area.

Maps, Garden Key, and arrival points

Dry Tortugas consists of seven islands and surrounding waters west of the Florida Keys. Garden Key is the usual arrival point for ferry and seaplane passengers. A map pin on the park cannot provide driving directions across the sea. The park's Homestead mailing address is also not a departure point.

The official transportation guide links to the Yankee Freedom ferry, Key West Seaplane Charters, and permitted guides. Check the operator's departure location and baggage rules. Do not assume a Garden Key ticket includes transport to Loggerhead Key.

The NPS maps page includes a marine visitor-use map. These orientation resources do not replace nautical charts for operating a private boat.

Nearby parks from Key West

These road-access options start after you return to Key West; neither has a road connection to Dry Tortugas.

• Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park: visit within Key West, with access through the Southard Street and Truman Annex area.
• Bahia Honda State Park: continue along the Overseas Highway through the Lower Keys for a separate state park stop.

Explore above and below the water

Begin with Fort Jefferson and the visitor center on Garden Key. The fort's rooms, brick passages, and harbor setting offer enough context to make this more than a beach stop. Keep to open areas while preservation work continues.

For snorkeling, use the designated area and ask staff which nearby waters are open. Reef fish gather around coral and other underwater structures, but visibility and sea conditions vary. Scuba diving requires separate equipment and transport planning: the ferry and seaplane cannot carry compressed dive tanks.

When access permits, Bush Key has a one-mile round-trip shoreline route. Wear shoes for coral rubble and remain on the marked route. Shifting sand can remove the land connection from Garden Key, so check access before starting.

Birdwatching does not require entering a nesting colony. Observe from open areas with binoculars. Campers can also spend time with the night sky once the island's daytime activity subsides.

Facilities and accessibility

Bring your own food, drinking water, and essential supplies. There is no public cell coverage or Wi-Fi, and private boats cannot refuel here. NPS advises boaters to plan for two gallons of water per person per day and carry an extra day's food and water for delays.

Garden Key has a visitor center and bookstore. During the ferry's daytime stay, visitors use its restroom facilities; composting toilets serve campers outside that period. There are no public showers. Camping is primitive, and a tent is required. Store food and food waste in hard-sided containers to protect them from rats and crabs.

Wheelchair access to Fort Jefferson is limited to the first tier, with grass and brick surfaces. The upper tiers are not wheelchair accessible. The ferry has boarding assistance arrangements, but give the operator advance notice and discuss your specific requirements before booking.

About Dry Tortugas National Park

The islands occupy only a small part of this marine landscape. Coral reefs, seagrass, nesting beaches, and historic structures all influence where visitors can go and what needs protection.

Fort Jefferson and its harbor

The United States built Fort Jefferson to protect a strategic anchorage used by ships traveling between the Gulf Coast and Atlantic seaboard. Construction ran from 1846 to 1875, but the fort was never finished or fully armed. During the Civil War, Union ships used the harbor, and the fort also held prisoners. Its later uses included a naval coaling station.

Reef life and nesting wildlife

Reef fish use the park's coral and seagrass habitats. Sea turtles nest on protected beaches, and Bush Key supports nesting sooty terns. Seasonal access restrictions protect breeding birds rather than simply limiting visitor numbers. Watch without approaching or handling wildlife.

Contact Dry Tortugas National Park

Park information: 305-242-7700. Mailing address: 40001 SR-9336, Homestead, FL 33034. Contact your transport operator separately for check-in, cancellations, baggage, and accessibility arrangements.