Dry Tortugas National Park
- Bridget A. Carlisle
- Mar 20
- 7 min read
For many, Florida provides the perfect setting for combating the winter blues. The state’s coastline and interior provide loads of sunshine, mild temperatures, and low humidity, making it an ideal destination for kicking off the annual travel season. And although I’ve done a lot of national park travel over the last two years, I had yet to see Florida’s National Parks before this year. So, with my husband Scott in tow, we set out in January with the intention of visiting all three of Florida’s National Parks, which include Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas. As it turns out, you can also find some amazing airline deals to the Caribbean from Florida, so we added Virgin Islands National Park to our trip itinerary for good measure. I figure in the long run this is a sound financial practice that allows us to save money by leveraging airfare deals and avoiding additional travel-related expenses if we split up visiting each of the national parks into separate trips. This may sound like “girl math” but I’ve successfully sold my husband on the principle, so the narrative isn’t changing now. Wink.
I’ve shared information, whether on social media or through my blog, on all the national parks we visited on this trip except for Dry Tortugas National Park, number 35 on my list of national parks visited. The trip to Dry Tortugas also meant that I’d be taking my first trip to Key West as well, home to the seaplanes and ferry service which provide transportation to the national park. But with a packed itinerary for this trip, we didn’t spend much time in Key West aside from picking up dinner downtown and driving to and from the ferry terminal. However, Scott and I agreed upon leaving that we’d both enjoy a trip back and the opportunity to explore the area further. What I did take in of the downtown area left me with the impression that it boosts charming cottages, quaint shops, great eateries, and lively nightlife. I can see the appeal of the area and who doesn’t want to visit a place where key lime pie is famous, and you can earn bragging rights to say you’ve been to the southern-most point of the continental United States.
Although a fun and lively city, first time travelers should take note that paradise comes with a premium. Regardless of how you’re traveling, a swanky hotel or a Class B camper van like us, you should expect to pay more for lodging/campsites, as well as dining and services. However, this expectation holds true of most oceanfront or beach town destinations. Paradise always comes with a cost but I’m a firm believer that whatever your budget you can find ways to save money which allows for more travel!
Money Saving Tip: If you’re active-duty military or a veteran, you should consider staying at the lodge or campground on the Key West Naval Air Station. Scott’s prior military service scored us a waterfront campsite for $36 per night. What a deal and amazing benefit for those that have served in the Armed Forces.
Although we didn’t get to spend much time in Key West, it wasn’t really the purpose of our trip. Dry Tortugas National Park was the ultimate destination. A little bit about Dry Tortugas, it’s an archipelago, or collection of islands, consisting of seven coral islands which are located 70 miles off the western coast of Key West. And let me tell you, this location serves as an epic backdrop to one of America’s most remote and least visited national parks. In fact, according to the National Park Service, Dry Tortugas National Park only received ~85,000 visitors in 2024. This may seem like a big number at first blush, but park enthusiasts know that it pales in comparison to some of the most well-known national parks. For instance, in the same year Great Smoky Mountain National Park received the most visitors at a whooping ~12.2 million people! With Dry Tortugas National Park only being accessible by boat or seaplane it ranks up there alongside other remote national parks like those of Alaska. The remote location of Dry Tortugas National Park, coupled with the rich history of Fort Jefferson, makes for a unique visit that will leave you wanting more. Since visiting I’ve been dreaming of going back and camping overnight, I imagine the night sky would be dazzling without light pollution. A real sight to behold, I’m sure.
Our plans for getting to Dry Tortugas National Park were to sail aboard the Yankee Freedom. Yankee Freedom isn’t the only means of getting to the national park, but it does provide excellent value and is the only approved concessionaire for passenger ferry service. This is a full day excursion for $220 per person if you’re a national park pass holder. Non-pass holders should add an additional $15.00 for entry into the park. The package includes transportation via a 100-foot motorized catamaran to and from Dry Tortugas National Park on Garden Key, a continental breakfast and sack lunch, snorkeling gear, 45-minute narrated tour of Fort Jefferson, ~4.5 hours on the island, and all the caregiving assistance one might need should they not plan accordingly for sailing. I’ve never had a problem with motion sickness, but I have close friends that do. So, although the crew will graciously assist you, regardless of the state you’re in, heed the warnings during periods of rough seas and prepare adequately. Be kind to the crew and take motion sickness medication and wear motion sickness wristbands. These precautions work for most people and will save you from a humbling experience. Grin.
The boat itself was comfortably appointed, with indoor seating and well-maintained facilities. It’s a comfortable ride so bring along a deck of cards or a book and enjoy the sailing time. The water is exceptionally blue which doesn’t make for a bad day at sea. We had the added pleasure of having a female captain in charge of the boat on the day of our excursion. I instinctively knew this was impressive and after a little research confirmed the suspicion. Today, women make up only 8% of boat captains which left me just as excited about the boat trip as I was about visiting the national park! I mean it’s impressive to watch anyone command the presence of the crew and a boat this size but I’m paying particular attention when it’s another woman given how underrepresented we are in the industry.
If you’re interested in a little more adventure, you can book a half-day excursion that includes transportation to Dry Tortugas National Park aboard a seaplane. Seaplane excursions start at ~$500 per person for a half-day trip. Scott would never miss an opportunity to fly, but he didn’t have the luck of the draw this time around as I’m saving my seaplane adventures for visiting the Alaska National Parks. Well, saving the adventure and a whole lot of the sedatives it’ll take to get me on one of those planes. Throughout my lifetime I’ve been able to fly in small four-seat aircraft and by helicopter (once with the doors off), but I simply can’t find the appeal. I’m sure it’s there somewhere but remains heavily shrouded by a cloak of fear. At 54 years old I’ve yet to become confident in what I’d classify as adventure flying. In general, I don’t like to fly but I fly because I love to travel and the world is a small place if you limit yourself to only the people, places, customs, and traditions that are most like you.
Once you reach Dry Tortugas National Park, be strategic and plan out how to spend your time on the island. The 4.5 hours you’re allotted to visit will quickly fly by. I recommend splitting your time equally between exploring the inside of Fort Jefferson and the beautiful beaches of Garden Key. The 45-minute narrated tour is a great place to start and will leave you with an appreciation for the construction of the fort, its intended use and how that evolved, as well as other interesting historical tidbits. You can easily walk the interior grounds and each of the three floors where you’ll find informative historical placards and views that shouldn’t be missed. Your remaining time can be spent outside the walls of Fort Jefferson eating lunch, walking the beautiful beaches, taking a dip in the water, and snorkeling amongst a variety of sea life all before reboarding the Yankee Freedom for your trip back to the ferry terminal in Key West.
A visit to Dry Tortugas National Park is special and you’ll find value in the experience for all generations and in all seasons. Our trip was in January and started out overcast and cold, but we’re always determined to make the best of any trip. However, we were blessed that once we arrived at Dry Tortugas National Park the sunshine made its way through the clouds, and we were able to shed our sweatshirts and enjoy the warm sunshine. So, purchase your excursion tickets, pack a backpack, and set out to experience a truly unique national park.
If you’ve found this information helpful and have yet to subscribe to my blog, make sure to do so before leaving by using the Subscribe Now button below. I’m gearing up for some extended time out on the road which will be filled with lots of van life adventures, and I’d love to bring you along with me. Also, while I share a few pictures from my trip through my blog, you can find all of them on social media. Use the social media links in the header and footer on this website to see additional pictures from my visit to Dry Tortugas National Park and all of the other trips I take.
Until next time, wishing you happy travels.
Bridget
A great read on this cold 1st day of Spring! I do hope to make it to the Keys one day! Maybe I can tag along when you and Scott make your way back there!