Dry Tortugas National Park Seaplane vs Ferry

What is Dry Tortugas and is it worth the trip?

Dry Tortugas, named for its abundance of sea turtles and lack of fresh water, is a collection of islands (called “keys”) discovered by Ponce de Leon in the early 1500s. Hundreds of years later, in 1846, the United States Navy began construction of the majestic Fort Jefferson on one of the keys, which was never finished, but still stands today. The fort actually served as a prison during the Civil War and once held infamous prisoner Samuel Mudd.

Fort Jefferson was a national monument for years before becoming the Dry Tortugas National Park in 1992. Today, less than 80,000 people visit this beautiful park each year, making it one of the least visited national parks in the US. Although it takes some planning to get to, the park is a popular destination for campers, bird watchers, snorkelers, and bucket listers.

So it is worth the trip? Absolutely! If you’re staying in Key West, it’s easy to add a half-day or full-day trip to Dry Tortugas. Arrive by ferry or seaplane, and spend the day touring Fort Jefferson, snorkeling the crystal clear waters, and relaxing on the beach.

Hotels Near Dry Tortugas National Park

If you’re visiting Dry Tortugas, you’ll likely be coming from Key West. Key West is such a fun city with plenty of things to do and places to stay! You won’t find many chain hotels here — it’s mostly a mix of boutique hotels and luxury resorts. Our favorite Key West hotel is a short drive away from the heart of downtown, but if you want to stay within walking distance of all the action, there are several good boutique options right near the popular Duval Street.

OUR TOP THREE HOTEL PICKS IN KEY WEST FLORIDA

📍 The Capitana Key West
Our Top Pick
We stayed at this beautiful hotel during our trip to Key West, and it was a great experience. It just opened in 2021, making it one of the newest hotels in Key West. It was clean and comfortable, the pool was amazing, and our room had a large balcony with a great view. We loved the location since it was far enough away from the busy downtown area, but still, just a short 7-minute Uber ride to the epic Duval Street.

📍 Truman Hotel
Budget Friendly + Great Location
This boutique hotel is right in the heart of this historic district, just three blocks from Duval Street, yet it’s still an affordable choice. The rooms have a boutique design without compromising functionality, and the pool area looks like something from a fairytale.

📍 Santa Maria Suites Resort
Luxury + Great Location
This luxury suite-only hotel is just one block from Duval Street and each suite is equipped with a full kitchen and laundry room! Enjoy free on-site parking, two heated garden pools, and a full-service concierge during your stay. If the Santa Maria is within your budget, you can’t do better than this in Key West.

How do you get to Dry Tortugas?

There are only two ways to get to Dry Tortugas National Park — a seaplane or a boat. This, along with the expensive price tag that comes with booking a boat or a seaplane, is the reason for the park’s low number of annual visitors.

The park also limits the number of daily visitors, so be sure to book your seaplane or ferry tickets well in advance! During the busy season, these tours can sell out months ahead of time.

Arriving By Seaplane

Taking a seaplane to the island is arguably the most fun (and adventurous) choice of transportation. If it’s within your budget, you should absolutely arrive by seaplane! There’s only one company licensed with the NPS for seaplane services to Dry Tortugas, and that’s Key West Seaplane Charters.

Key West Seaplane Charters offers half-day and full-day tours. Their low-altitude flights take about 40 minutes each way and provide commentary about the history of Fort Jefferson during the flight. Once you arrive on the island, you’re on your own until it’s time to fly back.

The half-day tour is just under 4 hours (including flight time) with morning and afternoon flight departures. You’ll have about 2 1/2 hours in the park with the half-day tour. The full-day tour is about 8 hours long (including flight time) and departs in the morning only. You’ll have over 6 hours in the park with the full-day tour.

On the day of your tour, you’ll need to arrive at the Key West International Airport at least 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. You’ll park (or get dropped off) right at the Key West Seaplane Charters office and head to the counter to check in.

You’ll be offered a cooler with ice and complimentary water and soft drinks, as well as snorkeling equipment to use on the island (you can bring your own gear too!). Once all passengers have arrived, you’ll watch a short safety video before making your way to the plane. You’ll then board the 10-passenger plane right on the tarmac and begin the 40-minute flight to the park.

_{💣 Antisocial Tourist Tip — There’s an empty seat next to the pilot that’s also up for grabs! If no one has snagged it yet, ask the pilot if you can sit there!}

Taking the seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park does come with a hefty price tag of $361 per person for the half-day trip and $634 per person for the full-day trip. The park entrance fee is surprisingly not included, so be sure to bring $15 cash per person or your National Parks Pass.

Although expensive, we did feel the cost of the seaplane was worth it. Not only is it a cool experience riding in a seaplane, but it’s incredibly scenic and mesmerizing to watch the turquoise waters from overhead. You’ll also have the entire park to yourself for nearly 2 hours until the ferry passengers arrive (if you take the morning flight).

The seaplane is also the only half-day tour option, so if you’re short on time, this is the route to go. We were back in Key West by noon on the day of our tour, so we had lots of time to explore the city and really make the most of our time in the Keys.

Arriving By Ferry

If taking a seaplane is out of your budget, the ferry is still a great option, don’t worry! The ride there might not be quite as exciting, but it’s still beautiful from the water. The Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry is a high-speed catamaran called the Yankee Freedom, and it’s the only NPS-authorized ferry service to the park.

The ferry only offers full-day tours because of the additional time it takes to get to and from the island. The high-speed boat takes about 2 1/2 hours each way and provides a light breakfast and boxed lunch during the trip.

The ferry boards at 7:30 a.m. and departs from Key West at 8:00 a.m. It arrives at the park just after 10:30 a.m. The ferry begins its journey back to Key West at 3:00 p.m., so you’ll have over 4 hours to explore. You’ll arrive back in Key West at 5:30 p.m. Plan to spend over 10 hours total on this tour, including check-in time.

The Yankee Freedom departs from the Key West Ferry Terminal. On the day of your tour, you’ll need to arrive at the terminal at least 30 minutes prior to boarding to check in (or a full hour if you’re planning to camp!). Unlike the small 10-passenger seaplanes, the Yankee Freedom ferry holds up to 175 passengers, so arriving early is important! If you’re driving, give yourself plenty of time to park and walk to the terminal.

Once you’re checked in, you’ll line up to board the boat. Boarding begins at 7:30 a.m. and it’s open seating. You can choose between the open upper deck or the enclosed seating on the main deck. You’ll also find concessions where you can purchase snacks, drinks, and souvenirs.

The cost of the ferry is less than the seaplane but still comes with a hefty price tag of $200 per person, which includes the entrance fee to the park. If you’re a National Parks Pass owner, your ticket will only cost $185. Children under 16, active military, students, and senior citizens will get a small discount on their ticket price. Infants 3 and under are free.

Taking the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park has its advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage is that the ferry gives you just over four hours in the park itself, which is the perfect amount of time to take it all in. Passengers on the seaplane seem to have too little or too much time in the park, depending on the tour length they pick.

A big disadvantage of taking the ferry is that you’re arriving with hundreds of other passengers. The number of visitors to the park may be limited, but when you arrive all at once, it doesn’t feel as secluded. The boat ride can also be a bit rocky, so if you’re sensitive to seasickness, this may not be the best choice for you.

Arriving By Private Charter

You can bring your own boat or charter a boat from Key West, too. All boats are required to stop by Garden Key to pay the park entrance fee and you must acquire a permit before your visit, even if you plan on staying on your boat the whole time. More information about permits can be found here.

What is there to do at Dry Tortugas?

There are no restaurants, shops, or services at Dry Tortugas, so you’ll spend most of your time exploring Fort Jefferson, doing water activities, or relaxing on the beach. Visitors are welcome to snorkel, picnic, swim, and camp. Visitors arriving by private charter can also scuba dive, fish, and kayak, but please be aware that additional permits will be needed (even for kayaking!).

Once you arrive, we recommend touring Fort Jefferson first and then spending the rest of your time near the water. You can walk within the fort and around it, and you can even join the 45-minute narrated tour that starts at 11:00 a.m. each day. If guided tours aren’t your thing, download this Self-Guided Tour and explore on your own.

How much time do you need at Dry Tortugas?

When planning a trip to Dry Tortugas, you’ll need to choose between a half-day trip and the full-day trip (or overnight camping, but more on that below).

If you’re taking a seaplane, it’s a bit frustrating because the half-day trip feels a little too short but the full-day trip feels too long. We opted for the half-day trip, and even though we could have spent more time snorkeling and lounging on the beach, we were able to fit everything in before heading back to Key West.

The half-day seaplane tour is just under 4 hours (including flight time) with morning and afternoon flight departures. You’ll have about 2 1/2 hours in the park with the half-day tour. The full-day seaplane tour is about 8 hours long (including flight time) and departs in the morning only. You’ll have over 6 hours in the park with the full-day tour.

If you’re taking the ferry, you’re only choice will be a full-day tour, which takes over 10 hours in total. You’ll need to arrive at the ferry terminal by 7:00 a.m. and you won’t return until after 5:00 p.m., making this the longest of all the tour options. The high-speed ferry takes about 2 1/2 hours each way, and you’ll have just over 4 hours in the park to explore.

Ideally, you’ll want 3 – 5 hours to really take everything in at Dry Tortugas National Park, although we were able to see everything in the 2 1/2 hours that we spent on the island.

What should you bring on a day trip to Dry Tortugas?

Since there are no restaurants, shops, or services at Dry Tortugas National Park, you’ll want to pack a few essentials for your trip. Here’s our recommended packing list:

• Dramamine (if you’re taking the ferry)
• Towels
• Bathing suit
• Swim floats
• Waterproof camera
• Waterproof phone case
• Sunscreen (preferably reef safe)
• Beach hat
• Snacks or a packed lunch
• Change of dry clothes
• Cash ($15 per person if you’re taking the seaplane)

Can you camp at Dry Tortugas?

Yes, you can camp overnight at Dry Tortugas National Park! Camping is allowed at Garden Key, the main island where Fort Jefferson sits and where all ferry and seaplane tourists are dropped off. Camping here will require some serious pre-planning since there are no restaurants or amenities on the island. Campers are truly on their own in this remote location.

Campers can arrive by private boat or by public ferry only — the seaplane does not offer transport for campers. Unless your group has more than 10 people, camping reservations are not required. If you’re planning to use the ferry, you’ll need to reserve your ferry tickets in advance, but campsites are claimed on a first come first serve basis.

All campers are required to have a tent, fresh water, ice, and food. Gas camping stoves and charcoal briquettes are allowed for cooking, just note that compressed gas canisters are not allowed onboard the ferry. Campers must carry out all trash upon departure.

For a complete list of information about camping at Dry Tortugas National Park, head to the National Park Service website here.

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