A Plus Size Traveler’s Guide to Dry Tortugas National Park

As a plus size traveler, there are unfortunately things we need to consider that our straight-size friends don’t think twice about. However, putting in a little extra planning should never deter you from adventures on your travels! On a recent visit to Key West, Florida, I took a seaplane out to Dry Tortugas National Park. This had been on my bucket list for many years, and it was a dream to finally visit! Here’s a plus size traveler’s guide to Dry Tortugas National Park!

Read More: How to Spend One Day at Dry Tortugas National Park

Seaplane Seatbelts

To get out to the Dry Tortugas, I booked a seaplane trip with Key West Seaplane Adventures. They are a fantastic company and the trip out to the park is only about 40 minutes each way! Compare that with the 3.5 hour one-way ferry ride. The plane sat ten customers, with one of the seats being up in the cockpit! I was so surprised when the pilot asked me if I wanted to ride shotgun. Definitely ask your pilot, because it’s an option!

The seatbelts were snug. Riding in the cockpit, I felt like I had a little more room than when I sat in the regular seat on the way back. Thankfully I was able to suck it in and snap each without an accommodation, but this is a consideration to be aware of! I sent an email after the fact to Key West Seaplane Adventures, and they confirmed that they offer seatbelt extenders on each flight. This was such a relief to hear, and I hope that this helps to alleviate any fear other plus size travelers may have!

Seaplane Weight and Balances

Upon booking with Key West Seaplane Adventures, they ask you for your weight upfront. My gut reaction is to take off a hundred pounds, but I compromised at 20. Lol. Looking back, all was completely fine, but there really is no harm in being honest. The planes are small so they do need to take weights and balances into consideration more than larger commercial planes. On my ride out to Dry Tortugas National Park, our plane was only about half full so he told us we could sit wherever we liked (he then invited me to sit up front with him. It was awesome!).

On the ride back to Key West however, we had a full flight so he gave us more direction on where to sit. It wasn’t anything definitive, and was actually pretty relaxed. I heard him ask one couple if they could sit toward the front, and he specifically asked me to sit toward the back. No biggie. Each seat on the plane is a window seat anyway, so there is no such thing as a bad seat!

Exploring Fort Jefferson

Fort Jefferson is huge and easy to lose track of time exploring! In fact, it’s the largest brick building in the Western Hemisphere. Let that sink in, that’s pretty spectacular! The fort is very old and the rangers will tell you that they keep restoration efforts to a minimum to keep the history. That being said, there are no safety bars or hand railings, and certainly no elevators. To get to the second level and top of the fort, there are steep spiral staircases to climb. They are not so daunting, but definitely a little scary with no railings and loose bricks. Go slow and watch your footing. It’s also perfect because you can stop to rest on each level as you ascend. The views from each are spectacular anyway, so now you can take it all in!

Aside from these considerations, the rest of the park is very plus-size friendly! The moat wall is wide and stable and gives plenty of room for two people to pass by and the picnic tables offered by the park are plenty roomy. Its a huge park with tons to do, so you never feel crowded!

What to Wear and Pack

There are so many different activities to do on the island, which all require different attire! I’d recommend arriving wearing your swimsuit underneath clothes for walking. When you arrive, explore Fort Jefferson first and then hit the beach to cool off and relax!

When exploring Fort Jefferson, it can get HOT. Inside the fort, the air is very dry and there is no breeze. My back sweat has never been more real. Depending on how much you want to explore, it can also be a decent amount of walking. I’d recommend something tight around your thighs, whether its bike shorts or spandex under a dress. When all else fails, you could also rub a few swipes of deodorant on the inside of your thighs. It’s not a perfect solution, but it does help. I’d also recommend decent shoes for walking. I wore cheap Old Navy flip flops and I regretted it every single second. I ended up getting huge blisters that stung in the salt water and sand. No fun! If you have a pair of sneakers or supportive sandals like Birkenstocks, this would be the time to bring them.

There are also changing rooms near the ferry dock, so definitely bring a towel and change of clothes for the ride back. The rooms are pretty spacious but can get busy so try to avoid the rush right before your plane leaves.

Whenever I go to a beach, I always remember to bring a brush! There is no better feeling than running one through wet hair and knowing it’s not going to stay a tangled mess in a bun. Also important to not forget your sunblock and a hat! The UV index here is typically pretty high so easy to get burned if you don’t take precautions. And finally – don’t forget to pack your camera 😉

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