Unless you have your own private boat (in which case, good for you!), your options out to Dry Tortugas National Park are limited. You can choose from either the ferry (Yankee Freedom) or a seaplane (Key West Seaplane Adventures). I’m in a specifically unique position to compare the two, because I actually experienced both! When planning my trip to Key West, I tried to book a seaplane, but they were booked months in advance (reserve early!). I then had no choice but to book the ferry. On the day of our trip, we loaded up and set sail like normal. About 2 hours later, we had engine trouble and had to turn back to Key West. I was so disappointed! I called up the seaplane company and asked if they had any cancellations and they were able to accommodate me the next day! I’m thankful I got to experience both options so I could write this guide on getting to Dry Tortugas National Park!
Read More: How to Spend a Day at Dry Tortugas National Park
Timing
The differences in timing on the ferry and seaplane are very vast. However, depending on your schedule and preferences, you may decide to do one over the other. If you have a full day to devote, then the ferry may not be a bad option. However, if you’re tight on time, then you may elect for the seaplane. It depends on what is best for you!
The ferry ride is about 2.5 hours each way. That is a total of about 5 hours round trip. It definitely started to feel a little long on my trip, but you can bring games or activities to keep you occupied on board. Boarding for the ferry starts 1 hour before departure, which could make the day feel even longer. The seaplane ride out to the park is about 40 minutes each way. This is a significant difference! You board right at Key West International Airport, but there is no security or TSA checking. You are asked to arrive 30 minutes before the plane departs for them to check you in and fill up your coolers. Very relaxed!
Point: seaplane.
Convenience
As mentioned above, the arrival and boarding process also varies quite a bit between the two options. For the ferry, there is a parking garage directly across the street from the terminal. It costs $35/day for parking which felt very steep. However, it was close by and very easy to get to the arrival counter. Once you arrive, there were about 200 customers that needed to board up. This creates quite a process! When you check in one hour before, you get your boarding number (anywhere from 1-200). The earlier you check in, the better position you get. The boarding process begins with a 30 minutes safety speech, which I had no problem with. However, when it’s followed by a slow moving line of 200 people to board the boat, it can feel exhausting.
For the seaplane, parking is at the Short Term Parking Lot at Key West International Airport for $10. From my understanding, there was some construction happening which is why we needed to park there. I believe in normal times, they have a dedicated lot you can park in for free. Either way, it was much cheaper and about the same distance walk to check in. Boarding was also a breeze. You meet your pilot about fifteen minutes before departure and he walks you out onto the tarmac to board the plane. They help load your bags and equipment, so the only thing you have to stress about is which window seat you want.
Point: seaplane.
Cost
With convenience comes cost. That is no secret. The ferry charges $180 for a full day adventure. They do offer slight discounts for students and military, but it is only a few dollars. I still have my college ID from about a decade ago, so I was able to save a little bit! The fee includes the $15 entry fee into Dry Tortugas National Park, which is payable to NPS. You’ll also receive breakfast, lunch, and water on board as well as snorkel equipment to use on the island. Don’t forget to also consider the $35 you’ll pay to park for the day. This brings you to a grand total of $215 (not including tips).
The seaplane is a much more expensive journey. For a half day (4 hour) adventure, you’ll pay $360, and $630 for a full day (8 hours). Included with your cost is a cooler full of unlimited soft drinks and water and snorkel equipment to use on the island. They do not provide any food or snacks, so those are to be brought on your own. Also upon check in, they collect the $15 park fee (cash only) to be paid to NPS, and you’ll need to pay $10 for parking. This brings your total up to $385 or $655 (not including tips).
Point: ferry.
“Cool” Factor
Alright, I think we know which one is going to win this category. To give credit though, the ferry does have some element of “cool”. I really enjoyed the ride through the bright blue waters and passing the small islands out of Key West. Plus, you could get lucky enough to have some dolphins or fish come up to the boat for some marine spotting! But let’s be honest, it cannot hold a candle to the seaplane. Every moment of the ride is spectacular. From taking off at the airport and getting a birds eye view of the city, to passing over the water as it changes from turquoise to deep blue. Seeing the sandbars, shipwrecks, and turtles swimming around the water from 500 feet high is quite the experience! Plus- landing on water? How cool! It’s an experience for the bucket list, and rightfully so!
Point: seaplane.
Plus-Size Travel Friendly
One area that I (among many) travelers need to consider is how accommodating things are to plus-size travelers. The ferry is spacious, has large seats and benches, and has plenty of room to get up and move around. Even on a sold out charter, I had plenty of space next to me and even laid down for a bit. All of the aisles and stairways are wide and comfortable enough for several people to be up at a time. The seaplane may be a tight squeeze, but does offer accommodations. The bucket seats were plenty wide and comfortable but the seatbelts were tight. I was able to suck it in and buckle, but it wasn’t pretty. I did email the rep afterward and he confirmed that they do offer seatbelt extenders on each flight.
Point: ferry.
Read More: A Plus-Size Traveler’s Guide to Dry Tortugas National Park
The Winner Is…
For an overall experience, the winner is seaplane! This is the once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience that makes traveling worthwhile. This was the activity that made the whole trip worth it for me, and the one I tell all my friends about. Whenever I hear of someone going to Key West, I tell them that they must go to the Dry Tortugas and that they must take the seaplane. The efficiency and overall scenic experience were worth every penny to me and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
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