How to Spend a Day at Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is a tropical paradise! Located about 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida, this national park is one of the least visited and most remote. It’s only accessible by boat or seaplane! 98% of this national park is underwater, but the 2% above sea level is absolutely phenomenal and has something for everybody. Whether you’re interested in history, snorkeling, or just relaxing on the beach: this is the park for you. Here’s how to spend a day at Dry Tortugas National Park!

Travel by seaplane

Unless you have a private boat to get you out to the park (in which case, good for you!), you will need to travel by either ferry or seaplane. My original plan was to take the seaplane with Key West Seaplane Adventures. They are the only authorized seaplane provider to the park and a bucket list experience. Unfortunately, when I went to book about 2 months before my trip, they were completely full. They keep a waitlist, but I’d recommend following up with them yourself to see if any spots open up.

Tip: Bookings fill up quickly. Reserve your spot well before your trip!

I then booked a seat on the Yankee Freedom ferry, as my only other option to the park. On the day of my ride out, we unfortunately had issues with the boat and had to turn around back to Key West. It was super disappointing. Thankfully, I was able to snag a last minute cancellation on the seaplane tour for the very next day! Even though I didn’t get to experience the entire ferry ride, I can confidently say that the seaplane is the way to go!

The flight leaves from Key West International Airport and lands on the water outside the park about 35 minutes later. It’s a quick, low flight (only about 500 feet) that takes you over incredibly scenic areas of the Florida Keys! The waters turn all shades of blue and you can even spot marine life. I saw a ton of sea turtles, and others on my flight saw stingrays and even sharks. I did the half day tour, which gives you about 2.5 hours on the island. If I were to do it all over again, I’d book the full day tour (well in advance), because there really is so much to do on the island.

Tour Fort Jefferson

Fort Jefferson is a ton of fun to self-tour. Leave yourself plenty of time to explore, but try to also be mindful. I lost track of time and ended up spending half my time on the island wandering throughout. On the outside, the fort doesn’t look to be that big, but once you are inside you will experience the sheer vast of it! In fact- it’s the largest brick structure in the entire Western Hemisphere!

Two levels of gorgeous brick arches line the entire fort and open up to a grassy field in the center. These arches are perfect for photo ops and for seeking a bit of shade from the hot sun. There was a bit of construction and revitalization happening during my visit, which caused me to get a bit turned around and lost. When in doubt, just venture to the middle of the fort. From there, use the American flag that is waving at the main entrance as a vantage point.

Venture to the top of the fort

One of the highlights of the fort was making my way to the top. Up here, you’ll get incredible 360 degree views, and a welcome breeze. You can explore cannons still in place from the 1800’s, get up close with the lighthouse, and look over the bright blue Gulf of Mexico. There is a sand path that will guide you around the entire top. Be super careful, as there are no railings and the ledges are a straight down into the moat. Make sure to also be mindful of the wind up here. My tripod actually got knocked over and it fell into a grassy ditch. I’m so thankful that not only was my camera okay, but that the breeze didn’t blow the opposite direction. It would have sunk like a stone to the bottom of the water!

Tip: The stairs can be tricky to find. At each corner of the octagon fort, there is an enclosed circular staircase that brings you up to each level.

Walk the moat wall

Walking the moat wall was another highlight of my visit! This pathway goes around the entire fort … almost. Hurricane Irma actually wiped out a portion of the moat wall when she passed through in 2017. Reconstruction talks have been happening ever since, but the wall still remains damaged and you cannot pass. To get the most of the walk, enter near the North beach. This will give you the longest stretch to walk until you reach the damage. There is no jumping or entering the water allowed from the wall since the reefs line the outside, so it’s only for walking.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling at Dry Tortugas National Park is top notch, and some of the best in the world. Tons of shallow reefs line the island in crystal clear water, making it very easy for all abilities. I didn’t have a ton of time for this, but I did dip my face in a bit near the moat wall and saw a bunch of colorful coral and fish. More experienced snorkelers are advised to circle the entire moat wall and even go out a bit deeper for an ultimate experience! I’m still conquering my fear of open water, so staying shallow near the wall was enough of a push for me.

You can either bring your own snorkel equipment, or borrow from your tour provider. Both the seaplane and ferry offered a mask, snorkel, and fins for free!

Relax on white sand beaches

There are two pristine, white sand beaches on the island for visitors: the North and South beaches. These are the only two places on the island you’re permitted to enter and leave the water, so they can get a bit crowded. The South beach is located near the ferry dock and seaplane landing beach. It’s a bit bigger and easier to get to. The North beach is about a five minute walk away, and I found this one to be my favorite of the two. Since it is a bit removed, less people ventured up to this beach and there was more privacy. Plus, the moat wall starts right there so makes it an easy access point for snorkeling.

While they are white sand beaches, they can be a bit rough. There are a lot of coral and eroded bricks that wash ashore, which can make finding a smooth place to lay your towel tricky. This is not the time to forget your water shoes!

Walk Bush Key

As you’re wrapping up your day on the island and waiting for your plane to take you back to Key West, take some time to venture down Bush Key. Very few people do, so you’ll feel like you have the entire beach to yourself. This area is completely untouched and a true slice of paradise. There is no swimming allowed here, but would be a perfect spot to lay out on soft sand with a book. Access area closes at the end of Bush Key, but you’ll get great views of the sandbars and Long Key from there. A little slice of quiet heaven before you make your way back to the hustle of Key West!

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

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