The BEST day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park (UPDATED 2025)

1,289 words, 7 minutes read time.

Have you ever been to a place so magical and picture-perfect that it instantly earns a spot on your list of all-time favorite destinations? The kind of place that looks like it belongs on a tropical vacation postcard? If not, then you’ve clearly never taken a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park.

About 70 miles west of the lively streets of Key West, this remote island gem is home to a massive mid-1800s fort, turquoise waters, and pristine beaches. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, its isolation is part of the magic. Most of the island is dominated by the incredible Fort Jefferson- and trust me, it’s even more impressive in person.

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The History of Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson

If you are like me, you like a name that makes sense. I love it when it is kind of in your face, too! The name Dry Tortugas, a collection of seven keys, is named quite literally for two reasons:

1. There was no freshwater source on the island, and therefore “dry” was added as a warning for those who visited to bring their own drinking water.
2. “Tortugas,” which is the Spanish word for turtles, was added since there used to be a large population of sea turtles around the island.

Now that we’ve got the toponomastics out of the way, let’s do a Dry Tortugas for dummies quick summary. Location is very relevant when discussing the history of this tiny fortress island since it was on the perimeter of the main shipping channel in the 19th century. With protection for the Gulf of Mexico in mind, the powers in charge began construction of the large masonry fortress in 1846. They imported the fort’s masonry bricks from Maine.

When I read that little factoid, my mind was blown because can you imagine hauling brick by boat ALL the way from Maine during one of the slowest travel times in our history? Doing that now with our faster, more powerful boats seems impractical. It totally makes sense now, knowing that even when they stopped building in 1875, the fort still wasn’t completed. Despite not finishing, Fort Jefferson is still the largest of all the US forts and was operational during the Civil War.

During the War, soldiers and their families were stationed at Fort Jefferson to make sure that it did not fall into the hands of rebel forces, and in 1861, the first prisoner arrived. Some of the most notable prisoners were four dudes who were implicated and convicted in the plot to assassinate President Lincoln.

Despite all that cool history, Dry Tortugas deteriorated over time due to hurricanes and being abandoned. But it was designated as a National Monument by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935, and it finally achieved National Park status in 1992. It is now a place that tourists flock to see Fort Jefferson or enjoy a great snorkel experience!

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Booking a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park

Getting to Dry Tortugas National Park is not really that hard, despite the complete isolation! There are really three options: hire or hitch a ride on a private boat, book a tour via a seaplane, or book a tour with the official national park ferry, Yankee Freedom.

If I had unlimited funds and knew someone who would go with me, I would definitely go the private boat route to visit the island. Private boats can anchor at Dry Tortugas for up to 14 days, and there is definitely more freedom to explore the area at your own pace.

However, as you imagine, this is the most expensive option, especially since I was solo traveling. If you have the money and some friends to split the cost, definitely consider doing a multi-night charter. This 3-night charter includes all meals, 2 bedrooms on the boat, and all kinds of equipment provided for you for $$$. I want to do this, so HIT ME UP SOMEONE so we can travel together and cut costs!

Another route I considered was via seaplane. Could you imagine the views of the crystalline waters from above? And landing on the water?? This transport happens to be the quickest travel time, at 45 minutes each way. Honestly, though, a seaplane simply was not in my budget even for the cheaper half-day option. The visit to Dry Tortugas was shorter, and I knew I wanted to soak up my time on the island. If you are interested, though, there are two different options: a half-day excursion at $466 per person (source).

**Plus-sized traveler heads-up: There is a maximum weight per passenger is 325lbs. This is due to the weight limitations of the aircraft.

Last but not least is the Yankee Freedom Ferry, which is the official national park ferry. This is the most affordable option, although still not budget-friendly for some. As you can imagine, this is the most popular choice, too! This is how I visited Dry Tortugas over the holiday weekend with 174 other people! It was absolutely a magical experience and worth every penny I spent!

Despite the 7:00 a.m. required check-in time. Although you are on the boat for 2.5 hours each way, if you bring a book, the time passes very quickly. There is an excellent breakfast and lunch provided, an amazing crew, and this is the best option that provides the most island time – 4 hours. They also provide snorkel gear! The ticket costs ~$235. It is slightly more expensive if you are hauling over items for you to camp at Dry Tortugas, but I saw them providing carts for taking your stuff to your camp spot, which is a nice extra!

**Traveling Tip: If you experience any kind of motion sickness, take medicine the day before your tour, or at the very least a couple of hours before the afternoon return trip back to Key West. I cannot begin to tell you the chaos the poor crew had to deal with on the return trip home. Take it as a precaution!

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You may be interested in these other National Park Trips!

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Snorkeling and Swimming at Dry Tortugas National Park

Let’s get down to the most important part – the fantastic water and all the fun I had!! The water was, without a doubt, the prettiest and clearest I have ever seen. I truly wish I could have captured clearer underwater photos while swimming and snorkeling. There were so many corals, sea fans, and tons of little schools of fish. I was in heaven! I wanted to stay for several more days because there was simply so much I didn’t have a chance to explore.

Check out the rest of my photos from my snorkel and swim experience from my day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park!

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Whether you are going for a few days or just for a day trip, here are some last-minute tips to make your trip go smoothly!

• Definitely pack your sunscreen, reapply many times, and then reapply again even when you don’t think you need it! The shade is hard to come by, so rather be safe than sorry! Consider getting a reef-safe sunscreen like this. Gotta protect the oceans!
• Bring a change of clothes so you get out of that wet bathing suit for the trek home. Also, bring a plastic bag for wet clothes! This cute checkered bag is portable!
• Bring a refillable water bottle. The crew provides fresh, cold water, and it gets hot! Everyone has one these days, but if not, these 32 oz ones will do the trick!
• Get a waterproof case or pouch for your phone! This case is shaped like a camera and has a shutter button!

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