Dry Tortugas National Park is definitely one of the national parks in the United States with the most curious and fascinating location. The characteristic Fort Jefferson, which seems to rise out of nowhere on the sea waters, is the main attraction of the area, but those who go to these latitudes most certainly do so to swim in the crystal clear waters of the area.
It is almost a must for those who, while touring Florida, perhaps after traveling the scenic Overseas Highway, find themselves in Key West and have a day available. If I have aroused your curiosity, all you have to do is continue reading the article to find out how to get to Dry Tortugas and what activities can be undertaken in this small but beautiful park.
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How to Get to Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is located about 69.5 miles south of Key West. The park is open every day of the year but can only be reached by sea or by seaplane. If you want to go, here are the only means to do so.
- The Yankee Freedom III is a ship that takes approximately 2 and a quarter hours to arrive at Dry Tortugas, leaving you with 4 hours to explore the island. You will depart early in the morning and return to Key West in the late afternoon. You will therefore need to have a full day to devote to this excursion, so consider what the weather conditions can be because taking such a trip and finding bad weather would be very disappointing. Prices start at $220 per person
- Key West Seaplane is the fastest way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park from Key West, as it only takes a 40-minute flight. However, prices are not very popular, starting at $466 per person for a 4-hour excursion (including flight) and going up to around $819 per person for a full-day excursion.
Admission to the park costs $15 per person, but if you have an America the Beautiful parks pass, show it when you board and it will be deducted from the total cost.
Things to Do in Dry Tortugas
There is basically just one attraction in this park and that is Fort Jefferson, built on the small island of Garden Key. This fort was built in one of the strategic points considered best to defend the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits. Its location made it a perfect foothold to patrol and secure all naval traffic in cities such as New Orleans, Mobile and Pensacola.
However, its location was also the reason it was never completed, due to the difficulty in getting materials in. To complicate matters there was the outbreak of the American Civil War when the fort remained in the hands of the Union. This “change of hands” is also witnessed by the different colors of bricks used for the construction that can still be seen today.
The materials, which previously came from Florida, now had to be sourced in the north of the United States and the quality was greatly affected by this, given that the two climates were completely different. After the end of the war, the fort was used as a prison where the conspirators of President Lincoln’s assassination served their sentence. It was only in 1908 that the area was turned into a nature reserve.
Today, the ships that take you from Key West to Dry Tortugas dock at the pier, and there is a small Visitor Center, a campsite and the headquarters of the park also located here.
Among the other islets that make up the park there is Loggerhead Key, which in addition to being the largest, is also the one with the highest altitude above sea level: 10 feet! It houses the Dry Tortugas lighthouse but can only be reached by private boat or canoe previously transported by ship.
Can you Swim at Dry Tortugas National Park?
If you’ve always dreamed of taking a swim in the transparent waters of the Florida Keys, but the number of tourists has somewhat spoiled your experience, all you have to do is go to Dry Tortugas National Park where, among other things, you can enjoy the sea in greater tranquility.
It is possible to swim around the moat that surrounds Fort Jefferson but it is forbidden to bathe inside. If time allows, it will be a perfect opportunity to see this historical testimony from a very special perspective. Again, in this case check the weather conditions beforehand, because getting here and not being able to swim takes away much of the experience offered by Dry Tortugas National Park.
Where to Stay When Visiting Dry Tortugas
If you want to stay inside Dry Tortugas you can only do it in the camping area (very basic) managed directly by the National Park Service. It is not possible to make reservations (unless you are part of a group of at least 10 people) and you get a place on a first come first served basis. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to bring your own supplies since you won’t have running water or food and you’ll have to take back all the trash you produce during your stay.
There is a charge of $15 per night. Only those who offer sea transportation accept a limited number of campers with their equipment, while this service is not offered by the seaplane. The closest city to stay in is Key West, if you are interested in finding out the best options in this particular city I suggest you read our article by clicking on the link below.
