Page Updated: March 06, 2024
Dry Tortugas National Park
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Fort Jefferson - Dry Tortugas National Park FL
The exquisite turquoise waters of Dry Tortugas National Park are renowned for their picturesque coral reefs and magnificent marine life. Located 70 miles west of Key West and logistically one of the more difficult national parks to visit, Dry Tortugas hosts an average of just under 70,000 visitors annually.
Popular activities in the vast open water of the park include boating, fishing, paddling, snorkeling, and swimming.
Dry Tortugas was designated national park status in 1992.
Covering a 100 square miles, Dry Tortugas National Park is just 1% land.
The park is a favorite nesting site for loggerhead, green, and hawksbill sea turtles.
Ernest Hemmingway was once marooned in the Dry Tortugas for 17 days.
Scenic Drive
Dry Tortugas National Park is comprised of 99% water. The best scenic routes in the park are by boat or seaplane.
Hiking
Avid hikers are in luck; Dry Tortugas has two tiny trails!
The half-mile Fort Jefferson Loop coils along the walls of the fort, and the mile long Bush Key Trail can be accessed via the sporadic sandbar connecting Bush and Garden Keys. Bush Key is designated critical bird habitat and as such is closed seasonally for nesting.
Camping
Camping in Dry Tortugas is logistically technical and remote.
Campers must come prepared for any of the first come-first served sites as they would for backcountry camping - with the addition of 2 gallons of drinking water per person per day, plus an extra day’s supply of food and water in the event of ferry cancellations.
Though campsites are first come-first served, reservations for public transportation to Garden Key Campground sell out 9-12 months in advance. Campers should plan accordingly!
For current info, news, and updates on all things Dry Tortugas - including fees, permits, and closures - visit Dry Tortugas National Park at nps.gov
2022 May
Dry Tortugas National Park is just as gorgeous as you think it is! Every picture you’ve ever seen is accurate, and yet somehow standing on the wall in person makes it even more so! Visit 2022
