It is also a full day expedition, so go prepared with a lot of sunscreen.The price range is very reasonable especially if you are a student or military personnel. Camping in Dry Tortugas National Park. This is for people who arrive on Garden Key in their personal vessels and wish to camp. Camping at the Dry Tortugas is very popular. In conclusion, if you ever have the opportunity to visit Dry Tortugas National Park you should take it. Your trust is our top concern, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. We just returned from a 2 night trip. We swam out to the back end of the national park. I snorkeled for 1 hour which left a little over 1 hour to lounge and take in the views. Dry Tortugas National Park Fees & Reservations Entrance to Dry Tortugas National Park . BUT... we decided to take the sea plan which was about 40 minutes as compared to the 3 hour trip on the ferry. The snorkeling is amazing and the sand is beautiful. The absolute best part about camping at Dry Tortugas National Park is that once the ferry leaves, the island is pretty much all yours until it arrives again the next morning. Dry Tortugas is probably one of my favorite National Parks ever! Since so few people go and even fewer camp at this park there isn’t a lot of first and info out there. Camping in Dry Tortugas offered on Garden Key in the shadow of the 19th century Fort Jefferson and on a white sand beach with access to incredible snorkeling. We packed a set of soft shorts and shirts to sleep in each night (just 1 set for all 3 nights). Don’t forget that it’s going to get dark when the sun goes down. It's a boring two-hour boat ride from Mallory Square in Key West, but it is totally worth the wait once you get there. It is truly primitive camping, with no water, electricity, wifi or cell signal. I hopped on the Yankee Freedom III ferry from Key West Florida to get here. I was really surprised they wanted tips as you exited the boat. We stayed for three days. Rode a boat 2 1/2 hours to get there, most unique way ever to enter a national park for my wife and I. Fort Jefferson is a testament to American engineering and early technology. Make sure to soak up the views here! The tour includes free breakfast and lunch along with snacks and alcohol for purchase on your way back to Key West. Walking along the moat wall was very cool as you can see fish clear as day in the beautiful water. Dry Tortugas is probably one of my favorite National Parks ever! This $5 charge also only applies to visitors who are 17 years of age or more. Instead, I grabbed a couple of photos by the entrance of the park...the area where the seaplane was docked and then turned around and grabbed a big picture of the Yankee Freedom III. We had a lovely morning exploring this Fort. Now for the actual park itself. It was roughly $180 per person and departed from Key West. Should a regular campsite not be available, an overflow area is available. I’ve read a few reviews that said there was often 30-50 people there at night. The Dry Tortugas high-speed ferry is available to transport campers from Key West. Be sure to pack some type of sleeping mat. A nice breakfast buffet is served on the trip out. We explored the fort and took pics galore, then snorkeled for the rest of the time. It is operated by the National Parks Service, so there really isn't any other way to get to the island than through them. We'll live off the land. You can get to the Dry Tortugas by private boat, Ferry, or sea plane. But I'd say 95% of all tourists use Yankee Freedom III. It's a 2.5 hour trip each way on the ferry to get there. Too bad it's known as the most overlooked National Park, it's a great one! July had zero rain, warm and humid but the water was great. There's not much else to do or see on the island other than walking around the fort, taking in the sights, and hanging out on the beach. The worst part is that you need to book your trip way in advance. Why would we need a fort in the middle of the ocean? You’re also going to need to pack in all your own water because there is none on the island. Business hours may be different today. On the upside, you got to see Fort Jefferson which is pretttty badass! All overnight camping must take place within the Garden Key campground which is located just south of Fort Jefferson. Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Dry Tortugas National Park Reservations. Designated campsites are on a first come first served basis with an overflow area available if needed. You can get to the Dry Tortugas by private boat, Ferry, or sea plane. Fort Jefferson occupies virtually all of the island of the Dry Tortugas. This excursion would be worth doing again as there is just not enough time in the day to enjoy all that The Dry Tortugas has to offer!!! One nice thing I appreciate also with taking the ferry. Bread (white, rye or wheat)2. We choose the ferry that was operated by Yankee Freedom. The water was a little choppy one day, but we had no rain. This place is a must see while visiting Key West. Bullet Touring Fort Jefferson – You can take a self-guiding walking tour of the Fort. breakfast and Lunch were served professionally and suitable for the environment.Its $170.00 for an adult and that includes the tour/talk breakfast and lunch US Park pass and the boat ride. It is operated by the National Parks Service, so there really isn't any other way to get to the island than through them. I think it's neat they allow that though and it's great beaches and you can snorkel all the way around the fort. Great info- question about the inflatable board, I’m assuming you used a battery powered pump. Actually, the boards came with manual pumps that we used while on the island. Cost is high to get out there but worth it to me. We started off by touring the fort and walking around inside of it, and then making our way to the top of it by steps. The trip over is short if you take a seaplane or long if you go by way of boat but worth the time. Just follow the signs with the Civil War soldier on them. There is a historian / tour guide that is constantly talking about points of interest and what to expect. Breakfast and lunch were provided on board, and you were given the option to stay indoors in the air conditioning or step outside during your two hour journey to Dry Tortugas. Streets overrun with face eaters. Key West Travel Guide The park is about 70 miles west of Key West on a small group of seven islands called the Dry Tortugas. Lettuce and tomato4. I would love to go back and camp there for a weekend! Be sure to pack a few flashlights and small lanterns. If you are exempt to paying these charges, ie you’ve got a National Parks Pass, Golden Age, Golden Eagle or Golden Access Passport then the price of the entrance fee will be simply deducted from your fare to the island. The tubs held our food, sleeping bags, pillows, and clothes. Plan Your Camping Trip. I’d also recommend a deck of cards or card game. Peanut butter and jelly5. The ferry is pretty stable but I recommend sea-sickness medication anyway. See all photos from Joseph L. for Dry Tortugas National Park Reservations. Flat seas, 10-15 knots of wind, and bioluminesnce showing me where the dolphins were.Ferry: A great way to go for the day. It cost $175 roundtrip for the entire day. Imagine sleeping under the stars, on an island 70 miles from civilization, with the warm tropical breezes blowing through palm trees and the rhythmic sound of the ocean waves playing in the background. I only walked about halfway around the fort from the top but it was certainly the highlight of my time there. We roamed the fort and snorkeled and took in the history and beauty of the island. There is great snorkeling and diving. I was utterly amazed at how truly fortunate we are to have this place on our planet! Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about. Gets no better. You’re allowed a ridiculously high weight limit on your gear. Different departure, different ship, but a wonderful time. We didn’t even come close to needing it all. (previously there were 12 spots available per day). The weather was amazing. So, you can listen to a short 20 minute talk about the history of Fort Jefferson or if you're interested in more details, you can sign up for a 1 hour and 15 minute tour. Our tour guide did a great job relaying the story of the Fort and putting it's importance into context. Once on the island a guide gives a quick intro talk, you can then take the 11:30am guided tour. We each had 2 rash guard/bathing suits. In my personal opinion, there was not enough time to play. It is a rustic National Park with no food or beverages sold, so pack in what you need for the time there. I feel like 1 might not be long enough but with 2, that it might be two long. The flippers and mask worked fine. If you are a National Park Nerd it is a fantastic one to mark off your list because of its location, but also because it has such an awesome history, which placates any Civil War/History Nerd! This was for 4 people, for 3 nights. There aren't a lot of places you can't go, so I highly recommend you investigate and peruse all the neat, old nooks and crannies of the fort. Firstly, because it is remote AF (70mi west of Key West) on this archipelago of sand bars and I LOVE any place that is remote AF! The Yankee Freedom III does provide gear, but it was unclear as to whether you could keep it over night. Dry Tortugas National Park: Camping at Dry Tortugas - See 5,181 traveler reviews, 3,760 candid photos, and great deals for Key West, FL, at Tripadvisor. Dry Tortugas was one of the most beautiful national parks I have ever been to. In the water, I saw lots of fish including giant tarpons and even jelly fish. The perfect time for a day trip. I went back to the boat 30 minutes early just as the bar was opening. Because we took the earliest flight, we had the island to ourselves until the ferry arrived later. Fort Jefferson is on Garden Key, taking up most of the available land. This time the virus leaves the victims in a bathsalt face eating zombie state. The ferries cost is, roundtrip, $185 per adult camper and $145 per child camper – plus $15 National Park entrance park fee, plus $15 per campsite per night. Secondly, this is like nerd squared heaven! And the manual pumps take 15-20 minutes to inflate the boards we have.