Dry Tortugas National Park - Plan Your Visit

Dry Tortugas National Park by National Parks Service

Operating Hours Seasons

The park is open all year.

Ft. Jefferson on Garden Key is open during daylight hours; closed at dark.

Loggerhead, East and Middle Keys are open year-round during daylight hours.

Bush Key is closed to visitors February through September to protect nesting Sooty and Noddy Terns.

Hospital and Long Keys are closed all year.

Getting There

Plane

Commercial air service is currently not available to Dry Tortugas National Park.

Car

There are no roads to Dry Tortugas National Park. It can only be reached by boat or seaplane.

Private pleasure boats are welcome, but must be fully self-sufficient. U.S. Coast Guard and Geodetic Survey Chart #11438 is necessary for navigation to the Dry Tortugas.

Public transportation is described below.

Public Transportation

Public transportation - ferry and seaplane - serves the park from Key West.

For ferry schedules, prices, and reservations, contact: Sunny Days: phone 800-236-7937 or 305-292-6100; on the internet at www.drytortugas.com. Yankee Fleet: phone 800-634-0939 or 305-294-7009; on the internet at www.yankeefleet.com.

Fishing and dive charters can be arranged in the Florida Keys and Naples. For a list of services, contact the park at 305-242-7700.

Getting Around

Upon arrival, see the orientation program at the visitor center in Fort Jefferson and take the self-guiding tour of the fort.

A boat is necessary to visit areas of the park other than Garden Key/Fort Jefferson.