All about Dry Tortugas National Park

Jennifer Melroy
Last Modified April 28, 2021
First Published on October 24, 2019

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Dry Tortugas National Park is the most remote national park in the lower 48. This chain of islands sits about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. Its remote location makes it one of the least visited National Parks in the United States. Dry Tortugas National Park is made up of seven small islands and the surrounding reefs and oceans. The park has a rich history with Fort Jefferson and it’s ties to President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Today, visitors to Dry Tortugas National Park can explore the fort and enjoy some of the best coral reefs in the United States.

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Dry Tortugas National Park Profile

Region	Southeast Region
Park Size	64,701 acres (101.1 sq miles) (261.8 sq km) About the size of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Elevation	Highest point: 10 feet (3 m) at Loggerhead Key Lowest point: 0 feet (0 m) at the Gulf of Mexico
Location	Monroe County, Florida
Nearby Cities	Key West, Florida
Founding Date	Fort Jefferson National Monument – January 4, 1935 Dry Tortugas National Park – October 26, 1992
Visitors	56,810 (in 2018)
Busy Season	late-December to April
Visitor Centers	Fort Jefferson Visitor Center – Open Year-Round Eco Discovery Center – Open Year-Round The “Bight” Interpretive center Key West Historic Seaport – Open Year-Round
Park Hours	Open 365 days (24 hours a day)
Entrance Fees	7-day Per Person – $15 Under 16 are free
Annual Pass	American the Beautiful Pass – $80
Pets	Yes but not allowed on the ferry. If bringing, please review the Dry Tortugas Pet Policy.

Dry Tortugas National Park Climate

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Average high in °F:	75	76	79	82	85	88
Average low in °F:	65	66	69	72	76	78
Av. precipitation in inch:	1.95	1.63	1.62	1.86	3.02	4.55
Av. Snowfall in inch:	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average high in °F:	89	90	88	85	80	76
Average low in °F:	80	79	78	76	71	60
Av. precipitation in inch:	3.66	5.40	6.57	5.22	2.45	2.02
Av. Snowfall in inch:	0	0	0	0	0	0

Dry Tortugas National National Park Guide

Check out nearby National Park Service Sites (less than a 4-hour drive):

Check out nearby National Park Service Sites (less than an 8 hour drive):

Big Cypress National Preserve
Canaveral National Seashore
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
De Soto National Memorial
Fort Matanzas National Monument

Dry Tortugas Gear

Cover Photo Credit and Pinterest Pin Photos: National Park Service

Jennifer Melroy

Jennifer is a long time national park blogger and the founder of National Park Obsessed. She is a dedicated National Park lover who is working on visiting all 63 US National Parks. She has currently been to 58 of the National Parks. She is dedicated to sharing her knowledge of the Parks with others and helping them learn to love the parks as much as she does.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF LAND

On this site, we promote travel to the United States and beyond that are the traditional lands of Indigenous and First Nations peoples.

With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to these lands’ past and present people.

To learn more about the people who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.

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