Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park: The Complete Guide for 2024

Post Summary: Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park

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.

Here is the National Park Obsessed guide for visiting Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida.

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The Quick Guide to Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park Basics

Region: Southeast

State: State of Florida

Park Size: 64,701 acres (101.1 sq miles) (261.84 sq km)

Location: Monroe County

Closest Cities: Key West, Florida

Busy Season: Steady Year Round

Visitation: 79,200 (in 2019)

Funniest 1-Star Review: It is an old prison and I felt like I was in prison, couldn’t wait to get on the 4 hour boat ride back to KW.

Official Website: NPS.gov

How much does Dry Tortugas National Park Cost?

Dry Tortugas National Park costs the following:

• 7-day Individual Pass (Age 16 and older) – $15
• Under 16 – Free

The American the Beautiful Pass covers admission to Dry Tortugas National Park as well as all of the other fee-charging National Park Units.

When is Dry Tortugas National Park Open?

Dry Tortugas National Park is open year-round.

Are dogs allowed in Dry Tortugas National Park?

Yes, pets are allowed in Dry Tortugas National Park. They are only allowed on Garden Key. Please review the Dry Tortugas Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Dry Tortugas.

Where are Dry Tortugas National Park’s visitor centers?

Eco Discovery Center – Open Year Around

The Bight Visitor Center – Open Year Around

Park Store on Garden Key – Open Year Around

Land Acknowledgments for Dry Tortugas National Park

The National Park known as Dry Tortugas National Park sits on Seminole land.

Thank you to the Native Land Digital for making the Indigenous territories accessible to all. They have mapped the known territories to the best of the current knowledge and is a work in progress. If you have additional information on the Indigenous nations boundaries, please let them know.

Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.

When was Dry Tortugas National Park Created?

Dry Tortugas National Park preserves and protects the unique subtropical marine ecosystem and natural, cultural, and scenic resources of the Dry Tortugas for the education, inspiration, scientific understanding, and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Dry Trotugas National Park Foundation Document

Fun Facts about Dry Tortugas National Park

• The highest point in XXX National Park is Red Shirt Table which is 3,340 feet (1,020 m) above sea level.

• The lowest point in XXX National Park is runoff channel near Ben Reifel Visitor Center which is 2,365 feet (721 m) above sea level.

• XXX by the numbers
  • 36.6 miles of paved roads
  • 2.4 miles of unpaved roads
  • 89.4 miles of hiking trails
  • 527 archeological sites

How Much Time Should I Spend Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park?

One Day in Dry Tortugas National Park

Multiple Days in Dry Tortugas National Park

Places to Stay Near Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park Camping

Camping in Dry Tortugas National Park is a unique experience. You’ll get to see the stars like nowhere else in the southern United States.

>>> Learn more a Dry Tortugas Camping.

RV Camping in Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is an island national park with no roads and no way to get a vehicle out there so you aren’t going to be able to drive your RV out there to camp but that said, it doesn’t mean you can’t RV Camp in the Florida Keys.

Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book in Dry Tortugas National Park?

The National Park Passport Book is the BEST and cheapest National Park souvenir. Every National Park Obsessed person should have one of these books.

IMPORTANT: Do NOT stamp your government-issued passport.

There are four official stamps for Dry Tortugas National Park. Here is the list of National Park Passport Stamps you can get in Dry Tortugas National Park:

• Dry Tortugas, FL
• Garden Key Lighthouse Dry Tortugas, FL
• Garden Key, FL
• Key West, FL

Bonus Stamps

• Junior Ranger

Dry Tortugas National Park Passport Stamp Locations

Here are all the locations to find the Dry Tortugas National Park Passport Stamps. Not every stamp is available at every location.

• Everglades / Dry Tortugas HQ – Front Desk
• Florida Keys Eco Discovery Center
• Garden Key Visitor Center

Recommend Reading for XXX National Park

Stories from XXX National Park

• Death in Zion National Park: Stories of Accidents and Foolhardiness in Utah’s Grand Circle – Learn about the morbid but fascinating ways that people have died in Zion National Park from falls in high places to lighting storms.
• Deaths and Rescues in Zion National Park – This book looks into some of the most amazing rescues and deaths in Zion National Park including first person experiances from members of the Zion Search and Rescue Team.
• Zion National Park (Images of America) – This book tells the story of Zion through orginal photographs dating back to the first developments.
• Water, Rock & Time: The Geologic Story of Zion National Park – Water, Rock & Time is a the story of Zion Canyon and how it was formed by Dr. Robert Eves, professor of geology at Southern Utah University.

Best XXX National Park Guide Books

XXX National Park Gift Ideas

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dry Tortugas National Park

Is Dry Tortugas worth visiting?

How much does it cost to visit Dry Tortugas?

Can you day trip to Dry Tortugas?

How long is the ferry ride from Key West to Dry Tortugas?

What is the cheapest way to get to the Dry Tortugas?

Are there bathrooms on Dry Tortugas?

Can you stay overnight at Dry Tortugas?

Can you drive to Dry Tortugas National Park?

Do you need water shoes at Dry Tortugas?

Are there sharks in Dry Tortugas?

Yes, there are sharks in Dry Tortugas National Park. The most common type of shark seen in the park is the nurse shark. Nurse sharks are not aggressive and are sometimes called the “couch potato” of the shark world. They don’t usually bite unless provoked.

Other shark species that have been frequently within park waters include sandbar sharks, black nose sharks, lemon sharks, bonnethead sharks, and blacktip reef sharks. On a rare occasion, there have been sightings of Great White and Tiger Sharks in the park’s deeper water.

Can you swim at Dry Tortugas National Park?

Yes, there are swimming areas on both Garden and Loggerhead Key.

Are there snakes in the Dry Tortugas?

There are NO snakes in Dry Tortugas National Park. As of January 2022, NPS doesn’t report any species of snake as possible in the park. Of the water-loving venomous snakes in Florida (Florida Cottonmouth and Harlequin Coralsnake), neither species is known to live south of the north Florida Keys.

Are there crocodiles in Dry Tortugas?

There are currently NO American Crocodiles in Dry Tortugas National Park. From about 2003 to 2017, a male American Crocodile lived in Dry Tortugas National Park. In 2017, he started to spend more time in the visitor areas of the park and people were attempting to attract him. For his safety and visitor safety, the crocodile was relocated to Everglades National Park.

Can you take shells from Dry Tortugas?

Can you bring alcohol to Dry Tortugas?

Is there food on Dry Tortugas?

Can you kayak to Dry Tortugas?

If you like to kayak, you can bring kayaks to Dry Tortugas National Park. Loggerhead Key is a 3-mile open ocean paddle from Garden Key. You will need to get a boating permit to kayak in Dry Tortugas National Park.

Is there fresh water on Dry Tortugas?

No there is no fresh water available on Dry Tortugas National Park. Visitors will have to bring all their water with them.

Final Thoughts on Dry Tortugas National Park

Do you have any questions about Dry Tortugas National Park or need help planning your National Park trips. Let me know in the comments or join me in my National Park Trip Planning Community!

Pin for Later: Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park: The Complete Guide in 2022