Travel Guide
Everything you need to know β hours, tickets, tips, and how to make the most of your visit.
Overview
About 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a remote cluster of islands reached only by ferry, seaplane or private boat. Its centerpiece is massive 19th-century Fort Jefferson, surrounded by clear water with excellent snorkeling along the moat wall, and seabirds galore.
Insider Knowledge
Book the Yankee Freedom ferry or a seaplane weeks ahead, as it sells out in peak season.
Nearby
Bahia Honda in the Lower Keys has some of the Keys' best natural sandy beaches, clear shallow water and an old section of the Flagler railroad bridge with a viewing platform. Sandspur Beach, Calusa Beach and Loggerhead Beach suit swimming, kayaking and reef trips.
About 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a remote cluster of islands reached only by ferry, seaplane or private boat. Its centerpiece is massive 19th-century Fort Jefferson, surrounded by clear water with excellent snorkeling along the moat wall, and seabirds galore.
Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote in this 1851 Spanish Colonial house in Key West during the 1930s. Guided tours cover his studio, gardens and the swimming pool, and dozens of resident cats, many of them six-toed descendants of his cat Snow White, roam the grounds.
John Pennekamp in Key Largo was the first undersea park in the US, protecting part of the only living coral barrier reef in North America. Glass-bottom boat, snorkel and dive trips head out to the reef, and the park also has mangrove kayak trails, small beaches and an aquarium.
florida-keysEvery evening, crowds gather on Mallory Square, Key West's historic waterfront, for the Sunset Celebration, with street performers, artists, food carts and a sweeping view as the sun drops into the Gulf. It is the town's signature free ritual and a great introduction to Key West.
florida-keysThe Seven Mile Bridge carries the Overseas Highway from Marathon toward the Lower Keys, with open water on both sides for nearly 7 miles. Alongside it, a restored 2.2-mile stretch of the original 1912 Flagler railroad bridge is open to walkers and cyclists and leads to historic Pigeon Key.
Bring snorkel gear or use what the ferry provides, and snorkel the moat wall.
There are no stores on the island, so bring sun protection, water and cash.
Take seasickness medication; the crossing can be rough.
Common Questions
Only by the official ferry, seaplane or private boat from Key West.
Ferry trips are 2-2.5 hours each way and are sometimes canceled in bad weather.
Prices change by season, so check the operator and NPS sites before booking.
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