Solo Dry Tortugas Day Trip: a Guide to one of the Least-Visited U.S. National Parks

Updated 12/26/2024

Does napping on a remote beach 70 miles from civilization in front of gorgeous turquoise water sound like paradise to you? That was my experience during my solo Dry Tortugas day trip!

When I visited the Florida Keys, I was lucky enough to get a ferry ticket to Dry Tortugas National Park. I had been checking for days, and it was all booked up, but I kept checking anyway, and lo and behold, a cancellation popped up! On a Sunday at that. So without thinking twice, I grabbed a ticket, and I’m glad I did because it was a peaceful, tranquil experience that melted away my anxiety for a few blissful hours.

In this post, I’m sharing my tips for taking a day trip to Dry Tortugas, including what to pack, what to do, and how to get there. I’m also sharing the mistakes I made so you don’t have to make the same ones. So without further ado, grab your sunscreen and Dramamine and let’s sail to the Dry Tortugas!

Approaching Fort Jefferson. Just look at that water!

First off, what are the dry tortugas?

Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the U.S.’s least-visited national parks, but that’s because it’s not the easiest place to get to (don’t worry, I’ll show you how!) It consists of 7 islands, but 99% of the park is underwater! Most people who visit spend a good chunk of time snorkeling, and you’ll likely want to do the same because you can see beautiful coral reef and tropical fish!

The park is made up of 7 islands, a.k.a. keys, but you’ll be spending all your time on Garden Key unless you have your own boat and choose to visit the other islands. The main structure on Garden Key is Fort Jefferson, which you can explore on your own or take a guided tour. I recommend taking the tour because you’ll learn its fascinating history, including all about Dr. Mudd, who was imprisoned there for conspiring to kill Lincoln.

Why go to the dry tortugas?

When you think of Key West, the first thought that comes to your mind probably isn’t a remote island 70 miles away. But it’s actually the best thing to do in Key West. Here, you can relax, snorkel, bird watch, and tour a massive fort all while surrounded by beautiful ocean views.

What does Dry Tortugas even mean?

It means there’s no water on the island (dry), but there’s plenty of food (turtles. I know…yuck).

how Do you get to dry tortugas from Key West?

Unless you have your own boat, there are only two ways to get to Dry Tortugas: the ferry and the seaplane–both leave from Key West, Florida. Here are the pros and cons of each:

The ferry: At roughly $200 (prices fluctuate based on when you go), it’s a better value than the seaplane. Plus, you get to cruise on the ocean for 2.5 hours each way, which some people enjoy. You’ll be served breakfast and lunch (bagels and Jersey Mike’s subs), so you don’t have to worry about food. Your ticket also includes snorkeling equipment for you to use. As a bonus, you get a built-in booze cruise on the return trip because they’ll open the bar. You’ll arrive back in Key West around 5:30 or so, which means that you can make it to Mallory Square for a sunset celebration!

Book the ferry here.

Whether you choose the ferry or the seaplane, book your trip quickly (unlike me). Do it as soon as you find out you’re going to Key West. If you delay, you could get lucky like I did with a cancellation, but don’t count on it!

Cons of taking the ferry: It’s time-consuming and you may get seasick. The water was pretty smooth the day I went, but you never know (and some people got sick anyway). You also have to be at the terminal at 7 in the morning, so you may have to go easy on the Key West partying the night before (I partied all night anyway, but that’s another post).

The seaplane: If I go back, I’m taking the seaplane. Not only is it a shorter trip, but the water is so clear you can see turtles and other marine life from the air. You can choose either a half-day or a full-day trip. I would do the full day even though at 800ish bucks, that is the more expensive option. A half day wouldn’t be enough time for me. The seaplane books up even faster than the ferry, though (only 10 seats!), so again, get tickets as soon as you know you’re going!

Book the seaplane here.

Cons of taking the seaplane: cost and difficulty in getting tickets.

Lighthouse at Loggerhead Key

What if the Dry Tortugas Ferry Is sold out?

Check online every day for cancellations. When I first started checking, the calendar showed booked for weeks, but on the day I bought my ticket, several days in the upcoming weeks had openings due to cancellations.

What to know before you go to Dry Tortugas

can you go camping at Dry Tortugas?

Yes! It would be fabulous to camp here. Camping is allowed, but it does require some planning in advance. You have to get a permit from the park board. They allow only a certain number of campers each day.

Is Dry Tortugas good for solo travelers?

Absolutely! It’s easy to keep to yourself, or if you’re having a social moment, talk to your fellow passengers. I didn’t make any friends on this trip, though. I slept the entire way there thanks to the Dramamine I took as a precautionary measure.

One caveat to going solo: it isn’t recommended to go snorkeling alone. I did it anyway. There were enough people around that I felt safe, and there were only two designated snorkeling areas.

can you take pets?

No. LG had to stay with a sitter.

Where should I stay?

I spent the night before at Seashell Hostel, which is probably the best value in Key West. They have dormitories and private rooms. There’s free parking (a rarity, and a huge deal in Key West–it’s not cheap there), and I walked to all the bars downtown and the Hemingway house from there. When I returned for the night, I took a book and read in the courtyard hammock. I stayed just one night and drove back to my home base in Islamorada after the Dry Tortugas. If you’re looking for a no-frills, budget-friendly place, look no further. If you want a nicer spot, you’ll want to look into the hotels downtown.

When’s the best time to visit Dry Tortugas?

Definitely the winter. There’s very little shade in the park, and the sun is harsh. It was pretty toasty in December when I went. I can’t imagine the summer. No matter when you visit, you’ll want to bring a hat and sunscreen.

What to expect on your Tortugas Day Trip by Ferry

Getting there and itinerary

The landing for the ferry was a short drive from my hostel, and it cost me, I believe, 40 bucks to park there for the day. The ferry leaves at 8 a.m. sharp. For me, that’s super early, even without a night of partying before. I don’t even wake up that early for work.

You’ll arrive back in Key West around 5:30, so when I say “day trip,” I mean the entire day. You get about 4 hours at the actual park with around 5 hours of sailing. Here’s what you’re in for during your Dry Tortugas day trip:

7 a.m. – Check-in time. Awful early if you spent the night before partying in Key West. I took my Dramamine as soon as I got checked in, and if you’re prone to motion sickness, you’ll want to do the same.

8 a.m. – Board the ferry and eat your breakfast. I expected us to be crammed in the boat like sardines given how scarce tickets were, but that was not the case. I had plenty of room to stretch and eat my breakfast (bagel and cream cheese) in peace. There’s coffee. water. and orange juice in the galley.

As we began our voyage, the crew pointed out a few landmarks, but…I don’t remember them, and I didn’t last long anyway. The Dramamine kicked in and I ended up sleeping the entire ferry ride there. I had an entire row of seats to myself, so napping was quite comfy–better than on an airplane anyway.

10:30 a.m. – Are we there yet? Yes! You are. You’ll arrive in Garden Key around this time. You can’t leave any belongings on the boat, so you’ll need to gather your things and go. Then you can either take off and explore on your own or stick around for the Fort Jefferson tour.

11 a.m. – Fort Jefferson tour/lunch. There’s a short overview of Fort Jefferson followed by a longer walking tour through the fort. I recommend taking the tour–you’ll learn a lot and take in some amazing ocean views! Then you can eat some lunch and go snorkeling or walk around some more.

A note on the lunch. If you read the Google reviews of the Dry Tortugas ferry cruise, you’ll see that people love to complain about the lunch, which I think is hilarious because this isn’t meant to be a fancy dinner cruise – you’re there for the amazing experience of seeing the Dry Tortugas! They have a few varieties of Jersey Mike’s subs to choose from and chips and sodas. It will fill you up and fuel you for a day of adventuring, but if you can’t deal, feel free to bring your own food.

2:50 p.m. Where did the time go? It’s time to head back to Key West already. The bar will be open (cheap too, I think I paid $6 for my pina colada), so if you choose, you can enjoy a booze cruise on the way back!

5:30 p.m. Arrive back in Key West. Head over to Mallory Square to catch the sunset if you wish!

View of Fort Jefferson

What to wear and bring to Dry Tortugas

I wore a linen top and ripped denim shorts, which I fully regretted. Easy-to-move-in, breathable clothes work best, but I’ve always gone with fashion over function. I did, however, have the foresight to wear sneakers, which I recommend if you want to walk around Fort Jefferson. Many people had on sandals, which are great for the beach but not ideal for the fort tour.

I also hauled my giant pink Temu beach bag with me. It was stuffed with a towel, book, sunscreen, swimsuit, water shoes, water bottle, wide-brim obnoxious tourist hat, and God knows what else. I was the only passenger with an enormous beach bag. Everyone else had condensed their supplies into neat bags and backpacks, and many people had that “experienced adventurer” look about them. Think Patagonia, cargo shorts, sun hats, backpacks, and big enough water bottles to choke a horse.

If I had it to do all over again, I’d bring a backpack with sunscreen, a water bottle, a towel, a book, a sensible hat, and a swimsuit. That’s it. That’s all you need.

Lighthouse within Fort Jefferson

What to do at Dry Tortugas

Fort Jefferson Tour

I’m glad I did the tour. You get some incredible ocean views from inside the fort, and at one point you go up to the top of the fort! It’s very windy up there, which you’ll appreciate with the relentless sun.

View from up top. I wonder if anyone’s ever fallen off…

Our tour guide was a sweet young lady with a touching story of how she took her first trip to the park in elementary school, felt moved by it, and is now grateful she gets to go there all the time for a living. I could tell she really cared for the Dry Tortugas and that it meant a lot to her to be able to guide us around her favorite place. One of the questions she asked us was why is this place special to you?

I’d say it’s a special place for a lot of reasons. Its sheer remoteness for one. Though it’s a national park, it feels untouched, pristine. It’s one of the few places I’ve been where human disruption is minimal. It’s a place where you can sit around, enjoy the view, and just be.

On the tour, we learned the fascinating history of the Dry Tortugas, including all about Dr. Mudd, who was held prisoner there because he treated John Wilkes Booth for injuries after he shot Lincoln. But they let him out because he cured the entire island of yellow fever.

Had I not already been to similar forts, I would have walked around more on my own–the thing is massive! But I wanted to go snorkeling. After all, the park is 90 percent underwater.

One of the many gorgeous ocean views from within Fort Jefferson

Snorkeling at Dry Tortugas

Snorkeling gear is included with the ferry ticket. I put on some goggles and flippers, swam out a bit, and…

panicked! There’s just something about it. It’s totally a mental thing. I had snorkeled before, but it still freaked me out. Being in the ocean, even though the water wasn’t that deep and I know how to swim, and I’m supposed to stick my face under and breathe? With fish? Like it’s normal? Also, there’s endangered coral all around me and I’m not supposed to touch it accidentally or I could kill it and then the ocean will die?!

Also, and this is a little embarrassing, I’m kind of afraid of fish. I know, I know. Not sharks, either. Just regular ol’ fish. I don’t want any to touch me. The water was so clear, though, that keeping one’s distance from fish was not difficult. I swam above them, admiring their bright colors. Nothing touched me, and for that, I was super grateful.

I stuck it out for a bit but then decided I needed a break from being in the ocean, so I got out and lay on the beach for a few minutes. I knew time was limited, though, so I decided to give snorkeling another go.

I didn’t panic the second time, but I wasn’t brave enough to swim along the entire moat wall either. They have an underwater trail with marked exhibits for those who do. The coral was pretty, but of course I was afraid of accidentally touching it, stepping on it, or kicking it with my flippers. I don’t think I stepped on any…

Where the moat walk ends because of hurricane damage

Check out the moat

After I’d gotten my fill of swimming, I got out and walked along the moat wall. You can walk most of it but not all because of damage from Hurricane Irma. I could see the coral and fish in the water below me.

Take a nap (or just relax on the beach)

And after that, I took a nap on the beach. I believe that traveling, no matter where, shouldn’t be about trying to cram in as much as you can. Sometimes you just have to sit back and relax. Could I have returned to the fort for a photo shoot when there were fewer people around? Sure. But. I don’t regret my lovely nap in the sun.

Bird watching

Dry Tortugas is one of the few places in the country where you can see frigate birds!

The return trip

Then it was time to go back to Key West. You get about 4ish hours at Dry Tortugas before you have to go back, and the time flies. On the ferry ride back, I had a Piña Colada and read from the book I brought along. I sat on the outside top deck for the return trip, so the tourist wide-brim hat was on in full effect.

And it was…nice. The breeze felt good, not chilly. They had oldies playing over the loudspeaker and some people were singing along. Interesting conversations were happening around me. I find that most travelers, when they gather in groups like this, talk about their other travels.

What really piqued my interest, though, was an anti-vaxxer lady talking about how her daughter in military school was at the top of her class but refused to get vaccinated due to potential allergies, so she may have issues graduating.

I had so many questions that I didn’t ask: how had she gotten that far, can’t she get an exception for her allergies, why do strangers always say their kids are at the top of the class? The conversation was with a pro-vaxxer, and it was all very civil. I like to think that Dry Tortugas brings together people from all walks of life, and its beauty makes them set aside their differences and simply appreciate nature. Or maybe that’s some hokey, cheesy bullshit. Whatever.

I enjoyed the famous Florida Keys sunset on the way back. I didn’t go to Mallory Square, though I could have made it, because I had gone the night before and needed to get back to my dog in Islamorada. I was feeling tired, so I stopped at Cuban Coffee Queen before the long drive home for a café con leche, my staple drink while visiting the Keys.

And as I stood there, sipping, it dawned on me that I didn’t see one damn turtle.

Outside Cuban Coffee Queen back at Key West

Final thoughts on Dry Tortugas Day trip

Visiting Dry Tortugas was truly a special experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at one of the country’s least visited national parks, and I can’t wait to return and give camping a try next time.

What do you think? Would you visit the Dry Tortugas? Comment below and let me know!

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