Camping overnight at Dry Tortugas National Park requires advanced planning. Accessing this island gem, 70 miles west of Key West, requires both long a road trip through the Florida Keys and three hours by boat, but once there you’ll find a visit to one of the least visited National Parks well worth the effort.
Planning a camping trip to Dry Tortugas National Park? Check out our Complete Packing Guide for a Dry Tortugas Camping Trip
Dry Tortugas Camping Reservations
Unless you sail to the island on your own private boat, there is only one way to transport your camping equipment to Dry Tortugas: booking passage aboard the Yankee Freedom III. Once only available by phone, camping reservations on the ferry can now be booked online.
Reservations are $240 per adult ($185 per child 4-16), inclusive of the National Park fees (which will be refunded at check-in if anyone in your party holds a National Park Pass). The entire cost of your transportation is due up front; however, your booking is fully refundable and/or changeable up until 48 hours before departure, so reserve your dates as soon as you can to guarantee your first choice.
Reservations can be made for 1, 2 or 3 nights, depending on availability. I strongly advice you to book for as long as your itinerary allows. I have never heard anyone complain about staying too long, but I have frequently heard people bemoan not being able to stay longer.
Camping fees of $15/night will be collected by the park service rangers once you arrive. They accepted cash or check only.
When is the Best Time of Year to Camp at Dry Tortugas
Every month of the year offers certain advantages and drawbacks – so it’s really about determining what type of year works best for your scheldule, and ensuring that the potential challenges of that time are year are acceptable. The limited transportation options to the island keep the number of visitors fairly steady throughout the year, though private boaters are allowed to camp on the island without advanced reservations (and a large group site in the overflow camping area in front of the fort is there for that very reason). The “best” time of year to visit Dry Tortugas is the time you’re able to make a reservation – and then cross your fingers for clear skies and smooth sailing.
- Winter Season. The winter months will provide cooler (~60-70F) daytime temperatures for being on-shore and it’s the only time you can walk out to Bush Key due to nesting restrictions at other times of the year. However, winds and choppy waters can make snorkeling less than ideal.
- Summer Season. The summer months offer calmer waters and sunny skies, but the temperatures can reach into the low 100Fs and stay that way throughout the night. This makes sleeping difficult if you’re someone who likes to stay cool. The summer is also when schools are out of session, meaning that reservations will fill up quickly with families of school age children.
- Moon cycle. If you’re looking for some dark sky – for either photography purposes or stargazing – time your trip to align with a new moon.
Arriving at Yankee Freedom Ferry Terminal
Campers need to arrive at the Ferry Terminal at 6am in order for all gear to go through security check and to be loaded onto the boat. You’ll receive an email shortly before your trip with a reminder. The morning of, pull up right next to the terminal to unload your gear. Yankee Freedom provides wheeled totes to help you carry your gear, so don’t worry about carrying your equipment long distances.
There is no free parking on Key West, but there is a parking garage within walking distance of the terminal. I’ve parked at Old Town Garage for each of our overnight trips and have been consistently pleased. It’s well lit and feels safe. Remember you need for one more day of parking than you are camping overnight (so for a 3 night camping trip, you’ll need to pay for four days in the garage) since you’ll be leaving your vehicle around 7am the day of departure and returning around 5pm the day of return.
Day of Departure Timeline
- 6am: Unload your camping equipment at the ferry terminal
- Proceed through security (each of your bags will be inspected) and then park your car in the parking garage.
- 7am: Old Town Bakery opens! Yes, there is a fantastic bakery one street down from the parking garage that has – among other things – in-house Key Lime Pie, super flaky croissants and coffee. Make a quick stop and return immediately to the ferry terminal to …
- Check-in. If you have a National Park pass you’ll get your refund processed here. You’ll also be given your “boarding passes” to get on the boat, identifying the order in which you checked in. Every passenger is given their own number and not all members of your party need to be present to complete this process.
- 7:30am: Board the boat! Boarding is done in groups of 25 people, so to guarantee you have a great pick of seats on boat, you want to be one of the first 50 people in line. I prefer seats on the upper level. It tends to be a bit quieter since the concessions, bathrooms and breakfast are all served downstairs. Get a seat before you help yourself to the complimentary breakfast!
- 8am: Settle in for the trip. It will take approximately 2.5 hrs to arrive at Fort Jefferson.
Getting a Campsite at Dry Tortugas
When the boat docks outside Fort Jefferson, anyone camping will be asked to stay onboard to listen to the park rules from one of the enforcement rangers. Don’t even think about skipping this to angle for a better campsite; you’ll only make the ranger – as well as your fellow campers – irritated. Not a great look.
That said, there are only 10 formal campsites on Dry Tortugas and not all are created equal. While you’ve been listening to the orientation, the crew of Yankee Freedom has been unloading your gear onto the dock. The moment you’re set free to go enjoy the island, quickly grab one of your bags and proceed directly to the campsites to claim a spot. All approved campsites have numbered picnic tables. Your belongings will be safe on the dock and you’ll be right back.
I prefer campsites located under the old buttonwood oriented towards the beach. Both provide maximum shade and privacy, but if you want to sleep directly under the stars, look for sites in the clearing facing Fort Jefferson. If you have more than one tent, sites facing dockside open towards the group campsite so provide more room to spread out. Keep in mind that the dock-lights and bathroom lights stay on throughout the night.
Every camper will be guaranteed and spot and, keep in mind, if you don’t get your preferred spot the first night, you can also move as sites open up the next day. Camping at Dry Tortugas is a special experience no matter which site you select.
What it’s Like to Camp at Dry Tortugas National Park
During the day, when the boat is in port and the sea planes are on site, the island is bustling with activity as day-trippers snorkel, tour the fort, partake in ranger led programs, and walk the beach. After the ferry departs around 3pm, and the last sea plane departs a few hours later, the park falls quiet. You can almost feel the island exhale, as though winding down from the day’s performance and resting up for tomorrow’s show.
As a camper, the early morning hours and late afternoon hours into the evening are the best times to explore. Those interested in shelling and beach-combing can walk the beach towards Bush Key and find a multitude of conchs and other tropical shells, though keep in mind that no shells can be removed from the island.
Snorkeling around the moat walls can be incredible, even for those with minimal experience. Shoals of fish, corals, and colorful tropical fish can all be readily seen in the clear waters. Snorkeling gear rental is included with your ferry passage so be sure to grab gear before the boat departs on your first day if you aren’t bringing your own. You’re able to use it the entire time you’re on the island.
The fort is open for several hours before and after the boat departs, and there are several prime vantage points to gaze out over the sea from the roofline. The interior of the fort closes to campers at sunset, but otherwise you have access to the entire island.
Some of the real magic happens as the sun begins to dip into the ocean and long after it has set. Given its location 70 miles from the nearest source of light pollution (Key West), Dry Tortugas has some incredible natural skies. There are very few sources of artificial, limited mostly to the intermittent flashing of Loggerhead Key lighthouse and the light at the ferry terminal that is oriented to minimize light pollution. When the moon has set and the clouds have parted, you can see countless stars.
The Milky Way is visible with the naked eye and there are so many stars that constellations become hard to differentiate. It is a truly wondrous sight, especially if you live in a city and have never experienced a Dark Sky before.
These photos capture only a fraction of what it’s like to see it with your own eyes. The natural lightscape is also important for the nesting of sea turtles, as the artificial light can disorient hatchlings making their way to the sea and discourage females from laying eggs. Depending on the time of year you visit, you may see evidence of sea turtles.
One night we heard what we believe was a sea turtle digging through the sand as she considered a nest in the middle of the night! Not all land visits by turtles result in clutches of eggs being laid, but any identified nests are marked off by rangers so as not to be disturbed.
Is Camping at Dry Tortugas Worth it?
Camping at Dry Tortugas is unlikely any other National Park in the United States. It’s remote yet accessible, and that comes at a cost. It is one of the more expensive parks to visit given that you can only arrive on the island by private boat, the Yankee Freedom ferry, or seaplane at prices upwards of $200/per person.
Given that the expense of reaching the island is where most of the expenses incur, we have always tried to camp for as many nights as possible on the island, as the incremental cost is only $15/nt. Even though the island is small, the opportunity to slow down, relax and not feel rushed in order to be doing something in order to see everything is what makes this one of the most relaxing National Parks we’ve visited. You don’t have to choose between a lengthy beach-combing walk or snorkeling the reefs or exploring the historic fort. You can do that all and still have time to cook, nap, read a book or all three.
