Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the must-sees while visiting Key West. The park is a beautiful 70-mile boat ride away from Key West, and it is a whole new world of activity and adventure. Start planning your day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park after reading the information below!
Plan Your Day Trip to Dry Tortugas National Park
Dry Tortugas National Park is a marvelous place to spend a day in paradise. There is no shortage of activities at the park, ensuring that your day will be full of fun and adventure!
Ferry to Dry Tortugas
Transportation to and from the Dry Tortugas is made easy with the National Park Service’s Ferry, the Yankee Freedom III. The Yankee Freedom III departs daily from the Key West Ferry Terminal in the Historic Seaport at 8 a.m. and arrives back in Key West at 5:15 p.m. The price to take the ferry covers the entrance fee to Dry Tortugas, snorkeling equipment, breakfast, and lunch. Check out the ferry prices and plan ahead to guarantee your transportation for your day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park!
Seaplane to Dry Tortugas
Another mode of transportation to Dry Tortugas National Park is by seaplane. Seaplane Adventures has half-day and full-day excursions, and will arrive at Dry Tortugas National Park in only 40 minutes! Flying over the ocean gives you a chance to experience marine life from a bird’s-eye view.
Snorkeling at Dry Tortugas
You will see some of the most vibrant coral reefs and seagrass in the Florida Keys while snorkeling at Dry Tortugas. With the snorkeling gear provided by the Yankee Freedom III, you are ready to get in the water and see some majestic, tropical fish, as well as coral, starfish, and other marine life. The reef stretches from the Dry Tortugas all the way to Miami! Depending on which area you decide to snorkel, you may find the South Coaling Dock Ruins – a fascinating place for snorkelers to explore. As a reminder, snorkelers should not touch the corals as it leads to the destruction of reefs.
Fishing at Dry Tortugas
Recreational fishing is a lot of fun at Dry Tortugas. There are several locations where visitors are invited to fish off of docks and piers. If you’re curious about the guidelines and fishing areas at Dry Tortugas National Park, visit the Dry Tortugas recreational fishing page. Another option for fishers is Delph Fishing Charters. With Delph Fishing Charters, you have the opportunity to catch black grouper, mutton snapper, red snapper, and maybe even wahoo, sailfish, tuna, and kingfish. Guides will bring you to all of the best spots on their 40-foot boats so that you and your party can sit comfortably and reel in some big catches!
Fort Jefferson at Dry Tortugas
For those who take the Yankee Freedom III, there is an opportunity to join a 45 to 60-minute guided tour of Fort Jefferson to learn more about the history and its surroundings. Self-guided tours are also available to download if you would like to explore solo.
Back to Key West | The Paradise Inn
After your adventuresome day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, relax and enjoy all we have to offer at The Paradise Inn. Every morning, we offer a continental breakfast before you head off to our tropical pool. Our elegant rooms can sleep two, four, or six people and have Wi-Fi available so that you can stay connected to the outside world if needed. Join us for our wine and cheese happy hour before dinner or a night on the town. Be sure to view our special packages before booking!
