DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL
PARK
Key West, FL
Description
Almost 70 miles (112.9 km) west of Key West lies a
cluster of seven islands, composed of coral reefs
and sand, called the Dry Tortugas. Along with the
surrounding shoals and waters, they make up Dry Tortugas
National Park. The area is known for its famous bird
and marine life, and its legends of pirates and sunken
gold. Fort Jefferson, one of the largest coastal forts
ever built, is a central feature.
The Tortugas were first discovered by Ponce de Leon
in 1513. Abundant sea turtles or "tortugas"
provisioned his ships with fresh meat, but there was
no fresh water-the tortugas were dry. Since the days
of Spanish exploration, the reefs and shoals of the
Dry Tortugas have been a serious hazard to navigation
and the site of hundreds of shipwrecks.
Contact Information
P.O. Box 6208
Key West, FL 33041
Phone: 305-242-7700
Fax: 305-242-7711
Operating Hours & Seasons
The park is open all year.
Ft. Jefferson on Garden Key is open during daylight
hours; closed at dark.
Loggerhead, East and Middle Keys are open year-round
during daylight hours.
Bush Key is closed to visitors February through September
to protect nesting Sooty and Noddy Terns. Hospital
and Long Keys are closed all year.
Getting There
Plane
Commercial air service is available to Key West
International Airport.
Seaplanes of Key West provides air service from
Key West to the national park. See Public Transportation
below for seaplane information.
Car
There are no roads to Dry Tortugas National Park.
It can only be reached by boat or seaplane.
Private pleasure boats are welcome, but must be
fully self-sufficient. U.S. Coast Guard and Geodetic
Survey Chart #11438 is necessary for navigation
to the Dry Tortugas.
Public transportation is described below.
Public Transportation
Public transportation - ferry and seaplane - serves
the park from Key West.
For ferry schedules, prices, and reservations,
contact: Sunny Days: phone 800-236-7937 or 305-292-6100;
on the internet at www.drytortugas.com. Yankee Fleet:
phone 800-634-0939 or 305-294-7009; on the internet
at www.yankeefleet.com.
Seaplane transportation is provided by Seaplanes
of Key West. For schedules, prices, and reservations,
contact 800-950-2FLY or 305-294-0709; on the internet
at www.seaplanesof keywest.com.
Fishing and dive charters can be arranged in the Florida
Keys and Naples. For a list of services, contact the
park at 305-242-7700
Dry Tortugas National Park Details
Seaplanes of Keywest, Sunny Days Catamarans, and Yankee
Freedom are collecting the fee from their passengers.
National Parks Pass, Golden Eagle, Golden Age, and
Golden Access Passports honored.
FACILITIES
MUSEUMS
Fort Jefferson
Open All Year Daylight hours
Phone
305-242-7700
Location: Garden Key
Special Programs
Intermittent ranger-led tours.
Exhibits
Self-guiding fort tour with interpretive signs.
VISITOR CENTERS
Dry Tortugas National Park Visitor Center
Open All Year
Location
Inside Fort Jefferson on Garden Key
Exhibits
Exhibits on the history of Fort Jefferson. Video
describing park's history and natural resources.
Available Facilities
Bookstore
ACTIVITIES
Visitor Center in Fort Jefferson
Self-guiding walking tour of Fort Jefferson.
Ranger-conducted activities.
Bird and wildlife watching. The Dry Tortugas are
renowned for spring bird migrations and tropical
bird species.
Picnicking
Salt water sport fishing
Snorkeling, swimming and scuba diving. Patches of
healthy coral reef, some easily accessible from Garden
Key, are snorkeling havens.
CAMPING
Garden Key - Campground Open
305-242-7700
ACCESSIBILITY
Restrooms, picnic area and the first tier of Fort
Jefferson are accessible.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
Subtropical climate. Temperatures range from the mid-50's
to mid-80's. *April and May are often idyllic. There
are two seasons: Winter storm season (December-March),
windy with rough seas, and Tropical storm season (June-November).
nps.gov
