The Turtle Hospital is a working sea turtle rehabilitation facility in Marathon, Florida, located at Mile Marker 48.5 on the Overseas Highway from Miami to Key West. This guide covers hours, prices, parking, accessibility, and practical visitor tips for planning your trip.
This guide was last updated in August 2026. Current admission is $38 for adults and $19 for children aged 4 to 12, higher than the $27 to $35 figures some travel sites still quote, and the hospital does not honour reservations made through third-party booking sites, so book directly by phone or on the official website.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Guided programs run daily, rain or shine, every half hour from 9 am, with the last tour starting at 4 pm. Gift shop: 9 am–6 pm |
| Entry fee | Adult $38; children 4–12, $19; under 4 free |
| Parking | Free, on-site, but limited |
| Address | 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050 (MM 48.5) |
| Nearest transport | Personal vehicle recommended; Florida Keys Marathon International Airport is about 10 minutes away |
| Typical visit length | Around 2 hours, including the 90-minute guided program |
The Turtle Hospital opening hours
Guided educational programs run every day, rain or shine, starting every half hour from 9 am, with the final program of the day beginning at 4 pm. The gift shop keeps longer hours, open daily from 9 am to 6 pm, whether or not you’re joining a tour.
Because the hospital is a working veterinary facility, visitors can only see the turtles as part of a guided program; there is no general walk-in access to the rehabilitation areas.
The Turtle Hospital ticket prices
Admission costs $38 for adults and $19 for children aged 4 to 12, with children under 4 admitted free. This was checked on the official website and last updated in August 2026.
Payment is collected in cash or by major credit card at check-in on-site only; it cannot be prepaid through the reservation system itself. Reservations are highly recommended, since space on each tour is limited, and can be made by calling (305) 743-2552 or booking online. The hospital does not honour reservations made through third-party websites or travel agencies. The Turtle Hospital is not included in any bundled city pass scheme such as Go City or CityPASS.
5 great Key West experiences to book
- 🛶 Look for wildlife in the mangroves on a guided kayaking tour.
- 👻 Go on a ghosts and mysteries tour and discover Key West’s dark side at night.
- 🐬 Combine dolphin-watching and snorkelling on a half day adventure.
- 🍴 Take a cultural food tour and learn about Keys heritage as you eat and drink.
- 🍹 Explore lesser-known bars on a craft cocktail crawl.
How to get to The Turtle Hospital
The Turtle Hospital is located directly off the Overseas Highway (US 1) at Mile Marker 48.5 in Marathon. Florida Keys Marathon International Airport is roughly 10 minutes away, and Key West is about 50 minutes’ drive south.
There is no public transit stop at the hospital, so a personal vehicle or rideshare is the practical way to arrive, though it’s a straightforward, well-marked stop directly off the highway.
Parking at The Turtle Hospital
Free parking is available on-site directly in front of the hospital, though space is limited, particularly for larger vehicles and trailers. Arriving about 15 minutes before your scheduled program time helps ensure a smooth check-in.
Because the facility is a converted 1980s motel, the lot is compact rather than expansive, so visitors towing large trailers should plan accordingly.
How long to spend at The Turtle Hospital
The guided program itself runs approximately 90 minutes, including a presentation on sea turtle identification and threats, a walk through the hospital and rehabilitation areas, and a chance to feed the resident turtles at the end. Most visitors spend around 2 hours in total once the gift shop is included.
Because programs run on a fixed schedule with no option to extend your visit afterward, plan your day around your reserved start time rather than treating it as a flexible drop-in stop.
Accessibility at The Turtle Hospital
Most of the facility is accessible to visitors using wheelchairs or strollers, though the tour does involve some walking across both indoor and outdoor areas. Visitors with significant mobility needs may want to call ahead to discuss the route in advance.
Restrooms and drinking water are available on-site for all visitors.
Inside The Turtle Hospital
Founded in 1986 by Richie Moretti, The Turtle Hospital converted the former Hidden Harbor Motel into the world’s first state-licensed veterinary hospital dedicated entirely to sea turtles. The guided program takes visitors through the receiving room, X-ray room, and operating room, alongside outdoor saltwater tanks holding turtles currently in treatment.
Guides explain common causes of injury, including boat strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and fibropapillomatosis, a tumour-causing disease linked to pollution. The tour concludes at the tanks of the hospital’s permanent residents, turtles unable to be released back into the wild, where visitors can feed them pellets, though handling the turtles themselves is never permitted.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Book directly through the official website or by phone, not a third-party travel site. |
| Crowds | Popular tour times can sell out days in advance, especially in peak winter season. |
| Layout | The hospital, gift shop, and outdoor tanks are all within the compact former motel grounds. |
| Entry process | Arrive about 15 minutes early; payment is collected in person at check-in, not online. |
| On-site logistics | Bring water and sun protection, since part of the tour takes place outdoors. |
Frequently asked questions about The Turtle Hospital
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can you touch or hold the turtles? | No. This is not an interactive experience; there is no handling of the turtles at any point. |
| Do you need a reservation? | Reservations are highly recommended, since space on each tour is limited. |
| Can you just walk in without booking? | Walk-ins may be accommodated if space allows, but a booked spot is not guaranteed without one. |
| Is the facility wheelchair accessible? | Most of it is, though the tour involves some walking indoors and outdoors. |
| How long does a visit take? | The guided program runs about 90 minutes, plus optional time in the gift shop. |
Things to do near The Turtle Hospital
- Dolphin Research Center: an interactive dolphin facility a few minutes’ drive away in Marathon.
- Crane Point Hammock & Museum: a nature centre and historic site, about 10 minutes’ drive.
- Sombrero Beach: a sandy beach and park in Marathon, roughly 10 minutes away.
- Curry Hammock State Park: a beach and nature park a short drive north on US 1.
- Marathon restaurants and marinas: dining and charter fishing options throughout the town.
What to visit tomorrow
- Theater of the Sea: a marine mammal park in Islamorada, roughly 30 minutes’ drive.
- Key West Aquarium: a historic aquarium in Old Town Key West, about 50 minutes away.
- Key West Turtle Kraals Museum: a small museum on Key West’s turtle-canning history, roughly 50 minutes’ drive.
- National Key Deer Refuge: a wildlife refuge on Big Pine Key, about 20 minutes away.
- Bahia Honda State Park: a beach and snorkelling spot on Bahia Honda Key, roughly 20 to 25 minutes away.
More Florida Keys travel
Other Florida Keys travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Florida Keys beach guides: Anne’s Beach in Islamorada, Sombrero Beach in Marathon.
- Know the differences between the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum and the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum.
- How to spend three days in Key West – including the Hemingway Home and Museum, Harry Truman’s Little White House and a cruise to Dry Tortugas National Park.
- Key West beach guides: Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Higgs Beach and Smathers Beach.
- Can you go inside the Key West Lighthouse?
