The beaches and snorkelling in Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida, are gorgeous. But the enormous Fort Jefferson is astonishing.
This guide was updated in September 2026 to reflect increased tour prices.
What’s so special about Dry Tortugas National Park, summarised.
- It’s the true end of the line in the Florida Keys.
- The beaches are dazzling white sand.
- Snorkelling off the Moat Wall brings large and abundant marine life.
- The giant Fort Jefferson – the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere.
For a return day trip to Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park, book here.
For more detailed information, read on.
Where is Dry Tortugas National Park?
Dry Tortugas National Park is spread across a series of small islands and reefs in the Gulf of Mexico. (No, I’m not having any of that Gulf of America nonsense, thank you).
It lies just under 70 miles west of Key West in Florida and is managed by the National Park Service.
While Key West feels like the end of the line in Florida, Dry Tortugas is the true end point for completists travelling through the Keys.
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 Dry Tortugas National Park
It is possible to visit Dry Tortugas National Park on a private vessel, but the vast majority of visitors take the two-and-a-quarter hour ferry ride from Key West.
The trip is aboard the Yankee Freedom III.
How much does the Dry Tortugas ferry cost?
As of September 2026, the return ferry from Key West to Garden Island in Dry Tortugas National Park costs $260. This goes down to $245 if you have a national parks pass.
Beaches in Dry Tortugas National Park
The beaches in Dry Tortugas National Park are largely pristine white sand, and back on to clear water. In practice, you’ll only be visiting the ones on Garden Key, but they’re still highly photogenic and lovely to swim from.
Snorkelling in Dry Tortugas National Park
The cays and reefs of Dry Tortugas National Park are at the end of the Florida reef system. The isolation and a significant Gulf current just to the south means the marine life here is often more abundant and larger than elsewhere in the Keys.
The easiest place to go snorkelling for day-trippers is off the Moat Wall.
Fort Jefferson
The moat in question belongs to Fort Jefferson, a ludicrously out of place, yet magnificent 19th century fort.
Construction on the fort began in 1846, the theory being that it could defend trade routes across the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River.
The hexagonal monster contains an estimated 16 million bricks, which makes it the largest masonry structure in the western hemisphere. It was built to support 450 guns and garrison 1,500 men, despite all supplies having to be shipped in.
A ridiculous level of effort went into something that became obsolete almost instantly. Construction was abandoned in 1875, and now it stands with the mesmeric draw of a Mayan temple complex or painstakingly excavated ancient Roman city.
The best way to explore Fort Jefferson is on a self-guided tour. There are explanatory signs throughout the fort.
Things to do near Dry Tortugas National Park
- Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park – Key West’s southernmost state park combines a Civil War-era fort with a beach, snorkelling and short nature trails, making it a useful addition before or after the Dry Tortugas trip.
- Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters – This historic lighthouse on Whitehead Street provides a compact museum visit and views across Key West from the top of its 88 steps.
- Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum – Hemingway’s former home is close to the lighthouse and combines the historic house with tropical gardens and the famous resident six-toed cats.
- Truman Little White House – This former presidential retreat in the Truman Annex provides another perspective on Key West history and is easy to combine with other Old Town attractions.
- Mel Fisher Maritime Museum – The museum explores Key West’s maritime history and displays artefacts recovered from shipwrecks, providing a useful connection with the sea-based history of the Florida Keys.
Alternative attractions
- Everglades National Park – South Florida’s other major national park offers a very different landscape, with mangrove waterways, sawgrass marshes and opportunities to see wildlife from trails and waterways.
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – In St Augustine, this substantial Spanish fort provides another Florida heritage experience centred on a major historic masonry structure.
- Fort Matanzas National Monument – South of St Augustine, this smaller Spanish colonial fort is reached by boat and combines a historic site with coastal and estuarine scenery.
- Bahia Honda State Park – Further up the Florida Keys, Bahia Honda combines beaches, clear water, snorkelling and the remains of the historic Overseas Railroad, offering another island experience without requiring a boat trip as long as the Dry Tortugas crossing.
Tours and experiences around Key West
A wide range of guided options depart from the island, including mangrove kayaking trips through shallow backwaters and rum tasting experiences at the Key West Legal Rum distillery.
More Florida travel
Other Florida travel articles on Planet Whitley include:
- Saying hi to the Apollo Beach manatees near Tampa.
- The best stops on the Punta Gorda to Tampa drive.
- Exploring the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.
- The weird tribute of Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida.
- 5 reasons to visit Miami on a round-the-world trip.
