When planning a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, one of the first things to consider is whether to take the seaplane, the ferry, or a lesser-known option, a private boat/charter.
Should you take a seaplane or ferry to Dry Tortugas? What about a private boat? There are many factors to consider when making this decision to see Florida’s most remote National Park.
In this guide, I’m going to help you decide how to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. I’m going to weigh factors of each option like cost, time, experience, amenities, and parking/location. I will even include a handy-dandy table so you can compare the ferry and seaplane side-by-side.
Finally, I will answer some FAQs and share the advantages and disadvantages of each mode of transportation so that you can make the best decision for yourself!
Who’s ready to travel to Dry Tortugas?!
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DRY TORTUGAS NATIONAL PARK AT A GLANCE
Before diving in, here are a few highlights for planning a trip to Dry Tortugas National Park.
- Getting There: The closest major airport to Dry Tortugas is Miami International Airport. Find affordable flights here.
- Entrance Fee: $15/person or FREE with an America the Beautiful Pass
- Where to Stay: Camp in the park or stay right outside the park in the town of Key West.
- How to Get Around: To get there, ferry or seaplane – the focus of this blog post! Once you’re there, you’ll just walk around the island.
- Best Time to Visit: December – May (Read my January guide here)
- How Long to Visit: 1 day
Getting to Dry Tortugas: Seaplane vs Ferry
Dry Tortugas By Ferry
The ferry is the cheapest way to get to Dry Tortugas.
Cost
The Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas Ferry is the only way to get to the National Park by ferry. The Dry Tortugas ferry cost varies. I’ll break it down below.
Regular ferry tickets for adults cost $235 plus a $15 National Park entrance fee. If you have a National Parks pass already, you won’t have to pay that $15 fee online, and you’ll just be required to show your pass at the time of your departure.
Camping ferry tickets (for those who want to camp on the island) are sold online for $240 ($255 without a park pass). Additionally, camping with kayak ferry tickets costs $260 for those who want to camp on the island and bring a kayak.
Infants 3 and under are free while children 4-16 are $195. Seniors, students, and members of the military receive discounts. See the full rate sheet here.
Time
Taking the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park is an all-day event. From dock check-in to Key West arrival, you’re looking at a total time commitment of 10.5 hours. So you’re definitely going to want to stay overnight in Key West.
Sea travel time is 2.5 hours each way while island exploration time is 4.5 hours.
THE FERRY SCHEDULE:
- 7:00 AM: Passenger check-in.
- 7:30 AM: Boarding.
- 8:00 AM: Ferry departure from Key West.
- 10:30 AM: Arrive at Dry Tortugas.
- 11:00 AM: Fort Jefferson tour.
- 11:00 AM – 1 PM: Lunch.
- 3:00 PM: Ferry departure from the island.
- 5:30 PM: Arrive in Key West.
Experience
The overall ferry experience is great as long as you’re not prone to seasickness! Sit back and relax as you travel 2.5 hours (70 miles!) across the Gulf of Mexico to the remote islands of Dry Tortugas National Park.
Before take-off, the ferry provides each passenger with a breakfast snack. We weren’t quite sure what that would be until we boarded. For us, it was bagels, coffee, and hot tea.
On the sea journey, you can enjoy the view from inside the windowed, air-conditioned cabin filled with a galley of snacks, or listen to the waves crash against the boat from a seat on the deck.
Once the ferry arrives at Garden Key (the main island of Dry Tortugas National Park), you have free rein to explore the island on your own. There is an option to take a guided tour through Fort Jefferson with one of the ferry employees, but we chose to skip that and just explore it on our own. You can do whichever you’d prefer!
Lunch is served on the ferry from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. During our visit that day, they provided us with Jersey Mike’s subs, chips, cookies, and drinks. You have the option of eating on the ferry or taking it onto the island. Of course, we chose to spread out our packable towels and eat on the beach!
Until 3:00 PM, ferry passengers are free to explore the island. If you’re visiting from October through January, don’t miss Bush Key. This key is not accessible from February through September due to the breeding season. Any other time of year you can explore the three stories of Fort Jefferson, the moat that circles the fort, or the beaches.
And of course, you can snorkel and swim! The ferry provides each passenger with free snorkeling equipment to use throughout your island visit! But you are also welcome to bring your own gear if you’d prefer.
Amenities
Included with every ferry ticket is breakfast, lunch, complimentary snorkeling equipment to use on the island, and a fully narrated 45-minute tour of Fort Jefferson. There are also restrooms and a bar with a galley of snacks available for purchase onboard the ferry.
Location & Parking
Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas Ferry takes off from the Key West Bight docks.
You will have to park in a nearby parking garage. We parked in the City of Key West Old Town Garage, which was just about a block from the ferry docks. Rates were around $40 for the day, I think. Click here for driving directions to the garage.
PRO TIP: Anyone who is camping on Dry Tortugas must take the ferry and reserve a specific “camping ferry ticket” ahead of time! Campers (and their equipment) are NOT allowed on the seaplane.
What to Bring
For your day trip to Dry Tortugas via ferry, I’d bring the following items:
- Bathing suit >>> To swim and snorkel!
- Small packable beach towel >>> For a beach picnic and to dry off after swimming.
- GoPro >>> For epic underwater video.
- Sunglasses >>> To protect your eyes, of course.
- Sun hat >>> The sun is HOT in South Florida.
- Sunscreen >>> Reef-safe!
- Binoculars >>> To see all of the marine life from the ferry and island.
- Sport sandals >>> Something sturdy yet water-friendly.
- Change of clothes >>> You’ll be wet after swimming/snorkeling!
- Dry bag >>> To put all of your belongings in!
Dry Tortugas By Seaplane
The seaplane is the quickest way to get to and from Dry Tortugas.
Cost
Key West Seaplane Adventures is the only way to get to Dry Tortugas by seaplane. The Dry Tortugas seaplane cost varies. I’ll break it down below.
There are two excursion options for seaplane rides to Dry Tortugas: half-day and full-day.
The Half-Day Seaplane Excursion costs $507 for adults and $405.60 for children 12 & under. Children under 2 are free.
The Full-Day Seaplane Excursion costs $890 for adults and $712 for children 12 & under. Children under 2 are free.
NOTE: The $15 National Park entrance fee is not included in the rate. You will owe that at the time of check-in. However, you can avoid paying this fee by presenting your America the Beautiful Pass.
Time
For the Half-Day Seaplane Excursion, plane travel is about 40 minutes each way, and island time is 2.5 hours. There are morning & afternoon departures. Total time commitment: about 4 hours.
For the Full-Day Seaplane Excursion, plane travel is about 40 minutes each way, and island time is 6.5 hours. There are morning departures only. Total time commitment: about 8 hours.
Experience
The experience of riding in a float plane over the Gulf of Mexico is definitely bucket-list-worthy! Everyone should take a seaplane at least once in their lifetime, so why not to one of the most remote islands in Florida?
On the Half-Day Seaplane Excursion, you’ll depart from the airport in either the morning or afternoon, depending on your time slot. The flight time is approximately 40 minutes, and then you’ll arrive on the island. You will be allowed 2.5 hours on the island to explore, swim, and snorkel!
On the Full-Day Seaplane Excursion, you’ll depart from the airport in the morning. The flight time is approximately 40 minutes, and then you’ll arrive on the island. You will be allowed 6.5 hours on the island to explore, swim, and snorkel!
Amenities
With every seaplane ticket, you are given coolers and ice with complimentary bottled water and/or your choice of soft drinks. You’ll also have access to snorkeling gear to use on the island.
There is no food provided on any seaplane adventure, and there is no food available on the Dry Tortugas keys. All food and snacks must be packed in.
Location & Parking
Key West Seaplane Adventures is located at the General Aviation side of Key West International Airport.
Parking is available in the short-term lot of the airport for $19/day.
What to Bring
For your day trip to Dry Tortugas via seaplane, I’d bring the following items:
- Bathing suit >>> To swim and snorkel!
- Small packable beach towel >>> For a beach picnic and to dry off after swimming.
- GoPro >>> For epic underwater video.
- Sunglasses >>> To protect your eyes, of course.
- Sun hat >>> The sun is HOT in South Florida.
- Sunscreen >>> Reef-safe!
- Binoculars >>> To see all of the marine life from the ferry and island.
- Sport sandals >>> Something sturdy yet water-friendly.
- Change of clothes >>> You’ll be wet after swimming/snorkeling!
- Dry bag >>> To put all of your belongings in!
See where Dry Tortugas ranks on my Florida National Parks Ranked BEST TO WORST blog post!
Dry Tortugas By Private Boat
A private boat charter is the most expensive way to get to Dry Tortugas.
I added this for the sake of this blog post so that you’re aware that this is an option. Private charters give you exclusive, private tours of the island. You can also take your personal private boat to the island (with a permit).
Cost, time, experience, amenities, and parking will vary based on which company you book your charter with. But from my research, it looks like the rough cost for a private charter to Dry Tortugas National Park is about $3,000/day.
If you do not want to charter a boat, you also have the option of bringing your own personal boat to Dry Tortugas National Park. To do this, you will need to snag a free permit from the NPS.
Getting to Dry Tortugas: FAQs
What is the cheapest way to get to Dry Tortugas?
Ferry
What is the quickest way to get to Dry Tortugas?
Seaplane
What is the Most Scenic Way to Get to Dry Tortugas?
Honestly, I’d probably say seaplane, but you get to enjoy the ocean no matter which mode of transportation you choose!
If I want to camp, which mode of transportation should I take?
Ferry. Any Dry Tortugas campers must take the ferry. All seaplane passengers are day-trip passengers only.
READ NEXT: 7 Key Things to Know Before Visiting Dry Tortugas
Which is the Best Option? Seaplane or Ferry?
To further help you decide how you should travel to Dry Tortugas National Park, here are some advantages and disadvantages to the seaplane and ferry.
Advantages of a Seaplane
- The quickest way to get to and from Dry Tortugas.
- Scenic flight over the Florida Keys.
- You can experience the island without the ferry crowds (either before the ferry arrives or after the ferry departs).
Disadvantages of a Seaplane
- The price tag is steep.
- No campers are allowed since you can’t bring camping equipment on the plane.
- The half-day trip doesn’t allow you much time on the island.
- Airsickness is possible.
Advantages of a Ferry
- The cheapest option to get to and from Dry Tortugas.
- Breakfast and lunch are provided.
- Additional snacks and drinks are available for purchase on the ferry for almost the entire day.
- You get 4.5 hours on the island, which is just the right amount of time, in my opinion.
- Campers and their equipment are allowed on the ferry.
Disadvantages of a Ferry
- Slowest trip to the island.
- Seasickness is possible.
Dry Tortugas Ferry Vs Seaplane: Comparison Chart
| SEAPLANE | FERRY | |
|---|---|---|
| COST | $507/adult for half-day & $890/adult for full-day | $235/adult |
| TRAVEL TIME | 40 minutes each way | 2.5 hours each way |
| ISLAND TIME | 2.5 hours for half-day & 6.5 hours for full-day | 4.5 hours |
| AMENITIES | Coolers and ice with bottled water and soft drinks, snorkel gear | Breakfast, lunch, snorkel gear, Fort Jefferson tour |
Plan Your Trip to the Florida National Parks
Ready to plan your trip to the Florida National Parks? I’ve got many guides on the blog to help you with that!
- Florida National Parks Ranked Best to Worst
- 7 Key Things to Know Before Visiting Dry Tortugas
- Should You Visit Dry Tortugas in January? Yes! Here’s Why
- How to Plan a Road Trip to the Florida National Parks
- Complete Guide to Exploring Dry Tortugas National Park
- Complete Guide to Exploring Biscayne National Park
- Complete Guide to Exploring Everglades National Park
Discover Your Next Adventure
Where to next? I’ve got some suggestions!
- Paddle the Bio Bay in St Croix
- Kayak to Antelope Canyon
- Go River Tubing in the Smokies
- Go Sandboarding in Coral Pink Sand Dunes
- Take a Waterfalls Road Trip in New York
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