Where Is Dry Tortugas National Park Located?

How do you get to Dry Tortugas National Park?

Dry Tortugas National Park is a remote island about 70-miles (113 km) west of Key West, Florida. Cars are not able to access the island. The only methods of transportation are

by boat or seaplane

.

Is Dry Tortugas in Key West?

Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West

lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands.

How much does it cost to go from Key West to Dry Tortugas?

Is Dry Tortugas worth the trip?

Dry Tortugas National Park is fascinating both in its unique marine landscape and its history, and

it's definitely worth the visit

. Located at the tip of the Flordia Keys is the stunning Dry Tortugas National Park. It preserves seven breathtaking Dry Tortugas Islands.

Can you see Cuba from Dry Tortugas?

The distance between Dry Tortugas National Park and Cuba is

276 km

.

Are there bathrooms on Dry Tortugas?

Are there toilets at Dry Tortugas?

Yes, there are always toilets available to our passengers

. There are composting toilets located near the campground. Whenever the Fort Jefferson ferry is on the dock, these toilets are locked, and the ferry toilets become the public restrooms for everyone on the island.

Can you stay overnight in the Dry Tortugas?

Overnight anchoring is allowed in the area of sand and rubble bottom within 1 nautical mile of the Fort Jefferson harbor light and must not block any designated channel

. Overnight anchoring is not permitted at any other location in Dry Tortugas National Park.

Can you swim at Dry Tortugas National Park?

This designated swimming area is located of the Northwest side of Loggerhead Key

. This area is protected, shallow and calm, a great place for swimming and snorkeling. Within the swim area, a few yards off the swim beach is a remarkable coral formation aptly named Little Africa.

Does anyone live in the Dry Tortugas?

There are a handful of maintenance workers and park rangers that actually live in the fort at the Dry Tortugas

. They work 10 days on the island and then they are off for 6, so they can head into Key West to restock and catch a movie or something. WOW!

Are there snakes in the Dry Tortugas?

I'm also terrified of snakes but I can assure him that

there are NO SNAKES at the Dry Tortugas

. There are no mosquitoes as there is no fresh water at the Dry Tortugas. The place is magical, after the ferry leaves you have the place all to yourself.

How far is Dry Tortugas from Fort Myers by boat?

The quickest way to get from Fort Myers to Dry Tortugas National Park is to ferry which costs $286 – $288 and takes 7h 13m. How far is it from Fort Myers to Dry Tortugas National Park? The distance between Fort Myers and Dry Tortugas National Park is

152 miles

.

Can you kayak to Dry Tortugas?

A kayak can be a great way to explore the beauty of the Dry Tortugas

. As you paddle you can look down through clear water at the diverse marine life that makes the seagrass beds and coral reefs their home.

Is there cell service in the Dry Tortugas?

No, there are no cell phone towers in the Dry Tortugas

.

How long is the flight to Dry Tortugas?

Full Day Dry Tortugas Seaplane Excursion

This trip is

just under 8 hours

long, providing at least 6 1/2 hours of island time at Fort Jefferson/Dry Tortugas. Travel time is approximately 40 minutes each way. Departs morning only.

Are there sharks in Dry Tortugas?

Dry Tortugas National Park

People can swim with nurse sharks without incident

, although the sharks will sometimes attack humans if they are antagonized, so it is best to leave them alone if you see them.

Who was imprisoned at Dry Tortugas?

Mudd was later arrested for conspiracy and for harboring Booth and David Harold after the crime was committed. After standing trial and a string of testimonies,

Dr. Samuel Alexander Mudd

was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas.

Can you see Key West from Cuba?

The Southernmost Point Buoy also denotes another source of Key West pride – its proximity to Cuba. As the buoy and the slogan state, Key West is “

90 miles to Cuba

,” even if it's really a little more. Although Key West is actually 94 miles to Cuba, “90 miles to Cuba” has a much nicer ring to it.

Why is it called Dry Tortugas?

Discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513, the Dry Tortugas were

named after the large population of sea turtles living in the island's surrounding waters

. “Tortugas” means turtles in Spanish, and Ponce de Leon himself caught over 100 sea turtles during his time on the island.

Can you fish at Dry Tortugas National Park?

Fishing is allowed in certain areas of Dry Tortugas National Park, though no lobstering is allowed, nor is spearfishing

. A Florida Saltwater fishing license is required for those older than 16 and younger than 65. No special fishing license from the National Park Service is needed.

Can I take my own boat to Dry Tortugas?

Yes,

all private boats and vessels entering Dry Tortugas National Park must file a boat permit at Garden Key before recreating within the park

. Even if you do not plan on exploring Fort Jefferson, you must stop by Garden Key to pay the entrance fee and file the required permits.

Is there food on Dry Tortugas?

There are no restaurants, shops, or any other services that offer food, water or fuel available on the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park

.

Why is Dry Tortugas famous?

Situated in the Gulf of Mexico, 70 miles west of Key West, the Dry Tortugas is known for

its stunning natural beauty, wildlife, beaches, coral reefs, campgrounds and array of activities both in and out of the water

.

Can you stay at Dry Tortugas National Park?

There is no Dry Tortugas lodging inside the remote national park

. Instead you find the closest accommodation when visiting Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida's southernmost city Key West. Still it's almost 70 miles (113 km) from Dry Tortugas hotels in Key West to the isolated park.

Why is Dry Tortugas closed?

Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas National Parks have temporarily closed park entrances and visitor facilities

in preparation for Tropical Storm Eta for the safety of visitors and staff

. Marine waters in all parks will remain open for boating, but emergency services will be extremely limited.

Is there fresh water on Dry Tortugas?

There are still a few mosquitoes. And except for the rain

there's still no natural fresh water to be found anywhere on the seven small islands

. Dry Tortugas National Park, with its huge masonry fort that sits on Garden Key, is the most remote of all the national parks of the contiguous 48 states.

What is the best time to visit Dry Tortugas National Park?

Most people agree that the best time to visit the Dry Tortugas is from the months of

November through April

. The Key West seas (both out on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean) tend to be rougher and the winds stronger from October through January.