Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park is a United States national park that contains a cluster of islands about west of Key West, Florida, on Garden Key.

History
Construction of Fort Jefferson was begun in 1846 but never completed. President Franklin Roosevelt declared it and the waters surrounding it a National Monument in 1935.

Climate
The Dry Tortugas exist in a subtropical climate. Temperatures range from the mid-50s to mid-80s (°F). April and May are often idyllic. There are essentially two seasons: The winter season (December-March), which can be windy with rough seas, and the tropical storm season (June-November) during which Dry Tortugas experiences both hot, humid weather and calm seas or severe weather events. Due to the ever-changing weather patterns, an accurate weather forecast is recommended before your visit.

Get in
The park is open year round during daylight hours, and is only accessible by boat or seaplane.



Fees and permits
The $10 (as of 2020) entrance fee for individuals is valid for seven days.

Get around
This is a cluster of 7 small islands not connected by causeway to the rest of the Florida Keys. As such the only way to reach them (and travel between them) is by boat or seaplane.

The largest of the islands, Garden Key, hosts Fort Jefferson. Walking tours are provided and snorkeling is a must. All traffic is on foot.

Do
Popular activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, guided fishing trips, guided wildlife viewing trips, and sailing charters.

Camping
There's a small campground on the island, with overflow space when the official campsites are full. You must bring all your own drinking water. Camping is not allowed outside the official campground.



Stay safe
The invasive lionfish has been spotted around Fort Jefferson. They can be identified by their red and cream colour and long spines. Stings are excruciatingly painful and can be fatal. Any sighting of the fish should be reported to National Park Staff immediately.