This secluded park is located about 70 miles from Key West, and it definitely deserves a spot as one of the best places to . We (2 couples) will be in Key West in March. Yankee Freedom III, LLC is authorized by the NPS and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. The color of the fresh water and marine life is surreal, the conch shells are amazing, the beach is beautiful, and visiting the historic Fort Jefferson, which is located on garden key, was really cool. The Yankee Freedom 3 is a large catamaran so this was not smooth sailing. Even if you have never taken or needed Dramamine before bring some with you just in case. The way nature intended it to be. Click here to buy your tickets for the Dry Tortugas Below we shared tips on visiting the Dry Tortugas, Florida and what to expect when you visit. August: High of 92 F and a low of 79 F. September: High of 90 F and a low of 77 F. October: High of 85 F and a low of 75 F. November: High of 79 F and a low of 70 F. October and November have comfortable temperatures, but peak hurricane season tends to last through November, so it's still not a great time to visit. Camping is completely sold out through April 2021. By noon, we were back in Key West and had all afternoon in town. Unfortunately, I struck out with both the seaplane and ferry when I tried to make it to Dry Tortugas on a recent Key West trip. This will be collected by Park Rangers during your stay. So, if you want to visit the highlights of Dry Tortugas National Park and still have plenty of time in Key West, the half day tour, particularly the first time slot of the day, is a great option. Whether swimming, sun bathing or just plain strolling, you will enjoy the crystal blue waters, swaying palm trees and soft, powdery sand of this island paradise. UNESCO Listed: Park Of The 1976 UNESCO Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve Today it is a stunning paradise to explore. Thankfully the National Park limits visitors to 175 people, so there is only one ferry. Also, be sure to check out our Florida Road Trip as this is a stop on the route and our Florida Keys Road Trip post. This site uses cookies. How Much Is A Ferry Ride To Dry Tortugas? A maximum of 68 campers can stay here and space is on a first-come, first-served basis. Be the first to review this product! Yankee Freedom, LLC is authori For even more information, check out our Dry Tortugas National Park Travel Guide. View our ADA Accessibility Policy. How To Get Around Dry Tortugas National Park. best things to do along the Florida Keys. 3.3 Fishing in the Dry Tortugas. 800-634-0939. info@yankeefreedom.com. http://www.travelthruhistory.tv/explore-dry-tortugas-fort-jefferson-key-west-fl/ - Things to do in Key West, FL. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Re: Options for Dry Tortugas National Park if ferry sold out 4 years ago Save Get on the Yankee Freedom III ferry waiting list now. Private Charter: Which One is Better? General availability can be checked by going to https://www.drytortugas.com/rates-reservations/ and clicking on the Book Now button. The best flights are the first and last flights of the day, when you will visit the park with fewer people. The seven tiny islands of Dry Tortugas are a vital layover for migrating birds traveling between South America and the United States making a staple in the Great Florida Birding Trail. Traveling by sea plane is the quickest way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. Plan a full day for your visit, and be prepared to spend the day in awe of the natural beauty of the park. Cannot wait to do it again!!! A sign-up sheet will be available at 6:30am. Our friends at Tiny Shiny Home had a chance to camp with their 4 kids. Imagine sleeping under the stars, on an island 70 miles from civilization, with the warm tropical breezes blowing through palm trees and the rhythmic sound of the ocean waves playing in the background. My wife and I are from Northwest FL and are finally making it down to the keys for our anniversary. Best Things to Do in Dry Tortugas National Park, Best Things to do at Dry Tortugas National Park. That must not have happened on the Dry Tortugas because there were birds all around the mangrove island. Breath-taking. use of snorkeling gear. Go to https://www.drytortugas.com/rates-reservations/ and click on the Book Now button. "One of the 10 great places to explore nooks and crevasses" USA Today, "One of the top 10 things to do in the Florida Keys" Islands Magazine, "One of the coolest things to do in Key West" Rachael Ray Magazine, {{current_weather.dt | momentjs( atts.date )}}. We use cookies to give you the best experience. The Dry Tortugas ferry is a large catamaran called the Yankee Freedom III. It was crazy! Join. There's also some fresh fruit, orange juice, and delicious bagelsfresh from the oven. If you have any questions about how to get to Dry Tortugas National Park, let us know in the comment section below. We took the ferry over. All rights reserved. 4 Where to Stay when Visiting the Dry Tortugas. | NATIONAL PARKS IN FLORIDA: Learn more about the national parks in Florida in our guides to the Evergladesand Biscayne National Park. Imagine sleeping under the stars, on an island 70 miles from civilization, with the warm tropical breezes blowing through palm trees. View our ADA Accessibility Policy. It was so cool to see. Cost. The second half of the Dry Tortugas Ferry takes you 70 miles through the Gulf to Fort Jefferson National Park, a Civil War-era fort used as a prison. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. The ferry arrived at 10:20, and it got a lot more crowded. Great write up and pics. Public ferries and seaplanes depart regularly to the park, and fishing and dive charters can be booked from the Florida Keys and Naples. Open 8am-8pm. Before calling please check the camping availability calendar to determine a selection of available camping dates that will work for you, then call 305-294-7009 to speak with a reservation agent to check kayak space availability. Return Departure 3:00pm. Getting to the Dry Tortugas by Ferry The Yankee Freedom is the ferry that connects Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. Going by seaplane would be ideal. Hopefully next year my dream will come true! I agree with everyone about the sea (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-96964966', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane is way out of our budget. Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. [CDATA[ (function(d, sc, u) { var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); })(document, 'script', '//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js'); // ]]> Disclosure: A HUGE thank you to Historic Tours of America for hosting us on our trip. 28 days ago. Better early then late and missing the boat! It was worth every dollar! Then when you land in Key West check the wait list daily and check in at the on ground ticket booth daily as well. It was the right decision. Those days will not be available for reservations. There will be a signup sheet on a clipboard at the electric car rental desk under the Ferry Terminal. For more information, please see our Because of these special requirements, you will need to speak with a reservation agent to determine availability of kayak transport for your dates of interest. Q: Do you have spaces for xx/xx/xxxx? Drive, walk or ride your bicycle aboard one of our three ferries. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-96966450', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight is AMAZING itself. Dry Tortugas is made up of seven islands: Garden Key, Loggerhead Key, Bush Key, Long Key, Hospital Key, Middle Key, and East Key The word tortugas is Spanish for turtles, due to the large amount that inhabit the surrounding waters. It's the stuff that bucket lists are made of. The 2.5 hours in Dry Tortugas National Park goes by extremely fast, and the entire time Tim and I felt like we were in a race. The 2.5-hour ferry ride is a magical trip over turquoise waters, and leaves you about . Now that would be amazing. However, space is very limited. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. Yankee Freedom III, LLC is authorized by the NPS and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. You will fly over the keys and the Marquesas Islands and get to see both Key West and Dry Tortugas National Park from the sky. All rights reserved. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A high-speed catamaran, our vessel transports guests 70 miles from Key West to the Park. PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you plan to camp at Dry Tortugas National Park, you will have to take the ferry or a private boat to get here. DRY TORTUGAS: If Dry Tortugas National Park is on your to-do list, dont miss our guide to the Best Things to do at Dry Tortugas National Park. 17 Exciting Things To Do In St. Augustine With Kids, 24 Amazing Tips for Universal Volcano Bay [Must Read! Camping in the Dry Tortugas National Park is definitely an experience of a lifetime! So disappointed! There are two options for most people getting to Dry Tortugas which is located 70 miles from the coast of Key West, Florida. Top Dry Tortugas fishing charters in 2023, from $100 p/p. The beach itself is a palm-lined paradise, where . Q: I am trying to book a date for later in the year and the reservation engine says that its not available. Breakfast Lunch. Unfortunately, when we were there it was a little cooler and the water was really cloudy from all the storms. guided tour of the fort. 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. Seaplane vs. the Ferry vs. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. The Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry departs daily from Key West, promptly at 8am. Then all of a sudden this island pops up out of nowhere. 1 / 9. 3 Things to do at Dry Tortugas National Park. Check-in time is at 7 am (6:30 am for campers). Ideally we would recommend you go and camp for a few nights. When you take the ferry to the Dry Tortugas, you get there at about 10:30am. Ferry ticket includes entrance fee to Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson. The Dry Tortugas has kind of been loved to death these days. It's a very small airport with just one waiting area and very few services. NOTE: we do not provide the kayaks, only transportation. Located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most unique destinations in the entire U.S., as it combines history and a pristine marine ecosystem into one unforgettable experience. Before departure each day we spray all mouthpieces and vest with the same solution and let them sit overnight. Please see our website for full policy. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-96967216', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Key West check the wait list daily and check in at the on ground ticket booth daily as well. Does anyone know if it's worth it to show up REALLY early and wait in case you can get a spot from a no-show or cancellation? Unfortunately, I was an idiot and didn't book reservations for the ferry to Dry Tortugas early enough. Ticket includes entrance fee to Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson. They are located 70 miles west of Key West. See here for other Florida beaches you have never heard of. If you're early risers be there at boarding time by 7:30am & you'll know by 8am when they leave if there's any open spots. Cost: $644 per adult, $515.20 for children 12 and under National Park Fee: $15 (this is in addition to the seaplane ticket price) Grand Total: $659 Length of Time: 8 hours total; 40-minute flight each way and 6.5 hours on the island. In this guide, we cover everything you need to know on how to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. Q: How do I make a new day trip reservation? beer and wine available . ed by the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Click here to buy your tickets for the Dry Tortugas. Showing up at 7:30 is not likely to work. We are already on the waitlist for the (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Content from this Website may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced or used without written permission! The only thing is there is no running water on the island so you have to come prepared. Next time we go back we also want to check out Loggerhead Key. #truth, 11 East Coast National Parks You Want To Visit This Year, 29 Best Things To Do In Gulf Shores, Alabama. Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson Ferry Service. Yankee Freedom Dry tortugas national park ferry, https://www.drytortugas.com/rates-reservations/. I will tell you hands down it was worth the money. The island is absolutely beautiful and so peaceful. Your email address will not be published. The Yankee Freedom Ferry operates daily from Key West to Dry Tortugas-departing Key West at 8:00 AM and returning at 3:00 PM. The ferry from Key West to Dry Tortugas is the Yankee Freedom III. Copyright 2023 Yankee Freedom III, LLC. At least with the Yankee Freedom it's likely you will be able to walk there and back, and the entrance fee is included in the price. Cookie Notice Below are four snorkeling sites at Garden Key. just wait until you experience the open-air restaurants and charming little shops of . Privacy PolicyThis website meets WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA standards set by the ADA. //