Dry Tortugas National Park covers 64,701 acres in Florida. It became a national park on October 26, 1992, the 51st of today’s 64 parks to get that title. It recorded 89,355 recreation visits in 2025, the 56th most of the 63 parks with a 2025 count.
Today at Dry Tortugas
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Alerts: National Park Service, checked hourly. Forecast: National Weather Service, for the middle of the park. Always confirm on the official park site before you set out.
In the park service’s words
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. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Entrance fee and passes
The standard entrance pass is $15 per person. The entrance fee for Dry Tortugas National Park is $15.00 per person and is good for 7 consecutive days. Any person 15 years old and under is exempt from paying an entrance fees (including international visitors).
Ferry tickets include the cost of entrance to the park, but NOT camping fees.
Seaplane will charge the entrance fee upon arrival. Plan to bring cash for each person aged 16-years of age and older.
Private boaters may purchase a digital pass in advance or pay cash/check at Garden Key main dock.
Here the fee is charged per person. An America the Beautiful pass covers the pass holder plus three more adults.
Entrance is free for U.S. residents on the 2026 fee-free days.
Best time to visit
- Best time to visit Dry Tortugas: January, February, November and December. The weather is at its most comfortable then, and crowds are lighter than at the peak.
- Busiest month: May, with about 8,878 visits in a typical recent year. That is 1.9 times as many as October.
- Quietest month: October (4,554 visits).
Bar height: visitors that month, compared with the busiest month. Temperatures: average daily high and low (°F); rain and snow: monthly averages. Best marks the months we suggest.
More detail: the best time to visit Dry Tortugas, month by month.
Plan your visit
- Best time to visit: crowds and weather month by month
- Itinerary: a ready-made day
- Things to do: 0 hikes and 4 other activities
- Camping, RVs and lodging: 1 campgrounds
- Getting there: closest airport Key West International Airport (70 mi)
- Know before you go: safety, what to pack and what to leave at home
Weather, in the park service’s words
The park service says:
The climate in the Dry Tortugas is subtropical, which basically means that it has warm and tropical weather in the range of 60°F to 90°F. The two main seasons are the winter stormy season from December through March which is windier and sees rougher seas, and the summertime tropical storm season from June through November where there is a higher chance of isolated storms. During the summers it is hot and humid. During the winter the temperature is milder and drier.
From the National Park Service (public domain).
Nearby national parks
- Everglades (Florida): about 131 miles in a straight line
- Biscayne (Florida): about 188 miles in a straight line
- Congaree (South Carolina): about 645 miles in a straight line
- Great Smoky Mountains (North Carolina and Tennessee): about 765 miles in a straight line
There is no road from Dry Tortugas to another national park; you fly or take a boat between them.
Sources
Last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Dry Tortugas National Park?
The standard entrance pass is $15 per person. The entrance fee for Dry Tortugas National Park is $15.00 per person and is good for 7 consecutive days. Any person 15 years old and under is exempt from paying an entrance fees (including international visitors).
Ferry tickets include the cost of entrance to the park, but NOT camping fees.
Seaplane will charge the entrance fee upon arrival. Plan to bring cash for each person aged 16-years of age and older.
Private boaters may purchase a digital pass in advance or pay cash/check at Garden Key main dock.
What state is Dry Tortugas National Park in?
Florida.
When did Dry Tortugas become a national park?
October 26, 1992.
How many people visit Dry Tortugas?
89,355 recreation visits were counted in 2025.
When is the best time to visit Dry Tortugas?
January, February, November and December. May is the busiest month and October the quietest while the park is fully open.
