Dry Tortugas Day Trip by Ferry: My Honest Experience from Key West

I finally got to experience a Dry Tortugas day trip by ferry from Key West! Visiting this national park has been on my list a while, and it finally came together.

When I booked the Yankee Freedom Ferry, I wasn’t sure what to fully expect. Yes, they give you the general schedule, but I still wondered if the long ride would be worth it, would it feel like an endless journey, what’s the food they give you going to be like, and how will the fort and snorkeling be at Dry Tortugas.

If you came here wanting details about this ferry day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park, then you came to the right place! I’ll review my exact experience, what to know before you go, things to take that I wish I had, what the experience is like at the national park, and more!

Dry Tortugas Day Trip at a Glance

• 📍 Distance: 70 miles from Key West 
• ⏱️ Total Day Trip Time: 11 hours (7am departure, 5:30pm return) 
• 🚢 Ferry Time: 5 hours round trip (2.5 hours each way) 
• 🏝️ Time on Island: ~4 hours 
• 💰 Cost: $245-$260 per person 
• ✅ Included: Breakfast, lunch, snorkeling gear, guided tour, park entry

Booking the Ferry

When I looked into this a few years ago, I realized then you had to book the Yankee Freedom Ferry in advance! Well, I wrote “visit a new national park” on my 2026 bingo card and decided Dry Tortugas would be it!

I asked a couple of friends in January with plenty of dates available in March and April. One friend took a while to get back because she really wanted to go, but couldn’t quite figure out how to make it work. In those couple of weeks, March became almost completely sold out and so did most of April!

On February 1, I booked my friend and I on the ferry for the end of April! Seriously, only minimal dates in April were still available! Don’t hesitate if you have certain dates in mind, but thankfully my other friend and I were more flexible.

Tip: You have to book months in advance. If you are super flexible, there will be a random day here or there that may be available, but I’d suggest booking several months in advance.

How to Book

I don’t think there’s an alternative way to book anyway, but we booked directly from the official website for Dry Tortugas.

The process is super easy. Click the “buy tickets” button and then select day trip (or camping if you plan to go that route). From there you will select how many people are in your party and if you have a national park pass. You will want to ensure everyone in your party is included, so you can ensure you get on the same boat.

Once you have the number in your party selected, you’ll be shown a calendar of available dates based on the availability of your party size. For example, if you select only one person, you will get open dates that won’t show up for two people.

I booked both of our ferry tickets for this reason, so we could ensure a smooth process. Once you’ve decided on the dates and have everyone in your party, add the tickets to the cart and continue with your purchase.

I received an email confirmation with my details, as well as, the basics of what I need to know for the day.

Rescheduling

There is a note on the confirmation email that you can reschedule up to two days prior by calling the number provided. It’s important to note, they do not issue refunds for bad weather! Unless they cancel the ferry, you will not get a refund.

If you are afraid of travel by boat or you get sea sick, come prepared or choose to fly on the sea plane.

Additionally, while weather is worth considering, ocean conditions can change daily regardless of the time of year. However, August and September are some of the hottest months and peak hurricane season. You may see better prices though, if you don’t mind the extra heat or risk.

Ferry Cost: Is It Expensive?

Yes, the ferry isn’t cheap, but it is the cheapest option. Additionally, it does include breakfast, lunch, a guided tour of the fort, and snorkeling equipment. They sell additional food and drink on board, which is also very convenient.

My friend and I paid $250 each, but I’ve seen prices vary slightly. Right now, I see prices at $245 and $260, but you’ll likely be paying within that range.

Of course, once I considered everything you get and how long the ferry ride lasts, the price was less shocking to me. While it is quite expensive, I do think it’s worth it!

Ferry Departure Morning

We arrived at the port early for the 7AM checkin, because we wanted to grab breakfast and coffee first. There isn’t a lot opened that early, but thankfully the Cuban Coffee Queen Waterfront opens at 6:30AM.

Breakfast is served on the ferry, but it’s carb heavy. They offered bagels, cereal, fruit and coffee, but we wanted to ensure we had some protein to start our day off right! I enjoyed my egg sandwich and the Cuban coffee was delicious as well from Cuban Coffee Queen!

We made it back to the Yankee Freedom Ferry port to checkin with plenty of time. You must bring a valid form of identification, and then you will receive a number. After that, you simply wait or use the restroom before you board.

Boarding the Ferry

The tour guide for the day greets everyone and goes through the basics of the day, safety protocols, and important information. He then reviewed how to board and reminded everyone that coffee would be available once we have left the port.

Boarding the ferry was very organized. They call us by groups of numbers and collect them as you file in. It’s then a short walk from the waiting area to the ferry.

There are multiple levels to the ferry, but my friend and I headed to the main area on the first floor of the boat. We found tables by the window and joined a couple from California.

The ferry was mostly booked, so we were eventually joined by two bird watchers from North Carolina and I enjoyed chatting with all during our ferry ride.

What the Ride to Dry Tortugas Is Like

The ferry ride to Dry Tortugas from Key West felt more eventful, but we also had the anticipation of the day. Once we reached cruising speed, breakfast and coffee were served. Again, it was a lot of carbs, but I did grab half a bagel and some cream cheese.

The tour guide for the day used a microphone and offered information or made announcements randomly throughout the 2.5 hour ride.

While the journey is long, I enjoyed talking with the people at the table and taking in the views from the window and from outside at the front of the boat. Others on the boat enjoyed reading, playing games or watching shows on their phone.

Tip: Cell service is lost fairly quickly into this journey, so if you do want to watch or listen to anything on your phone, be sure to download it!

Was it Boring?

Overall, the ride to Dry Tortugas National Park didn’t feel boring. There was plenty of anticipation, the breakfast portion, the guide talking and getting to chat with other patrons.

We were also more fresh on the journey there, but spoiler, the return definitely felt longer.

Restrooms and Changing Rooms

When we got within thirty minutes, the tour guide mentioned using the restrooms as we were told there are no facilities on the island.

I did do some reading and found out there are composting toilets for the campers, but it’s recommended for everyone to use the ferry restrooms when it’s docked. This includes people from other tours like the sea plane.

However, our tour guide advised us to use the restrooms on the boat only, and if anyone wanted to change, they are asked do so on the island. This keeps the limited restrooms from being occupied unnecessarily.

I never ended up changing out of my swimsuit, so I can’t speak to the changing rooms on the island. I’m a beach girl, so staying in my swimsuit wasn’t a big deal to me. However, I can speak to the bathrooms and I’m happy to report they were in decent condition!

Motion Sickness

A friend of mine had mentioned motion sickness bracelets she used once. I rarely get sea sick and was completely fine in Fiji on the ferry, but I do remember one of the few times I’ve been sea sick was in the Keys.

Thankfully, I ended up being fine, but I did wear the bracelets going to the island. Though I never even thought about it on the return, so I think it was more for the placebo.

Our waters were fairly calm, making our journey a breeze! Conditions can change drastically from day to day, so I’d recommend having something for motion sickness just in case.

If you are prone to being sick, sit on the first level and somewhere you can easily watch the horizon. I also remember a friend who used to go deep sea fishing a lot mentioned that never letting yourself get to a hungry state was helpful!

Seating

There are three distinct areas on the ferry to sit. The main level with tables and chairs facing front and back. This is where my friend and I sat on both legs of the trip.

The upper level has an interior seating area and some outdoor seating. I briefly went to this level, but I don’t recall any tables. If you want to play a game, be sure to grab a table on the first level.

Arriving at Dry Tortugas National Park

Dry Tortugas National Park was visible even when we were still a good 15 minutes out! I headed outside to the front of the boat to enjoy the whole approach.

I was so impressed by the size of the fort and enjoyed seeing the distant lighthouse on another island as well. There were sandbars visible to the right and the impressive fort on the left slowly got bigger as we approached.

The American flag flew in the wind at the entrance of this impressive fort and there was a sea plane already parked nearby.

Each table was given a couple of maps of the island, so you could see where the swimming zones were, north and south beach, and just get oriented to the island.

Of course, my favorite part is seeing the beautiful waters surrounding this National Park! The ocean was clear, bright and looked so inviting!

What to Do at Dry Tortugas

I remember wondering if there was enough to do at Dry Tortugas or if I’d get bored. Well, I actually left feeling like I could have stayed longer!

There are tours, lunch, snorkeling, beaches to enjoy, and exploring the massive fort! Let’s break down each option for this Dry Tortugas day trip.

Tour Options

You can do a self guided tour, join the tour guide for a 20-minute tour, or for an extended tour. Of course, you can also just skip the tour entirely, but if it’s your first time I recommend doing at least one.

Well before arriving, the guide mentioned the tour options and advised anyone to sign up for the one they are interested in doing.

There’s a basic 20-minute talk or you can do the basic one plus a longer tour around the fort. The longer one is just over an hour, so you will only have about 30 minutes to grab lunch once it’s finished.

I signed up for the longer one and really enjoyed it! Anyone wanting to do the tour was told to meet at the sign at 11AM. This gave us about 20 minutes to put our stuff down on a beach and snap a few photos.

Tour Experience

After gathering us at the sign in front of the fort, the guide then led us inside the fort to an area with benches under some trees. The shade was absolutely welcomed since the sun was already scorching.

Here, under the trees, the tour guide began sharing the details of the fort. The history and the why it even exists! It was super interesting and he did a great job!

After the basic 20-minute tour was completed, anyone continuing on for the full tour followed him into the fort. This option is worth doing even if you decide to leave early. The guide will walk you through the fort and offer details about what each area is for, how it was built, and other interesting facts.

Famous Prisoner

One example was the most famous prisoner was introduced when we were on the second floor. The guide talked about the doctor, Dr. Samuel Mudd, who worked on the man who shot Lincoln, which ultimately resulted in him being sent to Dry Tortugas as a prisoner.

Well, the soldiers and prisoners were getting infected at a very high rate from yellow fever and the doctor on the island was among those who died. Doctor Mudd had noticed that the majority of people dying were living on the first floor, so he recommended everyone move to the second floor.

This simple move cut the death rates down tremendously. The tour guide went on to explain that when the fort was built, the moat is where they dumped all the human waste. This was done with the idea that the ocean tide would rise and wash it out.

Well, the tide never rose high enough, so human waste continued to pile up. In addition, there were more mosquito issues on the first floor, since the second floor had a nicer breeze and was further away from the water and sewage.

With this simple observation, the doctor saved many lives and ended up earning his freedom.

Exploring the Fort

I returned to the fort after lunch and walked and explored a bit more. There is a trail on the top level that was fun to walk around and it offered beautiful views of the ocean!

It is truly massive and worth exploring if it’s your first time on the island. It is three stories, and there are signs explaining the history at various places.

Of course, I wanted to take photos and really enjoy the gorgeous ocean. The fort is so large, it’s possible to explore and not run into many people.

Snorkeling

After I explored the top of the fort, I headed to the beach to snorkel. The visibility this day was great, so it didn’t really matter too much which beach you chose.

The map provided to each table showed the areas you could snorkel and where to avoid. For example, where the ferry and sea plane are is a no snorkel zone, for obvious reasons!

The tour guide also mentioned choosing the area in the direction the flag was blowing. The reason being the wind is blocked and would make for better visibility. However, the day we went it didn’t end up mattering.

My Snorkel Experience

I did sign the waiver for the snorkel gear because I considered borrowing fins, but I ended up not using them. However, I think they would have helped.

Regardless, I grabbed my mask and snorkel, Insta360 X5, and slowly got into the somewhat cool water. Thankfully, I got used to it fast and most people wouldn’t have considered it cold to begin with.

I focused on the wall around the fort as that was mentioned as a decent area. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a lot of time to explore the two other areas, but I had fun spotting some colorful fish, coral, and sea urchins.

Overall, the snorkeling wasn’t amazing. My experience snorkeling in Fiji was far superior, but it was still fun! It’s part of the same reef that stretches all the way to Miami, which is why it felt similar to snorkeling in Key Largo, just minus the underwater Jesus statue.

Wildlife Watching

Spotting wildlife is a popular activity at Dry Tortugas. In addition to snorkeling, some people come just to spot birds! I met a couple of ladies who were bird watchers and excited to spot birds stopping here in the middle of their migration.

Of course, I ended up spotting a bird while walking the top level of the fort, but they couldn’t identify it from the photo. However, it was gorgeous and no doubt looking for a meal when I spotted it.

Beach Time

There are two main beaches, a north and south, that most people will find a spot to relax. However, when I walked the top level of the fort, I noticed a whole section of beach as well.

The water is so gorgeous, so enjoying it from every angle whether on the fort, the beach, or in the ocean is a must in my opinion!

Photography

Dry Tortugas National Park is also great for photography enthusiasts. I saw several on the front of the ferry, so I know they probably enjoyed exploring and taking photos.

Lunch on the Ferry

Lunch is served from 11AM to 1PM on the ferry, but since we did the tour my friend and I ate toward the end of that time frame. Thankfully, there was plenty of food.

They served subs and you could choose turkey, roast beef or ham. The actual sub was basic with meat, lettuce and cheese, and then I grabbed some mayonnaise and mustard packets.

In addition, they had boxed cookies, chips, and veggies available. I grabbed some carrots and celery for my veggie starter (thank you, Glucose Revolution).

For drinks they had small water bottles, or various soda options. I grabbed two bottles for lunch and a couple more to take with me to the beach for later.

Overall, the lunch was decent and hit the spot! After 1PM, the ferry is closed and the crew has some safety checks and protocols to do so everyone and everything must be off the boat.

It’s also worth noting, if you have dietary restrictions you can inform the crew. There was an announcement made for this before we arrived to the island.

How Much Time You Actually Have on the Island

We were fully docked and able to walk onto the island around 10:30AM. By about 2:40PM we were asked to be back on the ferry for a 3PM departure, so in total we had about 4 hours on the island.

This time went by much faster than I expected! Here’s how I spent my 4 hours at Dry Tortugas National Park.

• 10:30AM – My friend and I dropped off our bags by the beach under some shade.
• 11:00AM – We met at the sign for the tour.
• 12:15PM – The extended tour ended.
• 12:25PM – Ate lunch on the ferry.
• 12:45PM – I walked around the fort and took more photos.
• 1:20PM – I headed back to the beach to snorkel.
• 2:35PM – Made it back on the ferry (and we were among the last based on how hard it was to find some seats).

You can spend your time however you please, so you certainly don’t need an itinerary like mine. If you wanted more time to snorkel, then do a self guided tour or just the 20-minute basic one.

Return Ferry Journey

This Dry Tortugas day trip is almost over, but we still have a 2.5-hour return. Since the anticipation has worn off and we’re all tired from the sun and sea, the return felt longer.

I had run out of battery on my Insta360 and couldn’t believe I left my extra battery at the hotel. My phone was also quickly losing battery, but I ended up looking at photos for a decent portion of the return.

My friend and I also bought some food and drinks from the concessions stand, but overall we were tired and quieter on the ride back.

The tour did make rounds asking for comment cards, which I just never ended up doing. I somehow missed the first announcement and then thought I was too late. However, they did a raffle based on the comment cards, so don’t skip it!

I do wish I had a deck of cards or something. The return leg is definitely what you want to think about when packing for your day trip to Dry Tortugas! Or at least that’s where I failed.

Is the Dry Tortugas Day Trip Worth It?

Overall, I had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend a day trip to Dry Tortugas National Park.

My experience on the Yankee Freedom Ferry was great! The ferry is a good size, has concessions, restrooms and plenty of shade or air conditioning. It was a comfortable journey and since you’re on a boat for 5 hours, that’s important!

This national park was worth the journey in my opinion, but you can choose the method of transport that you prefer!

Sea Plane vs Ferry vs Private Boat

A sea plane would be the fastest option and if you only want a half day trip to Dry Tortugas, that’s the way to go.

Private boats are an option also, but I would just ensure they are comfortable enough for 140-mile round trip journey! For that long of a journey, the ferry may be more comfortable than a small boat, but of course, you have to share the experience with a lot more people.

I did have a man ask me how the ferry experience was since he had to book a smaller tour. He said he was too late in booking the ferry, and I told him we had a good experience. However, even if you choose the smaller tour, it looks like you can join the guided tour once on the island.

Note about restrooms: I wondered about the bathroom situation for other tours and campers, since we were told there are no bathrooms on the island. Well, I read that all people are asked to use the ferry restrooms when it’s docked at Dry Tortugas, though there are composting toilets on the island.

So if you do find the ferry sold out for your intended dates, there are other options you can book! Just consider the comfort level of the boat and if nothing else go with the sea plane option.

Who should choose the seaplane: 

• People with limited time
• Those prone to severe seasickness
• Travelers who want the aerial experience

Who should choose the ferry: 

• People who want food concessions and bathrooms
• Those who want air conditioning and tables available
• Anyone who prefers a larger boat experience

Who should choose a private boat or smaller boat tour:

• People who want a smaller group or private experience
• Those who can’t or don’t want to take a sea plane or the ferry on their chosen dates.

What to Bring on the Ferry Day Trip

I packed fairly well for this day trip, but there are a few things I forgot or failed to consider. The what to bring list on the official Dry Tortugas website is a good place to start, but I do think it’s lacking a bit.

I should have brought extra battery for my camera and phone! While it lasted most of the day, by the time we got back on land, both my friend and my phone were out of battery. Thankfully the hotel shuttle meeting point wasn’t a far walk from the ferry port, but with our dead phones we couldn’t order an uber if we wanted.

I also wish I had thought more about the ferry ride and what to do. I can’t remember if I brought a book, but a deck of cards would have been perfect!

Here’s my suggested list for what to bring on your Dry Tortugas day trip:

• Swimsuit
• Change of clothes
• Camera
• Portable charger
• Sunscreen that is reef safe
• Chapstick
• Hat and sunglasses
• Beach Towel
• Cash (for the gift shop) and credit card for the concession stand on the ferry
• Comfortable shoes (for me Havaianas are comfortable, but whatever is good for walking the fort for you should be brought or worn)
• Beach bag, backpack or dry bag for all your stuff
• Book, games, coloring books, or a deck of cards for the ferry
• Optional: Binoculars
• Optional: Your own snorkel gear
• National Park Pass if you have one and bought the ticket as if you do

Best Time to Visit Dry Tortugas

Winter months (December through April) are the most popular for visiting the Florida Keys in general. You’ll enjoy pleasant temperatures and it’s outside of hurricane season.

Summer months (May through November) actually offer some advantages for Dry Tortugas. The water is warmer and since there is usually less wind, snorkeling visibility is often at its best. However, summer does come with two important considerations: extreme heat and hurricane season (officially June 1 through November 30, with August and September being peak months).

I visited at the end of April and had wonderful conditions. There were calm seas, beautiful sunshine, and comfortable temperatures. The ferry was mostly full, so booking well in advance is important year-round.

My advice: Choose your dates based on your schedule and budget. Just remember that ocean conditions can change daily no matter when you visit, so if you’re prone to seasickness, come prepared regardless of the season!

Final Thoughts on the Dry Tortugas Day Trip

I had been wanting to visit Dry Tortugas National Park for a while, and I’m so glad I did! Spending a weekend in Key West was a perfect little getaway from Central Florida and this was definitely the highlight for me!

While the ferry isn’t the only option for a Dry Tortugas day trip, I enjoyed the experience overall and would recommend it! Just be sure to have things to do, especially for the return ride when you’re tired and the anticipation isn’t there any longer.

I hope you have an amazing time exploring Dry Tortugas National Park!