Dry Tortugas Day Trip from Key West
Prices & schedules checked October 18, 2026
Almost 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is a cluster of seven islands, and it’s only reachable by boat or seaplane. Most visitors go for the day to Garden Key, home of 19th-century Fort Jefferson, with time to snorkel and swim. There are two ways to get there.
Option 1: the Yankee Freedom ferry
The National Park Service lists the Yankee Freedom as the park’s ferry concessioner, a high-speed catamaran that runs daily day trips from Key West. The NPS says day trips give you about 4.5 hours in the park.
| Step (operator schedule, October 18, 2026) | Time |
|---|---|
| Check in at the Key West ferry terminal | 7:00 a.m. |
| Boarding | 7:30 a.m. |
| Departure | 8:00 a.m. |
| Arrive at Fort Jefferson | 10:30 a.m. |
| Guided fort tour | 11:00 a.m. |
| Depart the park | 3:00 p.m. |
| Arrive back in Key West | 5:30 p.m. |
- Included (operator): the park entrance fee, a breakfast snack and box lunch, complimentary snorkeling equipment and the guided fort tour. The NPS describes the fort tour as a fully narrated 45-minute tour.
- Parking: the operator recommends the City Parking Garage on Grinnell Street, across from the ferry terminal ($40 a day when we checked); taxis can drop you at the terminal.
- Camping: campsites open six months in advance and campers pay a separate NPS campsite fee.
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Book early for winter dates. If Viator shows a date as sold out, check the operator’s own calendar too.
Option 2: seaplane
- Key West Seaplane Adventures offers a half-day trip of just under 4 hours with at least 2½ hours on the island, about 40 minutes’ flying each way, departing morning and afternoon. The NPS also lists an 8-hour full-day option with at least 6.5 hours on the island.
- Each plane carries 10 passengers plus the pilot, and reservations are required.
- Fees: the park entrance fee is not included; the NPS says the seaplane company collects it before departure (cash, card or a pre-purchased park pass). The operator charges $50 per passenger to cancel more than 48 hours ahead, gives no refund inside 48 hours, and asks you to check in 30 minutes before the flight.
Park entrance fee
The NPS entrance fee is $15 per person, good for 7 consecutive days. Visitors 15 and under don’t pay. America the Beautiful passes are accepted.
Our take
- Most time on the island: the ferry, with food, snorkel gear and the fort tour included.
- Short on time: the seaplane is faster (about 40 minutes each way); compare its rates page with the ferry’s.
Sources
- National Park Service — Dry Tortugas basic information (location, seven islands)
- National Park Service — Dry Tortugas fees ($15, 7 days, under-16 exemption, ferry vs seaplane fee rules)
- National Park Service — Getting to the park: ferry and seaplane (4.5 hours, 45-minute fort tour, seaplane options)
- Yankee Freedom — Day trip ferry tickets (schedule, inclusions)
- Yankee Freedom — FAQ (parking, camping)
- Key West Seaplane Adventures — Rates (trip length, check-in, cancellation)
- Viator — Dry Tortugas National Park Day Trip by Catamaran