Shipwrecks and Treasure Below I list more advantages and disadvantages for each mode of transportation. Ticket includes entrance fee to Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson. A: We do not have a waiting list. We do not keep a waiting list and will not call you in case of cancellations. During the cruise from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park, you will get to see the Marquesas Islands and lots of sea turtles during the voyage. 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. Take the Ferry to Dry Tortugas The best way for most park visitors to get to Dry Tortugas is by charter boat on the Yankee Freedom iii. The boat ride for us was very rocky on the way there and not quite as bad on the way back but I wouldnt call it smooth. We had to capture it to share with you guys! We took the ferry over. Seaplanes run about $356 per person for a half-day trip. I normally dont so I didnt. 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. Are you ready to book your ticket to the Dry Tortugas? A ferry ride to Dry Tortugas National Park An optional guided tour of historic Fort Jefferson Complimentary breakfast and picnic lunch Sanitized snorkeling gear Plenty of free time for swimming, snorkeling, bird spotting, photography, and exploring the island . Camping at Fort Jefferson is PRIMITIVE CAMPING! Learn about the special connection between the most remote US Fort built by Thomas Jeffereson and Dr. Samuel Mudd, an alleged conspirator of the Lincoln assassination. Before we left we walked over to check out the tent camping area and the other beach area where people were snorkeling. Click the button below to add the Dry Tortugas Ferry to your wish list. Flickr Matthew Dillon. Also note check in time is currently 7am (always validate this when you book in case it changes) and the boat departs at 7:30am. A breakfast snack, boxed lunch, and snorkeling equipment are included with the fee. Dry Tortugas National Park is located 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, and is accessible by boat and seaplane only. Top Dry Tortugas fishing charters in 2023, from $100 p/p. It gave us plenty of time to walk around the island and explore but when we had to leave we were not ready to go!! The ferry departs at 8:00 am and it takes 2.5 hours to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. A: You can check day trip and camping availability online. The only ferry authorized to enter the water in Dry Tortugas National Park is the Yankee Freedom. If we were going to camp, we would have brought the kids with and dealt with the 2 1/2 hour boat ride. We arrived just past 8:30 and for almost two hours, it was just us, the other 18 people from the two seaplane flights, a few campers, and some park rangers. Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. The soft sand in our toes, the teal water, and the ocean breeze. The Yankee Freedom ferry (The Yankee Freedom III) leaves Key West at 8 am. If you return you'll know to book early. The boat leaves at 2:45pm so you only have about 4 hours to explore. Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson Ferry Service. 1. r/nationalparks. TRAVEL 70 MILES WEST OF KEY WEST TO THE DRY TORTUGAS, SLEEP UNDER THE STARS ON AN ISLAND 70 MILES FROM CIVILIZATION, SLEEP UNDER THE STARS AND HAVE A KAYAK ADVENTURE. Powered by Mai Theme, 12 Best Things To Do In Crystal River FL You Shouldnt Miss. Before your visit, you will need to get a permit. You do need to book your trip in advance, providing names of the passengers, so planning a trip out to the islands is required. It was crazy! 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. Thankfully the National Park limits visitors to 175 people, so there is only one ferry. Next we headed to the top and walked around the edge of the fort and the views just kept getting better and better. 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. We promise to never spam you, and just use your email address to identify you as a valid customer. It's the stuff that bucket lists are made of. You can click here to learn more about the prices and availability for camping on the island. At the Dry Tortugas, they focus on preserving the original look of the fort so there are no railings anywhere so you can literally go to the edge which gives you amazing views. To see the National Park Services requirements for using kayaks in the park, click here. 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. Click to Chat. At that point, we only had 30 minutes left on Dry Tortugas before flying back to Key West. You should dress warmly if you're doing a Hells Canyon jet boat anytime but summer, but dress in layers. 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. While the Dry Tortugas is a special trip and the Fort is unique, I think you would find a small charter out to the backcountry or snorkeling at the reef on a boat like Floridays just as enjoyable in its own way. Yankee Freedom III, LLC is authorized by the NPS and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. Has anyone ever had luck getting there at 6:00 and going standby? Nothing like fishing the crystal clear waters 5.0 / 5 . Since we just did a day visit, we thought it made more sense for Craig and I to go. However, the boat in the photo above looks very similar to the Yankee Freedom ferry. Line up in the order you arrive on the benches along the wall next to the front door of the Terminal. Breath-taking. It felt like we had the place to ourselves. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112874403', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane. Tip 3: Be sure to walk around the tip of the peninsula. 365 Days a Year. The (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Below we shared tips on visiting the Dry Tortugas, Florida and what to expect when you visit. Our website uses cookies. The minute we hit the open water it was rocky. I would start saving now! Cannot wait to do it again!!! Dry Tortugas National Park: Nice trip! The second-best option is to take the last flight of the day. What To Bring Valid Photo ID Required Sunscreen and Bathing suit Camera Check-in time is at 7 am (6:30 am for campers). Neither of these locations are close to Key West. and our Wonderful Transportation To Dry Tortugas NP Jul 2021 Solo I took the Yankee Freedom Ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park for the day from Key West. Here are some of the highlights of my countless trips to the three National Parks (Banff, Jasper and Yoho) in the Canadian Rockies. The seaplane is a great experience, but if its out of your budget, there are many other ways to enjoy the water here. ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. It looks absolutely amazing. You have to add the sales tax, the $10.00 pp entrance fee to the park, and will very likely need a cab both to and from the airport. The seaplane disadvantage is you only get about 2-1/2 hours on the island for the basic fare vs. about 4-1/2 hours with the ferry option. 4. Address. 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. [CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//forms.aweber.com/form/97/1032023597.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, "script", "aweber-wjs-9fl4orvz7")); // ]]> Craig and I got up at 4:30am in the morning so we could get ready and drive an hour to get to Key West to be there by 6:30 so we could park and get to the terminal. Due to the no refunds cancellation policy of the ferry, it's pretty unusual for people to not show up for reservations. 3.4 Camping on Garden Key. However, that will be more $ than buying every seat on the seaplane. Julie Last updated: January 31, 2023 United States 2 Comments. Campers should confirm their return dates at the time of ticket purchase and with the captain on the outbound trip. There will be a signup sheet on a clipboard at the electric car rental desk under the Ferry Terminal. If you normally do take it you should really consider taking it before you get on. Yankee Freedom Ferry Details Phone Number: 800-634-0939 Cost: Day trips to Dry Tortugas are $180 per adult. Departure 8:00 am. Tip 1: Plan to get to the boat terminal well before 7am just to be sure you arent late!! A: Camping reservations must be made over the phone by calling 305-294-7009. 7 - 10 Day Florida Keys Itinerary: Miami, Key West & the National Parks, 12 Best National Parks to Visit in January 2023 (USA), 18 Great Things to do in Key West, Florida. By noon, we were back in Key West and had all afternoon in town. Manage booking Connect Search MENU TICKETS Yankee Freedom - Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry 2068 reviews slideshow video Book this tour Overview Details Schedule ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-96972143', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane - once in a lifetime experience! Not sure what your budget is but you could always try the sea (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You have to go to the ferry in the morning when they open at 7AM and there is a wait list. No Key West beach trip is complete without visiting the best beach in the Florida Keys: Fort Jefferson Dry Tortugas National Park, located just 70 miles west of Key West. Getting to the Dry Tortugas by Ferry The Yankee Freedom is the ferry that connects Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. Magic Kingdom In One Day 11 Tips On How To Do It! Privacy PolicyThis website meets WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA standards set by the ADA. At the galley, you can purchase alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, ice cream, and snacks. The weather had been really rainy and windy so the ocean was NOT calm. Go to https://www.drytortugas.com/rates-reservations/ and click on the Book Now button. 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. It was so cool to see. Dry Tortugas National Park comprises a cluster of seven small islands, but most of the 100-square-mile park is water mesmerizingly blue, crystal-clear water worthy of your wildest tropical. Read all of our articles about Florida in our Florida Travel Guide and the United States in our United States Travel Guide. drinks on board. A: Camping reservations must be made over the phone by calling 305-294-7009. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. If you are looking for activities to do in the Florida Keys that are north of Key West check out: Turtle Hospital and Dolphins Plus. I think I remember reading that they changed their cancellation policy so this tends to happen less often nowadays. 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. They warn you to be very careful since the closest hospital is over 2 1/2 hours away! Since we didnt have the kids with us we figured we would take advantage of the fact that we could close our eyes and get some sleep! A sign-up sheet will be available at 6:30am. There are two options for most people getting to Dry Tortugas which is located 70 miles from the coast of Key West, Florida. The website does a great job explaining the things you should bring with if you plan to camp. UNESCO Listed: Park Of The 1976 UNESCO Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve Today it is a stunning paradise to explore. Are there any other options? guides and enjoy an array of activities. . Ticket includes entrance fee to Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson. ; The Seaplane charges park entrance fee upon check-in. There are only two ways to get to Dry Tortugas: boat or seaplane. If you have any questions about how to get to Dry Tortugas National Park, let us know in the comment section below. Camping is completely sold out through April 2021. Take a peek at Dry Tortugas National Park's Fort Jefferson on Google Maps, then click on the satellite feature and . Try and find a way to take the seaplane -it is a once in a lifetime trip IMO, Agree with Louise M .. the seaplane is much more than just transportation it is imperative to take the first (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Privacy PolicyThis website meets WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA standards set by the ADA. Must reschedule by 6:00pm Eastern TWO (2) DAYS prior to trip date by calling (305) 294-7009. Yankee Freedom Dry tortugas national park ferry, https://www.drytortugas.com/rates-reservations/. I was not disappointed. If you show your National Parks America the Beautiful Pass upon arrival, you will receive a refund for the entrance fee ($15 per person). Going by ferry turns your visit into a full day experience and most of that will be spent on board the ferry. This high speed, state of the art catamaran is the perfect way to sail across the 70-mile run to the Dry Tortugas. Then when you land in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? If my only option was a daytrip by ferry .. Private boat owners in Key West rent their boats to people who want a boat to explore the Keys through Boatsetter. It's the fastest security I've ever . Join. Drive, walk or ride your bicycle aboard one of our three ferries. While the Dry Tortugas is a special trip and the Fort is unique, I think you would find a small charter out to the backcountry or snorkeling at the reef on a boat like Floridays just as enjoyable in its own way. However, if you would like to standby for the trip to the Dry Tortugas in case there are no-shows, you must go to the Ferry Terminal (100 Grinnell St.) as EARLY as you can get there on the morning you would like to travel. Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson Ferry Service. Unfortunately, I was an idiot and didn't book reservations for the ferry to Dry Tortugas early enough. There is no other way to do it. It is usually booked months ahead of time!! *Prices from January 2021. We use cookies to give you the best experience. Get on the Yankee Freedom III ferry waiting list now. 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? //