Camping, trails, maps & photo credits — Dry Tortugas National Park
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.
Camping & reservations
The booking button opens the unit’s specific official camping and permit instructions. Read those instructions for first-come sites, group arrangements and any transport reservations.
Garden Key primitive campground ↗
Garden Key has primitive tent camping reached by boat. Regular campsites are first come, first served; ferry camping transport requires advance coordination and large groups use park reservations. Bring the supplies required by the official island-camping instructions.
Reservations: Follow current NPS camping and group-permit instructions.
Truck-camping & permitted overnight use
This island campground has no road access for trucks or RVs. Plan a tent-camping visit with approved boat transport; vehicles remain on the mainland.
Backcountry camping and vehicle camping require park-specific authorization; National Park Service land is not generally open to unrestricted roadside camping. Confirm designated sites, permits and food-storage rules with this unit.
Activities, hiking & trails
Astronomy, Stargazing, Boating. Official activities and trail-planning information ↗
NPS-listed recreation: Astronomy, Stargazing, Boating, Boat Tour, Camping, Fishing, Guided Tours, Hands-On, Volunteer Vacation, Paddling, Junior Ranger Program, SCUBA Diving, Snorkeling, Swimming, Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching, Shopping, Bookstore and Park Store.
Maps & road access
Use the official NPS directions and current alerts. Check vehicle restrictions and campground approach roads before traveling.
Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most remote parks in the National Park System. Located approximately 70 miles west of Key West it is accessible only by a daily concession ferry, private boats, charter boats, or seaplane. Official directions / site access ↗
Before you travel
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.
Source review: 2026-11-01. Conditions, fees, permits and availability can change. National Park Service official information ↗
Photograph sources & licensing
Banner: Loggerhead Key
The largest island in the Dry Tortugas, Loggerhead Key is a site of shipwrecks, a significant lighthouse installation, and where the historic Carnegie Laboratory for Marine Ecology once stood. Named for its abundance of loggerhead sea turtles,…
Credit: NPS Photo / Brandon Cintron Gerena. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Second large photograph: Night sky at the Dry Tortugas
The Dry Tortugas is so remote that night sky viewing is possible.
Credit: NPS Photo / Brett Seymour. Original source ↗ · Public domain — NPS-created federal work ↗. Resized and cropped to match the profile display framing; original image source linked.
Photographs are real images of the named unit; no AI-generated photographs are used. Federal photo credit register.