Tips for Visiting Dry Tortugas National Park with Kids
If you are visiting the Florida Keys, consider adding a Dry Tortugas National Park day trip to your itinerary!
When I was pregnant with my oldest child, I bought a book at a garage sale with a list of all the National Parks in the United States, and I dreamed of someday visiting all of them with my future children. This past year we were able to check 3 off our bucket list: Smoky Mountain National Park in Gatlinburg, Sequoia National Park in California, and finally Dry Tortugas National Park off the coast of the Florida Keys.
Dry Tortugas is one of the most remote National Parks in the United States, and it does require some planning, time, and money to get there. The only way to access this park is by ferry, seaplane, or private boat, and the trip by boat takes over two hours from Key West.
This isn’t just a “let’s swing by that National Park since we’re nearby” kind of trip. It requires advanced reservations, specific packing, and being intentional about your plans.
Having said that, don’t be discouraged from visiting with young children. It can be done! During our trip to the Florida Keys, we went with a 1-, 3-, and 5-year-old, and it was honestly the experience of a lifetime.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone with babies, toddlers, and young children, as long as they know what to expect. All travel with kids requires some level of planning, so why not try something adventurous and unique?
Here are my top tips for taking a Dry Tortugas Day Trip!
Disclosure: I reached out to the Yankee Freedom III - the official Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry, which is part of the Historic Tours of America, and received free tickets for my husband and me in exchange for coverage in TravelPulse and on my blog. We did pay for our oldest, and the younger two boys were free due to age. All opinions are my own.
Also: This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you use the links provided I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What is Dry Tortugas National Park?
Dry Tortugas is a remote island run by the National Park Service in the Gulf of Mexico that is 100 square miles and made up of small islands and open water.
It was established as a national park in 1935 to protect the island, marine life, and shipwrecks in the area.
Garden Key is the 2nd largest island and the home of historic Fort Jefferson. The ferry will take visitors directly to Garden Key, so this is where most people spend their time at Dry Tortugas.
On Garden Key, you can swim, snorkel, tour the fort, go fishing, and even camp overnight.
Loggerhead Key is the largest island, but there is no public transportation to Loggerhead. You can only reach it by private boat, kayak, or canoe.
Getting There
Dry Tortugas National Park is located about 70 miles off the west coast of Key West and is one of the most remote national parks in the United States.
Due to its remote location, there are only a few ways to get there.
1. By Ferry: You can take the Yankee Freedom Ferry from Key West. The Yankee Freedom is a high-speed catamaran with an upper and lower deck, a cocktail bar, a breakfast buffet, an air-conditioned cabin, comfortable seating, and more. Reserve your tickets as soon as possible, as the Dry Tortugas ferry sells out weeks in advance. The ferry takes 2 and a half hours to read Dry Tortugas, departing at 8 a.m. and returning at 5:30 p.m. You will have just over 4 hours to spend on the island.
2. By Seaplane: You can book a seaplane through Key West Seaplane Adventures. You'll have the choice between a half-day tour (4 hours) and a full-day tour (8 hours). The seaplane is much quicker than the ferry, but also much more expensive. Travel time is 40 minutes each way, and you'll get to enjoy amazing views from the small seaplane.
3. By Boat: Visitors can take their own boat to Dry Tortugas, which would be the best option for exploring more of the small islands. Boat permits are required. Read here for more information.
My husband, the hero, holding all of our gear for the Dry Tortugas and holding a sleeping baby.
Taking the Yankee Freedom III
Getting Tickets
It's important to book your ferry tickets as far in advance as possible. There are a limited number of seats each day, and the trip often sells out.
We booked about a month in advance, and our friends tried to book only a couple of days later, only to find out the tickets were sold out. They ended up showing up at the boat, waiting to see if there were any cancellations and were able to board at the last minute. We were VERY relieved that they were able to come, too, since the trip wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun without them!
If you can, book at least 2-3 months in advance to avoid this!
Ticket Prices:
Adults: $180
Kids (4-16): $125
Students (17+ w/ID): $170
Kids 3 and under: FREE
BOOK HERE
Parking, and Queuing Up
Check-in is at 7:00 a.m., and boarding is at 7:30. Do not wait until the last minute, or they will give your seat away if someone is waiting like our friends were.
Plan to get to the parking garage at 6:45 just to be safe. It’s only about a block away from the boarding place, but just give yourself plenty of time to find a parking spot, pay, and walk over.
The Yankee Freedom III departs from the Historic Seaport out of the Key West Ferry Terminal. You can park a block away at the City Parking Garage. Find more information about parking and directions here.
Once you check in, there’s a waiting lounge inside where you can sit and relax or let your kids get their wiggles out for the last time before being trapped on a boat for two hours. They will call numbers in groups (you’ll receive your number when you check in), and you’ll board when your numbers are called.
On the Boat
Once you board, I recommend finding a table inside in case the weather gets rainy or your kids don’t like the wind. You can always wander out to the deck once your seats are saved to enjoy the fresh air and views.
Upon boarding, you’ll find a continental breakfast buffet set up, which is included in the cost of the ticket. It’s mostly bagels, cereal, fruit, cheese, and juice. It’s a nice little spread, but our kids were still hungry shortly after.
This is where the soft-sided cooler with snacks comes in. We brought protein bars, granola bars, apple slices, PB&Js, fruit pouches, and other snack foods like crackers. Don’t worry, parents! There is coffee onboard the ship, too!
Once the boat gets moving, you’re free to relax and enjoy yourself (as much as you can with little ones). We made our kids color first, then finally gave in when they got bored of that and let them watch a movie on their tablets.
They were also playing a movie or show on the TVs on board the boat, but it was hard to hear and the kids weren’t interested in the movie they were playing.
Make sure to pay attention to the announcements! When you’re on the boat you’ll have a chance to sign a waiver for snorkeling, and you can’t use the complimentary snorkel gear at the park unless you’ve signed the waiver.
We filled out waivers for our kids, too, since we weren’t sure if they would want to. Better safe than sorry!
The only thing our active toddler wanted to do was be outside on the deck feeling the wind in his wispy little hair. We didn’t let him walk around on the deck, so my husband or I held him and stood far away from the side of the boat. (If our toddler weren’t such a rebel, I would have brought the Lillebaby. (Definitely bring a baby carrier if you have a baby or toddler who will actually use it).
He seemed very relaxed even though the wind was kind of aggressive and made your eyes water. But the view! The views were so beautiful, and there was no cooler feeling than watching the ocean and marine life pass by.
You depart at 8 and will arrive around 10:15 and are free to start exploring on your own! Just realize that (free) lunch is served on the boat at 11 if you want to go back on the ferry and eat.
We didn’t want to waste a single moment, so we just ended up eating our PB&Js and apples as a picnic lunch on the beach.
At Dry Tortugas National Park
You have just under 5 hours to enjoy the park, so make sure you have a plan for what you’d like to prioritize while you’re there.
Moat Wall
We started by walking the moat wall. It’s very wide, and the water isn’t very deep around the wall, so I didn’t mind letting my 3- and 5-year-olds walk by themselves. We definitely carried the toddler, though!
This is a great spot to get some stunning photographs, both of the scenery and your family standing on the wall.
Beach and Snorkeling
Next, we walked all around the outside of the fort in search of the best beaches. At first, we tried a secluded area away from the rest of the group but realized no one else was there for a reason. The water was a bit choppy and murky and there was a big drop-off.
We decided to set up camp on the sandy area behind some trees between the moat wall and the boat. A lot of other people ended up there, too, but we didn’t mind! It never got too crowded, and the water was much calmer and clearer on that side.
At this point, we took turns snorkeling and watching the kids. First, the moms went snorkeling along the moat wall while the dads watched the kids, and then we switched.
The moat wall has some great snorkeling, but I’ve heard the best is straight out from the middle of the moat wall. I am not a strong snorkeler (for some reason breathing through a tube freaks me out) so we stayed close to the wall.
The kids decided they didn’t want to snorkel, but did love using their goggles to look for fish underwater. Just know that even little kids have the option of using the snorkel gear!
Dry Tortugas is home to colorful coral reefs and sea life, and it's one of the best places to snorkel in the United States! Thanks to the clear water and ubiquitous tropical fish, snorkeling is one of the best things to do during your visit to Dry Tortugas!
Fort Jefferson
While the husbands were snorkeling, we took the kids inside Fort Jefferson and did a self-guided tour of the fort.
You can sign up for the guided tour with park rangers while aboard the Yankee Freedom, but we opted out since we had several babies and toddlers in our group.
The Fort is really cool, and if you get a chance to read all the signs you’ll be amazed to find out that the island was used to house prisoners during the Civil War. The most famous prisoner was Dr. Samuel Mudd who set the broken leg of John Wilkes Booth!
After everyone was done snorkeling and touring the Fort, and we were back to relaxing on the beach, I decided I wanted to walk up to the roof of the Fort, and took my 5-year-old with me. I wouldn’t bring small children up there, since there are no guardrails, but if you can split up and take slightly older kids, then DO IT. The view is breathtaking, and you’ll get some great photos.
Visitor Center
Don’t forget to stop at the Visitors Center. If you have kids they can participate in the Junior Ranger program. You can pick up a booklet at the start of your visit, and kids can fil out the activities, then turn it in for an official Dry Tortugas Junior Ranger badge.
Wildlife Viewing
If you visit Dry Tortugas in spring or fall you may get the chance to see the migration of birds to and from North and South America. Spring is the best time to visit for bird migration. You may even get to see the sooty terns or frigate birds. Dry Tortugas is the only place in the United States where these birds nest.
Sea turtles are also commonly found around Dry Tortugas. In fact, the original Spanish name for the island was "Las Tortugas."
Underwater you can also keep an eye out for Goliath grouper, octopus, squid, lobster, and tropical reef fish.
Return Trip
You’ll be surprised at how quickly 5 hours go by, so be sure to do your research and prioritize what you want to spend the majority of your time doing.
By the time you board the boat to return to Key West, your little ones are hopefully exhausted from playing in the sun, splashing in the ocean, and hiking around the island. Ideally, they’ll fall asleep on the way back and you’ll be able to purchase an adult beverage to sip while they sleep and enjoy the ferry ride.
You’ll be back to Key West by around 5 p.m., so you still might make the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, or have time to go out for a nice dinner to recap the day. With our little ones, we decided the easiest thing to do would be to head back to our vacation rental (we used Vacasa) and just make some tacos for dinner. Everyone was definitely ready for an early bedtime that night after a full day of exploring.
If you’re planning to head to Key West, I hope you get the chance to add Dry Tortugas National Park to your itinerary no matter what age your kids are. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget.
Visiting Dry Tortugas with Babies and Toddlers
As you can see, one of the benefits of doing Dry Tortugas with babies and toddlers is that they are FREE! Kids 3 and under ride the ferry for free, while kids 2 and under can ride the seaplane for free.
Visiting this remote island with babies and toddlers requires more planning and packing, but it's full of sand, water, and wildlife, and there's no better place to enjoy nature with little ones.
What to Pack
What should you bring for a trip to the Dry Tortugas? Of course, that’s personal preference, but I’ll share what we brought and found to be very helpful:
Badger Gear Bottomless Backpack to carry everything AND our kids
Life jackets (the water is pretty calm)
Baby pool float with canopy (we spent a lot of time in the water, and our hurricane of a one-year-old is never calmer than when he’s peacefully floating in the water. It worked for us, but might not for you.)
swimsuits and rash guards
swimsuit coverup
reef safe sunscreen
Goggles for the kids
dry clothes to change into
GoPro or other waterproof camera
DSLR
phone (just for pictures and video…you won’t have reception in the park or on the boat)
beach towels
flip flops
snacks in a small soft-sided cooler
water bottles
hats
sunglasses
ID and money (cash or card). I kept mine in this tiny crossbody bag so I could stash it in the backpack once we arrived.
plastic bag or wet bag for wet clothes and swimsuits
entertainment for on the boat - highly recommend Crayola Color Wonder markers and coloring books and some sort of tablet and headphones with pre-downloaded movies
pain reliever (in case of headaches)
Dramamine and Kid’s Dramamine for seasickness. We are not necessarily prone to motion sickness, but I brought some along because I did NOT want our day ruined by nausea. They sell some on the boat, too, but probably not the Kids Dramamine.
Related: Complete Guide to Organized Packing for Travel with Kids
Full Itinerary for a Florida Keys Road Trip with Kids
After 2 trips to the Florida Keys with kids, I've come up with our perfect Florida Keys road trip itinerary for families. There are so many places to explore and family-friendly activities in the keys, that even after 2 trips I feel like we've barely scratched the surface!
I also have a guide to visiting Key West with kids. Key West often gets a bad rap for being a party destination, but we have not found that to be the case. We even visited during spring break and found it to be fairly quiet and calm.
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Emily Krause is a Wisconsin-based travel blogger who writes about exploring the world with kids. On A Mom Explores you’ll find best family travel destinations, Disney World tips, and how to make travel with babies and toddlers a little easier.
Emily believes that exploring starts in our own backyards, and adventure can happen anywhere with the right mindset.
Read more about our family and how we got started in the world of travel blogging here!
