There are also private charters that can take you to the Dry Tortugas. In my personal humble opinion Dry Tortugas by seaplane (or charter - whatever gets you there without the ferry crowd) is a bucket list item . 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. I normally dont so I didnt. more. It was worth every dollar! Bryanna has been full time RVing with her husband and 4 kids since May 2014. Take the official Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry, the Yankee Freedom, to visit Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National park. Great write up and pics. There are two ways to get here: by boat or by seaplane. Yankee Freedom III, LLC is authorized by the NPS and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. No Hidden Fees. Top Dry Tortugas fishing charters in 2023, from $100 p/p. This site uses cookies. They are located 70 miles west of Key West. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. And remember about the cost of the seaplane. And while you're heading down there/back up, try to do the Everglades too! Below we shared tips on visiting the Dry Tortugas, Florida and what to expect when you visit. Theodore, The wait list opens at 6:30AM and people are sometimes there as early as 6AM forming a line to get on the list. Youll hear captivating stories about the fort, its remarkable history and its surroundings. The cost was about $165 per person ($15 cheaper with a National Park Pass). If you can, try to do Dry Tortugas but that's a whole day while you're down there. Entry to the national park costs $15 and this is included in the price of the Dry Tortugas National Park ferry. All rights reserved. It was enough time to walk around and explore the island. We got amazing pictures when we were there and we kept telling ourselves to put the camera away. use of snorkeling gear. - See 2,588 traveler reviews, 2,466 candid photos, and great deals for Key West, FL, at Tripadvisor. Key West Seaplane Charters Morning, Afternoon or Full Day Tours to the park on a seaplane The Yankee Freedom Ferry Take a high-speed catamaran for day and camping trips. Drive, walk or ride your bicycle aboard one of our three ferries. Snorkeling and Diving In other words, you must bring everything (water included) with you. Yankee Freedom Dry tortugas national park ferry, Comfortable seats, three large restrooms and fresh water rinse showers, A full galley where you can purchase snacks, drinks and souvenirs, Upper deck open to the sea-air and sights and sounds of marine life, Spacious shaded and un-shaded sundeck seating, Entrance fee to Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson, Fully narrated 45-minute tour of the fort, Beach walking, snorkeling, swimming, or just relaxing in the sun. The flight is awesome, getting into the park early is nice perk, and having a full afternoon in Key West after this excursion is also a big advantage. Amazing! Report inappropriate content jordansbulls Houston, Texas Level Contributor 54,064 posts 840 reviews 257 helpful votes 5. The snorkeling is actually better at the reef. The Dry Tortugas, 70 miles west of Key West, can only be reached by ferry or seaplane, making it perhaps the hardest to reach of all national parks. Yankee Freedom: Wow! They have snorkel equipment that you can use while you are there. Below I list more advantages and disadvantages for each mode of transportation. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. 1 / 9. We use cookies to give you the best experience. Dry Tortugas National Park: Nice trip! A: Camping reservations must be made over the phone by calling 305-294-7009. However, that will be more $ than buying every seat on the seaplane. Lea AFTER BOOKING PLEASE CALL TO CONFIRM RESERVATION (305) 222-1199. Privacy PolicyThis website meets WCAG 2.0/2.1 AA standards set by the ADA. 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. This is paradise! Located 70 miles off the coast of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most unique destinations in the entire U.S., as it combines history and a pristine marine ecosystem into one unforgettable experience. Our website uses cookies. However, 6.5 hours is a long time to spend here. The boat leaves at about 2:45pm so you only have about 4 hours to explore. We (2 couples) will be in Key West in March. Going by ferry turns your visit into a full day experience and most of that will be spent on board the ferry. Another side note on the Fort, when it was used as a prison during the civil war, Dr. Samuel Mudd, an American physician was imprisoned at the fort on the Dry Tortugas for conspiring with John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The half-day excursion for four hours from Seaplane Adventures costs between $250 and $400 per person, while the full-day excursion for eight hours costs between $515 and $650 per person. The way nature intended it to be. PRO TRAVEL TIP: The seaplane carries 10 people, and two seaplanes travel together. | Click to Chat. This will be collected by Park Rangers during your stay. Yankee Freedom Ferry Details Phone Number: 800-634-0939 Cost: Day trips to Dry Tortugas are $180 per adult. However, space is very limited. All schedules are subject to change. I would not bother. The plane flies low, so you can also see nurse sharks and sea turtles in the water (yes, the water is that clear! This secluded park is located about 70 miles from Key West, and it definitely deserves a spot as one of the best places to . Fastest way to and from Dry Tortugas National Park, Can visit the Dry Tortugas with low crowds before the ferry arrives or late in the date once the ferry departs, The full day tour seems a little too long, Cant bring camping gear or scuba equipment, 4.5 hours on the Dry Tortugas, a nice amount of time on the islands, Can bring camping gear, scuba equipment, and kayaks, More crowded experience on the Dry Tortugas, Private tour of Dry Tortugas National Park. Come to the Florida Keys and visit Fort Jefferson today! 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. The huge majority of the 65,000 people who visit each year come on the 150-passenger Yankee Freedom Ferry, and despite the $190/person cost, this is the most affordable method of travel. Florida, USA. The ferry arrived at 10:20, and it got a lot more crowded. People do sometimes miss (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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. You can only get to Dry Tortugas National Park by boat or by seaplane and these all leave from Key West, Florida. Dry Tortugas National Park Florida Info Alerts Maps Calendar Fees NPS.gov Park Home Plan Your Visit Directions & Transportation Directions Last updated: May 5, 2021 Was this page helpful? This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. You will fly over the keys and the Marquesas Islands and get to see both Key West and Dry Tortugas National Park from the sky. If you want a day trip you can book a ferry to Bimini or Grand Bahamas from Ft Lauderdale and come back the same day. 5 What to pack when taking the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park. 2. DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Grand Key - Key West. Before your visit, you will need to get a permit. Day Trip: $190 (includes $15 National Park Entry Fee) Overnight: $210 (does NOT include $15-$30 campsite fee) Parking at Ferry Terminal: $32 per day. guided tour of the fort. Things to know before your visit National Park Entrance Fee $15.00 per person ages 16+ and is good for 7 consecutive days - Ferry tickets include the cost of entrance to the park, but camping fees . It's just not the same experience at all . Cannot wait to do it again!!! Reservations on the ferry are limited and sell out 9-12 months in advance so please plan ahead! Even if you have never taken or needed Dramamine before bring some with you just in case. ; The Seaplane charges park entrance fee upon check-in. Photos from the Flight to Dry Tortugas National Park. See here for other Florida beaches you have never heard of. There will be a signup sheet on a clipboard at the electric car rental desk under the Ferry Terminal. If you take the ferry over, you can camp on the island. It looks absolutely amazing. If you have your own boat, you can visit Dry Tortugas National Park without taking the ferry or seaplane. Im sure some people have gotten on, but with the no cancellation refund policy it has become very unusual for someone to not show up. The best flights are the first and last flights of the day, when you will visit the park with fewer people. The ferry is sold out for our dates that we are in town and the sea (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 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. This high speed, state of the art catamaran is the perfect way to sail across the 70-mile run to the Dry Tortugas. The rainiest months are June, July, August . All prices are in USD. We did the half day trip by seaplane. Tip 3: Be sure to walk around the tip of the peninsula. Cost: $200 per adult, $145 for children 4 to 16, $190 for students, seniors, and active military National Park Fee: Included in the ferry ticket price Camping trips: If you plan to camp, the fee is $220 Length of Time: 10.5 hours (4.5 hours at the Dry Tortugas, 5 hours cruising time, 1 hour for check-in and boarding in Key West). Check-in cutoff is at 7:50am and if there are spaces available you will be accommodated in the order you lined up. Showing up at 7:30 is not likely to work. Alternatively, you may use, DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Grand Key - Key West. ), underwater sand dunes, reefs, shipwrecks, and the keys. The shallow waters (5-15 feet) make snorkeling at the Dry Tortugas fun for everyone. I just checked the seaplane's web page and ithe entrance fee is now $15.00 pp payable only in cash. You can check out their blog post about it here. Yankee Freedom Dry tortugas national park ferry, https://www.drytortugas.com/rates-reservations/. At the galley, you can purchase alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, ice cream, and snacks. The Yankee Freedom Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry departs daily from Key West, promptly at 8am. Return Departure 3:00pm. 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. We took the ferry over. There are 3 of us who would need tickets. There are a handful of maintenance workers and park rangers that actually live inthe fort at the Dry Tortugas. 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. There will be cancelations but how many it is not clear this far out. It was crazy! During your voyage, youll enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Marquesa Islands, Boca Grande. The seaplane can sell out months in advance. Saint Augustine is pretty cool too- a national park/iconic . 4-12 hour fishing trips for family and friends. A breakfast snack, boxed lunch, and snorkeling equipment are included with the fee. beer and wine available . If you want more info. Like full on alive conch shells. Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson Ferry Service. Have you ever wanted to visit the Dry Tortugas National Park in the Keys? Unfortunately, I was an idiot and didn't book reservations for the ferry to Dry Tortugas early enough. The ferry is the more economical way to the island, but it still has its pros and cons! 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. We especially liked the view of the beach where we had found the conch shells. I don't know what their availability is in April but I just recently booked for May and they have quite a few openings. Join. Take your comfortable seat and enjoy the relaxing ride to the Dry Tortugas National Park Fort Jefferson, just 70 miles west of Key West. The 2.5-hour ferry ride is a magical trip over turquoise waters, and leaves you about . 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. The trip was about 2.5 hours each way. Plus, if you go camping then it is totally worth the boat ride. View our ADA Accessibility Policy. The ferry departs at 8:00 am and it takes 2.5 hours to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. from my point of view don't hesitate to send me a pm. Yankee Freedom Ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park Experience a journey like no other aboard the Yankee Freedom. My wife and I are from Northwest FL and are finally making it down to the keys for our anniversary. The seaplane to Dry Tortugas will charge entrance fees to park upon arrival. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112876696', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');plane. Cost. All rights reserved. Camping is completely sold out through April 2021. The Yankee Freedom III. Totally worth it. Check out my recent review of the ferry ride titled "A must do for local history & day trip seekers". Key West Seaplane Adventures provides snorkel gear and coolers with ice and water or soft drinks. Terms and conditions subject to change without notice. Personally, I would save your money and spend it on a couple other water excursions like a snorkel trip to the reef or a sunset sail. The dates below are scheduled maintenance days when the ferry will not be running: Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson Ferry Service. There is no other way to do it. Flickr Matthew Dillon. The ride can be very choppy so if you are prone to motion sickness this may not be the best way to . Getting to the Dry Tortugas by Ferry The Yankee Freedom is the ferry that connects Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. After pulling in we grabbed a quick lunch on the boat and then headed out to start exploring! If you love Key West snorkeling, then Dry Tortugas National Park offers some of the best snorkeling and skin diving in North America, just 70 miles from Key West and the Florida Keys. Book the first flight of the day. A: Camping reservations must be made over the phone by calling 305-294-7009. Shipwrecks and Treasure But we had to get on the boat to head back. We've done it twice, I loved it so much the first time I couldn't wait to do it again. 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. 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. 17 Exciting Things To Do In St. Augustine With Kids, 24 Amazing Tips for Universal Volcano Bay [Must Read! Dry Tortugas National Park is only accessible by boat or by seaplane. The Dry Tortugas are home to some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Florida. Plan a full day for your visit, and be prepared to spend the day in awe of the natural beauty of the park. 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. DRY TORTUGAS: If Dry Tortugas National Park is on your to-do list, dont miss our guide to the Best Things to do at Dry Tortugas National Park. A: You can check day trip and camping availability online. Please note that the National Park Service does not keep a . Private boat owners in Key West rent their boats to people who want a boat to explore the Keys through Boatsetter. Copyright 2023 Yankee Freedom III, LLC. About Port Jefferson Ferry: Port Jefferson Ferry. Copyright 2023 Yankee Freedom III, LLC. Before we left we walked over to check out the tent camping area and the other beach area where people were snorkeling. We will be back and when we do go back we will definitely plan on camping for 3 nights! When you take the ferry to the Dry Tortugas, you get to the island at about 10:30am. - See 5,527 traveler reviews, 4,181 candid photos, and great deals for Key West, FL, at Tripadvisor. Going by ferry turns your visit into a full day experience and most of that will be spent on board the ferry. Due to the no refunds cancellation policy of the ferry, it's pretty unusual for people to not show up for reservations. Content from this Website may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced or used without written permission! RESERVE EARLY! We did not bring the kids with us this time since we didnt think they would enjoy being a boat for 2 1/2 hours there and 2 1/2 back all in one day. The journey takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. If you just look at cost, the private charter is the most expensive option. You can also go on a 45 minute narrated tour of the fort. Then you may have to arrive very early the morning of to grab any possible seats that are canceled at the last minute. //
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