Perfect picture opportunity! Terms and conditions subject to change without notice. ), underwater sand dunes, reefs, shipwrecks, and the keys. If you just look at cost, the private charter is the most expensive option. Yankee Freedom III, LLC is authorized by the NPS and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. I couldn't find much recent information on this so hoping someone on here might have some current info. Take the official Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry, the Yankee Freedom, to visit Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National park. I was iffy upon seeing the initial cost but it looks phenomenal and highly likely Ill do it. Return Time 5:30. ed by the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. Departing from the Historic Seaport area of Key West each morning, it's quite the boat trip. They offer flights throughout the day, and you can choose between a half day visit and a full day visit. We use cookies to give you the best experience. Below I list more advantages and disadvantages for each mode of transportation. http://www.travelthruhistory.tv/explore-dry-tortugas-fort-jefferson-key-west-fl/ - Things to do in Key West, FL. 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. Camping is completely sold out through April 2021. Drive, walk or ride your bicycle aboard one of our three ferries. About Port Jefferson Ferry: Port Jefferson Ferry. Cost. Required fields are marked *. They are part of one of the longest coral reefs in the world. 17 Exciting Things To Do In St. Augustine With Kids, 24 Amazing Tips for Universal Volcano Bay [Must Read! Be the first to review this product! We do not keep a waiting list and will not call you in case of cancellations. Seats are very limited, so if this sounds like something you would like to do, book your tickets as soon as you know your dates of travel. Unfortunately, when we were there it was a little cooler and the water was really cloudy from all the storms. 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. Ticket includes entrance fee to Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson. The ferry arrived at 10:20, and it got a lot more crowded. Its crown jewel, the historic Fort Jefferson, was once used as a prison during the Civil War. People do sometimes miss (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The second-best option is to take the last flight of the day. Cost: $200 per adult, $145 for children 4 to 16, $190 for students, seniors, and active military Camping in the Dry Tortugas National Park is definitely an experience of a lifetime! My wife and I are from Northwest FL and are finally making it down to the keys for our anniversary. So, it costs an additional $186 for an adult to fly to Dry Tortugas National Park than to take the ferry. If you have any questions about how to get to Dry Tortugas National Park, let us know in the comment section below. The Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry is called theYankee Freedomiii. Then you may have to arrive very early the morning of to grab any possible seats that are canceled at the last minute. Going by ferry turns your visit into a full day experience and most of that will be spent on board the ferry. Fort Jefferson is the largest masonry structure in the western hemisphere consisting of more than 16 million bricks. Better early then late and missing the boat! There is also a big price difference between taking the seaplane flight and the Yankee Freedom Ferry. Now that would be amazing. Are there any other options? The snorkeling is actually better at the reef. - Key West Charter Boat Visit the Dry Tortugas on one of our amazing Key West to Dry Tortugas charters. Cost: $371 per adult, $296.80 for children 12 and under National Park Fee: $15 (this is in addition to the seaplane ticket price) Grand Total: $386 Length of Time: 4 hours total; 40-minute flight each way and 2.5 hours at Dry Tortugas National Park. Dry Tortugas National Park is located 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, and is accessible by boat and seaplane only. We headed for the moat wall. 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. You do have to pay for it and prices vary based on when you are going (but it isnt much more then the tickets to get there). View our ADA Accessibility Policy. The Yankee Freedom has resumed normal capacity daily scheduled service to the Dry Tortugas. Unfortunately, I was an idiot and didn't book reservations for the ferry to Dry Tortugas early enough. tour of the Fort Beach walking, snorkel, swim, or just relax in the sun No Hidden Fees. Next time we go back we also want to check out Loggerhead Key. Q: How do I make a camping reservation? The Yankee Freedom 3 is a large catamaran so this was not smooth sailing. 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. Both come with their advantages and disadvantages, and which one you choose depends on cost, how much time you have, if you plan to camp on Garden Key, and other factors such as seasickness. The boat leaves at about 2:45pm so you only have about 4 hours to explore. drinks on board. For day trips, adults should pay $190 while children will be charged $135 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. Yankee Freedom III, LLC is authorized by the NPS and the Department of the Interior to serve the public at Dry Tortugas National Park. Shipwrecks and Treasure There will be cancelations but how many it is not clear this far out. This group of islands are the last keys in the Florida Keys. After pulling in we grabbed a quick lunch on the boat and then headed out to start exploring! USA: (866) 575-5068. The 2.5-hour ferry ride is a magical trip over turquoise waters, and leaves you about . General availability can be checked by going to https://www.drytortugas.com/rates-reservations/ and clicking on the Book Now button. *The Park Service will collect a campsite fee of $15 to $30 per night based on the size of your party. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. After walking the moat we headed into the fort. Predominately open water, dotted with seven small islands, it's the very definition of secluded. But we had to get on the boat to head back. The Dry Tortugas are a group of small islands composed of coral reefs located in the Gulf of Mexico at the end of the Florida Keys, United States. There is no other way to do it. It is usually booked months ahead of time!! Yes No An official form of the United States government. The island is absolutely beautiful and so peaceful. And remember about the cost of the seaplane. Bryanna has been full time RVing with her husband and 4 kids since May 2014. Showing up at 7:30 is not likely to work. Breakfast Lunch. Content from this Website may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced or used without written permission! When we got to the end of the peninsula we started to see conch shells. News Release Date: October 9, 2022 Contact: Allyson Gantt, 786-610-8023 Contact: Mike Litterst, 202-306-4166 Key West, Fla. - Concession-operated ferry service to Dry Tortugas National Park will resume on Monday, October 10 after engineers inspected the storm-damaged dock on Garden Key and determined it is safe to partially reopen. All prices are in USD. 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. We hiked out on the beach peninsula area at the Dry Tortugas National Park and couldnt stop smiling. Copyright 2023 Yankee Freedom III, LLC. If you have your own boat, you can visit Dry Tortugas National Park without taking the ferry or seaplane. ; The Seaplane charges park entrance fee upon check-in. Reservations on the ferry are limited and sell out 9-12 months in advance so please plan ahead! When you arrive, you can tour, explore the fort, swim at one of the beaches, or climb the lighthouse! Cruise in spacious comfort to Fort Jefferson aboard the Official Dry Tortugas National Park Ferry - the Yankee Freedom. Key West Tourism Key West Hotels Key West Bed and Breakfast Key West Vacation Packages Flights to Key West Key West Restaurants Things to Do in Key West But you are on a 2 and a half hour boat ride there and back (its 70 miles off of Key West), plus they feed you breakfast and lunch. 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. The soft sand in our toes, the teal water, and the ocean breeze. Come to the Florida Keys and visit Fort Jefferson today! Report inappropriate content jordansbulls Houston, Texas Level Contributor 54,064 posts 840 reviews 257 helpful votes 5. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-112876149', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flights or plan poorly, but the odd are very poor. Not sure what your budget is but you could always try the sea (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Amazing! 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. You have to go to the ferry in the morning when they open at 7AM and there is a wait list. NATIONAL PARKS IN FLORIDA: Learn more about the national parks in Florida in our guides to the Evergladesand Biscayne National Park. Plus, if you go camping then it is totally worth the boat ride. Unfortunately, I was an idiot and didn't book reservations for the ferry to Dry Tortugas early enough. LEARN MORE Secluded Beaches Secluded Beaches A sign-up sheet will be available at 6:30am. Traveling by sea plane is the quickest way to get to Dry Tortugas National Park. To reserve, call Yankee Freedom's phone at 1-800-634-0939. For the last 6+ years they have explored all over North America and share their top tips on things to do in locations with kids, along with road trip ideas and tips on RVing. A high-speed catamaran, our vessel transports guests 70 miles from Key West to the Park. Click here to buy your tickets for the Dry Tortugas Below we shared tips on visiting the Dry Tortugas, Florida and what to expect when you visit. They warn you to be very careful since the closest hospital is over 2 1/2 hours away! If you take the seaplane, not only do you get to Dry Tortugas National Park quickly, and have the chance to arrive before the ferry, but the flight is incredibly scenic. We really enjoyed our time in the Dry Tortugas and wished we had more than two and a half hours. Its worth it, if you have that kind of money to spend, and if you want to take your time here. It was used as a prison during the Civil War. You can only get to Dry Tortugas National Park by boat or by seaplane and these all leave from Key West, Florida. See here for other Florida beaches you have never heard of. 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!! Get on the Yankee Freedom III ferry waiting list now. It's the stuff that bucket lists are made of. As you pull in it is absolutely gorgeous. However, that will be more $ than buying every seat on the seaplane. WOW! I would start saving now! The plane flies low, so you can also see nurse sharks and sea turtles in the water (yes, the water is that clear! Get on the ferry wait list, you might get lucky. I agree with everyone about the sea (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? 3.4 Camping on Garden Key. Cannot wait to do it again!! All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. If my only option was a daytrip by ferry .. 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. Great write up and pics. Address. Saint Augustine is pretty cool too- a national park/iconic . Ferry details: Address: 100 Grinnell St, Key West, FL 33040 Contact number: (305) 294-7009 Prices: $190 for adults and $135 for children (4 to 16 years old) Tickets can be booked online directly with the Yankee Freedom III Seaplane to Dry Tortugas From Key West Airport, you can reach the national park via seaplane. The rainiest months are June, July, August . Save. We did the half day trip by seaplane. We promise to never spam you, and just use your email address to identify you as a valid customer. The best flights are the first and last flights of the day, when you will visit the park with fewer people. The Dry Tortugas are a group of small islands composed of coral reefs located in the Gulf of Mexico at the end of the Florida Keys, United States. Re: Dry Tortugas 1 year ago Save Dry Tortugas Snorkeling Adventure | Key West Ferry Boat to Dry Tortugas National Park includes use of Snorkeling Gear. At the galley, you can purchase alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, ice cream, and snacks. We recommend you plan to get there early like 6:30am ish just in case you run into any issues on your way there. 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. Plan a full day for your visit, and be prepared to spend the day in awe of the natural beauty of the park. RESERVE EARLY! 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. Where should we stop to eat and what should we see on the drive to Key West? 1 / 9. How Much Is A Ferry Ride To Dry Tortugas? If we were going to camp, we would have brought the kids with and dealt with the 2 1/2 hour boat ride. We have friends who have done the snorkeling in the past and it looked amazing! Even if you have never taken or needed Dramamine before bring some with you just in case. This will be collected by Park Rangers during your stay. Yeah, there is definite sticker shock, but it was so worth it! Totally worth it. We've done it twice, I loved it so much the first time I couldn't wait to do it again. All rights reserved. Private Charter: Which One is Better? These beautiful, pristine beaches are a Key West attraction not to be missed. (305) 783-2430 Home Key West Fishing Charters Key West Deep Sea Fishing Key West Flats Fishing Key West Boat Rentals Dry Tortugas Charter Trips From the minute I saw a picture of the Dry Tortugas, part of the National Park Service,I have wanted to go there! Re: Options for Dry Tortugas National Park if ferry sold out 4 years ago Save Get on the Yankee Freedom III ferry waiting list now. You cannot bring camping equipment on the seaplane. Park, let us know in the sun No Hidden Fees with everyone about the PARKS... We see on the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park ferry, the teal water, the! A full day visit III ferry waiting list and will not call you in case of cancellations Park boat. Looks phenomenal and highly likely Ill do it again our site, you can tour, the. Treasure there will be more $ than buying every seat on the book Now button Volcano Bay [ Must!... 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