Garden Key Campground — Dry Tortugas National Park

It will take some planning to get here, but it’s worth it. You’ll need a boat, your own or the ferry service, and as a result it will be one of the most expensive camping trips you’ll ever take. There’s even more expensive flight service to the island, but not for campers. If you’re camping, you’ll check in earlier than other guests and load your gear on the back of the ferry. Put your gear in tubs to protect from water on the ferry and rats on the island! Be sure to refer to the NPS rules for weight, cooking(match-light charcoal ok; compressed and liquid fuels are not), Bring plenty of water for each person, more when it’s hot. If you stay multiple nights, you’ll be able to refill water when the boat is at the dock on subsequent days.

Upon arrival, you’ll receive an orientation from the ranger. There is an open, grassy area reserved primarily for groups. Individual campsites are in the shelter of the trees to the left of the dock, near the beach and outside the fort walls. There are carts to help you take your gear to your site. If the individual sites are full, you may camp in the group area. Clean composting toilets are available except when the boat is at the dock; then you’ll use facilities on board. Breakfast and lunch are included on your arrival day; food’s available for purchase while the ferry’s in port.

Swim, snorkel, birdwatch, explore the fort, watch sunrises and sunsets. If you have a kayak and snagged one of the limited(3) spots for it on the ferry, you can make a trip to Loggerhead Key. I visited in January and had brought a shorty wetsuit so that I was comfortable snorkeling in the cooler temperatures.

What a unique experience camping on a deserted island! As advertised, you must bring your water. We took the yankee freedom ferry (I think tickets are about $150/person regardless if you stay 1, 2, or 3 nights) which does not allow compressed fuel. We flew there so we didn't bother with a cooler but most people did (we ate MRE's and PB&J). Each site has a bbq, picnic table, and a pole to hang up your trash. We had no problem with a campsite but we camped going into a holiday weekend and on Friday night there was a group of people in the "overflow" (I think they were fishers that came in late on a private boat). You do need some type of hard plastic to put your food in (we grabbed a bin from target for 8$ when we landed). Our trash was not hung up high enough and the rats did get into it on the first night (If you come on the yankee freedom they will take your trash everyday). If you take the yankee freedom, the maximum number of nights you can stay is 3. We stayed for 2 nights and almost everyone we talked to agreed that 2 nights is probably perfect (by day 3 you may begin to get a little bored but 1 night just isn't enough). We met some amazing people and even had an imaginary "campfire" on our second night (no fires allowed) with people from all over the US. The composting toilets are clean but are only open when the Yankee Freedom isn’t docked (otherwise, everyone on the island uses the Yankee Freedom lavatories during the day). The campsites themselves are pretty small and none truly offer a view of the ocean from your campsite. I think all except for 1 have some shade during the middle of the day. If you take the Yankee Freedom, you can use their snorkel gear (or bring your own). The first of the day visitors begin arriving at 8:30am on sea plane. The yankee freedom is docked from about 10:30am-3:00pm everyday. You get one lunch with your yankee freedom ticket but I believe you can buy lunch from them the other days if you’d like. The last sea plane leaves at 5:30pm and then it’s just you, the other campers, and a few rangers left. Several times, private boats would start their engine and leave in the very early morning (4 or 5am) which woke us (and the other campers) up (I didn’t mind looking at the stars and waiting for the sunrise). Overall, it’s an amazing experience that I’d love to do again someday.

**somehow my review ended up on here twice

We camped for 2 nights this June at Dry Tortugas National Park. It’s a little out of the way, yes. But don’t miss it. You visit the island by boat or seaplane. You have to bring everything with you including drinking water. No gas, so only charcoal cooking. If you take the seaplane or the Yankee Freedom, you can use their snorkel equipment. A couple things to consider when planning your trip. Summer time is the off season. Summer is hot. Don’t plan on sleeping. But that is ok, because this is a once in a lifetime camping trip. Also, you won’t eat as much as you think you will. Again, it’s so hot. But bring plenty of water. There is a “group” campground which is out in the open, and then there are individual sites in the trees. In the group campground, there is a breeze. In the trees there is amazing shade. So you have to decide. We went group and made our own shade. Again, it was June so we needed the breeze. We were there during a full moon, so we missed the big star show, but the moon was incredible, beyond description!! And to see the fort and the moon and the reflection of both off the water, wow!! The sun sets and sun rises are unforgettable. And since it’s so hot you’re not sleeping, the sun rise is easy to catch! As for things to do there is Ft Jefferson and it’s amazing history. So you can explore the fort or spend time snorkeling around the sea wall. The coral and the color under the water is so vibrant! If you have a kayak, bring it. If you can get out to the lighthouse on Loggerhead Key, there is even more snorkeling. A kayak will do the trick. We only had an inflatable one and the park ranger warned us against it because of the currents. So make sure it’s a legit kayak. You can rent them in Key West and transport it on the Yankee Freedom. It’s also probably the only place you’ll camp where the park rangers tell you to alert them in case a boat load of Cubans show up!

We camped for 2 nights this June at Dry Tortugas National Park. It’s a little out of the way, yes. But don’t miss it. You visit the island by boat or seaplane. You have to bring everything with you including drinking water. No gas, so only charcoal cooking. If you take the seaplane or the Yankee Freedom, you can use their snorkel equipment. A couple things to consider when planning your trip. Summer time is the off season. Summer is hot. Don’t plan on sleeping. But that is ok, because this is a once in a lifetime camping trip. Also, you won’t eat as much as you think you will. Again, it’s so hot. But bring plenty of water. There is a “group” campground which is out in the open, and then there are individual sites in the trees. In the group campground, there is a breeze. In the trees there is amazing shade. So you have to decide. We went group and made our own shade. Again, it was June so we needed the breeze. We were there during a full moon, so we missed the big star show, but the moon was incredible, beyond description!! And to see the fort and the moon and the reflection of both off the water, wow!! The sun sets and sun rises are unforgettable. And since it’s so hot you’re not sleeping, the sun rise is easy to catch! As for things to do there is Ft Jefferson and it’s amazing history. So you can explore the fort or spend time snorkeling around the sea wall. The coral and the color under the water is so vibrant! If you have a kayak, bring it. If you can get out to the lighthouse on Garden Key, there is even more snorkeling. A kayak will do the trick. We only had an inflatable one and the park ranger warned us against it because of the currents. So make sure it’s a legit kayak. You can rent them in Key West and transport it on the Yankee Freedom. It’s also probably the only place you’ll camp where the park rangers tell you to alert them in case a boat load of Cubans show up!

A wonderfully unique experience. Accessible by boat or seaplane only - 8 sites nestled in a little grove outside the Fort. When you reserve your ferry ride you also reserve a space in the campground although not a specific site. The ferry company also has perks for campers that are "included" in the ferry ride: a box lunch, water, can restock on ice for a small cooler if you bring one when the ferry comes in the next day, snorkeling equipment. There are carts at the dock to transport gear to the camping area only about 1/4 mile away. No fires allowed - we used a sterno stove to heat water for coffee in the morning.

Our site was very private - most are. Bathrooms nearby are pit toilets for campers only when the ferry is not in dock. There is NO water on the island - can refill when the ferry is in dock. The snorkeling is really wonderful and very special once the ferries and seaplanes leave for the day and you have the island pretty much to yourself - magical. During the day you can take Ranger led tours of the Fort and just hang out, bird watch relax, etc. There are a LOT of hermit crabs and one can hear scurrying of rats at night - although they are not an issue especially as there are food poles provided at each site.

It's an experience I'm SO glad we did - 2 nights was enough for us - it's a small island but 2 nights gave us a good exposure. We're in our 60's and active if that is any framework for anybody.

In our year of visiting all 59 national parks, we probably never encountered any campsite quite as unique as at Dry Tortugas National Park.

Camping at Garden Key Campground, located on the tiny island off of the Florida Keys, requires a little more preparation than other sites. Transportation on the Yankee Freedom ferry from Key West is limited to 10 campers per day, so book your stay well in advance. Then, you will have to bring all the supplies, including water, that you will need for your stay. It’s a very primitive camping setup, but the backdrop of the perfectly-blue water set against the red brick Fort Jefferson is just magical.

Our planning process for camping at Garden Key went smoothly, and we stayed here two nights of our year-long road trip. We set up our tent in the sandy campsite, partially shaded by the heavily-protected trees (no hammocks allowed!), and hit the beach, which was only about 20 steps away. There were many hermit crabs around the site, but no other pesky critters.

During our three days at Dry Tortugas, we took a ranger tour of the Fort, walked all around the small island several times, took our kayak out to explore a little further, snorkeled around the sunken docks, laid on the small beach, and watched two gorgeous sunsets.

Experiencing Dry Tortugas as a camper rather than a day-boater offers a much less hectic, peaceful stay. Once the day ferry leaves in the afternoon, the island is yours.

You can read much more about our three days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Dry Tortugas)

Amazing... going out with the Yankee freedom boat for the max stay of three days is a must. The boat arrives on the island around 1030 and brings day trippers or as we like to call them while camping "muggles". They leave at 245 pm and that island becomes,your playground the remainder of the day. Rent a tandem kayak through Marty (info provided by the yankee) and you can take the three mile trip across open waters to see logger head key. This is only accessible via private boat or kayak and really makes the whole trip amazing of added. Its a day trip out as there is much swimming and snorkeling in little Africa which is on the western side of logger head. The fort located on the main island has much to explore. Filled with history and great pictures during the rising and setting of the sun. There is snorkling all around the main island but the best by far is in logger head. All provisions must be brought and although there is a weight limit it's more about just having your items contained. Aka large husky bin with wheels it will be your best friend. All coolers and water jugs are not included in your gear weight. The national park website offers all the rules and really needs to be looked over and followed by anyone going as it is exstensive. Bring a shower bag as it will be luxurious at the end of a hot salty day. All campsites have a picnic table and charcoal grill. Propane is not allowed in the boat but a jet boil can pass unseen if hot coffee is a must. A bucket list trip that you will remember forever. Btw dogs can come to but they can't be in the fort, unless it's a service dog. I love this place and recommend any serious camper that loves isolated beauty mixed with a little bit of old civil war charm. Respect the rangers and they will tell you the best spots to go.