the dyrt
Group
Tent Sites
Fires Unknown
Pets Unknown
Water Unknown
About Garden Key Campground
A 10-site, primitive campground is located on Garden Key, the same island as Fort Jefferson, and is a short walk from the public dock. Eight individual sites can each accommodate up to 3 2-person tents (total of 6 people), and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Should a regular campsite not be available, an overflow area is provided. All campers, once they arrive will be guaranteed a place to camp.
ADA Access: There is a ramp at the Fort Jefferson dock in which power chair/wheelchair can disembark from the boat. Camping sites are accessible and well as restrooms. There are no showers at the Dry Tortugas. The 19th century brick fort has three floors and wheelchairs are not able to get to the second and third tier. The fort is accessible only on the first tier on the grass surface or the brick walkway as well as the trail on the outside of the fort.
Operator
National Park Service
Access
Walk In
Boat In
Contact
Location
Garden Key Campground is located in Florida
Directions
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. There is no commercial airplane or car access to the island. Also if traveling to the island you need to make preparations for all needs as there are no facilities other than a small gift shop in the fort.
1 Review of Garden Key Campground
WOW
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.
