{"id":"nps-drto","slug":"dry-tortugas-national-park","name":"Dry Tortugas National Park","designation":"National Park","category":"national-park","categoryLabel":"National Park","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"DRTO","designation":"National Park","sourceId":"nps-drto"}],"states":["FL"],"stateNames":["Florida"],"location":{"lat":24.628741,"lon":-82.87319},"bbox":[-82.9679,24.5653,-81.7555,24.7254],"acres":{"value":65703,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"Almost 70 miles (113 km) west of Key West lies the remote Dry Tortugas National Park. This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[{"id":"ppl-b-tortugas-keys","type":"protected","label":"Protected by T.R.","date":"1908-04-06","then":"Tortugas Keys Reservation","thenKind":"federal bird reservation","text":"As President, Theodore Roosevelt set aside Tortugas Keys Reservation (1908-04-06).","note":"The Dry Tortugas, famous for huge colonies of sooty and noddy terns, became part of Fort Jefferson National Monument in 1935 and are now a national park.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.archive.org/download/CAT31414456/CAT31414456.pdf","name":"archive.org"},{"url":"https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/theodore-roosevelt/a-book-lovers-holidays-in-the-open/text/appendix-b","name":"standardebooks.org"},{"url":"https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Executive_Order_779","name":"en.wikisource.org"},{"name":"Roosevelt’s Public Lands","url":"https://publiclands.labs.trlibrary.com/#place=b-tortugas-keys"}],"dataset":"publiclands","reviewed":true},{"id":"ea-eo-779","type":"executive-action","label":"Traces to a T.R. proclamation or order","date":"1908-04-06","document":"Executive Order 779","title":"Establishing Tortugas Keys Reservation in Florida as Preserve and Breeding Ground for Native Birds","relation":"includes land from this document","text":"Executive Order 779 (1908-04-06): “Establishing Tortugas Keys Reservation in Florida as Preserve and Breeding Ground for Native Birds.” Today’s site includes land from this document.","note":"Proclamation 2112 replaced the bird reservation with Fort Jefferson National Monument in 1935; the monument became a national park in 1992.","sources":[{"name":"Executive Order 779 in Theodore Roosevelt’s Executive Orders and Proclamations","url":"https://executiveactions.labs.trlibrary.com/document.html?id=eo-779"},{"name":"Proclamation 2112; Public Law 102-525"}],"dataset":"executiveactions","reviewed":true}],"trTypes":["protected","executive-action"],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=24.7254&b_tl_lng=-82.9679&b_br_lat=24.5653&b_br_lng=-81.7555","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Dry%20Tortugas%20National%20Park","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C81050F-1DD8-B71B-0B45EDC68B621860.jpg","title":"Night sky at the Dry Tortugas","alt":"A few of the stars at night with a view of Fort Jefferson.","caption":"The Dry Tortugas is so remote that night sky viewing is possible.","credit":"NPS Photo / Brett Seymour","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/114D8E50-D791-3C01-69269B772441A986.jpg","title":"Scorpions at night inside Fort Jefferson","alt":"Macro photography of a Scorpion","caption":"Macro photography of a Scorpion inside Fort Jefferson","credit":"NPS Photo / Brandon Cintron Gerena","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/11964EA0-DFDF-193F-109E490F05445B4C.jpg","title":"Loggerhead Key","alt":"A photo in front of Loggerhead Key from a boat","caption":"The largest island in the Dry Tortugas, Loggerhead Key is a site of shipwrecks, a significant lighthouse installation, and where the historic Carnegie Laboratory for Marine Ecology once stood. Named for its abundance of loggerhead sea turtles, Loggerhead","credit":"NPS Photo / Brandon Cintron Gerena","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C810626-1DD8-B71B-0B1DFF7BCF9A0682.jpg","title":"Diving at the Dry Tortugas","alt":"Two divers dive the Windjammer Wreck","caption":"The Dry Tortugas has over 300 sunken ships. One of the most accessible is the Winjammer Wreck which can be dove or snorkeled.","credit":"NPS Photo","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/1235A06E-C258-D139-91C92BF563A058DB.jpg","title":"Brown Noddies at Dry Tortugas","alt":"Several brown noddies rest on a stone seawall beside blue water, with a sailboat in the distance.","caption":"Brown noddies rest near the turquoise waters of Dry Tortugas National Park. These seabirds nest seasonally on nearby Bush Key, an important protected bird habitat.","credit":"NPS Photo / Brandon Cintron Gerena","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C810049-1DD8-B71B-0B0040641619D4A6.jpg","title":"Fort Jefferson","alt":"A view of Fort Jefferson from the moat all.","caption":"ort Jefferson is a massive but unfinished coastal fortress. It is the largest masonry structure in the Americas, and is composed of over 16 million bricks.","credit":"NPS Photo / Maria Belen Farias","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/118820B9-C5E9-8F61-A13518524D564AE8.jpg","title":"Aerial view of the Dry Tortugas","alt":"An aerial view of the Dry Tortugas","caption":"The Dry Tortugas is made up of seven islands.","credit":"NPS Photo / Brandon Cintron Gerena","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Astronomy","Stargazing","Boating","Boat Tour","Camping","Fishing","Guided Tours","Hands-On","Volunteer Vacation","Paddling","Junior Ranger Program","SCUBA Diving","Snorkeling","Swimming","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Architecture and Building","African American Heritage","Forts","Maritime","Coastal Defenses","Lighthouses","Ships and Shipwrecks","Military","US Army","US Navy","Wars and Conflicts","Civil War","Animals","Alligators or Crocodiles","Birds","Fish","Tortoises and Turtles","Geology","Natural Sounds","Night Sky","Oceans","Coral Reefs","Unique Species","Endangered"],"fees":[{"title":"Entrance - Per Person","cost":"15.00","description":"The entrance fee for Dry Tortugas National Park is $15.00 per person and is good for 7 consecutive days. Any person 15 years old and under is exempt from paying an entrance fees (including international visitors).\n\nFerry tickets include the cost of entrance to the park, but NOT camping fees.\n\nSeaplane will charge the entrance fee upon arrival. Plan to bring cash for each person aged 16-years of age and older.\n\nPrivate boaters may purchase a digital pass in advance or pay cash/check at Garden Key main dock."}],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Dry Tortugas","description":"The Dry Tortugas is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. This includes holidays.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"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.","weatherInfo":"The climate in the Dry Tortugas is subtropical, which basically means that it has warm and tropical weather in the range of 60°F to 90°F. The two main seasons are the winter stormy season from December through March which is windier and sees rougher seas, and the summertime tropical storm season from June through November where there is a higher chance of isolated storms. During the summers it is hot and humid. During the winter the temperature is milder and drier.","contacts":{"phone":"3052427700","email":"drto_information@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Garden Key Visitor Center","description":"Garden Key Visitor Center is located inside Fort Jefferson. At the visitor center you will find artifacts, an informational movie, the bookstore, and souvenirs.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/garden-key.htm","lat":24.6278963565,"lon":-82.8726460834},{"name":"Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center - Closed until further notice (11/6/2026)","description":"Enter Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center and take a journey into the world of the native plants and animals of the Keys, both on land and underwater. Leave with an increased awareness and appreciation of the need to protect and conserve ecosystems of South Florida. The Center features over 6,000 square feet of interactive and dynamic exhibits including a mock-up of Aquarius, the world's only underwater ocean laboratory.","url":"http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/eco_discovery.html","lat":24.550749950942006,"lon":-81.80657774370388}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Garden Key Campground","description":"Garden Key, home to Fort Jefferson, has a primitive campground only a short walk from public dock and piers. Individual sites can accommodate up to three 2-person tents (6 persons max per-site) on a first-come, first served basis. In the event a regular campsite is unavailable, an overflow area will be made available. Upon arrival all overnight visitors will be provided a place to camp. For parties of 10 or more, a group campsite is available through our website.","url":"","reservationUrl":null,"sites":8}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"key-west-national-wildlife-refuge","km":89},{"slug":"great-white-heron-national-wildlife-refuge","km":138},{"slug":"national-key-deer-refuge","km":151},{"slug":"ten-thousand-islands-national-wildlife-refuge","km":194},{"slug":"everglades-national-park","km":217},{"slug":"j-n-ding-darling-national-wildlife-refuge","km":217}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=drto"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.611Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"Seasonal Closure: Bush Key","text":"Most of Bush Key is now open to the public. To protect nesting frigatebirds, a small area on the north side of Bush Key, all of Long Key, and all vegetation remains closed until further notice.","url":null,"updated":"2026-09-29 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-6D3D0F5D-9F82-4380-9624-0EAFE7ACDF32"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"Sections of moat wall closed until Winter 2026","text":"Sections of the moat wall that were damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton (2024) are undergoing repair and reinforcement. For your safety, please follow posted signage and do not cross any barricades.","url":null,"updated":"2026-07-15 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-5AD0CD62-6D0D-4607-BD38-D6C2EDF3801F"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Park Closure","title":"Current Alerts and Conditions","text":"Be sure to review the Alerts and Conditions below before and during your visit for additional, up-to-date information on closures, cautions, and other current park conditions.","url":null,"updated":"2026-07-15 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-25F15682-8531-4D8E-AB7C-B78E52F102D2"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Migrant Notice","text":"Like elsewhere in the Florida Keys, we have seen an increase in Cuban migrants arriving by boat from Cuba and landing on the islands of Dry Tortugas National Park. You may observe migrant landings at the park and visitor areas may be impacted.","url":null,"updated":"2024-09-24 20:28:15.0","id":"nps-EF0A8550-FBD4-4AB8-AE9B-CC867C519D6A"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Caution","title":"Garden Key Harbor Light","text":"Vessel operators - the Garden Key Harbor Light is undergoing repairs and is extinguished. At this time it is unknown when the light will again be illuminated.","url":null,"updated":"2017-08-17 14:16:47.0","id":"nps-7D5830C9-8EED-4C56-B4EC-CA0130205AE5"},{"source":"NWS","kind":"Coastal Flood Statement","severity":"Minor","title":"Coastal Flood Statement issued November 8 at 11:08AM EST until November 9 at 5:00AM EST by NWS Key West FL","text":"* WHAT...Minor saltwater flooding.\n\n* WHERE...The Florida Keys.\n\n* WHEN...Through early Monday morning.\n\n* IMPACTS...Minor saltwater flooding of low elevation streets\nand lots is likely. Some storm drains will overflow, and some\nseawalls and docks will be overtopped. Boaters can expect less\nclearance under fixed bridges. Motorists should remember that\npersistent puddles around the times of high tide are almost\ncertain to contain a mix of saltwater.","instruction":"Do not drive through flooded roadways.","url":"https://alerts.weather.gov/search?id=urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.5ffb8519924edb82cf2eb72c35b62557cd781cb3.001.1","starts":"2026-11-08T11:08:00-05:00","ends":"2026-11-09T05:00:00-05:00","id":"nws-urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.5ffb8519924edb82cf2eb72c35b62557cd781cb3.001.1"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/dry-tortugas-national-park/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/dry-tortugas-national-park.geojson"}