Do not attach anything to a tree
Campground trees and shrubs are crucial for providing shade and windbrake. Help protect this valuable vegetation. Do not attach ropes, hammocks, tents, laundry lines, or any other materials to campground trees. All camping gear must be free standing.
Fishing:
Fishing is not allowed out on the Dry Tortugas due to the fragile ecology that is found underneath the shallow waters of the isles.
Food and Supplies:
All supplies and food must be purchased in Key West, Florida before making the trip out to the Dry Tortugas. There is no convenience store or electricity out on the islands, so you will need to bring everything with you.
Wood fires are prohibited
Charcoal briquettes placed in campsite BBQ units are the only fires allowed.
Protect your foodstuffs
Rats have inhabited the Tortugas probably since the arrival of humans. Though the size of the rat population is controlled, rats may be encountered as they forage through campsites looking for food. The only way to protect your food and prevent damage to your gear (rats will chew through tents and backpacks if they smell food) is to store your food in hard-sided containers or hang it from the posts provided.
IMPORTANT: Clear your campsite by 10:00 AM
On the day of departure, completely clear your campsite. Carts are available to move your gear, but empty your cart as soon as you reach the dock. As soon as the ferryboats off-load arriving passengers and equipment, load your gear on board. Captains insist that you load your gear no later than 11:00 AM.
Hiking:
The main hiking opportunities on the Dry Tortugas are through Fort Jefferson. The fort is open daily from sunrise to sunset and a self-guided trail through the fort allows you to learn about and experience first hand the historic structure of Fort Jefferson.
Lodging:
The only type of lodging found on the Dry Tortugas is the camping facilities located around Fort Jefferson. Most regular lodgings and accommodations are found on Key West. Many guesthouses are found near the marinas and docks in the Historic Downtown area of Key West. Keywesthistoricinns.com provides information on most of these guesthouses.
Natural Features and Regulations:
Out on the Dry Tortugas, all coral, living or dead, is protected and guests are not allowed to collect these and bring them home. Dead shells above the water line can be collected and taken home. Shells under the water, corals seafans, tropical fish, spiny lobster, turtles, and the shells of these creatures can not be disturbed. You cannot engage in commercial fishing or spearfishing, nor can you take a conch or a lobster.
Island Closures:
Bush Key closes down from February through September in order to let brown noddy terns nest. Any outside disturbance could cause many of the young birds to die. Hospital Key and Long Key are closed all year.
Programs and Activities:
There is much you can do while you are out on the Dry Tortugas. The two main draws are the tours of Fort Jefferson (you can go on a self-guided tour or, if you are coming on one of the Dry Tortugas ferries, you will receive a guided tour) and the snorkeling. If you come on a ferry, the company should provide snorkeling gear. Other activities and recreation areas include a picnic area, ranger-lead activities, bird watching, and swimming.
Visitor Center:
The Dry Tortugas visitor center is located on Garden Key, where you can also find Fort Jefferson. It is open year-round from 8AM to 5PM. Here you will find an exhibit about the islands as well as finding ranger-lead nature walks. Even at the visitor center, you will not find food, so you must bring all food and fresh water with you.
Weather:
The weather on the Dry Tortugas and Key West is mild and tropical. Summer can get really hot but a constant ocean breeze usually assuages the heat. Most people will tell you that the best time to visit Key West and the Dry Tortugas in terms of weather is between November and April. This season is also, however, the tourist high season. The seas are also slightly rougher from October through January.
Toilets
Toilets are located next to the campground. These specially designed composting units require no water or chemicals. Waste is composted in the equipment below the units. Since these systems are very fragile, please DO NOT throw cigarettes, plastics, bottles, cans, or trash of any kind into these toilets.
The composting toilets are locked from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. During these hours, please use the facilities on board the commercial ferry boats at the dock.
Quiet Hours
Please be considerate of others. Radios and other loud noises are precisely what many visitors have come to the Dry Tortugas to escape. Please observe the quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. The use of bright lanterns is also discouraged during these hours.
Access to Fort Jefferson
One of the great pleasures of any visit to the park is the opportunity to explore Fort Jefferson. Be aware that many areas inside the fort are not lighted. To avoid the risk of injury, the interior of Fort Jefferson closes at sunset.
