Dry Tortugas National Park consists of 7 islands about 70 miles west of Key West. It is one of the least visited National Parks in the system as the only way to get there is by ferry, seaplane, or boat. If you want to camp, the only way to get your gear there is by ferry or boat. Getting a spot on the ferry to Dry Tortugas National Park is relatively easy, getting a spot for camping at Dry Tortugas National Park is not. But, if you do get a chance to camp there, take it, even though it can be daunting if you’ve never done primitive camping before. You’ll find an article or two online as to what to expect but they don’t really have everything that you would like to know, until now.

Dry Tortugas gets its name from a couple of different sources. The Tortugas is due to all the turtles on the island when Ponce de Leon (that’s right, the fountain of youth guy) landed there, he called the land “Las Tortugas”. Since there was no fresh water on the islands, they would be labeled as “dry” on the mariner charts of the day.

The Keys of Dry Tortugas National Park

There are seven keys, or islands, that make up Dry Tortugas National Park. Unfortunately, four of them are closed to the public.

Hospital Key

Hospital Key is a small island that had a (wait for it) hospital on it for the prisoners and residents of Fort Jefferson. Hospital Key is closed to the public, most likely to contain the leftover hospital zombies.

East Key

East Key is the smallest of the keys, it’s pretty much just a sandbar that sits about 6 feet above the surf and is also closed to the public. While small, it still has a purpose as various types of flora and fauna inhabit the key along with a small collection of wildlife.

Middle Key

Middle Key is closed to the public because there are times when it’s not even above water. Seasonal weather and tidal conditions will cover the island for weeks and sometimes months.

Long Key

Long Key is connected to the east end of Bush Key by a sandbar. It’s a mid-sized key at 8,000 square meters filled with sand and trees and it’s also closed to the public.

Bush Key

Bush Key is located right next to Garden Key, separated by a channel that disappears from time to time. Known as Hog Key during the fort’s tenure due to the raising of hogs there for fresh meat for the residents of Fort Jefferson.

No more hogs are raised on the island as it’s a bird sanctuary for Sooty Terns and Brown Noddies. Bush Key is open to the public…only part of the year. It’s closed between February and September during nesting season.

Loggerhead Key

Loggerhead Key is the largest of the keys in the park and it’s open to the public! That’s right, it’s open 365 days a year from dawn to dusk. The only way to get there is by small boat. It’s a three-mile paddle from Garden Key if you came by ferry. If you come on a private or commercial boat, there are mooring buoys around the island for you to tie off and then take a small boat in.

On the island there is a lighthouse and a couple of small buildings, including one that’s been deposited on the beach and broken in half. You’re not allowed to go into any of the buildings and be sure to stay on any pathways.

The coral reefs that are around Loggerhead Key are spectacular for snorkeling and diving. There is also the Windjammer shipwreck about a mile southwest of the island. It’s under 20 feet of water and is perfect for scuba diving.

Garden Key

Garden Key is the second largest of the Dry Tortugas National Park islands. It’s 14 acres includes beaches, tropical island trees, campgrounds, a fort, and a moat around the fort. The park headquarters are located on Garden Key, and this is where the ferry, seaplanes, campers, and private boaters check in.

Fort Jefferson

Fort Jefferson takes up much of the land on Garden Key. Building of the fort started in 1846 and lasted for 30 years while never really being completed. That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t used though, it was one of the largest masonry forts in the nation at the time. During the Civil War, Fort Jefferson was used as a prison, it even housed four men involved with President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

The sheer size of the fort helped to keep the peace, as it was the biggest masonry fort built of its time. Why build such a massive fort in the middle of the ocean you ask? It’s actually in the middle of a very busy shipping lane and the Gulf Stream. All ships going to Europe and eastern North America from South America sail near there and any traffic that goes to the Mississippi River from the east passes by Fort Jefferson.

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Reservations for Camping at Dry Tortugas

This is the hard part. You don’t need reservations for the campsites, they’re first come, first serve, with an overflow area, but you have to get there! There are three ways to get to Dry Tortugas:

• The Yankee Freedom Ferry
• Private/commercial boat
• Charter a seaplane

Yankee Freedom Ferry

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The Yankee Freedom Ferry is the most economical way that campers get to Dry Tortugas. You’re allowed 60 lbs. of gear per person plus a cooler and all the water that you can carry. If you want to take a kayak with you (highly recommended!) they allow three kayaks per trip, and it costs $20 more. You’ll have to make sure that there is a slot available when you book your trip. They offer 1,2-, and 3-night trips and the cost is $240 per person, that includes the entrance fee into the park, but it doesn’t include the camp site cost, $15 per night.

To say that getting a camping reservation is hard would be an understatement. If you have a group of more than one then you will probably become very intimate with the Yankee Freedom staff through the phone. They do have an online reservation system right here. But go ahead and try to make reservations, you can do it now, that’s okay, I’ll wait…

Did you find any? Of course you didn’t, they are normally booked up at least six months in advance. They release openings at the beginning of the month for six months out. So, on May 1st, they will release campsite reservations for October. If you have flexibility, then you can log on every day and look for cancellations. One-night and two-night reservations do pop up regularly for one person, but multiple openings are rare and go quick. Three-night reservations are harder to come by, but they do show up time to time, just remember flexibility is the key.

If you keep in contact with the Yankee Freedom staff, they have an idea when there are going to be cancelations, so you’ll want to keep in contact with them. They won’t put you on a waiting list, there is no such thing.

There is a private Facebook account specifically for camping at Dry Tortugas, you should definitely join that one. People will post openings on that page. There are a couple more pages that you might want to look at, just do a Dry Tortugas Camping search.

Private/Commercial Boat

If you have a boat that can make it over 140 miles on one tank of fuel, you can camp in the park. There is no docking at the pier but there are buoys available to tie up to. Or you can charter a boat to take you to the island, there are outfitters that will take you for one or multiple days. You can check on Facebook for help on this also.

Seaplane Charter from Key West

Seaplane Adventures has regular half day and full day excursions, cost is about $800 per person. But due to weight and space restrictions, they won’t take campers.

Dry Tortugas Pre-Camping Prep

You’ve scored your tickets on Yankee Freedom, now what? For the most part, their Camping Information PDF that you can download is very informative and covers a lot of what you can and can’t take with you, but it still leaves some questions on a few subjects.

Disclaimer! What follows is what I have actually seen make it on to the boat, don’t blame me when you overload your bin by 50 pounds, and they make you leave your 1000-watt solar generator and your espresso machine on the dock because you “just can’t morning” without coffee!

Bins, Duffle Bags, Coolers, and Water

The Yankee Freedom Camping Information PDF actually shows you the best bins, duffle bags, and coolers to take. You don’t have to match them exactly, but you’ll want to get something within their size guidelines, so you make sure that it actually gets on the boat.

Bins

The Home Depot 27 Gallon yellow lid bin is by far the most popular, to prove it just take a look…

You can fit a lot of gear in it if you pack carefully, the only thing that you have to be watchful of is the weight. I was able to fit a four-person tent, 2 small tent fans (didn’t need them), flashlights, first aid kit, snorkel gear, extra camera gear, miscellaneous little camping gear, an air mattress, and battery powered inflator.

Duffle Bags

Go for the lightest bag that’ll fit your gear that you can find! If you load up that old canvas military bag that you’ve been lugging around for years, you’re probably losing 10% of your weight allowance.

Coolers

The max size of cooler that you can take is 100 quarts. The size of cooler that you take is going to depend on the size of your group, how long you’re staying, and what you’re planning to eat. Coolers don’t count against your total weight so you can pack as much ice and food as you want.

Water

You can take as much water as you need, do not put it in your bins, leave it separate. You can use refillable water jugs, or you can stock up on one, or five-gallon jugs at the grocery store. Figure at least 1 gallon per person per day.

Extras

Fishing gear, kayaks, and canopies are something that you see a lot of people take. The nice thing about having multiple people in your group going is you can redistribute weight and take some extra “luxury” stuff. There is great fishing around the island, just make sure that you have the proper license. Kayaks are limited to three per ferry trip, so you’ll really have to plan in advance for that. Even if they won’t fit in a bin, you can take a canopy, make sure that you keep your weight where it needs to be.

How Long to Camp at Dry Tortugas

The simplest answer is whatever’s available! Yankee Freedom offers trips of 1,2, and 3 nights. If you can only stay one night, pack as light as possible. I would use the first day for snorkeling and exploring the fort, it’s open until sundown, then you can take the guided Fort Jefferson Tour the second day.

Two nights is a good amount of time, the nice thing is after 5:00 P.M. the last of the seaplanes have gone for the day, and the park is left to you, your fellow campers and the park rangers.

Three nights is the best if you can get it. It gives you plenty of time to set up camp, explore the fort, seek out great photography shots, and get to know your neighbors.

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What Not to Pack When You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

There are a few things that are not allowed in the park. First off, the only fuel that you can use for cooking food is Match Light type charcoal or Sterno, so plan your food schedule accordingly. No weapons are allowed on the ferry, also no liquid fuel or propane, and leave the fireworks at home.

Not allowed:

• Compressed gas of any kind
• Weapons, including axes, hunting knives, firearms, and machetes.
• Kerosene, white gas, or gasoline
• And of course, fireworks

What to Pack for Camping at Dry Tortugas

This is pretty subjective as some things that are absolutely necessary for one group may mean nothing to another. But, there are some things that are needed when camping at Dry Tortugas, and there is no place to buy something once you’re there (for the most part, will be explained later). Of course you’re going to take your normal camping gear, first aid kit, flashlights, plates, towels, utensils, cookware if needed, here’s the official list here.

You are not allowed to camp on Garden Key without a tent, so don’t try to save those 3 pounds and say that you’re just going to sleep in the sand. Pack your tent with a ground cover and stakes if you want them, I don’t know how much they really help in the sand. Keep your cooler in your tent, that way if the wind really starts to whip up, that’ll help keep it on the ground. Then if you really had your heart set to sleep in the sand, go ahead, just be ready to wake up with hermit crabs crawling all over you.

You’ll want to pack a lightweight, comfortable camp chair, unless you really find picnic tables to be the most comfortable place to sit for three days.

Depending on the time of year that you’re going, a sleeping bag might be comfortable if you’re going in the winter. Or you could just take a sheet and a light blanket. In June I only used a single sheet.

Tent fans are great when you’re camping in the middle of summer. In south Florida, they’re pretty much needed all year long. You don’t really need one if the wind is blowing, but on the really calm nights it will get hot, so best to throw one in with your gear.

You’ll want to have a lightweight rain jacket for inclement weather. You can check the forecast before you leave, but in the middle of the ocean, storms do pop up out of nowhere.

If you’re going to cook, and you actually have the weight allowance available for it, take some Match light charcoal. You probably won’t need a 20 lb. bag, just take enough to cover the meals that you’re planning on cooking.

If you have your own snorkel gear you can pack it, if you don’t, Yankee Freedom will supply you with gear for your stay.

A book or something to read. Surprisingly, there might be down time when you’re not exploring the wonders of the park. If you’re planning on using your phone/Kindle/tablet, just remember there is no power once you’re off the boat.

Take some type of wet wipe, there’s no running water, and the only toilets are compost type after the ferry leaves.

Cash. The only way to pay for your campsite is to put cash in an envelope at the Park Service drop box.

Clothes needed? Bathing suits, coverups and a good pair of walking sandals/shoes is pretty much all you need. Most of your days will be spent in the water, so bring plenty of bathing suits.

Trekking to Your Campsite at Dry Tortugas

At the Yankee Freedom Dock

You need to be at the Yankee Freedom dock, 100 Grinnell St, by six a.m. with all your gear. You can leave your car parked on the street while you unload and wait for them to check you in. Unload your equipment on the red pavers in front of the stanchions.

The ferry captain and other staff will come down and check all your stuff, yes, they will go through it to make sure that you don’t have prohibited items. They’ll also check the weight of you bins and other gear, so it’s best to be as close to 60 lbs. as possible, and they will pull out a scale.

Once all the campers are checked in, you’ll load your bins, duffle bags, and whatever else that you have into wheelbarrows and take them to the loading area of the ferry. The crew loads your stuff onto the boat and now you’re free to park your vehicle. Just be back to the passenger check in by 7:15, you don’t want to be late and standing on the dock as your camping equipment goes to the park without you.

There is on street parking nearby, make sure that it’s a multi-day spot. If you don’t want to deal with the stress of leaving your car parked on the street for days, there is a city parking garage nearby for $40 a day. I worked out a deal with the hotel I stayed at to be able to leave my truck. They had plenty of parking spots, so it wasn’t a deal. Not all hotels and BNBs in Key West have that luxury though. And if you’re going to do something like that, make sure that your hotel is close enough so that you can get there and back before the ferry leaves.

Yankee Freedom, Your Ride to Camp at Dry Tortugas

This is the easy part. Board the ferry, and enjoy the ride, providing that it’s a calm day. Otherwise, load up on your Dramamine!

The trip from Key West to Dry Tortugas takes about 2.5 hours. They serve bagels, coffee, juice and water. You can sit inside and stand outside downstairs, or you can sit inside or outside upstairs.

The crew is knowledgeable and will have information on the fort and the surrounding keys. You can also buy t-shirts, towels, souvenirs, and other items that you might need.

Unloading and Setting up Camp

Once the ferry is docked and people are unloading, you’ll go upstairs and get a briefing from the captain. They’ll go over general information, such as where to get in contact with the rangers if there’s an emergency, what time to have your site packed up and on the dock, and how to dispose of your trash. Oh, and they’ll tell you about the rats. Actually, right now they are in the process of eradicating them, so they really shouldn’t be a problem anymore. I didn’t see or hear of any when I was there.

By the time the captain is done, they’ll have your gear unloaded from the ferry. Grab yourself a wheelbarrow and load it up with your gear. The campground is to the left of the dock about 100 yards. There are shaded spots, wind protected spots, and open spots. Each campsite is marked by a picnic table and grill. Be careful, some campsites will look empty, but the tents will actually be back in the trees. If there are no open campsites, then you’ll have to set up in the overflow area. You can always move into a better spot if one opens up while you’re there.

Set up your tent and canopy if you brought one. Just be aware that it could get windy, so you’ll want to make sure that everything is secured. DO NOT tie off any of your gear to a tree. That’s not allowed. If it’s really windy, it’s best to leave the rainfly off of your tent.

Exploring Dry Tortugas National Park

The Fort

There are two free tours offered by Yankee Freedom, one’s a short 20-minute general information tour that is given inside the fort. They go over the uses and history of the fort, as well as the building of the fort. If you don’t want to spend too much time on a tour, this one is very informative.

The second tour is a comprehensive tour around the fort, and if you’re camping at Dry Tortugas then you can hop on the tour any day that you are there. You’ll learn about the people who lived there and what they did during their days they spent at the fort. You’ll walk around the fort and learn about the buildings and what life was like living in the fort. This is a great learning experience, and you should definitely do it.

If you’d rather take your time and not have 20 people surrounding you and getting in your pics, then there is a self-guided tour that starts at the ranger office and museum. There are information stations throughout the fort and signs to guide you on your trip.

The Beaches

There are two main beaches on either side of the fort. The south side beach gives you the most room. It’s shallow so a lot of people like to hang out in the water. The north side is a smaller beach, so pick a side that suits your beach personality. Both offer great snorkeling with a chance to see unlimited marine life.

Snorkeling When You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

The best snorkeling is by the Coaling Dock Ruins. You’ll see big tarpon, plenty of reef fish, and amazing coral. Be careful around the coaling docks, it’s more open and the water will get choppy. Snorkeling along the moat wall is popular too. Reef fish, stingrays, anchors, sea turtles, even sharks will show up. If you can get out to Loggerhead Key there’s a great reef to snorkel there too. You can spend hours snorkeling around the reefs in Dry Tortugas National Park and not get bored!

Kayaking While You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

If you’re lucky enough to get your kayak on the ferry, then you are in for a treat, even if you don’t fish. You can take your kayak over to Loggerhead Key and check out the tranquility that island has to offer. Just make sure that the weather is favorable, it’s a three-mile paddle over open water and it can get rough. Even if it does get rough, you can still kayak in the harbored waters around Garden Key.

Fishing

Amberjack, grouper, snapper, and even barracuda are all fish that you can catch just fishing off the dock. Make sure that your license is up to date, and if you bring your own gear you can fish from the dock, take your kayak out, or just fish the surf.

After Hours While You’re Camping at Dry Tortugas

The ferry heads back at 2:30, the Seaplane tours are off the island by 5:00 and the only people left are the campers and the rangers. If you ever wondered what it would be like to be on a secluded island, this is about as close as it gets!

You can explore the fort until the sun goes down. Speaking of the sun going down, find yourself a comfortable spot and enjoy the sunsets and sunrises as they are spectacular! Meet your fellow campers, this is a special trip, and most people enjoy talking about their experiences to get there.

After the sun goes down, be prepared for the best stargazing that you have ever seen. No light pollution means more stars are viewable in the sky. Shine a flashlight on the ground, you will see the most hermit crabs that you have ever seen in your life!

Yankee Freedom Ferry, Keeping Your Primitive Trip Semi-Primitive

The Yankee Freedom Ferry shows up every day around 10:30, this is like a floating general store showing up at the entrance to your tent. Running out of ice or water? You’re covered. Need a shower to rinse off? Yep, you can do that too.

If you’re tired of the trail mix and beef jerky that you’ve been eating for the last two days, climb the ramp and get yourself a made to order cheeseburger! There’s other food that you can order too. You can even belly up to the bar and order cocktails until the ferry leaves.

So, if you’re worried about not being able to make three nights of primitive camping, rest assured that there’s some help that shows up every day.

Be prepared to spend an extra night if the weather doesn’t cooperate. It doesn’t happen often, but there is a possibility, so don’t over gorge yourself and eat all that beef jerky the last night because you don’t want to take it back with you.

Heading Back to Key West

Break down your campsite and make sure that all the sand is off everything. Grab a wheelbarrow off the dock and cart all your gear and garbage bag to the picnic tables on the pier where they unloaded you. You need to have your equipment there before the ferry docks, or by 10:30.

It’s best to do it first thing in the morning, that way you don’t have to fight for a wheelbarrow and can do whatever you want before the ferry leaves at 2:30. Hang out at the beach one last time, snorkel the moat wall again, or take one of the tours.

If you are on the fence about camping at Dry Tortugas National Park, let me tell you that if you ever have a chance, take it! You will not regret it, and it will give you an experience that you will remember forever.

Did I miss something? Have you been there and have your own tips, or are you going and you still have questions? Drop a comment below and I’ll answer.

Looking for things to do while you’re in Key West? Check out 9 Awesome Things to do in Key West right here!

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Pigeon Key, is a small key that you’ve likely never heard of. If you’re traveling the Overseas Highway in the Florida Keys, when you get to the Seven Mile Bridge, you should take the time to visit this island that sits under a dazzling blue sky and is surrounded by turquoise waters. So, as you’re traveling along the Seven Mile Bridge, stuck behind somebody going 5 miles under the speed limit. When you are just south of Marathon if you look off of the west side of the bridge there’s a little-known tourist attraction. And no, I’m not talking about Fred the Tree.

The Overseas Highway

There are 800 keys in the Florida chain of islands. Of course, everyone knows the big ones, Key West, Key Largo, and Marathon, (which is really just a municipality for a bunch of keys grouped together). The Overseas Highway connects them all.

The Overseas Highway that connects the Florida Keys to the mainland is full of history. When Henry Flagler opened it in 1912 as a railroad (he wanted to take advantage of Key West’s deep-water ports), it was considered the eighth wonder of the world. Construction lasted for 7 years and employed thousands of workers on a 100 mile plus railway. At the time, the only way to get around the keys was by boat, so there had to be somewhere convenient to house those workers, enter Pigeon Key.

If you’ve ever had the white-knuckle pleasure of crossing the Seven Mile Bridge pre 1981 you would know that the bridge was only 22 feet wide for two lanes of traffic with no shoulders. Fortunately for drivers, they replaced that bridge with a modern, wider, bridge. And even more fortunately for you, they refurbished the old one and now you can walk, bike, or even take a trolley train to Pigeon Key.

After you’ve been through Pigeon Key, pay a visit to Bahia Honda State Park for fantastic camping, beaches, and reef tours.

Pigeon Key History

Pigeon Key was first set up for construction personnel in 1908 and could house up to 250 workers in a combination of fixed buildings and tents. Construction lasted until 1912, after that the key was turned into a maintenance/bridge-tender camp. It even housed a post office for a brief period. After the 1935 hurricane wiped out the railroad, the state bought the right of way and transformed the railroad into a highway. The state pretty much just laid concrete on the railroad R.O.W. so you were driving on a very narrow bridge with no shoulders. Imagine driving your 1972 Chrysler New Yorker in a rainstorm on a narrow bridge and a truck bearing down on you!

After the highway was completed in 1938, Pigeon Key went through various iterations of government property; toll road headquarters, research facilities, and Coast Guard barracks to name a few. The current seven-mile bridge which runs parallel to the old bridge was opened in 1982. In 1990 the National Register of Historic Places designated Pigeon Key as an historic district.

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Tours of Pigeon Key

Today it’s known as Pigeon Key and Marine Science Center and is a non-profit organization. They have youth summer camps and offer daily tours. While there are buildings on the island, there are only a few full-time people that stay on the island.

Summer camps allow students to stay overnight for up to 4 nights. Students are immersed in the marine environment that surrounds the island and are given background knowledge with fun activities. While this sounds like a great time for anybody, unfortunately for adults the camp is only for ages 10-16.

But, fortunately for everyone, Pigeon Key is open daily for tours, picnics, snorkeling, and just hanging out. There are four tours daily. If you take the trolley, it’ll cost you $30, you can save a few bucks if you’re a local or veteran. Child tickets are $25. You can purchase tickets here and catch the trolley here.

If you want to walk or bike, there is a small parking lot at the entrance, but you better get there early or be willing to wait for a spot to open up. Luckily parking spots turn over fairly often. There is also another parking lot about 1/4 mile north of the bridge. This is where you park if you’re taking the trolley or riding a bike.

The walk to Pigeon Key from the parking lot is two miles, so make sure that you hydrate before and during your walk or bike. You’ll want to keep an eye on the water below as you traverse the bridge, from there you can see sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and other marine life. Notice the guard rails as you’re crossing the bridge, yes, those are the original railroad tracks the have been repurposed. Once you get to the island, admission is $15 for adults and $12 for kids, 3 and under are free. Again, veterans and locals save a couple of dollars, so don’t forget your ID.

Tours take you through the buildings, and the great staff elaborate on the history of the island. The tour includes the history of the 11 buildings that are still standing, displays, and artifacts. Bonus, if you take the 1 pm tour you can feed the sharks!

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Pigeon Key is a great place to stop on your way to Key West! Check out our ultimate guide to Key West here!

Enjoy the Day on Pigeon Key

Once you’re on the island you can explore on your own. Venture out and enjoy the stunning views from the dock. Better yet, bring your own snorkel gear and take a dip in the amazingly clear waters. From under the water or above it, you’ll see a variety of marine life that call Pigeon Key home.

There are tables and benches if you want to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it while the island breeze keeps you cool. Bring a blanket and your bathing suit and enjoy hanging out near the water. Don’t forget your fishing pole and license so you can fish from the dock. Sorry, catch and release only, so make sure that you get a pic of that record breaking tarpon before you throw it back in.

One last thing, dogs aren’t allowed, so you’ll have to leave Rusty at home.

Pigeon Key opens at 9.30 am, they don’t even mind if you stay the whole day, they just want you gone by 4:30. There is a gate that they close once the last trolley for the day leaves. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the sunset from the bridge. Unpack those chairs that you brought and enjoy what is sure to be a spectacular sunset.

Want to know more about the Florida Keys? We’ve got you covered right here with Adventure Florida Keys.

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People have been doing awesome things in Key West ever since there were pirates prowling the waters around the infamous island. From deep sea fishing to rambling down Duval Street until four in the morning, there is something for everyone. Use this handy guide whether you’re going to Key West for a day or a week.

Not enough for you here? That’s great! Then you’re the perfect person to check out our guide to the Ultimate Key West.

Snorkel Tours

There are some awesome reefs around Key West, be sure to snorkel one of them. You can do an all day adventure or just do a morning or afternoon tour. Better yet, take one of the dolphin watching and snorkel combos and be the envy of your friends back home.

Scuba Diving

Key West waters are littered with sunken ships. They’ve been sunken both by accident and on purpose. Maybe you’ll find that sunken pirate booty and become famous! Or you can dive the USS Vanderberg and fin-walk the decks of a famous warship.

Want to scuba dive and don’t have a PADI Certification? No problem, there are plenty of PADI authorized shops that can teach you or you can do a Discover Scuba Course and start on the path to your dream of living underwater.

Deep Sea Fishing

One of the more awesome things to do in Key West is getting on a charter fishing boat and heading out to sea to land a big one, fish that is. Just imagine how excited your wife will be when you bring home that Sailfish and mount him in the living room! Grouper, Mahi Mahi, Snapper, you can even exact revenge for Amity Island and catch a shark.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Do yourself a favor and take a day and get over to Dry Tortugas. It’s about 70 miles from Key West and is only accessible by boat or seaplane. Surrounded by crystal clear waters is the historic Fort Jefferson, built in the 1800’s. Spectacular snorkeling abounds in the majestic blue waters encompassing the island. If you want to spend more than a day there pack your tent and stay at the campgrounds.

Want to keep track of what you did on your vacation? How about having a convenient place to jot down all your vacation thoughts? Maybe keep track of everywhere that you’ve been in one book? Check out our stylish journals to record all of your thoughts.

Each page has a black and white image of the cover on it. Available in hardcover or paperback.

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

Not only could Ernest Hemingway write, he was also an avid outdoorsman, and he loved to drink. He devoted his time in Key West to all three. He wrote 70 percent of his published works while he lived in this house. When he wasn’t writing you could find him on a boat deep sea fishing. As for the drinking, one trip to Key West will tell you everything that you need to know about that.

Take one of the guided tours through this wonderfully maintained house and step back in time to the 1930’s. Learn about how Ernest spent his days writing, playing and drinking. You can head on over to Sloppy Joe’s after and maybe after drinking there you’ll become a prolific writer too.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historical State Park

Put Fort Zachary on your list of awesome things to do in Key West. It’s a Civil War era fort that was used continuously until 1947. At one time it was three stories but through retrofits over the years, today it’s down to one story. That still gives you enough to see how soldiers lived and worked in the late 1800’s. The fort is filled with Civil War canons and if you time it right you can visit when they do a living history weekend where they have re-enactors portraying what it was like to be a soldier in 1861.

Your admission into Fort Zachary also allows you access to the beach, hiking, and biking trails so load up the car with the beach gear and you can make a full day there. The snorkeling and fishing are great off the beach and the sunsets are fantastic!

If you’re only going to be in Key West for three days, here’s the perfect guide for that!

Key West Historic Seaport

While Duval Street gets all the hype, there’s another area of town that is a great place to hang out. Filled with restaurants and bars that line up along the waterfront is the Key West Historic Seaport.

Here you can enjoy your dinner and watch the fishing boats come in after a day on the water and separate their catch. Or, enjoy a cocktail as the sun sets in the only way that it knows how to in Key West, spectacular!

Most places have live entertainment that carries on through the night and it’s close enough to Mallory Square that you can pop on over there and catch the shenanigans going on there.

Key West Paddleboard/Kayak Tours

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What a great way to spend some time in Key West. Kayaking or paddleboarding among the many mangroves that are surrounding the Keys. Never been paddleboarding before? Don’t worry, they’ll teach you how!

Slicing through the shallow water on your stand up paddleboard at a nice leisurely pace, you can spot marine life below you. You think “how can this get any better?”. Well, it does, because as you’re cruising along you’ll also be getting a lesson on mangrove formation and the sea life that inhabits them from your guide.

Definitely take a morning or an afternoon to fit this in, you might even like it so much you’ll move up to paddleboard yoga!

Key West Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour

Tired of walking? Spent too much time on Duval Street last night but you still want to go sightseeing? Then hop on board the Hop-on Hop- Off Trolley Tour!

You can buy one or two day unlimited passes that allow you to ride the trolley and get on and off as you please (just wait until the trolley comes to a full stop!). Get off at the stops that you want to see and while you’re on the trolley sit back and listen as the expert guides give you the history of the island and it’s attractions.

Don’t worry about being stranded at a stop for too long, usually another trolley arrives about every 20 minutes and the trolleys run from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.

For more fun things to do in the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right HERE!

The post 9 Awesome Things to do in Key West appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.

I love Key West! I love the vibe of the island, I love all that there is to do, I love the people, about the only thing that I don’t like is getting there. You say that the drive there is beautiful. I agree, it is beautiful, but please don’t be one of those people poking around, going five miles under the speed limit. Then when they get to the passing lane, they speed up to 80 until it’s back down to one lane, then it’s back to five miles under the speed limit. It’s the damndest thing, it happens every time. Anyway, on to three perfect days in Key West.

You’ll want to find the perfect hotel to stay in while you spend your three perfect days. Find a list of hotels here.

Unless you’re flying into Key West early in the morning, these three days don’t include travel days. Key West is about four hours from Miami, so you pretty much waste a day traveling if you’re flying into one of the Miami airports. If you’re traveling from somewhere other than Homestead, you’ll do good to get to Key West, check into your hotel and spend the night relaxing.

Day 1 Walking and Exploring

Day one of three days in Key West has a lot of walking in it so make sure that you bring plenty of water, good walking shoes, and you can cut out attractions as you see fit.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory

The number of butterflies in here is amazing! You learn all about butterflies with a butterfly primer in an outer room and then move into the butterfly room. Very tropically landscaped with butterflies and birds flying throughout. There are even two Pink Flamingos, Rhett and Scarlett, who’ll entertain you with their antics. Once you’re done, no rush, you end up in, you guessed it, the gift shop. But you already knew that because that’s where you started.

Admission is $15.50/12.50 for adults/children with discounts for military and seniors.

The Southernmost Point

Yeah, everybody who has been to Key West has their picture in front of The Southernmost Point sign on their Facebook page. What they don’t show you is the line that you have to wait in to get that pic, in the heat, with no shade. It’s on the way to the next attraction so you can stop, wait, and post it to your Facebook/Insta account, or not.

Due to construction of South and Whitehead Streets, the Southernmost Point Buoy has been temporarily moved to the end of Duval Street by the Southernmost House. There’s still a line, the best time to get a pic is early morning or late in the evening, bonus there’s better lighting at that time too.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

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Named after Zachary “Old Rough and Ready” Taylor, Fort Taylor was built in 1845 and held “active duty” status through 1947. When it was built it was three stories high and completely surrounded by water. Through the years it has been updated to suit the needs of the military. Today it’s only one story, but it still holds the largest cache of Civil War-era seacoast cannons.

But Wait, There’s More…

There’s more than just a fort, there’s also a beach area and nature trails. Bring your fishing gear and impress your family with how resourceful you are as you catch fish, clean it, and cook it on the convenient grills in the picnic area. After you’re done eating, wait the “mom required” 30 minutes and snorkel right off the beach. Don’t have snorkeling gear? Don’t worry they’ll rent it to you right there. After you’ve spent your day touring, fishing, and snorkeling, relax in one of the beach chairs that you rented when you returned the snorkel gear and enjoy a fantastic sunset.

Earnest Hemingway Home and Museum

Full of history, the house is well preserved with plenty of pictures. Get a guide or do the self-guided tour thing. Either way you’ll enjoy exploring the grounds and learning the history of Earnest Hemingway. He wrote about 70% of his books in this very house. One of the things that you’ll learn there is that ole Ern was a cat person and there are still descendants of his famous six-toed cats living at the house.

Admission is $19/$7 for adults/children. Tours are included in the price and start every 15 minutes.

Key West Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters

Go ahead, climb the 88 steps to the top of the lighthouse and get a bird’s eye view of the island. Key West is a notoriously hard island to navigate a boat around. And you’ll find that out when you tour the keeper’s quarters and explore the history of lighthouses on the island.

Admission is $15.50/$7.50 for adults/children, and there’s a $4 discount for seniors, locals, and college students.

Viva Saloon

What a better way to end the day than on the patio enjoying fresh seafood and a cold drink or two. Live music plays throughout the day. This is a great place to unwind, and the prices are reasonable.

Day 2 Sailing, Snorkeling, and Kayaking

Day two of three days in key west is on the water. If you bring sunscreen, make sure that it’s biodegradable.

Danger Charters Cruise

Cool name, but it’s not dangerous. That guy sitting across from you? He’s not a pirate, he’s just a hipster.

This is a fun trip, and you can do a morning trip, afternoon trip (which stays out for the sunset) or bring out the sailor in you and spring for the full day trip.

Leave from the Margaritaville Resort and Marina and set sail to Key West National Wildlife Refuge. Once the crew drops anchor it’s time to get your snorkel gear and jump into the water. Under water you’ll see some of the more than 600 tropical colored marine wildlife species, including sting rays among the coral reefs.

After everybody gets back on board it’s time for snacks, or lunch and drinks (oh yeah!). You can eat and socialize while you head to your next destination, the mangroves. Mangroves are essentially forests of shrubs and small trees that grow in the salt water. Once you’re there, everybody gets in their kayaks and the crew will guide you around the tree/shrub island and tell you about their formation.

Finally, enjoy the relaxing trip back to the marina as you mingle and enjoy the complimentary drinks.

Schooner Wharf Bar

After a day on the water head on over to the Schooner Wharf Bar. Cold drinks, great food, fun crowd, and live bands. Do yourself a favor and sit by the water so you can watch the fishing boats bring their catch in.

Day Three Biking and Exploring the Island

Day Three, the final day of three days on Key West is an exploring the island day.

Sunrise to Sunset

Wake up early and join the crowd (yes, there is a crowd) for the sunrise at the Edward B. Knight Pier. While you’re there, there’s a great bike/running path along the seawall that starts at Higgs Beach and goes to the airport.

Rent a bike or scooter and explore the island. Bike to Duval Street and pick up your souvenirs, T- shirts, and Fine Art. Cruise up and down the side streets and be amazed at how tight they pack their houses, then get even more amazed at how adverse they are to grass and actually landscape every inch of their yard.

Bike on over to Fort East Martello Museum and explore another Civil War era fort. Or go to the poor man’s West Martello Tower, which is the twin to East Martello. It’s not as intact but it’s free. It’s run by Key West Garden Club and funded on donations so don’t be a total tightwad, donate a couple of bucks.

Or let the adventurer in you out. Check out Fury’s Parasailing. Get awed when you’re floating above the crystal-clear waters that surround Key West. Get really awed when you see dolphins and sharks in the water and you realize how close that they swim to shore!

Commotion on the Ocean Sunset Sail

Find it on TripAdvisor as Key West Sunset Cruise with Fury Water Adventures. You might get lucky and get the appropriately named Captain Morgan. Be sure to ask him to do the Captain Morgan pose for you, he loves that.

Beer, wine, margaritas, and champagne flow continuously as a band plays on the main deck. Enjoy the sounds of 80s bar music floating in the background and laugh at the 20 other boats who don’t have music. Be prepared, because when the sun sets, it’s spectacular!

Once you get back to shore there’s still plenty of time to hit up one of the great restaurants on Duval Street. Go ahead and enjoy yourself, you’re going back to real life tomorrow.

You Might Also be Interested In:

Not enough for you? Well, wander over to our Ultimate Guide to Key West then.

Okay, you’ve read about and now you want to get to Key West as fast as you can. Find out how to get the cheapest airfares here.

For more fun things to do in the Florida Keys, check out Adventure Florida Keys right HERE!

The post A Perfect Three Days in Key West appeared first on Get Out and Adventure.