Coastal camping · Florida

Dry Tortugas (Garden Key)

Camp beside a fort on an island 70 miles out to sea

SettingCoastal
StateFlorida
Best seasonWinter & spring
ReserveCamping permit + ferry/seaplane booking (NPS)

Seventy miles west of Key West, reachable only by ferry or seaplane, Garden Key lets you pitch a tent in the shadow of Fort Jefferson on a speck of sand in turquoise water. Snorkel the moat wall, then watch the Milky Way with zero light pollution.

Why camp here

Don’t miss: Fort Jefferson at golden hour

RVs & rigs: No RVs — ferry/seaplane access only; pack in everything (incl. water)

What’s here

  • Fort Jefferson
  • Snorkeling the moat
  • Crystal-clear water
  • Pristine dark skies

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