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Dry Tortugas centers on the massive, still-standing Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century coastal fortress rising out of the water 70 miles from Key West — a genuinely striking sight after a long boat or seaplane ride to get there. The surrounding islands and reefs are just as much a draw as the fort itself.
Because it's only reachable by ferry or seaplane, this is one of the least-visited parks in the system despite sitting relatively close to a major tourist hub like Key West — most people never make the extra trip out.
Touring Fort Jefferson itself is the centerpiece — a self-guided walk through the largest brick masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere, with genuinely fascinating Civil War-era history. Snorkeling right off the fort's walls is excellent, with clear water and an easy entry point.
If you camp overnight (advance reservation required, no facilities beyond a composting toilet), you get the rare experience of having Fort Jefferson essentially to yourself after the day-trip ferry departs — genuinely one of the most unique overnight experiences in the park system.
Key West itself is worth a day or two on either end of your Dry Tortugas trip, and Everglades and Biscayne National Parks are both about 4 hours away if you're building a broader South Florida parks itinerary.
