Garden Key Dry Tortugas National Park
Help protect this valuable vegetation. The use of bright lanterns is also discouraged during these hours. Please do no put trash, food scraps, or other items in these toilets.
Garden Key
But you must be prepared to camp in this remote location. Careful planning is essential to enjoy your visit to Dry Tortugas National Park.
Campsite Information A primitive campground is located on Garden Key and is a short walk from the public dock. The individual sites can each accommodate up to three 2-person tents total of 6 peopleand are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations are not required for the 6-person sites. All campers, once they arrive, will be guaranteed a place to camp. Reservations are not accepted for the 6-person sites.
When you arrive: Look for a table in the campground with a stenciled number. Only those tables with numbers are assigned to campsites. If all regular sites are occupied: Should you find all eight regular sites occupied, you must share the overflow area with other campers.
The overflow area is a grassy area near the regular campsites. Tables and grills are provided in overflow sites, but they must be shared with other overflow campers. As campers leave, you may move to a regular site if one becomes available.
Campsite Facilities Campers must bring all supplies, including a tent, fresh water, fuel, ice, and food. All trash and garbage must be carried out upon departure. Gas camping stoves or charcoal briquettes placed in campsite BBQ units are the only fires allowed.
Plan on bringing charcoal for grilling. Campsites include: Elevated grills for charcoal fires Hooks to keep items above the ground Campground Facilities: Toilets: Composting toilets are located in the campground.
The composting toilets are closed from approximately 10 a. During these hours, please use the facilities aboard the commercial ferry boats at the dock. Showers: There are no public showers in Dry Tortugas. When the ferry is docked at Garden Key, visitors are welcome to use their fresh water rinse no soap allowed. Plan to bring battery-powered appliances as needed. Bring an extra day’s supply of food and water in case of ferry cancellations. Bring food items in hard-sided containers for protection from rats and crabs.
Posts are available to hang food and trash. Shelter: Tent requiredsleeping bag and pad, and strong stakes for the frequent high winds. Cooking: Match-light charcoal for campground grills fuel is not permitted aboard ferrieswaterproof matches and lighter, cooking utensils, biodegradable soap, and trash bags.
Clothing: Cold and warm-weather clothing, rain gear, lightweight long-sleeve shirt and Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt for sun and bug protection, wide-brimmed hat. Personal Equipment: Medications, first-aid kit, knife, flashlight with spare batteries, snorkel gear, binoculars, sunglasses and sunscreen, insect repellent, and personal items.
Private boaters and paddlers require additional safety gear. Campground Regulations Space is Limited. Each of the regular campsites contains a table, post for hanging food, and a BBQ grill. Three tents and six campers are the maximum allowed per campsite.
All equipment must remain within ten feet of your table. Protect Park Vegetation. Trees and shrubs are crucial to provide some shade and wind break. Help protect this valuable vegetation. Do not attach anything to campground trees but clothes line may be strung between posts. All camping gear must be free standing. Respect closed areas of the park. No Wood Fires. Charcoal briquettes placed in campsite BBQ grills are only fires allowed.
Gas camping stoves are permitted by the park, but commercial ferries do not permit them on board. Composting toilets are located in the campground. Waste is composted in the equipment below the units. These systems are very fragile and are designed only for the disposal of human waste and toilet paper.
Please do no put Garden Key Dry…
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Transportation: Plan Ahead! If all regular sites are occupied: Should you find all eight regular sites occupied, you must share the overflow area with other campers. Overnight anchoring is allowed in the area of sand and rubble bottom within 1 nautical mile of the Fort Jefferson harbor light and must not block any designated channel. All campers, once they arrive, will be guaranteed a place to camp.