Dry Tortugas National Park Alerts & Closures

CautionUpdated Oct 24, 2026

Small Craft Advisory for Dry Tortugas waters

A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for Gulf waters including Dry Tortugas; inexperienced boaters, especially those in smaller vessels, should avoid operating.

Through 00:00 UTC October 27, expect northeast winds near 20 knots, gusts up to 25 knots, and seas 6–8 feet (highest in the southeastern Gulf and Straits of Florida).
Hazardous winds and seas can cause poor vessel handling and steering, broaching, overturned dinghies and kayaks, slips and falls on wet decks, dock and seawall rub damage, swamped bows at reef mooring balls, and dragging anchors.

Check the current NWS marine advisory before departure

ClosureUpdated Oct 24, 2026

Moat wall sections closed

Sections of the moat wall remain closed; do not cross barricades and follow posted signs.

The sections were damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton (2024) and are undergoing repair and reinforcement; the NPS lists the closure until Winter 2026.

Check current park conditions before visiting.

ClosureUpdated Oct 24, 2026

Nesting-wildlife closures on park keys

Stay out of closed nesting-wildlife areas on Bush, Long, East, Middle, and Hospital Keys, and keep vessels at least 100 feet from the keys.

Bush Key: most of the island is open, but a small area on its north side, all vegetation, and all of Long Key remain closed until further notice to protect nesting frigatebirds.
East, Middle, Hospital, and Long Keys are closed year-round for nesting wildlife.
To protect nesting seabirds and sea turtles, vessels may not anchor within 100 feet of East, Middle, Hospital, Long, and Bush Keys, unless signs or demarcation buoys indicate otherwise.

Check current park conditions before visiting.

CautionUpdated Oct 24, 2026

Garden Key Harbor Light extinguished

Vessel operators: the Garden Key Harbor Light is extinguished while repairs are underway.

The NPS does not know when the light will be illuminated again.

Check current park conditions before navigating.

InfoUpdated Oct 24, 2026

Migrant landings may affect visitor areas

Cuban migrant landings may affect visitor areas on the park’s islands.

The NPS reports an increase in migrants arriving by boat from Cuba and landing on park islands; visitors may observe landings and visitor areas may be impacted.

Check current park conditions for updates.

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Dry Tortugas Tour Guide

Dry Tortugas, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Dry Tortugas National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this place

Loggerhead Key and Dry Tortugas Light

0:00 / 0:36

“You're approaching Loggerhead Key, the park's largest island, with Dry Tortugas Light rising above the sand.”

Plays as you drive up to Loggerhead Key in the Parkwolf Dry Tortugas Tour Guide.

Dry Tortugas alerts