Garden Key Campground

Garden Key Campground is Dry Tortugas National Park’s only campground, a primitive, tent-only site on the grassy southwest side of Garden Key beside Fort Jefferson. It’s worth the overnight if you want a fuller visit: after the day ferry and seaplane visitors leave, the island gets much quieter. Expect a remote camp where you bring everything you need.

There’s no road access to the park; Garden Key is about 70 miles west of Key West. Campers can arrive by commercial ferry, private vessel, or permitted tour guide. Seaplanes don’t take campers or their gear. From the public dock, it’s a short walk to camp, and carts there help move supplies.

The eight regular sites each have a table, charcoal grill, and food-hanging post; each allows up to three two-person tents. Regular sites are first-come, first-served, and ferry-arriving campers are guaranteed a place in the shared grassy overflow if those sites fill. The separate group area, for 10 to 20 people, can be reserved ahead.

There’s no food, drinking water, fuel, or store at the campground, and no electricity, public showers, Wi-Fi, or cell service. Plan to carry all provisions: the park recommends two gallons of water per person per day and an extra day’s supply in case a crossing is delayed. Four composting toilets serve the campground, and you pack out your trash. Store food in hard-sided containers; rats can chew into tents and packs.

Garden Key shares its small island with Fort Jefferson, the massive unfinished masonry fort begun in 1846 to defend Gulf shipping. It later served as a military prison during the Civil War. The fort’s interior is open from sunrise to sunset, while the moat wall, beaches, and other public exterior areas remain open after dark, giving campers more time to explore than a day visit allows.