Let locals get you ready
Camping at Fort Jefferson
Camping at Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas isn’t for the mint-on-a-pillow crowd. But if you’re willing to forego the “glamping” experience, every camping trip is a magical experience. Let us help you get started.
Think You’re Ready?
Test Your Primitive Camping Chops
You’ve decided to camp at Fort Jefferson. You’ve not bothered to wonder exactly what “primitive camping” means, because how hard could it be? Take our “are you ready” quiz to see if you’re really ready for this!
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Camping with LGC and Ranger Ed
May 2024
Great weather. Fewer people. And a lot of construction.
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Start your packing list
10 things we can’t do without
Quick links to Fort Jefferson camping resources
How to get there. That’s the first question. Second: What to pack. And, third: What to expect. Then we get to “How about kayaks and paddle boards?” Will kids enjoy this kind of camping? Maybe. Can I bring the pets? No. We’ve pulled together the best resources to answer your questions.
How to get there
The Yankee Freedom ferry is your best bet. It’s (relatively) inexpensive but getting a reservation is a bit like the “Hunger Games.” Seaplanes do NOT take campers. Private charters will cost you thousands. Learn more about the Yankee Freedom.
What to pack
The National Park Service and the Yankee Freedom have comprehensive checklists and we provide our own. It’s a lot easier to pack when you live in Key West, but off-island travelers can make it work. Most valuable tip: Don’t rely on the ferry for supplies.
The "best" site
No such thing, folks. Fort Jefferson’s camping sites are smaller than tiny houses and you’ll share every site with your neighbors. Don’t obsess over which site to pick. You can see all the sites at one time; you’ll take what’s open. Let us help you understand.
What to expect
This isn’t Disney World. There really aren’t “things to do.” But there are things to experience: Snorkeling (so-so); kayaking to the Lighthouse (experienced paddlers); star gazing (a lot of light pollution); sitting on the beach and wiling away the hours? Perfect.
Where is Fort Jefferson?
How does one move to Key West? There are lots of toss-off answers, like “marry rich” or “rob a bank,” but I decided to take this seriously. Here’s how one prepares to move to Key West.
Why would you leave?
Everyone dreams of living in Key West, a place where everyone knows why you’d move there. What most folks rarely stop to think about: Why would anyone up and leave? And they do. Lots of them.
North to Miami? Nope
Did you know you head east when you drive to Miami? Not north. East-northeast. And mostly east. Trust your eyes at sunrise. Well, except for a couple of stretches like that right turn in Big Pine, which is due south.
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