While we’ve visited Key West many times over the years, Dry Tortugas National Park had been sitting at the top of my bucket list forever. This Easter, we finally made it happen — and packed a whole lot of fun into just a few days. Here’s a look at our three-day Key West adventure, including flying in the seaplane to Dry Tortugas, beach days, great eats, and of course, plenty of island time.
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Day 1: Tampa to Key West — Flights, Golf Carts, and Getting Settled
We flew from Tampa to Key West with a short layover in Miami, on American Airlines. I would’ve loved a direct flight, but the only option would have been Silver Airways — and after their recent debacle in Orlando, I wasn’t willing to risk it.
The flights were uneventful, and we landed in Key West around 1 PM. Quick tip: Key West Airport’s arrivals area is literally one room — be prepared to cram in with a couple hundred of your new best friends around a single baggage belt. The upside? There’s a bar in the baggage claim, and all the drinks are doubles. Welcome to Key West. 😉
Once we had our bags, we grabbed an Uber for the quick 20-minute ride into town and arrived at the Southernmost Point Guest House around 2 PM…. to find our room wasn’t ready. Slight bummer. No big deal though — we dropped our bags and grabbed lunch and drinks at their patio bar while we waited.
Meanwhile, our golf cart rental from Southernmost Golf Carts arrived! Yes, delivered right to the hotel. Super convenient. The delivery guy was great — full of helpful tips, and we even rented a Yeti cooler for the weekend to keep our beach drinks cold. (Note: They can also deliver their golf carts to the airport, but unless you pack light, that could be a little tricky.)
After getting the cart, we cruised over to pick up race packets for the Earth Day 5K we planned to run the next morning. (Yes, we signed up for a race on vacation. Not my idea, but my son really wanted to do it!)
We finished the day with dinner at Ram’s Head Southernmost. The food was just average, but the cute courtyard and all the lawn games on their back patio made it a hit with the kiddo — so, that’s a win in my book. We grabbed a quick ice cream afterwards at Matheessen’s and ended the night with wine on the balcony, soaking in the Key West breeze.
(You can get a peek at all the food we ate on this trip over here, including our faves!)
Day 2: Race Morning and Our Dry Tortugas Adventure
Morning came early with the Earth Day 5K at Truman Waterfront Park. It wasn’t the most organized run I’ve ever seen, but it was fun nonetheless — and my son even won his age group! Total proud Mom moment.
In case you were wondering, this is what I look like after running three miles. And now it’s immortalized on the internet.
After the race, we fueled up with brunch at Moon Dog Cafe. It was packed, but we lucked out with a quick table — and the food was really good. Definitely recommend stopping here if you get a chance.
Then it was time for the main event: Dry Tortugas! This was the real motivation for coming to Key West in the first place, and we’ve been looking forward to this for months.
We booked the 2 PM half-day seaplane tour with Key West Seaplane Adventures, and checked in around 1:30 PM at the airport. After a quick briefing, we boarded the plane — and wow, what an experience! (You can read all the details about the seaplane and our trip to Dry Tortugas here!)
The planes are small — just 10 passengers per flight — and everyone gets a window seat, which is key because the views are unreal. The flight itself takes about 40 minutes, and we flew low the entire way, giving us a bird’s-eye view of the shallow turquoise waters, sandbars, and even a sunken shipwreck.
The pilot (flying barefoot, naturally) pointed out highlights like the Marquesas Keys and we kept our eyes open for sharks and sea turtles, all while island music played through our headsets.
It was hands-down one of the most fun flights I’ve ever taken. There’s just something magical about flying over that water — you see every shade of blue, green, and everything in between. The anticipation builds the whole time, and then suddenly you’re circling Fort Jefferson, getting your first glimpse of that red brick hexagon sitting out in the middle of nowhere.
And then the best part: landing on the water. The plane gently touches down in the ocean and literally coasts right up to the sand. Such a cool experience!
We had about 2.5 hours on the island, and the timing was perfect. The ferry, packed with day-trippers, was just pulling away as we arrived — which meant we had the place almost entirely to ourselves, apart from a few campers and the other seaplane guests.
We started with a quick tour of Fort Jefferson, which is way more massive and interesting than I expected. You can climb up to the roof for amazing views, walk through the old corridors, and check out the cannons and exhibits inside.
Then we hit the beach for snorkeling — mostly around the moat wall. The snorkeling itself was fun and unique (I mean, you’re snorkeling next to a pre-Civil War-era fort), though the marine life wasn’t as abundant as I’d hoped. Still, we saw a good mix of fish, and just being in the water there was an experience in itself.
After snorkeling, we had just enough time to relax on the nearly empty beach, crack open a cold drink, and soak up the sun before boarding the seaplane for the flight back. And yes — the flight back was just as incredible as the way out.
Dinner that night was at Santiago’s Bodega, a cozy little tapas spot. Highly recommend the food — especially the saganaki! (Skip the sangria though – that was a miss.) We were too wiped out to contemplate dessert.
Day 3: Beach Morning, Butterflies, and Good Eats
We started the day with a beach trip to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. If you’re looking for a beach day in Key West, this is one of the better options — though keep in mind, Key West isn’t really known for big sandy beaches like Tampa or Miami.
We got there around 8:30 AM, and there was no wait at the entrance and plenty of parking. Pro tip: The concession stand and chair rentals don’t open until 10 AM, so bring your own blanket if you want to grab a spot early (which worked out great for us — and saved us $40 on chair rentals).
The beach area is pretty but not huge, and the water was too rough for snorkeling that day. Still, it’s a great spot for a picnic under the shady trees and a scenic, relaxed morning. By the time we left around 11:30 AM, the parking lot was getting full and there was a line to get in. Definitely go early if you can.
After that, we headed back to Ram’s Head — mainly because my son wanted another shot at their yard games. There was a one-hour wait for a table, but we snagged drinks and hung at the high tops by the games instead. The bartender even hooked the kid up with some food — so this is a good hack if you’re short on patience!
Later in the afternoon, we visited the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, which was literally next door to our hotel — and way cooler than I expected. The place is bursting with butterflies — they’re everywhere — and it’s such a peaceful, beautiful spot to wander through. Plus, seeing all the cocoons and newly hatched butterflies at the end was fascinating.
For dinner, we grabbed pizza at Clemente’s, a small and super tasty spot. It’s tiny (not many tables), but they took our name over the phone and seated us fairly quickly. Totally worth it — another food highlight! We wrapped up the night with dessert from the famous Rainbow Cone. Because ice cream is always a good idea.
Day 4: Heading Home
On our last morning, we squeezed in the obligatory photo op at the Southernmost Point buoy, grabbed coffee, and made our way to the airport.
Key West Airport is tiny — and there’s basically nothing to do once you get through security. Heads up: While our check-in process was smooth, I noticed Silver Airways had huge lines and the security check was very disorganized. So depending on your airline and whether you have bags to check in, you might want to give yourself a little extra time.
We left our hotel around 9:30 AM for an 11:30 AM flight and had plenty of time.
Final Thoughts
Three days in Key West went by in a flash, but we packed in so much — from flying to Dry Tortugas, relaxing beach time, great food, and even a 5K race! If you’re thinking about planning a Key West trip, I can’t recommend this little island enough. Just be ready for a little chaos, a lot of chickens, and a whole lot of fun.
More Key West Trip Planning Tips
If you’re planning a trip to Key West, be sure to check out these other helpful articles: