We Took the Seaplane to Dry Tortugas National Park! Everything You Need to Know.

Getting to Dry Tortugas National Park isn’t cheap or easy, but it is one of the most unforgettable experiences you can have in Key West. After debating between the ferry and the seaplane, we decided to take the plunge (so to speak) and fly — and spoiler alert: it was 100% worth it.

Here’s everything you need to know about taking the seaplane to Dry Tortugas, from booking and costs to what to bring and what to expect when you get there!

Seaplane vs Ferry: Why We Chose to Fly

There is only one ferry that you can take to the Dry Tortugas – The Yankee Freedom. The ferry ride is about three hours each way and can get pretty rough depending on the seas. That’s six hours of your day potentially spent feeling like you’re on a never-ending boat ride. As someone that gets seasick even on cruise ships, this really didn’t appeal to me.

The seaplane, on the other hand, is a 30-40 minute flight each way and it’s a full-on experience, not just a means to an end. It’s fun, scenic, and starts your adventure the second you leave the runway.

That said, it’s definitely more expensive than the ferry — but the ferry isn’t exactly a bargain either (over $200 per ticket when we checked). Bottom line: no matter how you get there, Dry Tortugas is a splurge. But flying makes the journey just as exciting as the destination.

Booking the Seaplane (Way in Advance!)

There’s only one company that does seaplane tours to Dry Tortugas: Key West Seaplane Adventures. With just two planes and 10 passengers per flight, seats fill up fast – sometimes months in advance. So if you even think you want to fly, book it early!

I emailed them about availability using the contact form on their website and heard back within the hour. They were super responsive! I booked about two months in advance and the morning flights were already gone, but I was able to snag spots on the last flight of the day.

Cost (Hint: It’s pricey.)

As of the time I’m writing this, the prices are:

• Half-day tour: $494 per adult / $394 per child
• Full-day tour: $868 per adult / $768 per child

You should check their website for the latest prices. The full-day costs more because you take up two flight slots — morning out, afternoon back — which limits the number of passengers they can serve that day.

Yes, it’s pricey. But honestly, it felt worth it to have such a unique experience (and avoid six hours on a ferry). For comparison, ferry tickets were $235/person during our trip.

How Much Time Do You Get on the Island?

• Half-day tour: ~2.5 hours on the island
• Full-day tour: ~6.5 hours on the island

We did the half-day, and for us, it was the right call. I could’ve used maybe 30 more minutes to lounge on the beach, but I know I would’ve been melting in the sun on a full-day trip. We are Floridians, and would never spend 6.5 hours on the beach without a break from the sun!

If you’re like us and typically spend 3-4 hours max at the beach, the half-day gives you just enough time to explore, snorkel, and chill without feeling fried (literally or figuratively).

What is the best time of day to take the seaplane flight?

Flights leave at 8am, 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. If you can pick your time, I’d recommend the 8am or 2pm flights. Why? Because of the ferry schedule. The ferry is at the island from approximately 10:30am–3:00pm. So:

• On the 8am flight, you’ll leave just as the ferry crowds arrive.
• On the 2pm flight, you’ll arrive just as they’re packing up.

It’s the best way to enjoy the island with fewer people around — just seaplane guests and campers! And the park rangers.

Check-In & Pre-Flight Details

Check-in is at the small terminal at the Key West International Airport. Here’s what to expect:

• Arrive 30 minutes early.
• Park in the short-term lot and follow signs for Seaplane Check-In.
• There’s a restroom available before you fly (yes!)
• You’ll sign waivers, get an island map, and watch a short info video about the island, fort, and where to snorkel.
• You’ll also pay your national park entrance fee ($15/person — or bring your National Parks Pass!)

They’ll also get you squared away with coolers, drinks, and snorkel gear before you board.

What’s Provided

• Coolers – Small coolers are available to borrow. We brought our own backpack-style Yeti (rented with our golf cart).
• Drinks – Bottled water and sodas were available to load into your cooler.
• Snorkel Gear – Fins, masks, and snorkel vests are all provided. Just check out what you need.

What to Bring

• Swimsuits – Obviously. Best to just wear them so you’re ready to jump in the water when you get there!
• Towels – We always travel with lightweight Turkish beach towels. Easy to pack and they dry quick.
• Snacks/Lunch – There is no food available on the island, so be sure to pack lunch or snacks. While the seaplane had waters and sodas available to take, we also brought a few seltzers to enjoy on the beach after snorkeling. Yes, alcohol is allowed in the park. Just don’t get carried away. ;)
• Sunscreen – Choose a reef-safe brand if possible.
• Waterproof Camera or GoPro – You’ll want underwater pics. We took our GoPro, which was perfect for this. You can also grab one of those waterproof pouches for your cell phone, which work pretty well.
• Kids’ Flotation Gear – Bring a snug snorkel vest or life jacket if you’re traveling with kids. Even good swimmers get tired easily, so it’s nice to have something for them to simply float on when they get whiny. We also like these inflatable pool noodles for snorkeling – easy to pack and work great for adults too!
• Dry Clothes – The seaplane folks suggested a change of clothes “for your comfort”. I interpret that as “please don’t sit your wet behind in our airplane seats”. So just change before you get back on the plane. 😉

What Not to Bring

• Don’t bring any umbrellas or tents or beach chairs or anything like that – they can’t transport it.
• No drones, scuba gear, or styrofoam coolers
• Keep coolers small — backpack style is best if you are bringing your own.

The Flight: Absolutely Amazing

The flight to Dry Tortugas was an experience all by itself — and honestly, it might have been better than the actual island.

You board a small seaplane at the Key West airport, and within minutes, you’re taking off and checking out a perfect bird’s eye view of Key West! These planes are designed for sightseeing, so they fly low and slow — perfect for taking in the scenery. The water is so clear that you can see everything below: colorful vegetation, sandbars, shipwrecks, and even sea turtles if you’re lucky (we were on turtle lookout, but no sightings for us this time).

The plane flies over some very unique spots, like the wreck of the Arbutus, an old sunken ship you can see clearly from the air, and the Marquesas Keys, a wildlife management area that looks like little emeralds dropped into a turquoise sea. It’s unreal how vivid the colors are.

One of the coolest parts? Everyone gets a window seat. No fighting for views, no craning over someone’s shoulder. Every passenger has a headset too, so you can hear the pilot pointing out landmarks along the way.

And someone even gets to sit in the cockpit with the pilot. How fun is that? My husband did the honors on the trip there.

Our pilot, Joe, was the definition of laid-back Key West style — flying barefoot and playing his Caribbean music in the background. It felt less like a commercial flight and more like you were hopping over to a friend’s favorite beach spot. You know – if you’re friends had planes.

The landing itself is pure magic. It lands right on the ocean, skimming across the water and cruising right up to the island like a boat. It was smooth, exciting, and just different enough to make your heart do a little flutter. If you’ve never landed on water before, it’s something you’ll remember forever.

Honestly, the flight was so much fun, it was worth the cost of the trip on its own.

The Dry Tortugas Visit

We had 2.5 hours to explore the island, and when the ferry pulled away at 3pm, it felt like we had the place to ourselves.

We explored Fort Jefferson first, which is much bigger than I expected — multiple levels, rooftop views, and a bunch of cannons and other artifacts to satisfy your inner history nerd. There’s a small gift shop and museum that are worth a quick stop too.

We snorkeled the moat wall, and found a variety of fish — not as many as I hoped, but still cool. Tried the coal dock ruins, but the water was much too rough that day. There’s also a reef off the moat wall, but we never found the “good spot,” despite a valiant effort and a lot of swimming. I’m not sure if we were in the wrong location or if it’s just an overrated snorkeling spot.

But regardless, it was still a unique and fun experience. Once we’d had our fill of snorkeling, we kicked back on the gorgeous, crowd-free beach. And it really is just a beautiful spot.

Can You Camp There?

Yes — but not via seaplane. If you want to camp, you’ll need to take the ferry, and it’s a bit of an intense type of camping trip. There is no water supply or any concessions on the island. So you have to bring everything in and out, which includes bringing your own fresh water supply and carrying out any trash. It’s a bit much for casual campers like us, but I’ve heard it’s unreal at night with the stars and total quiet.

Should I tip the seaplane pilot?

I’m including this because I wanted to know this and didn’t get a good answer ahead of time! But yes, there are several hints provided that they would appreciate a tip. That being said – it’s an expensive trip already and hopefully they make decent money as pilots. So no need to get too crazy. It’s not like taking a tour on a Caribbean island where most of the guide’s income comes from tips.

So how much? I tipped $50 for our family of three. In asking others that have gone, I got answers ranging from $20 on the low side to $100 on the high side.

Was It Worth It?

Absolutely. Even though the snorkeling was a little underwhelming, the seaplane experience totally made up for it. Being able to enjoy Dry Tortugas without the ferry crowd? Amazing. And the flight itself? One of the most fun things we’ve ever done!

More Key West Trip Planning Tips

If you’re planning a trip to Key West, be sure to check out these other helpful articles:

• Three Days in Key West – Our Family Trip Recap
• Renting a Golf Cart in Key West
• Southernmost Most Point Guest House – Is it a good place to stay?
• Everything We Ate in Key West