Fort Jefferson Beach

Fort Jefferson Beach is reachable only by ferry or seaplane — there is no road connection whatsoever. The daily ferry departs from Key West Historic Seaport and takes approximately 135 minutes each way; book well ahead, as it sells out weeks in advance during high season. If you're short on time, a seaplane from Key West Airport cuts the journey to around 40 minutes, though it comes at a significantly higher cost. A $15 per-person national park entrance fee applies on arrival, waived if you carry a valid National Park Pass.

The Dry Tortugas National Park Reef, just 0.2 km from the beach, offers pristine snorkeling with exceptional visibility and abundant marine life — it's the main reason most visitors make the journey. Fort Jefferson itself, a massive 19th-century brick fortification, is open to explore; the bastions — A, B, and E — ring the structure and reward anyone who takes the time to walk the full perimeter. Just 0.3 km away, Bush Key Bird Rookery hosts one of the largest sooty tern colonies in North America, an extraordinary spectacle during nesting season. Between the fort, the reef, and the birds, a full day disappears quickly.

There are no restaurants, cafés, or food vendors on Garden Key. Bring everything you plan to eat and drink for the day — and remember, no glass containers are allowed in the park.

The only place to sleep on the island is Garden Key Campground, just 0.2 km from the beach. Camping here requires an advance permit, so plan well ahead if you want to experience the island after the day-trippers have headed back to Key West.

The single most striking shot on the island is Fort Jefferson's towering brick walls reflected in the turquoise water — arrive on the morning ferry to catch soft light before the midday glare flattens the colour. For a wider composition, the reef-side shoreline looking back toward the fort gives you white sand, turquoise water, and the full scale of the fortification in one frame.

Bring a minimum of one gallon of drinking water per person per day — there is absolutely no freshwater on the island, and this is a genuine safety requirement, not a suggestion. No glass containers are permitted anywhere in the park, collecting coral, shells, or marine life is prohibited, and if you plan to camp, you must secure a permit in advance. Swimming and snorkeling are prohibited inside the moat, at the dinghy beach, and in any channels; do not enter the moat, dive from the walls, touch or stand on coral, or stand on seagrass — follow all posted signage and stay clear of barricaded areas under ongoing repair. There is no lifeguard on duty, so watch for jellyfish, stingrays, sharp coral, and sudden weather changes whenever you're in the water. True digital-detox territory — bring offline books, because cell signal fades fast and there is nowhere to plug in a laptop.