Private Boat to Dry Tortugas for Camping: Why It Beats the Ferry

If you've been dreaming about camping at Dry Tortugas National Park, you've probably already looked into the Yankee Freedom ferry. It's the most popular way to get there — but it's far from the best. Taking a private charter boat to Dry Tortugas for your camping trip gives you more flexibility, more freedom, and an experience the ferry crowd will never have.

Here's why more campers are choosing private charters over the ferry — and what you need to know before you go.

The Ferry Problem

The Yankee Freedom is a fine boat, but it comes with serious limitations for campers. Reservations sell out 9 to 12 months in advance. Each camper is limited to 60 pounds of gear, one storage bin, one duffel, and one cooler. You're locked into a fixed departure schedule — boarding by 6 AM, arriving around 10:30 AM — and you're sharing that ride with a boatload of day-trippers.

By the time the ferry docks and everyone scrambles to claim campsites, you're already burning daylight. And since campsites are first-come, first-served, that late arrival can mean settling for whatever spot is left.

Why a Private Charter Changes Everything

When you take a private boat to Dry Tortugas, the trip starts on your terms. You leave when you want, arrive ahead of the ferry crowd, and have first pick of campsites. No fighting over spots. No rushing.

You also get to bring more gear without stressing about weight limits and packing restrictions. Need extra water jugs, a better cooler, or more comfortable camping setup? Load it up.

But the biggest advantage is the journey itself. A private charter lets you stop along the way — snorkel the Marquesas, spot sea turtles in open water, or pull up to a sandbar that most visitors never see. The ferry takes you from Point A to Point B. A private boat turns the entire trip into the adventure.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

Camping at Dry Tortugas is primitive. There's no running water, no electricity, and no supplies available on the island. You bring everything in and carry everything out — including your trash. Here are the basics:

Campsites are located on Garden Key, a short walk from the dock. There are 10 individual sites, each accommodating up to 6 people and 3 tents. Sites cost $15 per night, paid in cash to park rangers. You'll need to bring all your own food, water (at least one gallon per person per day), and gear. Composting toilets are available but close during midday hours. Hard-sided containers are strongly recommended to keep rats out of your food.

If you arrive by private boat, you also have the option of sleeping aboard your vessel. Overnight anchoring is permitted within one nautical mile of the Fort Jefferson harbor light, in the sand and rubble bottom area, as long as you stay clear of designated channels.

Why Conch 'N Around Is the Right Charter for This Trip

Conch 'N Around runs private charters out of Key West on a 39-foot Fountain center console — a boat built for open water and long runs. The Dry Tortugas sit 70 miles offshore, and you want a vessel and a captain that can handle those conditions comfortably.

Every trip is fully customizable. Want to camp for two nights and snorkel remote reefs on the way out? Done. Want to combine a Dry Tortugas camping trip with spearfishing or lobstering? Your captain will build the itinerary around exactly what you want to do.

Trips include lunch, non-alcoholic beverages, snorkel gear, floats, water toys, and loungers — so you're set before you even pitch your tent. The boat comfortably accommodates up to 6 guests, which happens to be the exact capacity of a Dry Tortugas campsite.

Book Your Dry Tortugas Camping Charter

Skip the ferry waitlist. Skip the crowds. Take a private boat to Dry Tortugas and experience the park the way it was meant to be explored — on your schedule, with your crew, and with a local captain who knows every inch of these waters.

Call Conch 'N Around at (321) 202-6501 or visit conchnaround.com to plan your trip.