Dry Tortugas National Park is a National Park in Florida. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Dry Tortugas
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Dry Tortugas. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Dry Tortugas the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 64° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 296° (WNW) in June to 245° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 89° in summer but only 42° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 AM | 7:51 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:05 PM | 247° | 10h 46m |
| February | 7:06 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:27 PM | 257° | 11h 20m |
| March | 7:41 AM | 8:12 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:41 PM | 268° | 12h 00m |
| April | 7:10 AM | 7:41 AM | 7:23 PM | 7:54 PM | 281° | 12h 44m |
| May | 6:49 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:09 PM | 291° | 13h 20m |
| June | 6:43 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:22 PM | 296° | 13h 39m |
| July | 6:52 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:24 PM | 294° | 13h 31m |
| August | 7:07 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:07 PM | 286° | 13h 00m |
| September | 7:18 AM | 7:49 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:37 PM | 274° | 12h 18m |
| October | 7:30 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:35 PM | 7:06 PM | 261° | 11h 36m |
| November | 6:48 AM | 7:21 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:46 PM | 250° | 10h 57m |
| December | 7:09 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:12 PM | 5:46 PM | 245° | 10h 37m |
Computed for the park's reference point (24.6287, -82.8732); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Dry Tortugas, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 36° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 4:33 AM – 5:43 AM | 1.2 | 23° |
| March | 3:36 AM – 6:16 AM | 2.7 | 32° |
| April | 1:42 AM – 5:42 AM | 4.0 | 36° |
| May | 11:43 PM – 5:23 AM | 5.7 | 36° |
| June | 9:51 PM – 5:11 AM | 7.3 | 36° |
| July | 9:50 PM – 3:40 AM | 5.8 | 36° |
| August | 9:27 PM – 1:37 AM | 4.2 | 36° |
| September | 8:53 PM – 11:43 PM | 2.8 | 33° |
| October | 8:21 PM – 9:41 PM | 1.3 | 24° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
1 Estimated Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious.
Weather & best time to visit
The climate in the Dry Tortugas is subtropical, which basically means that it has warm and tropical weather in the range of 60°F to 90°F. The two main seasons are the winter stormy season from December through March which is windier and sees rougher seas, and the summertime tropical storm season from June through November where there is a higher chance of isolated storms. During the summers it is hot and humid. During the winter the temperature is milder and drier.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and September as the cloudiest (61%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Dry Tortugas National Park is one of the most remote parks in the National Park System. Located approximately 70 miles west of Key West it is accessible only by a daily concession ferry, private boats, charter boats, or seaplane.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Boating
- Boat Tour
- Camping
- Fishing
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Volunteer Vacation
- Paddling
- Junior Ranger Program
- SCUBA Diving
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store