RT Bush Key

A remote undeveloped island featuring pristine beaches, nesting seabirds, shallow turquoise waters, and a scenic shoreline trail within one of America's most isolated national parks.

General Information

Length:

1 mile round trip shoreline walk

Elevation Gain:

Minimal

Difficulty:

Easy

Hours:

Open from sunrise to sunset when accessible; typically open to visitors from October through January and seasonally closed February through September to protect nesting birds

Fees:

Dry Tortugas National Park entrance fee: $15 per person (7-day pass)
Children 15 and under: Free
Transportation by ferry, seaplane, or private boat required and charged separately

Pet Policy:

Pets are not permitted on Bush Key

Closest cities with hotels:

Key West (70 mi by boat or seaplane)

Seasons:

October through January is the primary visiting season for the island; Dry Tortugas National Park is open year-round

Location:

https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Bush+Key+Dry+Tortugas+National+Park+FloridaBush Key, Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida

Website:

.gov/drto/planyourvisit/bush-key.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">nps.gov/drto/planyourvisit/bush-key.htm

How to Get There

From Key West (70 mi): Take the Yankee Freedom III ferry, a seaplane charter, or a private boat west across the Gulf of Mexico to Garden Key in Dry Tortugas National Park, then walk to the island via the sandbar when present or access it by small watercraft when conditions permit and the island is open.

Overview

The Bush Key experience offers visitors a rare opportunity to explore one of the most secluded natural islands in the United States. Located beside Garden Key and Fort Jefferson, this small island is composed of shifting sands, coral rubble, and coastal vegetation shaped by currents, storms, and the surrounding waters of the Gulf of Mexico. During portions of the year, a natural sandbar connects the island to Garden Key, allowing visitors to walk along a scenic shoreline trail surrounded by brilliant blue water and sweeping views of the Dry Tortugas archipelago.

The island is especially significant for its wildlife. Each spring and summer, thousands of sooty terns, brown noddies, and other seabirds nest here, making it one of the most important bird rookeries in the continental United States. To protect these nesting colonies, the island closes seasonally to visitors. When open, travelers can enjoy a peaceful walk around the shoreline, observe marine life in the crystal-clear shallows, and experience an undeveloped tropical landscape that feels remarkably untouched. The combination of pristine scenery, abundant wildlife, and extraordinary isolation makes the island one of the most memorable destinations within Dry Tortugas National Park.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for Bush Key, which are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.