Dry Tortugas in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Peak crowds · VisitWhen score 60/100 · #5 of 12 months

December is peak season — the 6th-busiest month of the year, at Dry Tortugas National Park: crowds run 84% of the May peak (7,302 average visits). Weather: highs average 76°F and lows 67°F, with 2.4″ of precipitation and 10.6 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

Dry Tortugas in December: what the park service says

December is a busy month for camping at Dry Tortugas. The park service says winter draws visitors from colder places and that ferry seats fill fast over the winter holidays. The Yankee Freedom carries no more than 10 campers a day, and those reservations sell out months ahead. Garden Key's eight regular sites are first-come, first-served (only the group site can be booked), and you must bring everything: tent, fresh water (about two gallons per person per day), fuel, ice and food, plus a spare day in case a ferry is cancelled.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Dry Tortugas averages 7,302 recreation visits in December — 84% of what May, the peak month, draws. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging — book early and start days at dawn.

Weather & daylight

Days are pleasant (highs average 76°F), and nights stay mild (lows average 67°F). Average precipitation is 2.4″ for the month. Mid-month daylight runs 10.6 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station DRY TORTUGAS, FL US (0 mi from park coordinates, 3 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Dry Tortugas in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Packable rain jacket — 2.4″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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Want quieter or kinder conditions? The computed best months for Dry Tortugas are January and February.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24