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Can I fly a drone at Dry Tortugas National Park?

No. Dry Tortugas National Park is under the National Park Service drone ban.

Operating, launching, or landing a drone on or over NPS-managed land is prohibited under 36 CFR § 1.5(f). Penalties: up to 6 months imprisonment and $5,000 fine. Adjacent USFS, BLM, or state land may permit drones — see legal alternatives below.

70 miles west of Key West — a remote marine park accessible only by boat or seaplane. Fort Jefferson and crystal-clear Caribbean water. NPS drone ban applies.

Why drone pilots want to shoot here

Fort Jefferson aerial. The reef around Garden Key. The remote outer keys.

Where you CAN fly nearby

Adjacent USFS, BLM, and state-managed land that typically permits drone use with appropriate rules.

  • Key West Class D (with LAANC)

    Closer to civilization. Drone-permitted with LAANC; some 0 ft cells in central Key West.

  • Florida Keys Class G shoreline

    Most of the Keys outside Key West Class D is Class G; drone-friendly with rules.

FAQ — Dry Tortugas National Park

Can I fly a drone at Fort Jefferson?

No. Fort Jefferson is on Garden Key, inside Dry Tortugas NP. Drone ban applies.

What about flying from a boat near the park?

If your drone enters park airspace, the ban applies regardless of where you launch from. Plan flights well outside the boundary.

Are there other historic forts in the Keys?

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in Key West has similar architecture and is open to drone use with state park permit.

Other national parks

Found a legal nearby spot? Check the airspace, weather, and TFRs for the exact address.

Run an airspace check

Park boundaries can be irregular. Verify the boundary of any alternative location before flying — adjacent USFS / BLM Wilderness areas have their own drone ban under different statute. Altoa is not the FAA or NPS.