Dry Tortugas National Park: A remote stargazer's paradise 70 miles from civilization

Dry Tortugas National Park sits 70 miles west of Key West, reachable only by ferry, private boat or seaplane, and offers a rare off-grid experience in the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors land most often at the 16-acre Garden Key via the Yankee Freedom ferry and find no cell service, internet or fresh water on site. The trip highlighted a visit to Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era structure described as the largest masonry building in the Americas. The author booked a two-night camping stay in advance on April 1, riding the ferry for a 2.5-hour crossing before reaching the small campground and settling near a buttonwood tree with dock-facing views.