Dreaming of the pristine beaches and lush trails of St. John, US Virgin Islands? You’re not alone! If you’re planning your first trip to this tropical paradise, we’ve got you covered with all the details on how to get there. It does require a bit of planning to get there, but once you arrive, you’ll know that it was absolutely worth it! From flights to ferries and private charters, here’s your ultimate guide to reaching St. John.
This post may not be as fun and colorful as some of our others but bear with us because it’s full of good information. After all, it’s tough to enjoy St. John if you can’t get there, right? :)
Flying Into St Thomas
St. John does not have its own airport so your journey to St. John begins with a flight to a nearby island so you can charter to St. John. The closest airport, and the one we use, is the Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas. There are many locations in the US that fly to St. Thomas and a fair amount of direct flights.
Several major airlines currently offer direct flights to St. Thomas from several US cities, making it super easy to reach this slice of paradise.
Direct Flight Options:
- American Airlines: Direct flights from Miami, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.
- Delta Airlines: Direct flights from Atlanta and New York (JFK).
- United Airlines: Direct flights from Newark and Washington D.C.
- JetBlue: Direct flights from Boston and San Juan.
Tip: If you are not located near an airport with direct flights to St. Thomas, consider looking for a “positioning flight” to book separately. Compare flight prices for booking round trip from your nearby airport to pricing if you were to book a flight from your nearby airport to an airport that flies nonstop to St. Thomas + the cost of the nonstop flight. Sometimes you can find a better deal by booking the “positioning flight” leg separately.
Be sure to be mindful of flight times and make sure you have enough time between flights if you’re booking separately. You can also use this as an opportunity to schedule stay overnight and explore a new place!
Once you land in St. Thomas, you have a few options to reach St. John. The two primary ways are by ferry or private charter.
Getting To St. John
Once you land in St. Thomas, you have a few options to reach St. John. You can take either a ferry, a water taxi, or a private charter. We’ll explore each option to find the best fit for your travel style and budget.
Option 1: Taking the Ferry
The ferry is certainly the most budget friendly and popular option for getting from St. Thomas to St. John. When you arrive on St. Thomas, you are near the middle of the south part of the island and you will need to travel to either the town of Charlotte Amalie or the town of Red Hook to catch a ferry to Cruz Bay on St. John.
Airport to Ferry Terminal:
After landing on St. Thomas and grabbing your luggage, grab a taxi to either the Charlotte Amalie ferry terminal (10-15 minute drive) or the Red Hook ferry terminal (a 30-40 minute drive). A lot of the services offered right at the airport are shared taxis or buses - this is usually the most economical option but also means you may make a few stops along the way, depending on where all of the travelers are headed. You can also ask for a private transport, which will cost a bit more, or set up a private taxi/transfer before arrival, which we discuss below.
Ferry From Charlotte Amalie To Cruz Bay:
- Duration: Approximately 45 minutes.
- Schedule: Ferries run several times a day. Check the schedule ahead of time to plan your arrival.
- Tickets: Purchase tickets at the terminal or in advance online.
Ferry From Red Hook to Cruz Bay:
- Duration: Approximately 20 minutes.
- Schedule: Ferries usually run every hour from morning until midnight.
- Tickets: Purchase tickets at the terminal or in advance online.
Which is best? That’s totally up to your preferences! We’ve always used the ferry from Red Hook. The Red Hook ferry is a bit faster, which is good for anyone who gets a bit sea sick (Dramamine is your best friend!) but the taxi ride to the ferry terminal at Red hook is a longer and thus usually a bit more expensive. The Charlotte Amalie ferry ride on the other hand has less options throughout the day and is a longer ferry ride but will give you a scenic ride through the harbor.
We honestly really enjoyed the ferry ride! It was super reasonably priced and after a long travel day, it was wonderful to sit outside and see the gorgeous islands and feel the Caribbean breeze.
You can find the ferry schedules here.
If you’ve rented a car on St. Thomas that you would like to drive over to use on St. John, there is also a car ferry from Red Hook. Make sure you’ve checked that your accommodations offer parking! You can find more information on transferring your rental car from St. Thomas to St. John here.
Option 2: Water Taxi
Water taxis are great for a blend of private boat charter and ferry. They offer a smaller group setting but at a lower cost than a private boat charter.
- Departure: Dependent on the service/company you choose. They will tell you where to meet!
- Duration: Usually about 30 minutes.
- Schedule: Varies based on company.
- Tickets: Book in advance, especially if you are visiting during peak season. Pricing in less than a private boat charter but more expensive than the ferry options. Some popular options are St. Thomas Water Taxi, Inter Island Boat Service, or Seahorse VI.
Option 3: Private Boat Charter
For a more personalized and luxurious experience, consider booking a private boat charter. This is definitely a less budget-friendly (but super fun) option and is perfect if you’re traveling with a group or want to avoid the crowds.
- Departure: Depending on the company, they can assist you with making arrangements to pick you up directly from the airport or from a nearby marina.
- Duration: Typically 30-45 minutes, depending on where you are departing from.
- Schedule: Varies based on company but the great thing about a private charter is they work on your schedule!
- Tickets: More expensive than a ferry or water taxi. Exact price depends on which company you choose and the amenities they offer, such as airport pick up. Some options for private charter include Love City Excursions, Islands Roots Charters, and Midnight Sun Boat Charters.
Arriving in St. John
No matter how you choose to transfer from STT to Cruz Bay, you’ll likely land in Cruz Bay, which is the main hub on St. John. From here, your next steps will depend on your accommodations or if you’re visiting for the day. If you arrive earlier than you can check in to your accommodations and have too much luggage to head to the beach, there are plenty of great places right in Cruz Bay to walk to and grab a drink or a bite to eat.
Tip: You can always ask for an early check in. The worst thing that they can say is no. Even if they cannot accommodate an early check in, they can often store your belongings so you can get to exploring!
Getting Around St John
Transportation around St. John can definitely be a little bit of a challenge but we highly recommend taking the time to get out and explore the island. We think the best way to explore is having your own transportation and renting a vehicle but you have a few options for getting around: private vehicle rental, taxis, and of course, walking.
Taxi Service
If you decide to opt for using the taxi service rather than renting a car, we recommend staying in or very near Cruz Bay. It will make it a lot easier to get around St. John. From Cruz Bay, there are taxis that will take you to the North Shore beaches, like Maho Bay, Trunk Bay, or Cinnamon Bay and if you are staying in Cruz Bay you will likely be able to walk to many restaurants. Using taxis for transport during your visit is likely going to be quite a bit cheaper than renting a vehicle, however you lose the flexibility of having your own vehicle. Another positive of using the taxi service is that you won’t have to worry about finding parking at the beaches or hiking trails, which can be a challenge.
Car Rental
If you do decide to rent a vehicle, we highly recommend considering a 4x4 vehicle and booking in advance. Keep in mind, if you rented a car on St. Thomas and prefer to just keep your rental, you can always bring that over to St. John on the car barge. The roads on St. John can be well… an adventure and a bit difficult to
navigate with a small car. This is especially true if you’re wanting to get out and explore on your own or if you’re staying at an Airbnb that has the elevation that comes with those gorgeous views. We opted for a 4x4 vehicle, which made getting around the island so much easier. If you are only planning to visit the main North Shore beaches and your accommodations are on a paved road, you can likely get away with a smaller car rental.
You also need to keep in mind that parking can be a challenge on St. John. Some of the popular beaches, such as Trunk Bay, have parking lots, however they do typically fill up in the morning. Cruz Bay has some free parking areas as well as paid parking lots. What we found effective was to plan out all the beaches we wanted to visit and sort them by location so if one was too full and super busy, we could try one nearby. More tips about beaches coming soon in our St. John Beach Guide!
Our take? If it wasn’t obvious, we are team rent a vehicle. It can be intimidating driving around the island but we love having the flexibility of being able to beach hop and travel throughout the island as we please.
Additional Tips and Recommendations
- As you have to fly into St. Thomas anyway, we recommend spending a few days exploring this island as well either at the beginning or end of your trip. St. John for sure has our heart but St. Thomas has many beautiful places and some great restaurants. We think it’s definitely worth spending a night or two and will do a separate post on St. Thomas.
- Learn a lesson from our mistakes and take a moment to plan your path to St. John in advance. We ended up spending a little longer at the ferry dock and had a bit of an adventure getting to Red Hook because we didn’t quite plan ahead… but sometimes that’s part of the fun.
- If you plan to rent a car on St. John, be sure to reserve your car rental as soon as you know your dates as St. John is a small island so rentals are a bit limited.
Good luck and remember… part of of the adventure is getting there.
xoxo
SOL SIREN