Flying to St. Thomas
All flights to the U.S. Virgin Islands land at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, airport code STT. This is the gateway for visitors heading to St. John. No commercial flights serve St. John directly, so St. Thomas is where your island journey begins.
Major carriers serve St. Thomas from the U.S. mainland, with direct flights from cities including Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, and Boston. Flight times range from approximately three to four hours depending on departure city. Because St. Thomas is a U.S. territory, travelers from the mainland clear no customs or immigration on arrival. The process feels domestic, which simplifies connections.
The airport is small and manageable. Baggage claim sits steps from the arrival gates, and ground transportation options cluster just outside. From the airport, you have two choices for reaching the ferry: taxi or rental car. The decision depends on whether you plan to rent a vehicle for your time on St. John and where you want to pick it up.
Renting a Car: St. Thomas vs. St. John
Most visitors to St. John rent a car. The island has limited taxi service, and having your own vehicle makes exploring beaches, restaurants, and the national park significantly easier. The question is where to pick up the rental: on St. Thomas or on St. John.
Renting on St. Thomas
Picking up a rental car on St. Thomas means driving it onto the car ferry and bringing it with you to St. John. Several rental agencies operate near the airport, and others have locations at Red Hook, closer to the ferry terminal. The main advantage is selection. St. Thomas has more rental inventory and more agencies competing for business, which can mean better availability and pricing, particularly during high season.
The tradeoff is the car ferry. You will need to book a separate reservation for the vehicle crossing, pay the additional fare, and navigate the car ferry logistics on both arrival and departure days. For some travelers, this extra step feels like unnecessary complexity. For others, having more rental options and potentially lower rates makes it worthwhile.
If you rent on St. Thomas, consider picking up the car at Red Hook rather than the airport. This eliminates the thirty-minute drive across St. Thomas and puts you closer to the ferry terminal. Some visitors take a taxi from the airport to Red Hook, pick up their rental there, and board the car ferry immediately.
Renting on St. John
Renting directly on St. John simplifies arrival day. You take the passenger ferry to Cruz Bay, walk off the boat, and pick up your car at a rental agency in town. No car ferry logistics, no vehicle reservation to manage, no extra fare for the crossing.
The tradeoff is selection. St. John has fewer rental agencies and smaller fleets. During peak season, inventory can be limited, and booking well in advance becomes essential. Rates may also be slightly higher than St. Thomas due to reduced competition.
Several rental agencies operate within walking distance of the Cruz Bay ferry dock. Jeeps and SUVs are the most common vehicles, well-suited to the island's steep and winding roads. Standard sedans work but offer less clearance on some of the rougher routes.
Which Option Makes Sense
For first-time visitors or those who prefer simplicity, renting on St. John is often the easier choice. You avoid the car ferry entirely and start your trip with one less logistical layer.
For travelers who want more vehicle options, plan to visit during high season, or prefer the potential savings of St. Thomas rental rates, bringing a car over on the ferry works well. Just book the car ferry reservation early and build extra time into your arrival day.
The Passenger Ferry from St. Thomas to St. John
Three ferry terminals on St. Thomas serve St. John with passenger service: Red Hook, Crown Bay, and Charlotte Amalie. Each has different characteristics, and the right choice depends on your flight timing and where you are coming from on St. Thomas.
Red Hook
Red Hook is the primary departure point for most visitors heading to St. John. The terminal sits on the eastern tip of St. Thomas, about thirty minutes from the airport by car or taxi. Passenger ferries depart frequently throughout the day, with service starting early in the morning and continuing into the evening.
The crossing from Red Hook to Cruz Bay takes approximately twenty minutes. Ferries run roughly every hour during peak times, though schedules vary by season and day of the week. The fare is modest, typically under fifteen dollars per person each way. Tickets are purchased at the terminal, and no advance reservation is required for passengers.
Red Hook is the most popular option for good reason. The crossing is short, departures are frequent, and the terminal area includes parking, restaurants, and shops if you need to wait between connections.
Crown Bay
Crown Bay offers a convenient alternative for travelers coming directly from the airport. The terminal sits near the cruise ship port, approximately ten minutes from Cyril E. King Airport. This proximity makes Crown Bay appealing for visitors who want to minimize ground transportation on St. Thomas.
The crossing from Crown Bay to Cruz Bay takes approximately forty-five minutes, longer than Red Hook due to the greater distance. Ferries run less frequently, typically several times per day rather than hourly. Check the schedule in advance, as departure times may not align perfectly with your flight arrival.
Crown Bay works well for late afternoon or evening flights when the drive to Red Hook would be tight. Rather than racing across St. Thomas to catch a Red Hook ferry, you can take a short taxi ride to Crown Bay and catch the next available departure.
Charlotte Amalie
Charlotte Amalie, the capital of St. Thomas, offers a third ferry route to St. John. The terminal sits in the downtown harbor area, closer to the historic district and shopping areas. The crossing time and frequency are similar to Crown Bay, approximately forty-five minutes with limited daily departures.
Charlotte Amalie is less commonly used by visitors arriving from the airport, as Crown Bay offers similar convenience with easier access. However, if you are spending time in downtown Charlotte Amalie before heading to St. John, the ferry terminal there provides a direct option.
What to Expect on the Passenger Ferry
The ferry crossing itself is part of the experience. St. Thomas ferries are open-air boats with covered seating and views across the water. On clear days, you can see St. John ahead as you leave the harbor, its green hills rising from the Caribbean.
The ride is generally smooth, though choppier conditions occur during winter months when trade winds are strongest. If you are prone to motion sensitivity, sitting toward the center of the boat and watching the horizon helps. Most crossings are uneventful and pleasant.
Luggage goes in a designated area, and you are responsible for loading and unloading your own bags. Travel light if possible, or be prepared to manage your belongings on and off the boat. Porters are sometimes available at the Cruz Bay terminal, but not always.
The Car Ferry from St. Thomas to St. John
If you are bringing a rental vehicle to St. John, the car ferry is your only option. This service operates separately from the passenger ferries and requires different planning.
How the Car Ferry Works
The car ferry departs from Red Hook only. There is no car ferry service from Crown Bay or Charlotte Amalie. Vehicles drive onto the ferry, cross to Cruz Bay, and drive off on the St. John side. The crossing takes approximately thirty minutes, slightly longer than the passenger ferry due to the loading and unloading process.
Car ferry departures are far less frequent than passenger ferries. Service runs several times per day, with the schedule varying by season. During high season and holiday periods, the car ferry fills quickly. Reservations are strongly recommended and often essential. Showing up without a reservation can mean waiting hours for the next available crossing or missing the boat entirely.
Fares for the car ferry are significantly higher than passenger fares. Expect to pay between fifty and seventy-five dollars each way for a standard vehicle, in addition to passenger fares for everyone in the car. The exact cost depends on vehicle size.
Booking the Car Ferry
Contact the car ferry operator directly to make reservations. Booking well in advance is particularly important during December through April, when demand peaks. Provide your vehicle details and confirm the departure time that aligns with your travel schedule.
On the day of crossing, arrive at the Red Hook car ferry dock early. Lines form before departure, and vehicles board in order of arrival and reservation status. Being late can mean missing your reserved crossing.
When the Car Ferry Makes Sense
The car ferry adds cost and complexity, so it makes sense primarily when you are renting on St. Thomas and want to bring that specific vehicle to St. John. The reasons to do this include better rental selection, potentially lower rates, or the convenience of picking up at the airport and having the same vehicle throughout your trip.
If simplicity matters more than rental options, renting on St. John and skipping the car ferry entirely is the easier path.
Arriving in Cruz Bay
The ferry deposits you at the Cruz Bay dock, the only point of entry to St. John. Cruz Bay is the island's sole town, a compact cluster of restaurants, shops, and services surrounding the harbor. Everything you need for provisioning and orientation is within walking distance of the ferry terminal.
If you brought a rental car on the car ferry, you will drive off at the vehicle landing area adjacent to the passenger dock. From there, the island opens up. Centerline Road crosses the spine of St. John toward Coral Bay. North Shore Road leads to the famous beaches. The South Shore neighborhoods, including Great Cruz Bay and Chocolate Hole, are just minutes away. For help choosing the right area, see our guide to where to stay on St. John.
If you arrived on the passenger ferry and are renting on St. John, the rental agencies are a short walk from the dock. Most will have your vehicle ready if you have confirmed your arrival time in advance.
If you arrived without a vehicle and do not plan to rent, taxis wait at the ferry dock. St. John taxis are open-air trucks with bench seating, a distinctly island form of transportation. Rates are fixed by destination and posted at the terminal. A taxi to the South Shore neighborhoods typically costs between fifteen and twenty dollars per person.
Some villa rental properties offer airport transfers and concierge services that can arrange your ground transportation from St. Thomas through to St. John. If managing logistics feels daunting, coordinating through your accommodation simplifies the process considerably.
Timing Your Arrival
The journey from the St. Thomas airport to a villa on St. John takes approximately two to three hours under normal conditions. This includes the drive or taxi to the ferry terminal, waiting for the next departure, the crossing itself, and ground transportation on the St. John side. If you are taking the car ferry, add additional time for the reservation process and loading.
Build this timeline into your travel day. Flights that arrive in St. Thomas by early afternoon allow comfortable same-day arrival to St. John with daylight to spare. Later arrivals work but may involve tighter ferry connections and arrival after dark.
The last passenger ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay departs in the early evening, typically around eleven at night, though earlier on some days. Crown Bay and Charlotte Amalie ferries end service earlier. Check current schedules before booking flights, particularly if arriving late. Missing the last ferry means finding overnight accommodation on St. Thomas, which is manageable but not ideal.
For the smoothest arrival, consider flights that land by two or three in the afternoon. This provides a buffer for delays and allows you to reach your accommodation while the light is still good. St. John's roads are easier to navigate in daylight, especially on a first visit.
Private Transfers and Water Taxis
Beyond the public ferry, private options exist for those who prefer a more direct journey.
Water taxis operate between St. Thomas and St. John, offering point-to-point service on your schedule rather than the ferry timetable. These are typically small boats that can pick you up at various locations around St. Thomas and deliver you directly to Cruz Bay or, in some cases, to private docks closer to your accommodation. Prices are significantly higher than the ferry, but the convenience and flexibility appeal to some travelers.
Private transfers can also be arranged through concierge services, which coordinate your entire journey from airport arrival through to your villa. This option removes the logistics from your responsibility entirely. Someone meets you at the airport, handles your luggage, arranges the ferry or water taxi crossing, and delivers you to your door. For travelers who value seamlessness over savings, this approach works well.
What U.S. Citizens Need to Know
Traveling to St. John from the U.S. mainland requires no passport for American citizens. The U.S. Virgin Islands are a U.S. territory, so the journey is considered domestic travel. A valid government-issued ID, such as a driver's license, is sufficient for boarding flights and returning home.
However, if you plan to take day trips to the British Virgin Islands during your stay, you will need a passport. The BVI are a separate country, and even brief visits require clearing customs and immigration. Many visitors to St. John take day trips to the British Virgin Islands, so bringing a passport is advisable even though it is not required for St. John itself.
Non-U.S. citizens should check visa requirements for U.S. territory travel, which mirror requirements for entering the United States mainland.
Planning Around the Ferry
The ferry schedule shapes the rhythm of arrival and departure days. Accepting this constraint rather than fighting it makes the transition easier.
On arrival day, check the current ferry schedule before leaving home. Schedules shift seasonally and can change on holidays. The most reliable source is the Virgin Islands Port Authority or direct contact with the ferry operators. Your accommodation or villa manager can also provide current information.
On departure day, the same logic applies in reverse. Allow ample time to reach the Cruz Bay dock, cross to St. Thomas, and travel to the airport. Most visitors allow at least three hours between leaving their accommodation and flight departure, more during high season when ferries and roads are busier.
The car ferry requires additional planning on departure day as well. Reservations fill during peak periods, and showing up without one can mean waiting for the next available crossing. If you are returning a rental car to St. Thomas, confirm your car ferry reservation well in advance and arrive early at the Cruz Bay dock.
The Journey as Transition
The extra step of reaching St. John serves a purpose beyond logistics. The ferry crossing marks a threshold. You leave the relative bustle of St. Thomas and arrive somewhere quieter. The pace changes. The scale shrinks. By the time you step off the boat in Cruz Bay, you have already begun to adjust.
This transition is part of what makes St. John distinctive. The island requires a bit more effort to reach, which filters for visitors who want what it offers: natural beauty, privacy, and calm. The journey is not an obstacle. It is an introduction.
