How to Get to St. John

Now that you have booked a trip to the sunny, tropical island of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands, it's time to figure out how to get there. You'll have a couple of different options when it comes to getting on to this small Caribbean island and we're going to cover each one for you today.

So if you want to know how to get to St. John, we've got you covered. Let's take a look!

The How Do I Get There?

In order to travel from the continental United States to St. John, most people fly into either San Juan or Saint Thomas both of these islands have a major airport in them, so this is typically the first choice for most people.

This is great if your travels are just to the island of St. Thomas. However, if you are going to be staying at a luxury villa in St. John, you'll need to take some extra planning.

FAQ About Getting to St. John

Can You Fly to St. John

If you are wondering whether you can fly to St. John, the answer is no, there is not an airport on the island.

So, once you get to St. Thomas you will have two options in order to get over to St. John, which we will discuss in just a moment!

Is There a Ferry From St. Thomas to St. John

You're probably wondering if there is a ferry from St. Thomas to St. John and yes, there is! This is a popular choice to get to the island, but not the only one.

Transportation to St. John

Once landed in the airport on St. Thomas, you'll want to make your way over to Redhook.

Redhook is located on the southeastern part of St. Thomas, which means you'll be passing through downtown Charlotte Amalie to get there. The main road that runs along the dockside in Redhook is called Veterans Drive and it will take you right down towards the ferry dock.

If you rent a car at the airport, you can cruise down Veterans Drive all the way into Redhook where you can then park your vehicle. You'll want to pay close attention to where exactly they recommend parking as it's easy to miss this detail.

If you take a taxi though, you won't have to worry about parking.

Taking the Ferry Into St. John

Once you make it to Redhook, you'll want to hop on the ferry over to Cruz Bay on St. John. You'll need to purchase a couple of tickers for the ferry. You'll need cash for this, but there is an ATM in the building (but this may have changed).

You can avoid any costly fees by planning ahead and having cash on you before leaving the continental U.S. For more information on the fees, check out the ferry's website.

And this is pretty much it! There are some other ways to get here through private water taxis, but they don't run all that often and usually aren't worth planning around. This method will get you to St. John with zero issues!

If you rented a car that you want to take with you, you'll need to catch the car ferry. It's a large barge that will carry you and your car to the other island. Make sure to check their schedule ahead of time though as the wait times can be longer for this barge.

How Long is the Ferry Ride From St. Thomas to St. John

If you are taking the smaller people ferry, you can expect to get across to the other island in about 20 minutes. The ferry also leaves every hour on the hour, which makes it easy to remember and catch!

That's it for how to get to St. John Island in the Virgin Islands. It's fairly simple and you should have no trouble at all! Just make sure that you book everything in advance, including your villa.

How to Travel to St. John Virgin Islands: The Alternative Route

The most well-known and popular choice to get to St. John is by the people or car ferry. However, there is an alternative way that is much more private to get to the island.

If you want to skip the crowds or extra stops from the ferry, then you should consider going via private water taxi. You can hire a private St. Thomas taxi that will take you to the island of St. John!

Planning a Trip to St. John

Planning ahead is always key to having a successful and fun trip. Going to St. John is no exception to this role. So here are a couple of tips that we have if you plan on visiting our beautiful island.

No Passports are Required

No passports are required to get to St. John! Not a bad thing for a Caribbean island.  A driver's license is accepted as identification, but it must meet the new REAL ID compliance requirements (if you are 18 years or older).

Bring Cash

Cash is always recommended in the Caribbean because many vendors only accept cash. You can pay for everything on the island with cash, from your meals to the car ferry, however, not everyone accepts cards. So, it's better to bring cash so that you don't miss out on anything the islands have to offer.

Luxury Vacation Stays in St. John

St. John is a beautiful island that provides many different options for travelers. Whether you want to explore the natural beauty of Cruz Bay or relax on one of our pristine beaches, there are plenty of things to do!

Just make sure that you plan ahead and use our guide to get from the continental U.S. to St. John!

Let us know what questions you have about transportation in the Virgin Islands. If you're looking for a luxury stay like no other, check out our Finisterre Estate!

Happy Planning from your Friends at Finisterre Estate!