Planning your first trip to Virgin Islands National Park? We’ve got you covered. In this blog post, we’ll share everything you need to know before you go—from the best beaches and hiking trails to must-know travel tips for snorkeling, transportation, and of course, some hidden gems. Whether you’re wondering how to get around, what to pack, or the best time to visit, this guide will help you make the most of your adventure. Let us know what questions you have in the comments!
Getting There
The primary way people will get to Virgin Islands National Park is by plane. You will fly into Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas. From there, you will have to decide if you want to rent a car or take a taxi to the ferry (more on that later). Either way, you will have to get to Red Hook, about 35 minutes from the airport, and where most of the ferries leave.
The ferry ride over to the island is 25 minutes or so, and it is beautiful. Once you arrive, you will be in St John, where the national park is, and you can start exploring.
One note about the ferry: I did not book my ticket in advance as it is hard to figure out what ferry is going to be where and at what time. I figured that I would show up and get on the next ferry when I arrived, and it worked out for me, but note that it might be challenging to do that during peak times of the year, and you may have to book a specific time slot in advance.
Maybe someone in the comments can talk more about this as it seemed somewhat confusing to book in advance and guarantee that you were on the right ferry so you would not be double charged.
Car Rentals
Let’s backtrack a little to talk about car rentals. I can only speak to what I did, but I found it a lot cheaper to rent a car at the St Thomas airport and to pay for a car ferry over to the island as opposed to taking the taxi to Red Hook and then the ferry over and renting a car on St John.
You really need a car to explore the national park, so plan to have one if possible. I found it to be pretty easy to rent at a location near the airport and drive over to Red Hook, but getting on the ferry is a little unique as you have to line up and then back up onto the boat. Also, you must drive on the other side of the road from the US mainland, so driving can be a little stressful on St Thomas.
Once you get to St John, you still drive on the opposite side of the road, but there is much less traffic, so getting around the island is not as difficult. One other note: parking is very limited on St John, so find a hotel with parking at the end of the day and leave early to get to some of the main spots.
Last note on driving: The roads on St John are narrow, can be steep, and windy. I had no problems with them, but if you are not used to this type of driving, it may be another reason not to do it. Again, though, I had a lot of fun with the driving and am glad I got a rental car.
Where to stay
St John vs St Thomas
In terms of where to stay, the park is on St. John, so staying there can save you tons of travel time and give you a head start on popular spots. I had an excellent hostel-type hotel on St John where I had one double bed and a shared bathroom; it was perfect for me and well-priced since I spent most of my time outside of the room anyway. Other hotels on St John were costly, though, so be sure to check and book these in advance as there are not a lot of hotels, and they do sell out.
Aim for the first ferry each morning to maximize your time if you’re staying on St. Thomas. Note that the ferry is around 25 minutes each way, and you need to be early for it, so it’s an easy 2 hours of time each day you do this. There are some taxis on the island that will take you to different popular locations like the beaches, but they will not take you to all of the things that I did in my video, especially some of the further away spots.
National Park Information
A few quick notes on the park:
1. There is a visitor center near the docks, which has a small gift shop with a few exhibits.
2. There is no charge to enter the park, but you will have to pay to enter some of the more popular beaches.
The most popular spot in the park is the beach at Trunk Bay. Parking here fills up very fast, so you will want to get there early to get a spot. The rest of the locations have small parking lots, so it is best to tackle must-do things early and then just see what you can park at after that.
Understanding the Seasons
The Virgin Islands have a tropical climate, so expect warm weather year-round. However, there’s a rainy season from June to November, with peak hurricane risk in September. If you’re visiting during this time, be prepared for sudden rain showers and the possibility of storm-related changes. I went in November, and the weather was extremely sporadic. It was sunny for an hour, then intense downpours. Really, do prepare for anything.
Packing Tips
I plan my day around hiking and snorkeling to make the most of the park. I bought a snorkel mask before I came and brought it with me to snorkel in more remote spots like Waterlemon Cay where there are no rental booths. You will find rental booths usually open at Trunk Bay, and you can even do an underwater snorkel trail there. But I recommend bringing one with you if you have the opportunity.
In terms of hiking, I just brought a rain jacket, swim trunks, and athletic shoes. These worked for most of the hikes for me, and I would not recommend hiking in sandals, as there are a lot of rocks and things to navigate on many of the trails.
Make time for relaxation
Lastly, make time to just enjoy the beautiful area and the beaches. This is not the typical park where you want to jam as much as possible in a 24-hour day. It is difficult to get here, and I would recommend 2-3 days minimum. That way, you can see many main spots and have time to sit, relax, and snorkel on the amazing beaches. It really is a fantastic park to relax in.
How much did it cost?
You can see what I spent in the above graphic. The main cost that would probably be most expensive for you is the flight. I came over from Puerto Rico, so it was a short, cheap flight, but if you are coming from the mainland, it will be a lot more.
Five favorite spots in the park
I am ending this video with my five favorite spots in the park.
- Trunk Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to, and well worth the effort.
- Ram Head, is a fantastic hike across beautiful beaches to a stunning lookout
- Watermelon Bay – The best snorkeling I had on the island with multiple sea turtles
- Reef Bay Trail – a steep trail down to an amazing beach and unique sugar plantation ruins
- Annaberg sugar plantation – a well-preserved plantation that helps you understand more of the island’s history.
Let me know what I left off in the comments and watch this video to see all of the things I did on my two days at Virgin Islands National Park.
