Transportation to St. John from St. Thomas

Arrivals

St. John does not have a commercial airport. Every visitor arrives by boat, usually the Red Hook to Cruz Bay passenger ferry, and the timing of that boat shapes the first day of the trip. GrandArrival handles the St. Thomas side of the journey and can coordinate the ground plan on the St. John side. This is what we tell guests before they fly in.

How to reach St. John from Cyril E. King Airport

The standard route is a private ride from Cyril E. King Airport to the Red Hook ferry terminal, followed by the short crossing to Cruz Bay. The drive crosses the whole island, so we time every pickup to a specific boat. That timing is the heart of our airport transfer service.

For guests staying at a Cruz Bay area address, the published rate for airport to St. John is $230 for one to four guests, with $40 for each additional guest. That rate covers the St. Thomas leg and the St. John leg. Ferry tickets are not included.

There is also a less frequent ferry from Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay, and a limited service from Crown Bay with a longer crossing. For most visitors, Red Hook is the simplest and most frequent option.

Ferry

The Red Hook to Cruz Bay ferry, in detail

The passenger ferry is the main link between the islands. Boats leave from the Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Terminal in Red Hook from early morning until late at night, and dock at the Loredon Lawrence Boynes Sr. Dock in Cruz Bay. The crossing is short, tickets are sold at the terminal, and there is a small extra charge for bags. Our advice from years of ferry runs: arrive at Red Hook at least 30 to 45 minutes before the boat you want, especially in busy travel periods. GrandArrival drops you off and picks you up directly at the terminal entrance, so there is no parking hunt.

Cars cross on a separate car ferry with its own schedule and fewer runs. Most short term visitors ride the passenger ferry, then rent a jeep or hire a driver on the St. John side. Schedules can shift for weather and season, so always confirm with the operator before you travel.

Beaches

What a visitor should know

• The island is protected. More than half of St. John is Virgin Islands National Park. Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, and Maho Bay all sit inside the park. Ask the owner and he will tell you Trunk Bay is his favorite spot in the islands, for the crystal clear water and white sand alone.
• Cruz Bay is the town. Restaurants, shops, and the ferry terminal cluster around Cruz Bay, and beaches and villas spread across the island from there.
• The roads are steep. Rental jeeps and taxis handle them daily, but rain can make the switchbacks slick.
• Time the last ferry. The evening boats are the ones people miss. Confirm the day's schedule, and if you are cutting it close, take a boat earlier than you think you need.
• Bring more cash than you expect. Card acceptance on St. John is broad but not universal, and the ferry bag fee is often paid in cash.

Coming back the other way, our St. Thomas transportation guide covers the airport, the cruise piers, and the cross island drives. And for the ride itself, the black GMC Yukon XL Denali is how most guests make the trip.

Answers

Good to know

How long does the ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay take?

It is a short hop between the islands. Boats load quickly, and the crossing is often the easiest part of the whole day. We time your pickup so you are on the boat you intended.

How much is the ferry?

Fares are set by the ferry operators and are modest, with a small extra charge for bags that is often paid in cash. Tickets are sold at the Red Hook terminal. Ferry tickets are not included in GrandArrival rates.

When is the last ferry back to St. Thomas?

The passenger ferry from Cruz Bay runs into the late evening. Confirm the same day schedule with the operator, since timings shift with weather and season. We plan every St. John day with the return boat in mind.

Can we bring our rental car across?

Cars cross on a separate car ferry, though rental companies set their own rules about inter island travel. Confirm with your rental company before you plan to cross. Most short term visitors ride the passenger ferry instead.

How should we time the airport pickup around the ferry?

Tell us your flight and the boat you hope to catch. We add the cross island drive, time at the terminal for tickets, and the crossing, then set a pickup that gets you there without a sprint. Ask GrandArrival to time your pickup to a specific ferry and we will do the math.

Do you drive us all the way to our St. John villa?

Yes. The $230 published rate for one to four guests covers airport to Red Hook, the ferry crossing, and drop off at your Cruz Bay area address. Ferry tickets are separate.

Call or text GrandArrival at +1 (340) 227 7903 with your flight and your St. John address, and we will send a plan that gets you across on the boat you intended.