ST JOHN VIRGIN ISLANDS TRIP PLANNING GUIDE
ST JOHN VIRGIN ISLANDS TRIP PLANNING GUIDE
For current information for travel to the US Virgin Islands, including current travel status, travel and testing requirements and information please visit the US Virgin Islands Health Department’s COVID 19 web site.
Like so many people, you’ve likely seen or heard about the tiny St John island via friends vacation photos, posts to social media, on one of the many episodes of HGTV’s Caribbean Life or gracing the cover of a travel magazine like Coastal Living. Those introductions turned into trip planning. But the amount of information on the internet seems daunting. Not to worry … we’ve put together a step-by-step St John planning guide with resources for vacation rentals , car rentals , beaches + snorkeling , activities , restaurant & bar reviews , based on local knowledge and insider recommendations so that you can get the most of your time on St John!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
DEC | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR
High Season typically runs from mid December to mid April with the winter (Holidays being premium/popular dates). Winter weather averages 76 F with average rainfall of 2.5″/mo.
AVG HIGH/LOW TEMPS BY MONTH
DEC: 79/68 | JAN: 78/67 | FEB: 79/66 | MAR: 81/67 | APR: 83/68
AVG RAIN FALL EACH MONTH: Days/Inches
DEC: 13/4″ | JAN: 12/3″ | FEB: 9/2″ | MAR: 7/2″ | APR: 7/3″
CURRENT CONDITIONS – Check St John Webcams
MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV
Low Season typically runs from mid April to mid December. Vacation rental rates average 30% less than High Season. Summer weather averages 83F and average rainfall is 4.25″.
AVG HIGH/LOW TEMPS BY MONTH
MAY: 83/70 | JUN: 85/72 | JUL: 86/72 | AUG: 86/72 | SEPT: 85/71 | OCT: 84/71 | NOV: 81/69
AVG RAIN FALL EACH MONTH: Days/Inches
MAY: 9/4″ | JUN: 8/3″ | JUL: 10/4″ | AUG: 12/4″ | SEPT: 11/6″ | OCT: 13/6″ | NOV: 14/7″
SEPT | HURRICANE SEASON
September is peak hurricane season. And while it can be a beautiful time to be on St John – visitors should know that many businesses close for the month and we recommend trip insurance protection.
AIR TRAVEL
St John does not have an airport. Visitors to St John arrive via the Cyril E. King Airport ( STT ) on St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
Here are the airlines that serve St Thomas: AMERICAN , DELTA , JETBLUE , SPIRIT , UNITED .
AIRPORT TAXI / TRANSPORTATION
Visitors will find taxi vans parked outside the arrivals terminal – waiting to take them to Crown Bay Ferry or Red Hook Ferry. Crown Bay runs 2X a day. Red Hook to Cruz Bay, St John runs every hour on the hour. Please check posted schedules as seasonal times and service availability can change.
Private Airport Transportation
Families, small groups and visitors interested in avoiding the general van service can get an online quote and book one way or round trip. Click for St Thomas Private Airport Transportation
VACATION RENTALS – RESORTS – B&Bs/SMALL INNS – CAMPING
Vacation Rentals: The majority of visitors stay in one of the over 600 vacation villa rentals that span the island. They range in price, amenities and location. You can save a considerable amount of money by dealing direct with owners/managers vs using one of the big online travel sites. For more information check here.
St John Resorts: Unlike much of the Caribbean, St John Virgin Islands has just a few resort options. Looking for a true resort experience with onsite restaurants, bars, massage/spa and activities – check out The Westin St John. If you don’t demand full resort services and amenities then check out Grande Bay Resort and Gallows Point Resort. Both enjoy walk-to-everything convenience in Cruz Bay. St John Resort Information and Booking
St John B&Bs/Small Inns: Couples and solo travelers might enjoy the relaxed convenience of one of St John’s B&Bs. Check out St John Inn / B&Bs
Camping on St John: Cinnamon Bay Campground has reopened! This much-loved camping option has completed ground-up renovations at this amazing location inside the US Virgin Islands National Park! For current information check here.
We highly recommend having a rental car/4X4 AWD so that you can better plan your daily excursions and see the entire island.
Car / JEEP™ Rental
While it is possible to see St John without renting a car – we highly recommend having a rental car/4X4 AWD so that you can better plan your daily excursions and see the entire island. NOTE: There are rental car agencies on St Thomas – but you’ll have to take the St John car ferry to/from. Cruz Bay, St John has a number of car rental agencies convenient to the ferry dock – for more information check here.
Cruz Bay Parking
During High Season and peak visitor days parking can be a challenge in Cruz Bay. Some rental car agencies allow clients to park in their lots. But you’ll need to ask and confirm that they have open spaces available. Parking at Mongoose Junction is for customers only. So check out this handy map with locations of FREE and PAY Cruz Bay parking.