Est. 1956 | United States Virgin Islands | 15,052 acres

Located on the island of St. John, east of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands National Park is a coastal paradise with crystal blue Caribbean waters, lush tropical rainforests, and historic Dutch ruins. Hike to colonial remnants and pre-Columbian petroglyphs then cool off by snorkeling the park system’s only underwater trail along world renowned beaches. Spot anole lizards, green iguanas, feral donkeys and deer along the trails, or chase down sea turtles, blue tangs, sea urchins and sharks from the park’s numerous coral reefs.

Two main roads run through the park. The North Shore Road (Highway 20) grants access to the many bays, beaches, and resorts, while Centerline Road (Highway 10) bisects the park along the spine of the island, hosting many of the trailheads for hiking the island’s interior. Centerline Road also connects the western town of Cruz Bay to the eastern town of Coral Bay. Both roads are tight, curvy and steep as they traverse the dynamic topography of St. John. To add to the challenge, traffic drives on the left side of the road down here.

Park Highlights

1. Bays and Beaches—Visit pristine white sand beaches and dip in the crystal blue waters of the bays in search of coral reefs and marine life. Trunk Bay, Denis Bay, Maho Bay and Cinnamon Bay are among the most popular and photogenic.
2. Reef Bay Trail—Escape the beach scene on this 5-mile roundtrip out-and-back trail through lush tropical rainforests under tyre palms and gumbo limbo trees in search of ancient petroglyphs and a waterfall. The elevation of this ridgeline to coastline trail is no easy feat so consider an early morning hike and bring plenty of water.
3. Trunk Bay Underwater Trail—Perhaps the park’s most unique attraction, Virgin Islands hosts the only completely underwater trail right in Trunk Bay. Snorkel the 30–40 minute loop spotting sea turtles, fish, coral, and the occasional friendly shark.
4. Water sports—Rent a kayak, catamaran, or snorkel gear at Cinnamon Bay or Maho Bay to immerse yourself in the Caribbean coast.
5. Annaberg Ruins—A short hike from the road sits the Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins, a dutch plantation featuring remnants of a 16th century sugar factory surrounding a 40-foot tall windmill structure.
6. Ram Head—Venture to the opposite side of the island for a breathtaking 3-mile roundtrip hike to Ram Head, the southeastern-most point offering 360-degree views of St. John and the surrounding waters. This is an excellent sunrise viewing spot.

Best time to visit Virgin Islands

Because the U.S. Virgin Islands sit in the Caribbean Sea, hurricane season is generally in the spring and summer months, May–November. Weather is typically drier and cooler in the winter months (December–April) and bugs are not as prevalent; however, the foliage is not as lush and green during this time. We visited in early February and had clear skies during the day and sporadic rain showers during the night. Because weather is more predictable in these winter months, January–March is the busy season for the park. Expect full parking lots, fairly crowded beaches, limited lodging and longer waiting times on ferries. But keep in mind, Virgin Islands National Park is still one of the least visited national parks, so there are still ways to avoid the crowds.

How long should I visit Virgin Islands?

The highlights of Virgin Islands National Park are best explored in 2 full days. This will allow you to hike some trails, swim the reefs, relax on multiple beaches, stroll the ruins and walk away satisfied. We allotted 4 days for the entire trip: 1 day traveling to the park, 2 full days exploring the park, and 1 full day to travel home. Because the island of St. John is fairly small, travel time by taxi bus or rental car is quick. Each attraction is roughly a 5–10 minute drive.

Getting to Virgin Islands

Getting to Virgin Islands National Park is a journey in and of itself. One of the more remote parks in the system, your trip will require several phases. The park’s nearest airport is the Cyril E. King International Airport (STT) on the neighboring island of St. Thomas. Depending on where you call home, you may not have a direct flight so expect a layover when traveling to St. Thomas. We recommend planning a buffer of several hours in a layover when booking your itinerary as delayed flights can cause a headache for the rest of your trip to the park.

Once on St. Thomas you can either rent a car or taxi to one of the many ferries that will take you to the island of St. John. We rented a car with Budget and reserved a spot on the Love City Car Ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay. Once on St. John, it’s just a short 10 minute drive to the park from Cruz Bay. If you are not renting a car, you can ride a passenger ferry to Cruz Bay and hop on the many taxi buses that transit the park roads.

On your way home, allow plenty of time to return to the airport. The ferries will not wait for latecomers and many run on a first-come, first-served basis if you do not reserve a spot. Additionally, traffic through St. Thomas is typically congested on the tight busy roads. And remember to reserve another 30 minutes to process through customs before the regular airport security.

Where to stay in Virgin Islands

There are a variety of booking options including hotels and vacation rentals in the nearby towns of Cruz Bay (on the west side) and Coral Bay (on the east side). Cruz Bay tends to be the more popular location since it is closer to the main bays and beaches.

If hotels are too pricey, an alternative option (and the only accommodations within the park) is to stay at Cinnamon Bay Campground. They offer everything from furnished rooms (albeit, only the bare essentials) to glamping to bare campsites which require visitors to bring their own camping equipment or rent onsite gear. The campground is equipped with rudimentary showers and running-water bathrooms. The perk of these accommodations is their proximity to Cinnamon Bay Beach. The campground is a short quarter-mile walk from the shore and some rooms even have an ocean view.

When should I book?

Depending on when you decide to visit the park, we suggest booking several months in advance as this trip requires many moving parts and lodging can reach capacity quickly in the peak winter months.

How much should I budget?

A 4-day trip can easily reach $1,000 or more when factoring in costs. Here is a breakdown of what to expect:

Roundtrip Airfare to St. Thomas	$300–$500
Car Rental	$40/day (not including taxes/fees)
Roundtrip Ferry Transportation	$70/car
Bare Tent Campsite	$50/night (not including taxes/fees)
Hotel Lodging	$200–$500/night
Restaurant Meals	$20–$40/meal
Watersport Rentals	$25–$100

Packing list for Virgin Islands

Each park requires different gear for its unique characteristics. For Virgin Islands National Park and among our usual packing items, we wouldn’t want to be caught without bug spray, beach towels, swimsuit, beach sandals, waterproof camera (we use a GoPro), snorkel gear (or rent on location), sunscreen, sack lunches (to save money) and sunglasses.

Want to learn more? Check out our detailed trip report for a peek into visiting this exotic park.

For more detailed information on Virgin Islands National Park, visit the official park website.