Rental cars on St. John in high season are $90–$150/day and book out three months ahead. If you're staying somewhere close to Cruz Bay — and plan a villa-and-beach-focused week — you can skip the car. Here's how.
Safari taxis (your main move)
Open-air pickup trucks with bench seats. They run a loose loop from Cruz Bay out along North Shore Road and back all day. Hail one or catch one at the dock. Standard rates:
- Cruz Bay → Hawksnest: $8 per person each way
- Cruz Bay → Trunk Bay: $9 per person each way
- Cruz Bay → Maho / Cinnamon: $10 per person each way
- Cruz Bay → Coral Bay: $15 per person each way
Tell the driver what time you want to come back; they'll usually swing through the parking lot or you can grab whichever taxi shows up.
VITRAN bus
The public bus runs Cruz Bay ↔ Salt Pond every 90 minutes or so. $1 per ride. Slow but charming, mostly used by locals heading to work.
Water taxis
From the Cruz Bay dock to Honeymoon Beach is $10–$15 per person, 5 minutes. The right move for a half-day at Honeymoon with kids or a cooler.
Walking
Cruz Bay itself is a four-block walking town. From Sunset Villa it's about a 15-minute walk down into town and an Uber-style sweaty 20-minute walk back up. Most guests walk down for dinner, taxi back.
The case for staying car-free
- No $150/day rental burning a hole in your trip budget
- No "who's the designated driver" math at dinner
- You drink at sunset bars freely
- You don't drive on the left (everyone in the USVI drives on the left in left-hand-drive cars; it is exactly as weird as it sounds)
Part of the Getting to St. John, USVI: The Complete Guide.
Frequently asked
›Can you visit St. John without renting a car?
Yes — if you stay in or within a 5-minute taxi ride of Cruz Bay. The shared open-air taxis run a regular loop to the North Shore beaches and back.
›How much is a taxi in St. John?
Government-set rates are per person, per zone. Cruz Bay to Trunk Bay or Maho is around $8– body: () => (0 per person each way; trips to Coral Bay run body: () => (5–$20.
›Is there public transportation on St. John?
The Vitran public bus runs a limited route between Cruz Bay and Salt Pond a few times a day for body: () => (. It works for adventurous travelers but isn't a practical daily commute.
Keep reading
Getting There
How to Get to St. John, USVI: Airport, Ferry, and Taxi (2026)
A step-by-step guide to getting from your flight into STT (Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas) to your villa on St. John — taxi, ferry options, timing, and what it costs.
Beaches
Honeymoon Beach, St. John: How to Get There (Hike or Water Taxi)
A complete guide to Honeymoon Beach on St. John, USVI — the Lind Point Trail hike from Cruz Bay, water taxi options, what's there, and why it's our pick for a calm-water afternoon.
