Honeymoon Beach is the closest National Park beach to Cruz Bay and the easiest to reach without a rental car. The water is almost always calm — the bay faces northwest and is protected by Lind Point — which makes it the perfect spot for a paddleboard rental, a couple of beers in the shade, or a first ocean swim with little kids.
Three ways to get there
1. The Lind Point Trail (free, 25 minutes)
This is our favorite. Start at the Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center on the Cruz Bay waterfront — the trailhead is at the back of the parking lot. The trail climbs gently for the first ten minutes, then flattens out through dry tropical forest with views over Pillsbury Sound toward St. Thomas. There is a clearly marked spur down to Honeymoon Beach about a mile in. Wear sneakers or sturdy sandals; flip-flops will work in dry weather but are slick after rain.
2. Water taxi from Cruz Bay (5 minutes)
Several operators run small launches from the Cruz Bay dock to Honeymoon Beach throughout the day. The ride is about five minutes and costs $10–$15 per person each way. This is the right call if you are bringing a cooler, traveling with toddlers, or staying in a Cruz Bay hotel without a car.
3. Through the Caneel Bay property
You can park at the old Caneel Bay resort grounds (still recovering from Hurricane Irma but partially open) and walk the shoreline path to Honeymoon. This is the easiest car-accessible option but parking is limited.
What's on the beach
The concession at Honeymoon — Virgin Islands Eco Tours — rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and snorkels by the hour, and serves cold drinks, sandwiches, and the obligatory frozen painkillers in season. There are portable restrooms but no showers. Shade is limited to a handful of sea grape trees at the western end; bring an umbrella if you want a guaranteed spot out of the sun.
Why we send guests here
It's the right beach for an easy half-day. Hike in from Cruz Bay, swim, grab a paddleboard for an hour, eat a sandwich in the shade, and water-taxi back. From Sunset Villa it's a 5-minute drive to the visitor center plus the 25-minute walk, so you can be on the sand in under an hour of leaving the villa.
Part of the The Beaches of St. John, USVI: A Complete Guide.
Frequently asked
›How do you get to Honeymoon Beach on St. John?
There are three ways: (1) hike the Lind Point Trail from the National Park Visitor Center in Cruz Bay (about 1 mile, 25 minutes, mild elevation), (2) take a water taxi from the Cruz Bay dock (about 5 minutes, $10–$15 per person), or (3) park at the Caneel Bay property and walk in along the beach path.
›Is Honeymoon Beach free?
Yes, Honeymoon Beach is inside Virgin Islands National Park and has no entrance fee. There is a small beach concession that rents floats, kayaks, and paddleboards, and serves drinks and food in season.
›Is Honeymoon Beach a good snorkeling beach?
The snorkeling is okay rather than spectacular — better than swimming in a pool, not as good as Maho or the Trunk Bay trail. Head to the rocks on either end of the beach to find small fish and the occasional sea turtle in the grass beds.
Keep reading
Beaches
Trunk Bay, St. John: The Complete Guide (Snorkel Trail, Fees, Parking)
Everything you need to know about Trunk Bay on St. John, USVI: the underwater snorkel trail, National Park fees, parking tips, what to bring, and the best time to arrive.
Beaches
Hawksnest Beach, St. John: The Closest National Park Beach to Cruz Bay
Hawksnest Beach is the first National Park beach you reach driving from Cruz Bay — and our pick for a fast morning swim. Snorkeling, parking, and what to know.
