There is no airport on St. John, and that is one of the best things about St. John. The trip in is a small adventure that ends with you on a ferry, watching the green hills of an island that's two-thirds National Park slide toward you. Here's exactly how to do it.
Step 1: Fly to STT (St. Thomas)
Cyril E. King Airport (airport code STT) on St. Thomas is your gateway. American, JetBlue, Delta, United, Spirit, and Frontier all serve STT from major US cities — most flights connect through Miami, Charlotte, JFK, or San Juan.
Customs note: The US Virgin Islands are a US territory, so US citizens do not need a passport — but you do need to clear US Customs on the way back. Bring a passport if you have one; it speeds the return trip.
Step 2: STT to a ferry terminal
Walk out of baggage claim, ignore everyone offering you a ride, and head straight to the open-air taxi stand. Tell the dispatcher you're going to Red Hook for the St. John ferry — they will put you in a shared safari taxi.
- STT → Red Hook: $20 per person + $2 per bag. 30–45 minutes.
- STT → Charlotte Amalie: $5 per person. 10 minutes. (For the larger, less frequent ferry.)
Step 3: Catch the ferry
Red Hook → Cruz Bay (recommended)
Departures roughly every hour from 6am to midnight. 20-minute ride. $8.15 per adult, $1 per bag. Cash works best — there's a ticket window at the dock.
Charlotte Amalie → Cruz Bay
Fewer departures (every 1–2 hours), 45-minute ride, around $14 per adult. Use this if your flight gets in late and you missed the Red Hook last ferry, or if you're avoiding the Red Hook taxi traffic.
Step 4: Cruz Bay to your villa
Safari taxis line up at the Cruz Bay ferry dock and will know your villa by name. Expect $8–$15 per person depending on where you're staying. Sunset Villa is 5 minutes from the dock — we send guests our driver's WhatsApp number ahead of time so they can text on arrival and skip the line.
Do you need a rental car?
For most villa stays on St. John, yes. The island is mountainous, taxis get expensive over a week, and you'll want to get to the National Park beaches on your own schedule. Reserve months ahead in high season — rentals sell out. Local outfits (St. John Car Rental, Spencer's, Best) beat the big-name chains on price and service.
If you're staying somewhere walkable to Cruz Bay (like Sunset Villa) and plan a mostly-villa week with a few beach taxi trips, you can skip the car. We can pre-arrange a private driver for beach days instead.
Part of the Getting to St. John, USVI: The Complete Guide.
Frequently asked
›Is there an airport on St. John?
No. The closest airport is Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas. From there you take a taxi or rental car to a ferry terminal and a short ferry to Cruz Bay on St. John.
›How long does it take to get from STT airport to St. John?
Plan on 90 minutes to 2 hours door-to-door. That's roughly: 30–45 minutes by taxi from STT to Red Hook (depending on traffic), a 20-minute ferry to Cruz Bay, and 5–10 minutes from the Cruz Bay dock to most villas on the west end.
›How much does the ferry to St. John cost?
The Red Hook to Cruz Bay passenger ferry is $8.15 per adult one way. The car ferry (barge) is more — around $50 one way with a vehicle. The Charlotte Amalie ferry is around $14 one way.
Keep reading
Getting There
Red Hook vs Charlotte Amalie Ferry to St. John: Which Is Faster?
Two ferries connect St. Thomas to St. John — Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie. Here's which one to take based on your flight time, group size, and tolerance for taxi traffic.
Getting There
Getting Around St. John Without a Car: A Practical Guide
You can absolutely do St. John without a rental car — if you plan it right. Here's how to use safari taxis, the public bus, water taxis, and your two feet.
