You do not need a car for every day of a St. John trip. If you stay in Cruz Bay, the ferry, the beach, dinner and even a National Park trail are all within walking distance. Here is what you can reach on foot, and when a taxi or a Jeep makes more sense.
The ferry dock
Cruz Bay is where the passenger ferries from St. Thomas arrive, so a stay in town means you can step off the boat and walk to your door. From Dolphin Suites the ferry dock is about a 5-minute walk, which also makes day trips back to St. Thomas simple.
Restaurants, bars and shops
Most of the island's restaurants are in Cruz Bay, along with beach bars, live music, small shops and the Mongoose Junction shopping area. From our suites, places to eat are 2 to 5 minutes away on foot. Walking to dinner means no parking to find and no designated driver at the end of the night.
Groceries
Every one of our suites has a full kitchen, and Dolphin Suites sits directly above Dolphin Market, so stocking up for breakfast or a beach picnic takes a couple of minutes.
The beach in town
The nearest beach is about a 3-minute walk from Dolphin Suites. It is an easy spot for a swim or a sunset without planning anything.
Honeymoon Beach and Salomon Beach, on foot
This is the walk most visitors do not know about. The Lind Point Trail starts behind the Virgin Islands National Park visitor center in Cruz Bay and leads to two of the closest north shore beaches.
- The trail is roughly a mile each way and takes about 25 minutes at a relaxed pace.
- A short spur leads up to the Lind Point overlook, with a bench and a view of the boats crossing to St. Thomas.
- The lower trail reaches Salomon Beach first, then continues to Honeymoon Beach, which has a concession with drinks, snacks, chairs and snorkel gear.
- The path is narrow and rocky in places, so wear real shoes rather than flip-flops, and carry water.
When you will want wheels
The famous north shore beaches, including Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay, are too far to walk. You have two easy options:
- Taxis. Open-air taxis wait near the ferry dock and run to the north shore beaches all day. This is the simplest choice if you do not want to drive.
- A Jeep rental. Best if you want to explore on your own schedule or reach the quieter east end of the island. Rental companies are in Cruz Bay. Book early in peak season.
Many guests mix the two: a few car-free days in town and on the Lind Point Trail, and a Jeep for a day or two of beach hopping.
Why staying in Cruz Bay makes this work
Stay outside town and every dinner, grocery run and ferry trip needs a drive. Stay in Cruz Bay and the car becomes optional. Both Dolphin Suites and Raintree Suites are in the walkable center of town. See all nine suites, or read our guide on getting from St. Thomas airport to Cruz Bay.
Where to stay in Cruz Bay
DGMI Properties manages two places to stay in the heart of Cruz Bay, both about a 5-minute walk from the ferry dock. Dolphin Suites has eight one-bedroom suites with full kitchens that sleep 2 to 4 guests. Raintree Suites is a brand-new one-bedroom apartment for two, steps from the beach. Planning your trip? Our Plan Your Visit guide covers the ferry, groceries and what to pack.
