St. John Beaches Without a Car: How to Reach Each From Cruz Bay

From Cruz Bay you can walk to two beaches, Salomon and Honeymoon, on the national park's Lind Point Trail. Hawksnest, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon, Maho and Francis Bay sit along the North Shore Road, so without a car you ride an open-air safari taxi from the ferry terminal. The public VITRAN bus goes the other way, along Centerline Road toward Coral Bay and Salt Pond. Here is how to reach each beach, what you will find there and how to get back, using the National Park Service's own information.

The short version

Walk: Salomon Beach and Honeymoon Beach, on the Lind Point Trail from the park's visitor center in Cruz Bay.
Safari taxi: Hawksnest, Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay and Francis Bay, all along the North Shore Road.
Bus: Coral Bay and Salt Pond, on the VITRAN route along Centerline Road. There is no bus on the North Shore Road.
Fees: the park has no entrance fee. Trunk Bay charges $5 per person for ages 16 and up.

The beaches you can walk to from Cruz Bay

Salomon and Honeymoon are the two beaches you can reach on foot from town. The National Park Service describes the Lind Point Trail as a 1-mile trail that gives hiking access to both. It starts behind the park's Cruz Bay visitor center, which sits about two blocks north of the public ferry dock, so from anywhere in town you can be on the trail within minutes.

Treat it as a short hike rather than a stroll. The park describes the route as over a mile up and down a rocky trail that is not suitable for strollers, so wear shoes you can walk in and carry water for the day. The visitor center is open Monday to Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and it is the place to ask about trail conditions before you set out.

Salomon Beach

Salomon comes first on the trail, which makes it the closest beach you can reach without a car or a fare. It suits an early swim before the day gets busy. Pack what you need before you leave town, including water and snacks.

Honeymoon Beach

Honeymoon is the next beach along the trail. The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism notes food and drink concessions at Honeymoon, which makes it the easier of the two for a full day on the sand.

The beaches you reach by safari taxi

Every other beach in this guide sits on the North Shore Road, and the Lind Point Trail does not continue there. The park's advice for visitors without a car is to take a safari taxi from the ferry terminal in Cruz Bay. Taxi fares on St. John are set by the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission and are charged per person, and they change from time to time, so ask the driver for the fare to your beach before you set off.

Two points from the National Park Service make a taxi day easier. At the popular North Shore beaches, lots can fill by 10 a.m., which is one reason a taxi can beat a rental. And cell service at the beaches is limited, so agree on a return pickup time with your driver before they drop you off.

Hawksnest

Hawksnest is the first North Shore beach you reach from town. The park lists three small elkhorn coral reefs here, along with changing rooms, picnic tables, grills, restrooms and accessible paths. Its small lot often fills by mid-morning.

Trunk Bay

Trunk Bay is home to the park's underwater snorkel trail, and it is the one beach in this guide with a fee: $5.00 per person for ages 16 and up, from sunrise to sunset, paid at the fee booth or in advance on Recreation.gov. Facilities are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with restrooms, showers and a foot rinse, and a snack bar is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. alongside snorkel and chair rentals. There are no lifeguards on duty. The park has proposed changes to this fee before, so check Recreation.gov before you go.

Cinnamon Bay

Cinnamon Bay is one of the longest beaches in the park. It has restrooms, and the campground there has a café, a beach shop and a watersports center.

Maho Bay

Maho Bay is a 0.3-mile beach with several large seagrass areas that the park calls perfect for viewing turtles. Restrooms are at the west end, and vendors across the road rent snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards.

Francis Bay

Francis Bay is one of the quieter areas of the park and a good place to see turtles. You can snorkel along the rocks at the north end of the quarter-mile beach, and a boardwalk runs along the salt pond behind it.

Salt Pond and Coral Bay by bus

The public VITRAN bus runs along Centerline Road between Cruz Bay, Coral Bay and Salt Pond. It does not serve the North Shore Road. The fare is $2.00 in exact change, according to the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works, and riders 60 and over and people with disabilities ride free. The park calls the bus “not very reliable”, so check the published timetable and leave plenty of time for the ride back.

Before you go

Sunscreen: the National Park Service asks visitors to use sunscreen free of oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene, and the tourism department notes that only non-nano mineral sunscreens are allowed by law in the territory.
Surf flags: the park uses red, yellow and green flags. Red means extremely hazardous ocean conditions, with large waves and strong rip currents.
Your ride back: set a pickup time with your taxi driver before they leave, because cell service at the beaches is limited.
The trail: carry water on the Lind Point Trail and wear proper shoes. It is rocky, and it is not suitable for strollers.

Where to stay so you don't need a car

A car-free beach trip works best from Cruz Bay, where the ferry dock, the safari taxis and the Lind Point trailhead are all in town. Dolphin Suites sits above Dolphin Market at 18-27 Estate Enighed, about a 5-minute walk from the ferry dock and 3 minutes from the beach, with groceries downstairs for a packed beach lunch. Every Dolphin suite has one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, a washer and dryer and a balcony. Four suites sleep 2 guests and four sleep up to 4, and Unit 2 and Unit 4 have the ocean view.

For couples, Raintree Suites is a brand-new one-bedroom apartment for two, about a 5-minute walk from the ferry dock and the beach, with a washer and dryer for beach towels and swimwear. Compare both on our apartments and suites page, or check availability and book direct.

More guides for a car-free trip

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a car to visit St. John's beaches?

No. From Cruz Bay you can walk to Salomon and Honeymoon on the Lind Point Trail, take a safari taxi from the ferry terminal to the North Shore beaches, and take the VITRAN bus toward Coral Bay and Salt Pond.

Which beaches can I walk to from Cruz Bay?

Salomon Beach and Honeymoon Beach. The Lind Point Trail starts behind the national park visitor center in Cruz Bay and runs about a mile over rocky ground.

How much is a taxi to Trunk Bay?

St. John taxi fares are set by the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission and charged per person, so ask the driver for the current fare before you ride. Trunk Bay also has its own fee of $5 per person for ages 16 and up.

Does the bus go to the North Shore beaches?

No. The VITRAN bus runs along Centerline Road toward Coral Bay and Salt Pond. There is no bus on the North Shore Road.

Are there lifeguards on St. John's beaches?

The National Park Service lists no lifeguards on duty at Trunk Bay. Check the surf flags before you swim.

Sources

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.

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