The Short Answer
Getting from STT airport to St. John takes about an hour total and costs roughly $25–$28 per person (2 people traveling together). The process is always the same: taxi to a ferry terminal → ferry to Cruz Bay. Three terminal options exist; Red Hook is the right choice for most travelers.
Route 1: Red Hook Ferry (Recommended)
Best for: most travelers, especially families, groups, and anyone arriving without a specific reason to use another terminal.
Step 1: Take a taxi from STT arrivals to Red Hook ferry terminal on the east end of St. Thomas.
- Fare: $23 per person (solo) / $17 per person (2+ passengers)
- Duration: 30–40 minutes (traffic on Rte. 30 can slow things down)
Step 2: Buy a ticket at the terminal or in advance at stjohnticketing.com. Board the ferry to Cruz Bay.
- Fare: $8.15 per adult one-way (children 2–11: $1)
- Crossing: 20 minutes
- Frequency: roughly every hour, 6:30am–midnight
- Operators: Varlack Ventures and Transportation Services of St. John
Total cost (2 people): $17 taxi + $8.15 ferry = ~$25 per person
Red Hook is the right choice because the ferry runs all day, you never wait more than an hour, and the terminal has bathrooms and a small bar. The taxi ride is longer than Crown Bay but the ferry fare is significantly cheaper.
Route 2: Crown Bay Ferry (Closest to Airport)
Best for: travelers with a lot of luggage, families with young kids who want the shortest possible taxi, or anyone whose flight arrives outside peak Red Hook hours.
Crown Bay Marina is just 5 minutes from STT airport on the western side of St. Thomas. Inter Island Boat Services operates here.
- Taxi fare: $8 per person (same rate regardless of group size)
- Duration: ~5 minutes
- Ferry fare: $20 per adult one-way
- Crossing: 35 minutes
- Frequency: fewer departures than Red Hook — check the schedule before landing
Total cost (2 people): $8 taxi + $20 ferry = ~$28 per person
Crown Bay costs slightly more per person but the taxi is trivial. The catch is the schedule — if you arrive and there’s no Crown Bay departure for two hours, Red Hook is almost always the better move.
Route 3: Charlotte Amalie Ferry (Seasonal Only)
Best for: travelers who are spending a night in Charlotte Amalie first, or those arriving November–May and who want a scenic 45-minute boat ride instead of a 20-minute one.
The Charlotte Amalie waterfront ferry to Cruz Bay runs November through May only. Confirm it is running before you plan around it.
- Taxi fare: $11 per person (solo) / $9 per person (2+)
- Duration: 15 minutes from airport to waterfront
- Ferry fare: $13 per adult one-way
- Crossing: 45 minutes
- Frequency: 3 departures per day (seasonal)
Total cost (2 people): $9 taxi + $13 ferry = ~$22 per person
On paper this is the cheapest option, but it only works in high season and has very limited departure times. It is not a reliable option for travelers with tight connections.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Route | Taxi Fare (2+ pax) | Ferry Fare | Total/person | Crossing Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hook | $17/person | $8.15 | ~$25 | 20 min | Hourly all day |
| Crown Bay | $8/person | $20 | ~$28 | 35 min | Limited |
| Charlotte Amalie | $9/person | $13 | ~$22 | 45 min | 3/day, Nov–May only |
Arriving in Cruz Bay
Cruz Bay is the main town on St. John — restaurants, shops, grocery stores, and the Cruz Bay ferry dock are all within a short walk. Taxis wait at the dock for onward trips.
Taxi fares from Cruz Bay to popular destinations:
- Trunk Bay — $9/person (2+), about 10 min
- Cinnamon Bay — $11/person (2+), about 15 min
- Maho Bay — $12/person (2+), about 20 min
- Coral Bay — $15/person (2+), about 30 min
- Westin Resort — $7/person (2+), about 5 min
See all Cruz Bay taxi fares on the USVI taxi fare estimator.
Practical Tips
- Book rental cars and Jeeps in advance. St. John rental cars sell out weeks ahead during peak season (Dec–April).
- The last Red Hook ferry to Cruz Bay is midnight. If you’re day-tripping from St. Thomas, don’t miss it.
- Bring cash. Ferry tickets and taxis accept cash reliably; card acceptance varies by driver and terminal.
- Extra bags cost extra. USVI taxis charge $3 per bag — useful to know with large luggage.
- Red Hook traffic. The route from STT to Red Hook can back up during afternoon rush. Leave buffer time.
- Car barge option. If you’re bringing a rental car, the car barge from Red Hook (Vessup Bay) to Enighed Pond costs ~$65 one-way for non-residents. No reservation — show up and load.
Plan the rest of your St. John trip
Live ferry schedules, taxi fares, beach crowd forecasts, and island weather — all free on VIslandGuide.