Ferry to St. John with Car: A Complete Guide for Travelers

If you’re planning a trip to St. John, Virgin Islands, taking a ferry with your car rental can make your trip even more exciting and convenient. Whether you’re renting a car on St Thomas for island exploration or need it for the duration of your stay, taking the ferry from St. Thomas to St. John with a car is a great option. Here’s everything you need to know about the Red Hook car ferry terminal, the Big Red Barge, Love City Car Ferries, and other tips for traveling to St. John.

Table of Contents

• Taking the CAR Ferry to St. John
  • The Big Red Barge
  • Love City Car Ferries
• Taking the FOOT Ferry to St John
  • From Red Hook
  • From Crown Bay
  • Advantages of taking the foot ferry (and renting a car in St John)
  • Renting a car on St John
• What is the best car ferry from St Thomas to St John?
• Parking at Red Hook Ferry
• Taking a PRIVATE SHUTTLE TAXI on St Thomas
• Taking a PRIVATE WATER TAXI to St John
• Tips for a Smooth Ferry Experience to St John
• Conclusion
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Taking the CAR Ferry to St. John

The RED HOOK CAR FERRY TERMINAL is the only place to catch a drive-on ferry for travelers heading to St. John with a car. The ferry departs from Red Hook, located on the eastern side of St. Thomas, and travels directly to Cruz Bay, the main town on St. John. The ferry ride offers stunning views of the ocean and nearby islands, making it a scenic journey as well as a convenient one.

Tip: Make sure to arrive early, especially during peak tourist season, to guarantee your spot on the ferry. The ferries can fill up quickly, and you don’t want to miss your departure! The car last ferry is at 7:00 pm and can be full.

Where to Catch the Car Ferry

Once you land in St. Thomas, and have secured your St Thomas car rental, simply put “Red Hook Car Ferry” in your GPS and this should take you right to the car ferry terminal. It’s about a 30 minute ride to this St Thomas car ferry to St John. You can see the spot marked in red in the map image below.

The Big Red Barge

A well-known ferry for getting to St. John with a car is the Big Red Barge. This ferry service is based in Red Hook, and it offers a direct route to Cruz Bay.

Schedule and Cost of Ferry:

• The Big Red Barge operates from Red Hook to Cruz Bay, running multiple trips a day, typically leaving about every 2 hours.
• Vehicles $50 one way or $65 round trip for a Jeep or similar.
• You can book a ferry ahead online.

Big Red Barge Schedule (check the link to be sure scheduled times are correct as departures may vary seasonally)

Love City Car Ferries: A Convenient Choice for Travelers

The term Love City is often used to refer to St. John, and the Love City Car Ferries are specifically designed to bring travelers from St. Thomas to St. John. You’ll find that Love City Car Ferries is an excellent choice to get you between both Red Hook and Cruz Bay.

Schedule and Cost of Ferry:

• Like other car ferry options, expect to pay $50 one way or $65 round trip for a Jeep or similar.
• The schedule for Love City car ferries also departs approximately every 2 hours from either destination.
• You can book a ferry ahead online.

Love City Car Ferries Schedule (check the link to be sure scheduled times are correct as departures may vary seasonally)

Taking the FOOT Ferry to St. John (from Red Hook or Crown Bay)

If you’re not bringing a car, you can easily take a foot ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay. This can be a faster, more affordable option for those who don’t need a car on the island. The passenger ferry to St. John is easy, fast and convenient.

Where to Catch the FOOT Ferry in RED HOOK

This is the more popular of the two foot ferries. Once you land in St. Thomas, head to the baggage claim area, exit the terminal to the outdoors, and walk to the left side of the building. You’ll find taxi and shuttle drivers waiting by the mini-vans lined up against the building. Taxi drivers often wear red or blue shirts. Just ask them to take you to the “Red Hook foot ferry to St. John”, and they will direct you to the next available taxi van. The taxi ride is 30 minutes; However, may take other passengers to St Thomas resorts before arriving at the Red Hook ferry terminal where you can catch your boat to St. John.

The ride from Red Hook, St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John is approximately 20 minutes. It is along the most direct water route from island to island.

Cost of the Shuttle Van to the Foot Ferry in Red Hook

Airport shuttle van to Red Hook ferries, cost is $23/person + bags, not including tip (or, if 2+ people the rate is $17/person + bags). The St Thomas taxi rate is CASH from the Cyril King Airport to Red Hook. Best to bring small bills so that you have the amount ready as you depart the taxi. Local taxi rates and information can be verified here.

Note the photo shown the right column has the rate for “Two or More persons”. This is a photo from the rates posted in the airport right near the line for the shuttle. When there is 2 or more persons in your party you get a discount – So if the taxi driver is trying to charge you full price for each person in your party (for example $23 per person instead of $17 per person), note the taxi cab number from the red plaque outside window of their cab, and be sure to call the USVI Taxi Commission and report the driver. The number is 340-774-4550. Rates went up by 50% in 2022 so granted this is a significant increase, before tip on the base rate.

Cost of the Foot Ferry

FERRY = One-way $8.15 (non-resident rate); Round-Trip $16.30 (price does not include baggage)

LUGGAGE = $3/bag. An item that can fit in your lap is not charged. Luggage exceeding 30″x20″ can be charged a higher rate not to exceed $6/item.

Buy Online at St John Ticketing – Select “Red Hook to Cruz Bay”

Schedule/Hours for the Red Hook to Cruz Bay, typically leaving once per hour from 6am to 10pm.

Where to Catch the FOOT Ferry in CROWN BAY

Once you land in St. Thomas, head to the baggage claim area, exit the terminal to the outdoors, and walk left once outside the building. You’ll find taxi and shuttle drivers waiting by the mini-vans lined up against the building. Taxi drivers often wear red or blue shirts. Just ask them to take you to the “Crown Bay ferry to St. John”, and they will direct you to the next available taxi van. The taxi ride is 5 minutes; However, may take other passengers to St Thomas destinations before arriving at the Red Hook ferry terminal where you can catch your boat to St. John. Therefore, a great resource for getting you directly to the Crown Bay foot ferry is Yogi at 340-626-5695 – call his service as soon as you land to arrange for a ride. At last check, it was $12/person with other passengers who will likely you for the transfer in their Mercedes vans (typically black, so look for them as soon as you get your baggage and walk out the exit doors).

The ride from Crown Bay, St Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John is approximately 35 minutes. It is a scenic boat ride to view the town of Charlotte Amalie from afar as you go across the water, as well as some villas perched up high on the rocks along the coast.

Book ferry tickets from Crown Bay to Cruz Bay.

Advantages of Taking the Foot Ferry vs. Renting a Car in St Thomas

You may also want to read about the advantages of taking the foot ferry and renting a car on St. John. This would be instead of renting a car in St Thomas. If you have a big group in your vehicle, renting a car in St. Thomas may be the cheapest way to get a group to St. John, especially if you have room for some groceries to pick up along the way.

Renting a Car on St John

If you’ve decided to get a rental car in st John (most likely a Jeep rental), you are now curious about which St John car rental companies to rent from. Generally speaking, we hear about the same feedback from island guests of St John vacation rentals which is that the rental car companies are all about the same in type of vehicle, cost of rental, and experience. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. All generally good with most having similar selection and competitive pricing.

Parking at Red Hook Ferry

There is parking available at the Red Hook Ferry. It is located at a parking garage adjacent to the ferry terminal. This is convenient for those coming from St. Thomas who are looking for a day trip to St. John. You can park your car at the ferry so that you can island hop to another one of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Rate begin at $4 for up to an hour and go to $15 for each 24 hours parking. The full list of parking rates by the VI Port Authority are updated on their website.

Which is the Best Car Ferry from St Thomas to St John?

Honestly, the best one is the first one you can get on. They are mostly the same experience. One ferry may offer drinks. All ferries require that the car be backed on (there is no drive straight on or drive through).

Taking a PRIVATE SHUTTLE TAXI on St Thomas

Another alternative to those already mentioned it to take a private shuttle or taxi service on St Thomas over to the east end of the island to Red Hook. This may be a good way to get a group of travelers who are going to the same villa in St John to stay together and be assured of prompt, pre-arranged service to your desired destination. In addition to Yogi (340-626-5695) as mentioned above. Here are a few others to look into their taxi rates and services: Paradise Taxi and Tours has private airport transfer rates listed on their page; and, Chris Taxi has a form to request a quote for airport pickup and ground transportation from the Cyril King Airport.

Taking a PRIVATE WATER TAXI to St John

If you want to splurge or just are so excited for your vacation to St. John that you want to have a service waiting for you, consider reserving a private ride by water taxi from St. Thomas to St. John. This service is also located near the St. Thomas foot ferry terminal, so you will still have to get ground transportation on St. Thomas first. Dolphin Water Taxi offers money-saving ride shares for fewer than 5 people. At the publication of this post, the cost was $60/person. If airport transfer is requested, add $25/person. They also offer half and full day trips for island hopping and sightseeing. While this likely may not be the cheapest way of getting to St. John, it may be the fastest.

Tips for a Smooth Ferry Experience to St. John

• Book in advance if you can, especially during high season or holidays. High demand can cause rental cars in the USVI to run out. Though it is not necessary to book a reservation for a car ferry, booking early can help you avoid waiting for the next available ferry.
• Plan for the weather. While the ferries are generally reliable, rough weather can cause delays or cancellation. Always check the weather forecast before you travel.
• Arrive early. Ferries can get crowded, especially during the morning rush. Arriving early ensures you get your tickets or a good spot on the ferry with your car or for your foot ferry ride. In case you miss out on being the last car on the ferry, the departure and arrival times of the Big Red Barge and Love City Car Ferries are staggered. That means the next ferry isn’t too far behind.
• If you miss the last car ferry to St John for the night. Jump on the Foot ferry, operated by St. John’s Ferry Service where you can buy that ticket online or at the booth. That way you can get a taxi on St John to your vacation villa on St. John for the night, then double back the next day to pick up your rental vehicle.
• Put Your Parking Brake On During the Car Ferry Ride. This is because the ferry employees park cars so tight end to end there is almost no room between cars. Unless you put your brake on, as you ride across the water your car will rock forward to backward, possibly bumping the car in front or behind you.

Conclusion: Enjoy Your Ferry Ride to St. John!

Taking the ferry to St. John with a car is one of the most convenient and scenic ways to travel to the island. Once you’ve taken the ferry from St Thomas to St John a few times, it’s a breeze. Whether you choose the Big Red Barge, or the Love City car ferries, you’ll enjoy a smooth and beautiful ride to your island destination. Make sure to check schedules, book in advance if necessary, and plan ahead for a smooth ferry experience. Once you arrive in Cruz Bay, you’ll be ready to enjoy everything that St. John has to offer—from pristine beaches to hiking trails and delicious local food. Safe travels and enjoy your trip to St. John!

FAQs:

1. How much does it cost to take a car ferry to St. John?
   The ferry cost for a car and passengers is typically between $50 one-way or $65 round-trip.
2. Where do I catch the ferry to St. John?
   The car ferries depart from Red Hook in St. Thomas and arrive in Cruz Bay on St. John. There ferry companies are the Big Red Barge and Love City car ferries.
3. How often do the ferries run to St. John?
   Car ferries typically depart every hour or two, from around 6:00 AM to 7PM, but schedules may change based on the time of year. The foot ferry, from around 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
4. How long is the ferry to St John?
   The trip from St Thomas to St John is 20 minutes. This is the case whether you take a foot ferry or car ferry.
5. Do I need to book ferry tickets in advance?
   It’s a good idea to book ferry tickets in advance, especially during peak travel seasons, to secure your spot.
6. Can I take a foot ferry to St. John without a car?
   Yes, you can take a foot ferry from Red Hook to Cruz Bay. Taxis and shuttles will be waiting just outside the airport doors take you from the St Thomas airport to the Red Hook ferry terminal.