This U.S. National Park Is Located on an Island and Has White-sand Beaches, Unspoiled Coral Reefs, and Tropical Forest

The U.S. Virgin Islands include the three main islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, in addition to about 50 small islets and cays. This Caribbean island group is known for its white-sand beaches and healthy reef—the best of which are protected by Virgin Islands National Park.

The park sprawls across most of St. John, protecting unspoiled beaches edged by coral reefs, sea turtle breeding grounds, and hiking trails that meander through tropical forests. It contains plantation sites and the ancient petroglyphs of the Indigenous Taino, so guests can learn about the island’s history of colonialism and enslavement as well as its original inhabitants. The park’s nature and culture make it a must-visit destination, especially for those looking to get out of their lounge chairs and off the beaten path.

Margie Hand, a Travel + Leisure A-List travel advisor who focuses on the Caribbean, said in addition to hiking and snorkeling, “you can also go kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, and bird watching” on St. John. Her tip is to “visit the overlooks along North Shore Road for great photos.” Here’s everything else you need to know before visiting Virgin Islands National Park, including how to get there, where to stay, and what to do.

Best Hotels and Resorts

Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground

Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground is the only lodging option within Virgin Islands National Park. You can rent a tent and rough it or reserve a cottage or glamping tent for your stay. Either way, you’ll be treated to direct access to the park’s stunning Cinnamon Bay Beach, where there are snorkels, kayaks, and paddleboards available for rent. The campground also has a restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner daily, plus a food truck for lunch. 

St. John Villa Rentals

Many St. John visitors prefer to have a full kitchen and private living space. St. John Villa Rentals, which is essentially the Airbnb of St. John, connects travelers with homeowners and local property managers. During a 2023 visit to St. John, T+L writer Hannah Selinger fell in love with the Hale Lani Villa listed on that booking site.

Lovango Resort & Beach Club

Lovango Resort & Beach Club is located on Lovango Cay, a private island just a 10-minute ride on the resort ferry from both St. John and St. Thomas. The property, which opened in 2020, offers an expansive beach club (which welcomes day visitors) and waterfront dining. Book a stay to discover why it’s one of T+L readers’ favorite Caribbean resorts,

Best Things to Do

Reef Bay Trail

The Reef Bay Trail is strenuous, but there’s no better route for those interested in the history of St. John. It winds past the ancient rock carvings, created by the island’s Indigenous Taino people, and leads to the ruins of Danish sugar plantations, where many were enslaved. Some of the oldest and tallest trees on the island can be found along the Reef Bay Trail, and during the rainy season, the path passes by a spectacular waterfall.

The hike—which traverses uneven, rocky terrain—takes around two to four hours to complete and should only be attempted by prepared hikers with plenty of water. If that’s not you, Hand says there are 20 paths ranging from “leisurely trails up to strenuous hikes,” so you can easily find another option.

Annaberg Sugar Plantation

This was once the largest sugar-producing estate on St. John, and many enslaved people escaped (and attempted to escape) by swimming from the plantation’s waterfront, Leinster Bay, to the nearby island of Tortola. Today, visitors can see the ruins of the estate—including the homes of enslaved people—and learn how juice was extracted from harvested sugar cane.

Trunk Bay

Trunk Bay is wonderfully picturesque, with a quarter-mile stretch of white sand set against impossibly clear water. As you might expect, it is also popular, so it’s the only St. John beach that charges a small entrance fee. Hand has this bay on the top of her list of places to snorkel. Her other favorites include Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay, and Francis Bay.

Hawksnest Bay

Looking for more snorkeling spots? Add Hawksnest Bay to your list. Here, you’ll find federally protected Elkhorn coral reefs and a population of hawksbill and green turtles, among other wildlife. A long white-sand beach lines the shore, although it can disappear with the tides. While snorkelers are welcome to explore the Elkhorn corals, they should never swim over the reef itself, as it is extremely fragile. 

Best Shopping

Bajo el Sol Gallery

As its name—which translates to “Under the Sun”—suggests, there’s a little something for everyone at Bajo el Sol Gallery. Local artists and authors are featured regularly, there’s always stunning art on the walls, and the Art Bar serves coffee drinks, wine, craft cocktails, and a yummy selection of locally made pastries and savory nibbles. As an extra perk, you can sample spirits from Cruz Bay’s largest selection of aged rums.

Jolly Dog Trading Co.

Forgot your swimsuit? Need some more sunscreen or a wide-brimmed hat? Jolly Dog Trading Co. has you covered. This one-stop shop has everything you need for a big day out—and plenty of souvenir options to bring those island vibes home with you. You’ll find a great selection of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, sunglasses, sandals, swimsuits, and water bottles, among other treasures. There are two outposts—one in the heart of Coral Bay and one at The Marketplace in Cruz Bay. 

Bamboo Studio

If you’re on the hunt for a locally made souvenir that will transition seamlessly to regular life, swing by Bamboo Studio. The shop showcases locally themed jewelry made by talented U.S. Virgin Islands artists. Included in the collection are pieces inspired by fishing, hurricanes, and petroglyphs. 

Portico

This boutique has just about everything you need to immerse yourself in the island lifestyle. Portico has a great selection of home decor—from outdoor rugs and pillows to wall art and tableware—as well as clothing, jewelry, and St. John-specific gifts and accessories. If you want to bring home gifts that surpass what you’ll find at a standard souvenir store or infuse your home with island vibes, Portico is the place to shop.

Best Restaurants

Rain Tree Café 

Rain Tree Café is one of just two places where you can get food within the park (the other is the Trunk Bay Snack Shack). Beyond being convenient, this little café at Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground boasts open-air dining for breakfast and dinner, along with a grab-and-go food truck near the beach, perfect for afternoon cravings. 

Lime Out

You’d be hard-pressed to find a restaurant that feels more island-y than Lime Out. The floating restaurant is only accessible by boat, and guests sit on “lily pads” with their feet in the water while they’re served via floating trays. The taco menu is topped only by the cocktail list, which includes plenty of refreshing, fruity options.

Pizza Pi

Tacos aren’t the only eats available at a floating restaurant in St. John. Pizza Pi serves up wood-fired, New York-style pizza from a boat moored in Christmas Cove. The menu includes everything from traditional cheese and pepperoni to their take on pineapple and meat-lovers pizzas. To get there, hop on a boat from Cruz Bay—and come hungry.

The Longboard

The signature drink of St. John is the painkiller—a cocktail made with dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut. Selinger claims the island’s best can be found at The Longboard, which offers it frozen. She says the spot “also serves standout fresh-catch ceviche and ahi tuna lettuce wraps,” and notes that the chili-mango-glazed wings are popular with locals. Be sure to go during happy hour, from 2 to 4 p.m. daily.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Virgin Islands National Park is from December to July, once hurricane season has passed and heavy rains are less likely. Just be aware that the good weather draws tourists, who tend to visit St. John between mid-December and April, and again in the weeks around the Fourth of July. The St. John Celebration, which kicks off in late June and continues through the Fourth of July, is also a big draw.

If you really want to avoid the crowds, the park’s interpretation staff told T+L, “The months with the lowest visitation are August, September, and October.” However, of these months they only recommend visiting during October to avoid peak hurricane season.

How to Get There

There’s a reason why the U.S. Virgin Islands are a favorite among American visitors. No passport is needed, and there are several nonstop flights available on United Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta Air Lines from cities including Miami, Atlanta, New York, Boston, Newark, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. 

Most travelers fly into the Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas (there is also a smaller airport on St. Croix) and then hop on a passenger ferry to St. John. There are several ferry docks on St. Thomas offering daily ferries that take passengers to the Cruz Bay Ferry Dock on St. John. Crown Bay Marina is the closest ferry dock to Cyril E. King Airport (the ferry to St. John takes about 30 minutes), while the Red Hook Ferry Terminal on the far eastern side of the island has the most transfers and is the quickest (travel time is just 15 minutes). You can also charter a boat.

How to Get Around

St. John is only 19 square miles, but its hilly, rugged terrain makes getting around the island on foot difficult and time-consuming. There are shared taxis, with seating in the back of an open-air, safari-style truck, but since you’ll be one of many passengers, it can take some time to reach your destination. To that end, most people rent a car on St. John. It won’t save you money, but it will save you time and allow you to explore the island’s more remote (and often the best) beaches. We recommend renting a Jeep or a four-wheel drive vehicle with plenty of clearance. Both Lionel Jeep Rental and Courtesy Car & Jeep Rental are reliable and have fleets of vehicles with four-wheel drive.