National Park · NPS · VI
Virgin Islands National Park
Photo: NPS Photo, Trunk Bay
Alerts and conditions
Caution Trail Conditions
Rain may cause trails to be slick and overgrown. Staff and Volunteer Trail Crews clear trails regularly. Visitors should use caution and report trail issues to viis_interpretation@nps.gov
Overview
Go beyond Virgin Islands National Park's stunning white-sand beaches. Hike to historic plantation sites to learn about a challenging past when sugar and enslaved labor dominated life on the island. Visit the Indigenous Taino's ancient petroglyphs. Snorkel coral reefs to discover hidden marine life. Two-thirds of the island of St. John is national park, making it a unique destination for visitors.
From the National Park Service
History
The designation history for this site (every law, proclamation and order, and the administration behind each) is being researched and checked by the Library’s historians.
What to see and do
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Craft Demonstrations
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Astronomy
- Stargazing
- Boating
- Motorized Boating
- Sailing
- Camping
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Saltwater Fishing
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Hiking
- Backcountry Hiking
- Front-Country Hiking
- Paddling
- Kayaking
- Stand Up Paddleboarding
- SCUBA Diving
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
- Saltwater Swimming
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Plan your visit
Hours
Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center: Virgin Islands National Park is always open! The Visitor Center and store are open from 8:15 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 8:15 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Fridays. It is closed on weekends, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Getting there
There are no airports on St. John so you must fly to the St. Thomas Cyril E. King Airport (code STT) and travel from there. From the airport you rent a car and drive or take a taxi to Redhook (west end) St. Thomas. From there you can either take a car barge to St. John or the people ferry. Once on St. John you can easily walk from the ferry terminal to the Visitor Center.
Visitor centers
- Cruz Bay Visitor Center
Campgrounds
- Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground (121 sites) — reserve
Weather
Mostly Perfect! The Tradewinds (the Easterlies) dominate the weather in the Virgin Islands, blowing east to west across the tropical Atlantic. The winter tends to bring stronger winds and less rain, and the summer tends to bring more rain and lighter winds. Be sure to check the forecast often during hurricane season or winter swell events.
Phone: 3407766201
Whose lands these are
These lands are the ancestral and present-day homelands of Native nations. A section on whose lands these are is being prepared with tribal review. In the meantime, Native Land Digital offers a starting point.
Photos
Pair it with
- Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument NPS · 4 miles
- Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 11 miles
- Culebra National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 37 miles
- Buck Island Reef National Monument NPS · 38 miles
- Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve NPS · 39 miles
- Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge FWS · 40 miles