Virgin Islands National Park — Visitor Info

← Back to National Parks

Virgin Islands National Park covers roughly 60% of the island of St. John, protecting white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and the ruins of former sugar plantations. There's no general entrance fee — costs here come from a beach amenity fee at Trunk Bay and from boat mooring fees, not from driving in.

Page content last verified: July 2026

Before you go: St. John is only reachable by boat — typically a ferry from St. Thomas. Check the official Alerts & Conditions page for current closures, especially during hurricane season (June–November).
Quick Facts
Location
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Entrance Fee
Free to enter; $5/person at Trunk Bay (16+)
Reservation Needed to Enter?
No (overnight boat moorings require payment)
Permit Needed For
Overnight boat moorings (fee-based, not a permit)
Lodging
Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground
Managed By
National Park Service

Getting There

St. John has no airport — nearly everyone arrives by ferry from St. Thomas (Charlotte Amalie or Red Hook) or from the British Virgin Islands. Once on St. John, most park sites are reachable by taxi or rental jeep on the island's roads.

Entrance Fees

There is no general entrance fee for Virgin Islands National Park — driving in on island roads is free. Trunk Bay, one of the park's most popular beaches, charges a $5 per person (16+) Expanded Amenity Fee from sunrise to sunset (this fee is not waived on NPS Fee Free Days); Interagency Senior/Access passholders pay $2.50. Passes can be bought at the Trunk Bay fee booth, the Cruz Bay Visitor Center (credit/debit only), or on Recreation.gov.

Every Kid Outdoors — Free 4th Grade Pass

4th graders (and their families) can visit free with an Every Kid Outdoors pass, available at everykidoutdoors.gov — it also covers the Trunk Bay fee.

Permits & Reservations

General day use of beaches, trails, and the historic sugar plantation ruins doesn't require a permit.

Overnight Boat Moorings

Boaters must pay before spending the night on a park mooring: $26/night standard, $13/night with a Senior or Access Pass. Overnight stays are capped at 7 nights per bay and 30 nights per year. Payment stations are at Cruz Bay Finger Pier, Caneel Bay, Francis Bay, Leinster Bay, Saltpond Bay, and Great Lameshur Bay, and can also be paid via the Recreation.gov app.

Campgrounds & RV Options

There is no RV camping on St. John — the park's one campground is a private beachfront concession, not an NPS-run site.

Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground
A long white-sand beach with a nature loop through historic sugar plantation ruins. Reopened January 2022 after hurricane recovery; operated by concessioner CinnOpCo. Book directly through the campground's own website.

Good to Know

  • Trunk Bay's underwater snorkel trail is one of the park's signature experiences — bring cash or card for the $5 fee.
  • Hurricane season runs June through November — check conditions before booking if traveling during this window.
  • There's no airport on St. John — factor ferry schedules and costs into your trip from St. Thomas.
  • Reef-safe sunscreen is strongly encouraged to help protect the park's coral reefs.

More National Parks

See our other National Park visitor guides, or browse the full National Parks guide.

Fees and regulations change from year to year. This page is a starting point for trip planning — always confirm current details on the official Virgin Islands National Park site before you go.

Sources: NPS – Fees & Passes · NPS – Camping · NPS – Alerts & Conditions