What to do in Virgin Islands National Park with kids (or without)
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the gatorade colored water in usvi will leave you wanting to come back over and over again.
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virgin islands national park has some of the clearest water we’ve ever experienced
If you’re looking for what to do in Virgin Islands National Park with kids, you’re in the right place. Whether you are traveling with kids or without, you’ll find everything you need to plan your trip here. Virgin Islands National Park is visited by approximately 343,685 people annually and covers 7,259 acres or about 60% of St Johns island.
Every visitor to Virgin Islands National Park should make a stop at the visitor centers to get a park map and find an up-to-date weather update or share info about the park’s road and beach conditions and possible closures.
Park Rangers are also a wonderful resource for finding out the parks more of the beaten path spots. The Virgin Islands National Park Visitor Center is open Monday-Thursday 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It is closed on Christmas, July 4, and Thanksgiving Day so if you are headed to the USVI during those holidays, plan accordingly!
To see more photos and videos from our trips to USVINP check out my Instagram Highlight.
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If you are looking for more things to do in in the Caribbean with kids, check out my full guide to Puerto Rico with Kids!
When to Visit Virgin Islands National Park
The peak season of Virgin Islands National Park is December through April. These months come with cooler temperatures, but also the dry season. These are the best months to visit Virgin Islands National park because of the improved weather and more chance of sunny clear days.
Peak summer months are going to bring throngs of tourist with school being let out, but it also brings the heat and the rain. Be prepared for rain showers moving across the island consistently.
The average annual weather for reference - graph courtesy of weather and climate (Click photo for more weather data)
If you decided to travel to USVI in winter, be aware that this is peak season and that accommodations and activities will sell out. St John is very small and 60% of the island is the National Park, so there are not many places to stay or companies operating off the island.
april in usvi was a fantastic time to visit
We visited in April and had phenomenal weather the entire week in the USVI. The temperature was not hot, but not cool. We experienced one small rain shower that came and went quickly. Overall we had amazing weather with sunny skies and clear blue waters. Arguably April is the best month to visit because there are lower crowds than December or summer.
How to get to Virgin Islands National Park
Virgin Islands National Park is amazing, but it’s not as easy to get to as other parks. There are several ways to get to the park, so let’s take a look at them. Here are some examples of How to get to Virgin Islands National Park:
Obligatory national park sign photo!
Puerto Rico to USVI National Park is a short 25 minute flight from Luis Muñoz Marín International (SJU) to Cyril E. King Airport (STT), then a ferry from St Thomas to St John.
Another popular way to get to Virgin Islands National Park is by cruise ship. From the port, you’ll taxi to the ferry and take a ferry from St Thomas to St John.
For private water taxis or boat charters from St. Thomas to St John, you can arrange transport through St. Thomas Water Taxi or Dolphin Water Taxi.
BVI to USVI: Another option is to fly into the British Virgin Islands and then take a ferry to St Thomas and then on to St John. The ferry leaves Road Town, Tortola BVI and travels to St John then on to Red Hook St Thomas, USVI. On the way back, it’s a direct ferry from Red Hook to Road Town.
we took the love city car barge so we could bring our rental car with us.
There are a few ferry options from St Thomas to St John.
Love City Car Ferry. We used this company because we could schedule in advance, pay online, and it was to bring our rental car from St Thomas to St John.
Big Red Barge Car Ferry. This is also a car ferry. Perfect for anyone who wants to rent a car and drive through the park themselves (highly recommend this)
Passenger Ferries:
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headed from st thomas over to st john. It’s a short ride, but they have a balcony you can sit on a small refreshments stand if you need some chips or a drink
Where to Stay in Virgin Islands National Park
Cinnamon Bay Campground
located at one of the best beaches on the island, you can camp with convenience here at cinnamon bay
Cinnamon Bay Campground
Cinnamon Bay is the only official campground inside the park. It is located off Northshore Road and is directly located on the island’s longest beach - Cinnamon Bay Beach. The campground has its own restaurant, grocery store, water sports rentals and excellent snorkeling. We stayed here for 3 nights and it was wonderful.
The accomodations offered are:
Bare Site
“Bare site rentals include a wood platform…Bare sites sleep 2 adults and 2 kids max.”
Eco Tent:
“Eco-tents are a more comfortable camping experience…they can comfortably sleep 2 people.” (Think glamping)
ECO-TENT FAMILY: The family version of the eco-tent includes extra space with twin bunks in addition to the queen bed and can sleep 4 people.
We stayed in a cottage! it was perfect with a room with a queen bed and another room with a day bed (two twins)
Cottages:
“The cottages offer a more substantial accommodation….The queen bed and day bed are in separate rooms. Each cottage can sleep 4 people.”
Group Sites
The five of us stayed in a cottage. It was the perfect space for us. Since our little guy was only 2, he was able to stay in the cottage (sleeps only 4) for no additional charge. The big kids each had their own twin bed, we had the queen bed, and we brought a packnplay for the toddler.
We stayed in a cottage at cinnamon bay
The cottage had everything we needed to cook a meal, but we ate lunch out on the town and had dinner each night at the on-site restaurant. Every single night they offered different meals that were large portions and actually delicious. During the day there are food trucks near the beach offering some delicious lunch options - and absolutely do not miss the soft serve ice cream or root beer float with the local St John Brewers Root Beer!
Every evening at cinnamon bay they have a different themed meal! pasta night was a hit!
Virgin Islands National Park Camping:
Cinnamon Bay Campground is the only designated campground within the national park. Here you can tent camp (rent a platform) or you can glamp as mentioned above.
cinnamon bay campground is extremely convenient! They do have wi-fi at the dining area, paid laundry, unlimited beach access, and great food/service
Cinnamon Cay pictured through one of the remaining windows in the ruins of the Danish Warehouse located on Cinnamon Bay Beach in Virgin Islands National Park on St. John, USVI.
Where to Stay Outside of Virgin Islands National Park
While there are very few choices to stay inside Virgin Islands National Park, there are are several places to choose from outside the park on the island of St John. The island is actually very small and it does not take much time to get from side to side, so no matter where your accommodation is, you’ll have access to the park if you have a car. Use the map below to find hotels, homestays, and RV parks that fit your groups size and budget.
It is absolutely reasonable and easy to stay on St Thomas and take the day ferry over to St Thomas to explore the island. The car ferry is such a nice option because you can ride over and have your own car to explore. We did stay for a few nights in St Thomas after we stayed in the park. I absolutely loved staying right at Sapphire Beach - one of the most beautiful beaches in St Thomas and less than 5 minutes from the car ferry.
What to do in Virgin Islands National Park with Kids
1) Go Hiking in Virgin Islands National Park!
Hiking is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the history and ecology of Virgin Island National Park. From difficult hiking to easy; this park has it all. I have put together the best hikes in Virgin Islands National Park for kids and adults alike! The hikes listed under “best hikes for toddlers in Virgin Islands” and under “best hikes for kids in Virgin Islands National Park” are going to be the best Virgin Islands National park kid-friendly hikes! The longer, more difficult hikes are listed under “best hikes for teenagers in Virgin Islands National Park.”
can you spot me? From the peak of rams head you can look back and see the coast of st john all the way down to St thomas!
Best Hikes for Toddlers in Virgin Islands National Park
Cinnamon Bay Sugar Plantation Nature Loop: This is an easy 0.5 mile trail for all ages. Smell the scent of the leaves from the bay rum trees, which were once used to make the famous St John Bay Rum Cologne. The boardwalk and nature loop are located across the road from the entrance to the Cinnamon Bay Campground.
Cinnamon Bay Sugar Plantation Nature Loop
Salt Pond Beach (DO NOT MISS): This is an easy 0.5 mile trail. It leads you to one of the best beaches in Virgin Islands National park for snorkeling and wildlife. There is very very limited parking at the trailhead, so plan to get there early. There is almost no shade on the beach, so plan accordingly. Pack in your own water and food.
salt pond beach before all the beachgoers showed up
rams head trail does cross cobblestone beach - and it’s name is there for a reason
Francis Bay Trail: This easy 0.7 mile loop trail is a family friendly trail. There is a small parking area. The trail takes hikers along a boardwalk to see ruins. Many people say it’s a fantastic spot for birding! (sometimes even Flamingos!!)
Peach Hill Trail (DO NOT MISS): This is a very easy 0.2 mile trail that leads up to the Peace Hill Windmill ruins. It’s good for all ages, makes for some gorgeous photos, and had incredible views of Denis Bay. This is a GREAT spot for Sunset in Virgin Islands National Park.
the views along the ram head trail
Best Hikes for Kids in Virgin Islands National Park:
hiking along ram head trail
Salt Pond Bay & Ram Head Trail: This is a moderate 2.4 mile trail. It is moderate due to a 300+ climb to Ram Head and crossing a rock beach. The entire second beach is shale and stone. We did this trail with 3 young kids with no issue. (Ages 2, 8, 10) I carried the toddler in a carrier on my back - it took us 1h45 minutes with a long stop at Ram Head for photos and views.
Lindt Point Trail to Honeymoon Beach: This moderate to easy 2 mile trail connects the National Park Visitor Center to Honeymoon Beach. Hikers need to get a parking pass from the Visitor Center prior to doing this hike. Don’t miss the Lind point Overlook for great views of Cruz Bay. Pro Tip: Take the upper trail if you wanna get the blood flowing and then take the lower on the way back.
America Hill via Cinnamon Bay Trail: This moderate 1.3 mile trail climbs 413 feet giving hikers panoramic views of Maho and Cinnamon Bay. Here you will get to hike through lush forest up to some old ruins. This trail starts at the Cinnamon Bay Boardwalk and heads up.
rams head trail is gorgeous
Best Hikes for Teenagers in Virgin Islands National Park:
Reef Bay Trail (DO NOT MISS) : This is a strenuous 4.1-mile out-and-back trail near Coral Bay, Saint John. AllTrails says it takes an average of 2 h 22 min to complete. While this trail is considered to be back country, it is a very popular area for hiking. You must bring an appropriate amount of water as there are NO facilities and a lot of sun on the trail This trail is amazing because you get a gorgeous beach, sugar mill ruins and petroglyphs!
To see more photos and videos from our trips to USVINP check out my Instagram Highlight.
some photos from annaberg plantation in USVI NP
2) Go Snorkeling in USVI National Park
Snorkeling from the shore is probably the most popular activity in Virgin Islands National Park. This park is unique in that it has many protected bays with throngs of tropical fish, sea turtles, and other marine life to see.
snorkeling in salt pond bay
As a matter of fact, Virgin Islands National Park is home to one of the only Snorkel Trails I have ever heard of. Trunk Bay Underwater Snorkel Trail is located (obviously) in Trunk Bay. The trail takes about 30-60 minutes of snorkeling and introduces visitors to the magically colorful world of the coral reef. You’ll snorkel along above the trail and read the underwater signs to learn about the many animals that depend on the coral and ways to protect these fragile reefs.
my daughter snorkeling in salt pond bay - you can see two seaturtles eating on the sea floor under her.
We chose to spend the majority of our time snorkeling in Cinnamon Bay by our campsite, snorkeling in open water with Reef Sunfari, and we spend half a day snorkeling in Salt Pond Bay which is by far the best snorkeling in Virgin Islands National Park we had.
there is so much to see in salt pond bay - not only did we see loads of sea turtles, we saw sea fans, sea cucumbers, endless colorful fish - it was such a fun day
salt pond beach is gorgeous - get there early because it is very popular and the parking is limited.
Be sure to Check out my Other Caribbean Islands Guides
3) Virgin Islands Junior Ranger Program:
Virgin Islands National Park has a Junior Ranger Program for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. Emphasis is placed on park preservation, flora and fauna facts, and environmental education. Unfortunately when we were in the park, the booklets were being redone and the park did not have any on hand. I am still waiting for the new booklets so I can have my kids do one fore the badge! BUT be sure to ask at the Visitor Center for a booklet!
The Shenandoah Junior Ranger Badge
When kids complete the Virgin Islands National Park Junior Ranger booklet, they earn a badge. National Park Junior Ranger program is one of the best family friendly things to do in Virgin Islands National Park.
**If you don’t have time to complete the booklet at home, you can complete it at home and mail it in. (We have done this at several parks and NP sites)
4) Take a Boat to Explore more of the National Park
USVI National Park spans 7,259 acres of land and 5,650 acres submerged (or water) areas. This means that if you don’t get in the water, you’re missing half the park.
When we went, it was very important to me to get on a boat INSIDE the park, so I looked for tours that stayed in the park waters. I found Reef Surfari!
It was such a great day on the boat with reef surfari!
We took a tour with Reef Surfari and it was really awesome. It’s a family friendly tour with several snorkel stops. We saw so many fish, sea turtles, and birds. The Captain was great at sharing information about the park and they had a huge bin of snacks and coolers full of drinks for all ages. The best part? The price was very fair. We paid $360 total for 2 adults, 3 kids. Highly recommend this tour for families visiting Virgin Islands National Park.
the kids climbing back aboard the reef surfari boat
I spend a week in Puerto Rico with 3 kids by myself. If you’re wanting to visit Puerto Rico or the USVI as a Solo Parent Traveler, check out my tips for traveling as solo parent.
5) Explore Historical Ruins
The historic sites in Virgin Islands National Park are a fantastic family friendly thing to do and you can’t fully experience the park without stopping by at least one or two ruins.
The kids walking through annaberg plantation
Annaberg Plantation: This was the largest sugar producing estate on St. John. At it’s height, over 600 slaves lived and worked the plantation. Today, you will be able to see the remains of the animal mill, windmill, the ruins of slave quarters, and other key parts of this plantation. DO NOT MISS: Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m from November until April there are docents and actors dressed in period clothing sharing stories and food from when the plantation was active.
INCREDIBLE FACT: The Annaberg plantation sits on the Leinster Bay waterfront. This bay is now part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom as many enslaved persons used the Leinster Bay waterfront to escape to freedom on nearby Tortola of the British Virgin Islands.
We were able to taste bread cooked the original way, talk to the docents, and see so much of the annaberg plantation
Catherineberg Estate Ruins: This plantation is located on Centerline Road and I am so sad to say that we missed this piece of history. It isn’t as developed as Annaberg, but you can walk the grounds and go inside the buildings.
Cinnamon bay has a really in tact set of ruins with a nature trail
Cinnamon Bay: As mentioned before, there is a boardwalk that takes you through these ruins. You can see remnants of the old sugar mill located here. This is an excellent spot to visit if you are limited on time, but still want to immerse in the true history of St John. They have placards throughout explaining the history.
To see more photos and videos from our trips to USVINP check out my Instagram Highlight.
ruins that sit on cinnamon bay beach
Other ruins inside the park are the Paquerau Plantation Ruins, Reef Bay Estate House Ruins (get to this via hike), Reef Bay Sugar Mill Ruins (get to this via hike), Brown Bay Ruins, Hermitage Ruins, Fort Frederick Ruins, and so many more. We did visit one more ruins that had incredible views and that was the Peace Hill Windmill Ruins (very short hike to access).
the peace hill windmill ruins - such an incredible view overlooking jumbie beach and denis bay
6) Stargazing and Finding Crabs
the sky had so many stars in it. I was amazing to sit on a beach and see so many
You’ll need to be inside Virgin Islands National Park at night for this, but the stars shine bright here. With limited light pollution, you can see so many stars in the sky. We sat on Cinnamon Bay Beach and saw two seas at once - the ocean and a sea of stars.
We also took our flashlights out and went looking for crabs. (NOT catching crabs, that’s illegal) but just spotting them. We were both fascinated and a bit terrified by how big the crabs that were out really are. We saw some HUGE crabs. We used our headlamps and cell phone flashlight to spot them. I have several videos of these big guys in my IG stories about USVI National Park.
We saw so many absolutely massive crabs at night in usvi np
7) Water Sports
swimming with sea turtles
We did not do any water sports in Virgin Islands National Park except snorkel, but there is plenty of opportunity to take part in some.
Cinnamon Bay Watersports offers kayak and paddle board rentals as well as sail boat rentals.
Maho Bay has some shops that rent kayaks, clear kayaks, SUP boards, clear paddle boards, Bote floats, and Bote Water Hammocks.
You can do some night kayaking in Cruz Bay!
The island is your playground when you visit Virgin Islands National Park!
If you're planning a family trip to Virgin Islands National Park, rest assured there's no shortage of kid-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained. From hiking kid-approved trails to endless gorgeous overlooks, snorkeling, wildlife encounters, and historical immersion, Virgin Islands National Park has something for every age.
compton peak trail is an unique spot in shenandoah national park
As a mom who's visited 51 National Parks with kids, I can promise Virgin Islands National Park will leave your family with lasting memories and a newfound appreciation for the great outdoors.
Have you been to USVI National Park? If so, I would love to hear from you and if I missed anything you did and loved.
To see more photos and videos from our trips to USVINP check out my Instagram Highlight.
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