The Beaches · St. John

Five beaches. Five different kinds of day.

St. John’s beaches range from easy-access North Shore favorites to quieter bays reached by a short walk. Choose by conditions, snorkeling, shade and the kind of pace your group wants.

Find Your Beach Local Guide
The St. John advantage

The beach doesn’t have to be the same beach every day.

Much of St. John is protected within Virgin Islands National Park, so a beach day can mean shaded sand, a snorkel reef, turtle habitat, a long shoreline or a short hike down to the water.

Use this page to choose the kind of beach day you want, then check current weather, water and park conditions before heading out.

Hawksnest Beach on St. JohnMaho Bay on St. John
Five ways to do a beach day

Choose by mood, not by ranking.

Conditions change, and “best” depends on your group. These five St. John beaches each offer a different reason to go.

01

Hawksnest Beach

An easy North Shore choice with a short white-sand beach, shade and three small elkhorn-coral reef areas. NPS notes that parking is limited and often fills by mid-morning.

02

Salt Pond Bay

A south-shore beach reached by a short walk from the parking area. Pair a swim or snorkel with nearby Drunk Bay or continue toward Ram Head for a more active outing.

03

Maho Bay

A long, calm-feeling bay known for seagrass habitat and frequent sea-turtle sightings. It is a relaxed option for swimming, paddling and an unhurried beach day.

04

Trunk Bay

One of St. John’s most recognizable beaches, with white sand, visitor facilities and a 225-yard underwater snorkeling trail. Go early when possible.

05

Cinnamon Bay

The longest beach in Virgin Islands National Park, with plenty of shoreline and on-site amenities that make it useful for a longer beach day.

Love the island back

A few choices help protect the places you came to see.

St. John’s reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds and wildlife are part of what makes the island special. Give them the same care you would want visitors to give your own home.

Give turtles spaceSea turtles are protected in the Virgin Islands. Observe without touching, chasing or riding. The Virgin Islands are critical habitat for green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles, and conservation efforts protect them from threats including habitat loss and entanglement.
Parking responsiblyDo not park on mangroves or other vegetation. Use designated parking and follow Virgin Islands National Park guidance; parking outside designated areas can damage sensitive habitat and create safety problems on narrow island roads.
Don’t touch coralKeep fins, hands and gear off living reef structures. Coral grows slowly, and recovery from significant damage can take decades or longer depending on the species and conditions.
Check weather conditionsIf you hear thunder, leave the beach and move to a substantial building or fully enclosed vehicle. A beach umbrella, cabana or open pavilion does not provide adequate lightning protection.
Beach note

Reef Safe Sunscreen

The U.S. Virgin Islands’ 2019 “Toxic 3 Os” ban prohibits sunscreen sales containing oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene. Mineral options using zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are common reef-conscious choices.

Island etiquette

Leaving the Beach

Beachwear belongs at the beach or pool. When you head into town, a restaurant, shop or other public setting, please cover up and help keep the island’s relaxed culture respectful.