The Best Beaches in the US Virgin Islands
The US Virgin Islands are one of my favorite Caribbean destinations and a favorite place to visit for some of the best beaches I’ve ever experienced! The beaches in the US Virgin Islands have soft, white sand, crystal clear blue waters, great snorkeling, and amazing views of the Virgin Islands in the distance!
St. Thomas and St. John are the two most popular islands to visit, and both have some of the best beaches in the US Virgin Islands. St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, but since I have not yet visited that island, this post will primarily discuss St. Thomas and St. John.
Before we talk about all the best beaches in the US Virgin Islands, let’s go over a few important things to know before planning your trip!
US Virgin Islands Overview
When to visit the US Virgin Islands?
The best time to visit the US Virgin Islands is December to March. This is when you will have the best weather on the islands and is the most popular time for tourism in the Caribbean. The downside of traveling from December to March is you may experience larger crowds and higher prices on flights and hotels due to the popular demand.
It is best to avoid the islands during the summer & fall months (June-November) due to the Caribbean hurricane season. Early summer is usually fine, but September to November are typically the most active months for hurricanes, and it is recommended to avoid travel during this time. However, this is the best time to travel for the cheapest flights and hotel prices.
The shoulder season in the US Virgin Islands is April & May, right after the high season and right before the start of the low season. This is a good time to travel for less crowds, better weather, and lower prices than the high season!
Where to stay in the US Virgin Islands?
Whether you are staying on St. Thomas or St. John, both islands have some great options for hotels, resorts, and Airbnb/VRBOs. St. John tends to have less hotel availability and is typically more expensive, but you can find some budget friendly options on both islands.
If you choose to stay on St. Thomas, you can easily travel between the islands on the car or passenger ferry. On my trip to the US Virgin Islands, I stayed on St. Thomas and took the car ferry over to St. John for a day trip with my rental car!
Best places to stay on St. Thomas
Bolongo Bay Resort (All-Inclusive), The Westin St. Thomas, Margaritaville, Bouy Haus Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, The Pink Palm Hotel
Best places to stay on St. John
Do you need to rent a car in the US Virgin Islands?
No, you do not HAVE to rent a car when visiting the US Virgin Islands, but I highly recommend it! Taxis are available on both islands but can be expensive and don’t go to all areas of the islands. In order to really explore the best beaches in the Virgin Islands, renting a car is the best way to do so!
If you do rent a car, you will ONLY need to rent it on St. Thomas! You will fly into St. Thomas and pick up your rental car at the airport. If you are going to St. John, you can take your car from St. Thomas to St. John on the car ferry.
Explore US Virgin Islands car rentals here:
Now, let’s talk about the best beaches in the US Virgin Islands!
Best Beaches on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
St. Thomas is a popular cruise ship port in the Caribbean, and some of these beaches can get very crowded on days when cruise ships are visiting the island.
I highly recommend checking the cruise ship schedule and visiting the most popular beaches on the days that have no ships or the least amount of ships for the days you will be visiting.
Some of the best beaches on St. Thomas are lesser known and good to visit on days that have more ships on the island to avoid the crowds!
1. Lindqvist Beach at Smith Bay
One of my favorite beaches on St. Thomas was Lindqvist Beach. This beach is located at a 21-acre park on Smith Bay and was probably the least crowded beach I visited on my trip. The beach costs $5 per person to enter and there is a parking lot available across from the check in where you can park while enjoying the beach.
Lindqvist Beach has soft white sand, crystal clear warm waters, and stunning views! The beach has picnic tables available but there are not food and drink options on this beach! If you want to spend the day here at Lindqvist Beach, make sure to pack your own cooler with some lunch, snacks, and drinks!
2. Magen’s Bay Beach
Magen’s Bay Beach is probably the most popular beach to visit on St. Thomas! This is definitely a beach that you want to visit when there are little to no cruise ships on the island to avoid the crowds. Visiting the beach on a weekday is a great way to avoid the crowds here as well!
Magen’s Bay Beach cost $7 to visit, has a large parking lot, restrooms, water activity rentals such as paddleboards, snorkels, and kayaks, and has a bar and restaurant!
Magen’s Bay is the perfect beach to spend the day and has everything you need to enjoy a comfortable day at the beach.
The beach is large a stretches about a mile long! Pro-Tip: If you walk to the very end of the beach away from the bar and rental shops, you might have the whole place to yourself! There are also several hiking and bike trails around the beach for the adventure lovers.
3. Sapphire Beach
Another popular beach on St. Thomas is Sapphire Beach, this is a free beach on St. Thomas and because of that, can get crowded on cruise ship days.
Sapphire Beach is a great option if you are looking to stay directly on the beach in St. Thomas. There are several condo buildings and Sapphire Beach Resort right here on Sapphire Beach!
Sapphire Beach also has a beach bar, a pizza restaurant, and a rooftop seafood restaurant! There are chair rentals available on the beach.
4. Coki Beach
Another popular beach on St. Thomas is Coki Beach. This beach is free to visit and can get EXTREMELY crowded, especially on cruise ship days. This was probably the most crowded beach I saw on my whole trip to the USVI.
Although very crowded, Coki Beach has beautiful white sand and clear blue waters. This beach is great for snorkeling, has a delicious beach restaurant, and has several shops lining the beach.
If you do plan on visiting Coki Beach, I recommend going during the week and going early enough in the day to find a spot before it starts to fill up.
Best Beaches on St. John
The island of St. John is St. Thomas’ wilder neighbor. The majority of St. John is part of the Virgin Islands National Park and is the perfect island to visit for the nature and adventure lover! The beaches on St. John are some of the best beaches in the USVI and are a must-visit whether you are staying on St. John or just coming over on a day trip from St. Thomas!
1. Trunk Bay
The first beach you need to visit in St. John is Trunk Bay Beach. Not only is this the best beach in St. John and the US Virgin Islands, but it was also rated the number one beach in the world for 2024!
Because Trunk Bay is such a popular beach, it gets busy very quickly! The beach costs $7 to enter and has very limited parking. I arrived at Trunk Bay around 7 am and the beach was mostly empty, but by 8 am the parking lot was almost already completely full and the beach got busy quickly!
One unique thing at Trunk Bay is that there is an underwater snorkel trail! On the trail, you can see coral reefs and vibrant tropical fish. There are signs along the trail teaching you all about the underwater life in Trunk Bay!
2. Maho Bay
My absolute favorite of the U.S. Virgin Islands beaches that I visited on my trip was Maho Bay on St. John! This beach was surrounded by lush green mountains with white sands and had tons of boats anchored in the bay, which made for the prettiest views! Maho Bay reminded me a lot of beaches I’ve seen in Hawaii because of how tropical it is here!
Maho Bay is free to visit and has a few parking spaces. Across the street from the beach is a beach bar and restaurant with an outdoor seating area and games like cornhole!
Maho Bay is a special beach because it is a nesting ground for sea turtles. Be sure to bring your own snorkel gear for the chance to see some turtles while snorkeling here! If you do see a turtle, remember to keep your distance and never chase or touch them.
3. Cinnamon Bay
Cinnamon Bay is a low-key beach on St. John. This beach is the perfect place to get away from the crowds and enjoy some lunch at one of the food trucks with a drink from the bar! Cinnamon Bay has plenty of shade to enjoy some lunch out of the sun and then go for a swim in the warm, clear blue waters. Bring a towel and enjoy the perfect picnic spot in the sand on St. John!
Cinnamon Bay is also a campground and is a great option for a more affordable stay on St. John! There is a cafe that serves breakfast and dinner at the campground. There are also activities for guests such as yoga and water sports like paddleboards, kayaking, and snorkel equipment.
FAQ
Which USVI has the best beaches?
All of the US Virgin Islands have some incredible beaches! My personal favorites are the beaches of St. John because they feel a little more tropical than the beaches on St. Thomas due to being surrounded by nature!
Which is the best beach in St. Thomas?
All of the beaches in St. Thomas are great and are all popular for different reasons. The most popular beach to visit in St. Thomas is Magens Bay. My personal favorite beach on St. Thomas is Lindqvist Bay because it has the bluest water and whitest sand!
What is the best of the Virgin Islands to live in?
St. Thomas is the most popular place to live in the USVI. This is because it is more developed than St. John and has a larger city. It is also where the airport is located which makes it more easily accessible and the other islands are just a quick ferry ride away.
Which island would you stay on in the US Virgin Islands, and why?
If you have time, I would recommend trying to stay on both St. Thomas and St. John to truly be able to get a good feel for each of the islands. If you don’t have time for both, staying on St. Thomas is the more logical option. St. Thomas is where the airport is located, has some of the best beach resorts in U.S. Virgin Islands, and day trips to other islands are easily accessible from the ferry ports.
Looking for more planning tips for the US Virgin Islands? Check out these guides:
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