How do you get to Charlotte Amalie?
Getting There1.4/10Among the 5% hardest cities to reach
- Main airport
- Cyril E. King International Airport (STT)
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: soulofamerica.com, welcomepickups.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Downtown Charlotte Amalie is compact and walkable for city exploration, but car rental or taxis are necessary to venture beyond the center.
- Cyril E. King Airport's tight schedule during cruise season may mean longer waits; pre-booking ground transport is recommended.
- Roads are narrow, steep, and winding with sharp curves—drivers should be comfortable with tight turns; GPS navigation is useful.
- US Virgin Islands drives on the left side of the road, unlike the mainland US.
- Public buses (dollar rides) operate on informal schedules; asking locals or drivers for timing and destinations helps avoid long waits.
- Water taxi schedules change with tides and weather; confirm schedule before planning water-based day trips.
- Luggage space is limited on public buses; private transfer or taxi recommended for travelers with multiple pieces of luggage.
Ferry Connections
Public Ferry Service
- Cost
- $12
- Route
- Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay (St. John)
- Purpose
- Day trips to Virgin Islands National Park and beaches
- Distance
- Nearby island
- Schedule
- Earliest departure from Cruz Bay 8:45 am, latest return from Charlotte Amalie 5:30 pm
- Travel Time
- Approximately 40 minutes
Road Town Fast Ferry
- Route
- Charlotte Amalie to Road Town (Tortola, BVI)
- Contact
- Edward Blyden Marine Terminal, Veterans Drive, Counter #4, Charlotte Amalie. Phone: 340-777-2800
- Details
- Connects St. Thomas to British Virgin Islands
- Distance
- Nearby island
- Travel Time
- 50 minutes
Airport Ground Transport
Taxi
- Details
- Licensed taxis charge standardized rates posted in vehicle. Per-passenger pricing varies by group size.
- Travel Time
- Approximately 10-15 minutes
- Cost 2 Or More
- $9.00
- Cost Single Passenger
- $11
Public Bus (Dollar Ride/Jitney)
- Cost
- $1.00
- Details
- Budget-friendly shared minibus service with set fares. Limited luggage space; not recommended for travelers with multiple pieces of luggage.
- Schedule
- First bus from airport to town 6 am, last bus 8 pm, hourly service
Private Airport Transfer
- Details
- Pre-booked door-to-door service with meet-and-greet, flight monitoring, and 24/7 support. Flat fee for all passengers and luggage.
- Cost 4 Passengers
- $88
Car Rental
- Details
- Available at airport with on-site pickup. Companies include Avis, Budget, Discount, and L&L Jeep Rental. Most require drivers over 25; drivers 21-24 may face additional fees. Manual and automatic available; left-hand driving required.
Airport
- Name
- Cyril E. King International Airport (STT)
- Overview
- The busiest airport in the USVI and one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean. Single 11-gate terminal with restaurants, bars, gift shops, ATMs, and duty-free stores.
- Major Routes
- Miami, Atlanta, San Juan, Dallas, New York-JFK, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Newark, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Boston, Houston, Washington-Dulles, Tortola, St. Croix
- Distance From City
- approximately 5 km west
Airlines Serving
- American
- Delta
- United
- JetBlue
- Spirit
- Cape Air
- LIAT
- Silver Air
- Air Sunshine
Cruise Ship Arrivals
Charlotte Amalie is a major cruise destination with ships from Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Holland America, Norwegian, Disney, Cunard, Windstar, MSC, Silversea, and Princess docking at Havensight Pier or Crown Bay, both short taxi rides from downtown.
Local Ground Transport
- Taxis
- Licensed taxis operate on fixed routes or meter basis. Standardized rates must be posted. Available throughout city and beaches.
- Rental Cars
- Compact vehicles recommended for narrow, steep, winding roads. Essential for exploring beyond downtown.
- Water Taxis
- Available for scenic transport to nearby cays and beaches, with schedules subject to tides and weather.
- Public Buses
- Dollar ride taxis with set fares: $1 for short downtown trips, $2 for longer cross-island routes. Informal schedule.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this getting there & away research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Charlotte Amalie
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.