Getting Around St. Thomas: A Complete Transportation Guide
Getting around St. Thomas means choosing among open-air taxis, shared safari buses, rental cars, and inter-island ferries on a hilly 32 square mile island where traffic moves on the left. Most visitors use 2 or 3 of these options during one trip. Taxis cover airport and beach runs, safari buses handle cheap trips along main roads, and ferries connect you to St. John and Water Island. This guide explains how each option works, what it costs in general terms, and which one fits your travel style. You can then pick a base, such as an oceanfront stay, that matches how you plan to move. What Are the Main Ways to Get Around St. Thomas? St. Thomas visitors rely on 5 main transportation options: licensed taxis, safari buses (shared “dollar rides”), rental cars and jeeps, VITRAN public buses, and ferries. No train or rideshare network like Uber or Lyft operates at scale. Walking works only in compact areas like downtown Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook. Island geography shapes every one of these choices. St. Thomas measures about 13 miles long and 3 miles wide, but steep ridges and winding roads stretch a short distance into a 30- to 45-minute drive. The main hubs sit at opposite ends: Cyril E. King Airport (STT) and Crown Bay are on the west side, Charlotte Amalie is central, and Red Hook (the East End ferry hub for St. John) is on the east. Here is a quick comparison of each option before we cover them in detail. Option How It Works Cost Guidance (Approximate) Best For Watch Out For Licensed taxi Open-air safari trucks or vans; fares per person, per destination Often about $15 to $25 per person for common routes; confirm before riding Airport transfers, beaches, evenings Fares vary by group size, luggage, and time of day Safari bus (dollar ride) Shared open-air truck on fixed main-road routes Roughly $1 to $2 per person; cash only Budget trips between Red Hook and Charlotte Amalie Limited evening service; no beach detours Rental car or jeep Self-drive on the left side of the road Daily rates vary by season; book early Families, multi-day explorers, remote beaches Steep hills, tight parking, left-side driving VITRAN public bus Government-run buses on set routes Low fixed fares Locals and long-stay budget travelers Schedules can be irregular Ferry Passenger boats to St. John, Water Island, and the BVI Varies by route; check the operator Day trips off-island Last departures; passports for the BVI How Do Taxis Work in St. Thomas? St. Thomas taxis charge set fares per person, per destination, rather than using meters. The Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission regulates and publishes official rates. Fares vary based on passenger count, luggage, and time of day, so confirm the total price with your driver before departure. What Do St. Thomas Taxis Look Like? Most taxis are open-air safari vehicles: pickup trucks fitted with bench seating and a canopy roof. Smaller enclosed vans also operate, especially from the airport and hotels. Licensed taxis display a “TP” license plate and the driver’s credentials. Avoid unmarked cars offering rides. How Are Taxi Fares Calculated? Fares follow a per-person structure. A solo traveler pays the full single rate, while groups usually pay a lower rate per person for the same trip. Drivers often wait to fill a vehicle at busy spots like the cruise docks, which keeps per-person costs down but adds a few minutes of waiting. Extra charges can apply for: Visitors and locals frequently report fares of roughly $15 to $20 per person for common trips, such as airport to a hotel or downtown to a beach. Treat those figures as a starting point only. Rates change, and the Taxicab Commission’s official schedule is the reference drivers follow. How Do You Get a Taxi? Taxis wait at the airport, both cruise ports, Red Hook, Charlotte Amalie, and Magens Bay. For pickups from a hotel, villa, or restaurant, ask the front desk to call one or save a reliable driver’s number on day one. Many visitors book the same driver for return trips, which simplifies evenings out. A tip that saves stress: Ask the driver, “What is the total fare for all of us, including bags?” before you load luggage. That single question prevents most fare disputes. What Are Safari Buses and Dollar Rides? Safari buses, also called “dollar rides” or “dollar taxis,” are shared open-air trucks that run along St. Thomas’s main roads. Riders flag them down, hop on, and pay a small cash fare when they get off. Fares typically run around $1 to $2, though they can change. Dollar rides work like a hop-on, hop-off local shuttle. The most used route connects Red Hook on the East End with downtown Charlotte Amalie, following the main road past Smith Bay and Tutu. Other routes serve western areas toward the airport and Bovoni. How to Ride a Safari Bus What Are the Limits of Dollar Rides? Safari buses stay on main routes. They do not detour to Magens Bay, Coki Point, or hillside hotels, so you may walk the final stretch or switch to a taxi. Service thins out in the evening and on Sundays. Luggage space is minimal, which rules them out for airport runs with suitcases. Some licensed taxi drivers stop to pick up passengers and charge the higher taxi rate instead of the dollar fare. Confirm “dollar ride?” before boarding if you are unsure. Should You Rent a Car in St. Thomas? Renting a car in St. Thomas makes sense for travelers who want to explore multiple beaches, stay in hillside areas, or travel as a family. Drivers must stay on the left side of the road, navigate steep switchbacks, and handle limited parking. Short stays near a hub often work fine without one. What Is Driving Like on St. Thomas? St. Thomas drives on the left, yet most rental cars are standard American left-hand-drive vehicles. You sit closest to the road’s edge rather than the center line, which takes