You can make the car barge. Whether you'll have time to stop and shop -- yes but you'll likely have to go on the last car barge... or maybe you can catch the 2nd to the last one if your lucky with time.

Here is my time guess-timate... It can take 30-45 minutes to get luggage; plus getting the rental car - so figuring you'd get out of the airport close to 4:30-4:45pm. There will be traffic in town around that time; more traffic if there are more ships in port that day. If you were planning to shop in Tutu area (where Cost U Less, Price Mart, K-mart, the mall are located) that's maybe 30-45 minute drive with some traffic. So you're getting to a store around 5-5:30pm. If you shop fast you might make it to Red Hook to catch the 6:30 barge. Otherwise the last one is at 7pm.

If you decide to stick with this plan, check back closer to departure date to see how many cruise ships will be in port so you have an idea of traffic in town that day; and also check to see if all the barges are running and double check their schedules and then have a back up plan for picking up supplies - just in case flight is late, luggage takes longer than usual and you decide to just go straight to the dock and skip getting supplies.

Hope that helps.

--Islander

What Islander said is exactly what we do every time. Just make a list so you can be in and out. I would also stick to Cost U Less. More grocery options than say Kmart. We even swing into Mcdonalds on the way out and still make the last ferry.

Hi, we always stay on STT and roam all over the island so we are familiar with the traffic and shopping areas. Leaving the airport we stay on 30 all the way to Red Hook (at some point it becomes 32) just before Red Hook is the Food Center , more like a grocery store in the States not a warehouse like Cost u less, another option is the Marina Market, one of my favorites because of its deli and bakery, this is across from the ferry dock. And you don't have to walk a block from the car to the door, much much quicker.
Don't let warnings of the traffic in CA scare you away, I think we get thru the downtown much quicker than the congested area of Tutu, and you get to see more of the local flavor, the beautiful big yachts in the harbor, the cute school kids in their uniforms and of course Iris' night club...never had a problem driving this route day or night...oops almost forgot Donkey Hill, a favorite of our G'kids...hope this helps!

If you opt for CostULess shopping, take Rte 38 rather than Rte 30 and you'll stay on that all the way into Red Hook. CUL is clearly marked on Rte 38 with a designated left lane turn-off into Market Square East and plenty of parking. Food Center is considerably more expensive than CUL and Marina Market even more so but if there's only two of you the sticker shop won't be too bad at the latter. Enjoy your visit!