I think you can make it. The drive and terrain on 104, 10 and 107 are pretty much the same as 20, i.e. narrow roads with occasional steep switchbacks or hills. It gets tougher when it rains, you can pull off the road and wait it out.
Now that I said it, if you are not comfortable with that drive, don't do it. You might enjoy seeing something different at the East End but the children might not. They just want to go to a nice beach, and there are no nicer beaches than the ones on the north shore. I am just speaking from my own experience, 2 weeks ago. After being to most of the north beaches, I drove the family (wife, 2 kids and the in-laws) to the East End, arrived at Vie's beach, I waived at Vie and the family voted to go back to Hawksnest Beach to spend the day.

I lived on island for 5 years and I have no idea what you are talking about:-)

if you told me that you were going to drive past the clinic and then take a left by the dumpster, I would be able to help, but Route numbers mean nothing to me LOL

Xislandgirl wrote:
I lived on island for 5 years and I have no idea what you are talking about:-)

if you told me that you were going to drive past the clinic and then take a left by the dumpster, I would be able to help, but Route numbers mean nothing to me LOL

Very funny and exactly what I was thinking yesterday when I read the post in terms of STT where I've lived for 26 years. It's only sunk in in the last year that I live off Route 38 (have done for 13 years) and that only happened because I frequently use the route number to give visitors directions ...

That's so funny X - I was working the kiosk yesterday and two tourists were walking to Starfish so I told them to go to the roundabout and take the third exit (going straight would be Centerline) and their reply was...."OK, so don't take 10 but take 104" - I about died laughing, who knew we had a 104 🙂

And pumpkin, we apparently have a 107 as well 🙂 Now the roads on the East End, once you get past Skinnys, are probably worse - well there are a few switchbacks that are so if you are uncomfortable past Trunk you won't want to be on those. Now if you are trying to get to the Northshore via Centerline you can and it will be easier.

Pia

We were on St John for the first time in June with a small rented sedan from STT and had trouble with a few steep switchbacks on damp shaded areas of Northshore Rd (Rt. 20) on the way from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay. We returned to town via Rt 10 (Centerline Road) and found that route easier on the car and a more direct route across the island. We returned to Coral Bay a couple of days later via Rt. 10 and had no trouble at all. So my recommendation is, if you have a sedan or coupe without 4wd, then Rt 10 will get you across the island in both directions faster and easier than Rt. 20.

Thanks for that feedback. We were able to get through on centerline road i.e. route 10 earlier today with no trouble in the Nissan Sentra even through a rain shower.

You may also try shifting to low on the switchbacks and turning off the a/c until you are on flat ground. I find this much easier in a lower gear. Down shifting going down hill will also save the brakes. Have fun.

yo all should have been on STJ before the pavement, now that was an adventure, some may remember the Kite, and the brown & white rat, it was different then.

Thanks for the reminder. I always drive in 2nd gear when I am not on flat terrain. 1st gear when it really gets steep.