There is a parking lot in Red Hook where you can park when you take the ferry. The entrance is the same entry you would take if you were going to Marina Market. Just continue up the hill and you will come to the parking lot. It costs $10/day, and they have a shuttle to take you to the ferry and also picks you up when you come back.

That's the lot we parked in, but didn't know they had a shuttle! It's only a 5 minute walk down and across the road. You can be there before a shuttle picks you up!

We lucked out & parked on the street..look there first..it does fill up though

We continued through town and parked on the side of the road and walked back into town. It only was a 4 or 5 min walk. I would check out the sides of the road first. This worked out great! Unless you don't want to walk back to your car on the road side, in the dark . If that is the case the suttle would be better.

I would, by all means, take the car ferry and bring you wheels with you!
That is if your rental company allows it.
There is nothing better than the freedom you have on STJ with a vehicle.
There are so many beautiful beaches all along the north shore road that are not frequented by taxis.
IMO - the only way to experience STJ is with your own car (4wd) preferably.

There was a period when the police would ticket the rental cars if they parked in the street. I don't know if that is still the case.

Can anybody down there let us know?

They put a lot of big boulders along the street that REALLY limits the parking along the street anyway.
I didn't even know about the parking lot above the Marina Market, but we always have taken a vehicle....

Thanks for the info about the parking by Marina Market. I didn't know about that. I too had heard that they had put a lot of big boulders along the street to prevent people from parking there. I'll find out though and post it when I get back.

St. Thomas/St. John here I come!!!

stbound

Ticketing rental cars and putting boulders on the side of the road is just a rude. Everybody knows that parking is limited in Red Hook, but that's where the ferry is! And the stores...and places to eat. Maybe they should spend their time putting in more parking spaces.

I would definitely park your car, take a passenger ferry over and rent a car. The reasoning? By the time you pay the tax at the car ferry entrance and the roundtrip car ferry fare, it is less expensive.

What does a car run on STJ?? $3 at the booth and a $42 round trip - I can't imagine that a day rental is cheaper......I may be wrong....I've just always brought the jeep with...

Can't imagine it would be cheaper to rent in STJ for a day either. We took our car over , one ferry costs more than the other. The big one that takes trucks was 50 for the round trip. You can't reserve a car in STJ for a day so you could be stuck once you got there. Just roll off the ferry & go seems to make more sense.

There is a parking garage being built acroos form the Red Hook dock. There will be additional parking dockside when construction is finished. They have provided a lot further down by the National PArk enrance ofr people going to St. John. There is suppposed to be a shuttle there. The 'parking on the side of the road thing' is clearly posted, no parking. They have had to put up guard rails and boulders and people still do it. When they get tickets they feel they are singled out. I am sure everyone got tictets not just rental cars.

Mencia's parking lot got a jump on the parking business before the privately owned parking garage is ready but it will be probably more convenient to use the new garage once built and I am sure there will be those who still park on the street creating a nuisance.

RL

For four people taking the ferry over ($40) then taking a taxi to Trunk ($24 plus tip) the car ferry would have been cheaper, but not cheaper than renting a vehicle. If you want to see several beaches, take your car. but if you just want to spend the day on one beach, its just easier to use the people ferry and taxi. AND, if you want to hang out in Cruz Bay, take the people ferry as there is no where to park. THis is just my opinion of course. 🙂

Yep, believe it or not. Renting a car for one day on ST. John is cheaper than taking your car over to STJ.

ambassador.

If you have 9 people, 2 cars going over onto St. John for the day on the car barge...isn't that cheaper then all 9 paying on the people ferry and renting 2 cars on St. John to go to differen beaches?

This sounds like a train question we had in grade school....I hate them :o)

Remember that the barge doen't run all night. If you want to stay for dinner, you'll be out of luck.

Connie,

Since you want to attend to more than I beach, I guess it would be more cost effective to take your cars over. BEWARE: If you do not have a handicap parking permit, do not stop or park in one. $1000.00 fine.

Thakns all. I think we will take the cars over. Just running around and getting organized with 9 people is an event in itself. Have the cars, may as well use them.