I think I figured out your logistic confusion. First, to pick up your rental car, go shopping and then go BACK to the airport to meet your arriving friends is nuts.

Plan your trip from STJ so that you pick up your rental vehicle on STT close to the time that your friends arrive. If they're getting their rental vehicle right at the airport, arrange to meet them there and then you drive one behind the other all the way along the waterfront road, then take a right to go into the Havensight Mall where both Dynasty and AH Riise are located. Parking spaces easy and much better than trying to deal with downtown parking.

When you've done your t'ing at Havensight, exit the Mall and turn left. Bear right at the next intersection and at the next light continue on up Raphune Hill onto Weymouth Rhymer Hghway. Go left at the next light which will take you into Market Square and Cost U Less which has a great produce section so no worries there.

When you exit Market Square, turn left and continue down the highway. Stay in the middle lane and continue past Tutu Park Mall. At the next light, turn right which will take you to Cassi Hill and onto the Smith Bay Road which will take you right into Red Hook and the car barge.

I'm sorry that I didn't check the times of the car ferry before starting to write but friends who live on STJ have come to my place for dinner at 5:30/6:00 (Smith Bay) and have had plenty of time to spare so your ETD from the airport at 4:30 shouldn't be a problem. Hope this helps. Cheers!

Working backwards. The last car barge is at either 6:30 or 7. To be safe plan on being there at 6:15, The barges often arrive, drop pick up and leave regardless of schedule. And if the 7:00 is broke down you are stuck on STT. Departing the airport at 4:30 puts you in traffic from town to Havensight., unless you are doing all this on Sunday. From Havensight, if you take Raphune Hill you will also be in traffic. So you need to continue past Havensignt and thru Frenchman's Bay & Bovoni to Red Hook. since you will be on ST. John before your friends and renting a car on STT., have someone go over all this wi. a map. Cost You Less has a comprehensive produce section. An option would be Marina Mkt. right at Red Hook. Also don't forget Josephine's Greens right here on ST. John...the best and freshest. you can go to her farm tuesday thru sunday and get fresh picked leafy vegetables.
I would do all shopping before airport pickup. If the plane is late, or luggage and or car rental problems arise you will barely make the car barge. If everything goes smoothly you will arrive at the barge early and your friends will begin their vacation in relax mode.
Sloop

Thanks for the info., I really appreciate it.

We definitely plan to go shopping before since our group will want to get over to St. John as soon as possible. We have one infant and one 2 yr. old that is not going to want to go shopping after flying for hours and hours.

Here are the directions I received previously. From the airport car rental to Redhook: Take the main airport rd. past flags to Hwy 30 (right), Hwy 30 (Veterans Drive) along downtown waterfront, Follow Hwy 30 to Havensight Cruise Ship Dock, Hwy 30 along Bolongo/Bovoni Rds to Hwy 32 (right), Hwy 32 to Red Hook Commercial Center & Dock, Dock entrance on the right - Approximately 30 to 45 minutes drive. I just want to make sure this is the best route for the rush hour time of day. I will have my husband check the map so he is familiar with which roads to take.

Thanks for the info. on the produce. I've heard there's a produce market on St. Thomas, but I'm not sure where it is, if the quality is that much better or if the prices are cheaper. I probably will just go with Cost-U-Less since we'll be shopping there anyway. You both seem to think it's a quality selection. Thanks for the info. on Josephine's Greens, sloopjones. Where is she located and how would we get to her farm? We are staying in Great Cruz Bay.

Thanks again for your help!

Mary

Hello,

The small produce market you heard about might be Fruit Bowl. Its located at the shopping area at the bottom of Raphune Hill, which you'd pass going from Havensight to Cost U Less via Raphune.

Parking is easier at Havensight than it is downtown.

The route Sloop suggested is the same one your car rental agency gave you. You are following the road along the southside of the island.

Possible areas with traffic would be downtown, Havensight, Raphune Hill. More ships mean more traffic. You can check the cruise ship schedule on this site (link at the top of page).

Avoiding all of it is possible by going through the northside of the island. Its more of a scenic drive, not as straight forward as going through town. If on the way to the airport from grocery shopping you see that traffic downtown is terrible, you can ask the folks at the airport car rental office to show you on a map the route through northside. You can decide if you want to give it a go or stick with the more straightforward route.

At 4:30pm on a weekday with ships in port, I'd avoid Havensight by going up Mafolie Hill and across Skyline Drive. So...

From the airport to Redhook: Take the main airport rd. past flags to Hwy 30 (right), Hwy 30 (Veterans Drive) along downtown waterfront, turn left on 35 (which is just at the end of the parking lot next to Fort Christian). Follow 35 pass the parking lot, through a stop light, pass a small park on your left and to an intersection where you turn left up Mafolie Hill (which is still 35). Continue on 35 (great views of the harbor along this road). At the intersection by Louisenhoj turn right on 40, which is called Skyline Drive and Valdemar Hill Drive. At the end of Skyline Drive make a sharp right turn down 39, Donoe Road. At the end of Donoe Road, you'll see Home Depot on your right and then an intersection where you need to turn left onto 38. Follow 38 (Wymouth Rhymer Highway) to Tillett Gardens where it turns right and over a hill. Its still 38 but this part is called Smith Bay Road, follow it to Red Hook. Ferry dock entrance will be on your left.

Now you have 3 sets of directions for getting from airport to Red Hook. Hopefully others familiar with the various routes weigh in with which they would suggest. 😉

--Islander

I'd stick with Islanders route especially if several ship are in port. It's a nicer ride and you can always stop at the Marina Market right across the street from the Ferry in Red Hook.

the best place to get fresh produce in Jospehine's in St. John... not cheap, but worth it...

Thanks to everyone for all of the helpful information!

Only a few days until we leave....I can't wait to get out of this cold weather!

Mary

Mary:

Josephine's on STJ is located in the general area of Coral Bay. Find Love City Mini Market (also has a small selection of produce). To get to Josephine's continue on down the gravel road past Love City Mini about a mile, and keep looking on your left, you should see the garden center--you have arrived at Josephine's.

Liz