U.S. Virgin Islands National Park

Year Established: 1956
Annual Visitors: 324,000
Size: 15,052 Acres

Best Time to Visit U.S. Virgin Islands National Park

December to April

If you are planning to visit more national parks, check out our complete list of all US National Parks.

Best Experiences in U.S. Virgin Islands National Park

• Snorkel the Underwater trail in Trunk Bay
• Snorkel Waterlemon Cay
• Cinnamon Bay

A Brief History

Christopher Columbus spent some time on the island of St. John in 1493, but the natives scared away his crew with a barrage of arrows. This is why the explorer named the area Cape of the Arrows. People in this part of the Caribbean Sea, about 60 miles east of Puerto Rico, are now much friendlier.

More than 40% of the park is underwater, in the teal-blue waters. These waters are a snorkeler’s and diver’s paradise with beautiful coral reefs and are home to green sea turtles, octopuses, and dolphins.

On land, there are many pre-Columbian ruins. Bats make their homes in the canopies of the red-barked turpentine trees that cover the landscape.

Visitor Information

Fees

There is no entrance fee for Virgin Islands National Park.

Trunk Bay Day Passes

$5.00 per person

$2.50 per senior citizen

$26.00 Overnight Mooring or Anchoring Fee 

$13.00 Overnight Mooring or Anchoring Fee for Senior Citizens

*Mooring or anchoring overnight (from 5. p.m. to 7 a.m.) Anchoring is only available in two locations!

Contacting U.S. Virgin Islands National Park

Phone Number

340-776-6201

Visitor Centers

Cruz Bay Visitor Center

Even though, by NPS standards, this visitor center isn’t very big, it has everything you could want in a visitor center: park exhibits, friendly and helpful staff, maps and other resources, restrooms, a gift shop, and more.

The exhibits about the nearby Coral Reef National Monument and the Virgin Islands National Park are very informative.