About St. John >> Driving Tips
Driving Tips
1. Keep to the LEFT! We drive on the left here and you’ll find that the steering wheel is also on the left. If it helps; follow the person in front of you and hope they are locals.
2. Slow down. The speed limit is 10mph in town and 20mph otherwise, but the quality of the road will often dictate your speed.
3. Be patient. You will find that people treat traffic rules as suggestions so it won’t be uncommon to see two cars stopped in the middle of the road to chat or the occasional delay due to donkey, cow, goat or pig crossings.
4. Don’t confuse the “ferry” which is the passenger ferry and the “barge” which is the car barge. The ferry is located in downtown Cruz Bay. The barge is located next to the water treatment plant before the Marketplace.
5. Three main roads:
Centerline Road which crosses the center of the island and connects Coral Bay with Cruz Bay.
North Shore Road begins just past Mongoose Junction, and the St. John Properties building and hugs the coastline heading north and east. Take this road to the prominent north shore beaches like Hawksnest, Caneel Bay, Trunk Bay, and Cinnamon Bay. Eventually North Shore Road turns into Centerline Road.
South Shore Road exits Cruz Bay by the Marketplace and gas station. Take this road to the Westin and south shore locations. After going up Gift Hill, South Shore Road turns into Centerline Road.
6. Buckle up. The police are vigilant about seatbelt use.
7. No cell phones while driving. Use your stay on St. John to get away from your cell phone and be aware that local police will issue fines for motorists caught driving while on the phone.
8. Remember to make use of your lower gears, especially on hills and switchbacks.
9. Hitchhiking is allowed on the island and you will likely see people along the roads looking for a ride. Instead of pointing a thumb in the direction they are going hitchhikers will use their pointer finger. While picking up hitchhikers is safe it wouldn’t be expected from someone driving a rental car.
10. Have fun. You are allowed to have open containers, even while driving! However, there is ZERO tolerance for drunk driving, so do drink responsibly.
Following Directions
Following directions on St. John is a unique experience. We don’t have traffic lights and few streets have names so directions here are given based on landmarks. A few major landmarks include:
The Westin on South Shore Road which has notable signage and a tree growing in the middle of the road.
Mongoose Junction which is a collection of food and retail vendors at the north end of Cruz Bay and right next to the St. John Properties building.
The Ferry Dock where you disembark from the St. Thomas (people, not cars) ferry. Also a good place to find a cab.
Wharfside Village is the collection of vendors located just south of the ferry dock and right on the beachfront.
The Marketplace is another major collection of shops and home to the largest grocery store, Starfish Market. It is at the south end of Cruz Bay on South Shore Road
The gas station (not to be confused with the Texaco Station as per below). We only have one gas station in Cruz Bay and one in Coral Bay. The Cruz Bay gas station is located on South Shore Road just after the Marketplace.
Jacob’s Ladder refers to the steep portion of road heading south towards the Westin on South Shore Road (just after the gas station). Be mindful of the cars in front of you as some of them struggle more than others with the sharp grade of the road. And, always wait for trucks to get to the top before following them up.
Texaco Station is a reference point that no longer exists but is nonetheless still prevalent in direction-giving. The site of the former Texaco station is situated at the construction site on Centerline Road where it meets with South Shore Road. Perhaps more visible and just as useful is the school baseball field immediately across from the “Texaco Station.”
Dumpsters are frequently used as landmarks. One of the more frequently referred to dumpsters is the one next to the basketball courts on South Shore Road after the Marketplace.
Woody’s Seafood Bar & Grill is distinctly located in the center of Cruz Bay. There are usually people hanging out by the outdoor seating and occasionally in the middle of the road.
Speed bumps are also helpful markers though be vigilant as they are not always boldly painted so they can sneak up on the unsuspecting driver.
Switchbacks are common place on the roads here as they help navigate the rugged terrain. Counting the number of switchbacks on a road can be a useful tool for finding your way.
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