Cyril E. King Airport, St. Thomas, USVI

OUR DEPARTURE DAY CHECKLIST:

☐ Check St. Thomas Airport wait times

☐ Confirm ferry departure time

☐ Arrange taxi transportation

☐ Have your ID or passport ready

☐ Check in with your airline

☐ Keep a few dollars handy for tips

☐ Buy one last island souvenir

☐ Take one final harbor photo

☐ Start planning your next trip back!

No one likes playing the island version of airport roulette: “Should we leave now… or do we have another hour for one last Painkiller?”  Unfortunately, all good island adventures eventually lead to one final taxi ride, one last ferry crossing, and that familiar question,  “How early do we really need to get to the airport?”

Before trading palm trees for boarding gates, check current St. Thomas Airport wait times at Cyril E. King Airport to help make your departure day a little less stressful and a lot more predictable. Security lines and airport traffic can vary throughout the day, especially during weekends, holidays, and busy travel seasons.  A rule of thumb, arrive at least three hours before your departure.

This helpful resource from Take Off Timer provides estimated airport wait times so you can better plan when to leave St. John, catch the ferry, and arrive at the airport without feeling rushed. After all, the only thing you should be sprinting toward on vacation is a beach chair, not your departure gate.

Travel Tip:  If you’re departing from St. John, remember that your journey to the airport includes ferry schedules, taxi transportation, airline check-in, U.S. Customs, and TSA security screening. During busy travel periods, we recommend allowing 3 to 4 hours before your scheduled departure time, especially for afternoon flights, weekends, holidays, and peak travel season.

Estimated Travel Times to STT Airport

Cruz Bay → Red Hook (Passenger Ferry): 20 to 25 minutes
Red Hook → STT Airport (Taxi): 30 to 45 minutes

OR

Cruz Bay → Crown Bay (Downtown Passenger Ferry): 30 to 45 minutes
Crown Bay → STT Airport (Taxi): 10 to 15 minutes

Island Departure Rule:  Plan ahead so your last words on St. John aren’t, “How fast can this taxi go?”

Before leaving paradise, remember that travelers departing St. Thomas clear U.S. Customs before boarding flights to the mainland. Fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, and some homemade food items may be restricted or prohibited.  If you’re unsure about an item, declare it rather than risk having it confiscated.

When in doubt: Declare it. Customs officers would rather answer a question than have you guess incorrectly.

For the most current rules, always verify information with U.S. Customs and Border Protection before your departure.

Common items visitors should NOT plan to bring to the U.S. mainland: