Arriving at St. Thomas airport (STT) from the U.S. mainland is a domestic arrival: there is no customs or passport line. You walk from the gate to baggage claim, collect your bags, then leave by shared taxi van, rental car or a pre-booked private driver. Charlotte Amalie is 15 to 20 minutes away; East End resorts and the Red Hook ferry take about 40 minutes.
This guide walks through each step in order, with what it costs, how long it takes and the one 2026 rule that catches late travelers out. If you would rather have someone waiting with your name on a sign, see our private airport transfers in St. Thomas.
Key takeaways
- No customs on arrival for flights from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico. You clear customs when you leave.
- STT’s runway is closed every night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through December 31, 2026. Book flights that land well before 10 p.m.
- Airport taxis are shared vans charged per person, by destination, plus $3 a bag. Cash is safest.
- There is no Uber or Lyft. Pre-book a driver if you land late, have a villa on a hill or a ferry to catch.
Contents: Before you fly · Landing and customs · Baggage claim · Leaving the terminal · Drive times and costs · Late arrivals · Going straight to St. John · Which option fits · FAQ
Before you fly: three things to sort out
Sort your ride, your landing time and your documents before you board, because STT is small and its options thin out by evening.
- Pick your landing time with the runway closure in mind. The Virgin Islands Port Authority closes STT’s single runway nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. for resurfacing through the end of 2026. A delay that runs past 10 p.m. means your plane cannot land that night, so morning and early-afternoon arrivals carry the least risk.
- Bring the right ID. U.S. citizens flying from the mainland need only the government photo ID they would use on any domestic flight. Travelers from other countries need a passport and whatever U.S. entry document applies to them, the same as for the mainland.
- Decide how you will leave the airport. Book a rental car or private driver now; taxis need no booking. If you pre-book with us, send your flight number, hotel or villa address, number of passengers and bags, and any stop you want on the way.
Landing at STT: do you go through customs?
No, not on a domestic flight. The U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. territory, so flights from the mainland and San Juan arrive like any domestic flight and you walk straight to baggage claim.
The exception is a flight from a foreign airport, such as the British Virgin Islands or another Caribbean country. Those passengers clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection inside STT before reaching the baggage hall.
Customs does matter on the way home. Every passenger flying to the mainland clears a customs inspection before security, which is why airlines ask you to arrive three hours early. Build that into your return pickup time.
Baggage claim at Cyril E. King Airport
Baggage claim is on the ground floor of the one terminal, a short walk from the gates. It is compact and gets crowded when two or three mainland flights land within the hour, so expect a wait for bags in the early afternoon.
While you wait:
- Restrooms and a bar are close to the carousels, and a complimentary local rum sample is often offered nearby.
- Keep your bags in sight. The hall opens almost directly onto the curb.
- Text your driver or check your rental confirmation now, while you have a signal and a seat.
Leaving the terminal: your three ways to the hotel
Once you have your bags, you either meet a pre-booked driver, join the taxi line or walk to the rental car counters. Here is how each one works at STT.
Option 1: A private driver waiting at baggage claim
With a private transfer, your chauffeur stands in front of baggage claim holding a sign with your name. At Majestic Limo & Tour we track your flight, so an early or late landing moves the pickup with it, and the chauffeur loads your bags into a vehicle reserved only for your group.
The ride goes straight to your hotel, resort or villa with no other stops, unless you ask for one. A grocery stop on the way to a villa is the most common request. We match the vehicle to your group and luggage, from executive SUVs to Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans in our fleet.
Option 2: The airport taxi stand
Taxis wait outside baggage claim whenever flights are arriving, run by the Virgin Islands Taxi Association (340-774-4550). A dispatcher asks where you are going and groups passengers heading the same way into one van.
What to know before you get in:
- Only shared vans serve the airport. According to the Port Authority, airport taxis are multi-destination vans seating 8 to 12, so you may wait for the van to fill and stop at other hotels first.
- Fares are per person and fixed by destination, set by the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission. Two or more people in the same party pay a lower rate each. Bags are $3 each.
- Check it is licensed: a dome light on the roof and “TP” on the license plate.
- Confirm the total for your group before loading bags, and carry cash. Some drivers take cards; many do not.
There is no Uber or Lyft on the island, so these vans are the only ride you can get without booking.
Option 3: Picking up a rental car
Avis, Budget, Hertz and Enterprise operate at the airport. Rental cars, taxis and tour operators now use the first level of the Dale A. Gregory Transportation Center, the three-level garage across from the terminal, which fully opened in April 2025.
Two cautions for your first drive: traffic keeps left in a left-hand-drive American car, and the roads out of the airport climb steep, narrow switchbacks. If you are only going from the airport to a resort, read whether you need a rental car at all before you book one for the whole week.
How long from STT to your hotel, and what it costs
Most hotels are 15 to 40 minutes from STT by road, depending on which side of the island you are staying. The table shows the official one-way taxi fare per person and a typical drive time for a direct ride.
| From STT to | Taxi, 1 person | Taxi, 2+ in your party (each) | Direct drive time |
| Charlotte Amalie (town hotels) | $11 | $9 | 15–20 min |
| Frenchman’s Reef area (Westin, Marriott) | $15 | $12 | [NEED: confirm] |
| Magens Bay | $18 | $15 | [NEED: confirm] |
| Red Hook ferry terminal | $23 | $17 | About 40 min |
| Sapphire Beach | $23 | $17 | About 40 min |
| Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas | $27 | $18 | About 40 min |
Taxi fares: Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission tariff in force since October 2022, plus $3 per bag. Drive times: Majestic Limo & Tour, direct ride in normal traffic. A shared van can add 10–15 minutes for other stops.
A worked example: a family of four landing with four bags and heading to Red Hook pays 4 × $17 plus 4 × $3, so $80 before tip, in a van they may share. Our private airport transfers to Red Hook and the Ritz-Carlton start from $90 per person, confirmed before you book. The taxi is cheaper; the private ride buys a fixed pickup, no shared stops and door-to-door service. Every fare and fee is on our full St. Thomas taxi fare table, and we compare both options on the busiest route in taxi vs. private transfer to Charlotte Amalie.
Landing late? Plan the evening arrival
Book a ride in advance for any landing after about 6 p.m. The terminal is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., taxis thin out after the last flights, and most roads outside Charlotte Amalie are dark and unlit.
- Aim to land before 9 p.m. so a normal delay does not run into the 10 p.m. runway closure.
- If a delay pushes you past the last ferry to St. John, stay the first night on St. Thomas rather than chasing a private boat.
- Hillside villas are hardest to find at night. Our door-to-door villa transfers handle steep drives and stop for groceries on the way.
Going straight to St. John or a yacht?
If your hotel is on St. John, you still land at STT, then cross the island to the Red Hook ferry, about 40 minutes by road. Allow time to buy a ferry ticket and check bags before the boat leaves.
We time airport-to-ferry transfers backwards from your departure, and our guide to St. John ferry routes and times covers the crossing itself. Charter guests can go straight to Yacht Haven Grande, Red Hook or Crown Bay with a yacht and marina transfer.
Which way to your hotel fits your trip?
The right choice depends on group size, landing time and where you are staying.
| Your situation | Best option | Why |
| Solo or couple, daytime, hotel in town | Airport taxi | Cheapest licensed option; short ride |
| Family or group with lots of luggage | Private transfer | One vehicle, bags handled, no shared stops |
| Landing after 6 p.m. | Private transfer | Driver tracks the flight and waits |
| Hillside villa | Private transfer, plus a rental Jeep later if wanted | Steep drives; grocery stop on the way |
| Ferry or yacht to catch | Private transfer | Leaves when you do, timed to the boat |
| Planning many beach days | Rental car | Freedom, if you are comfortable driving on the left |
Our recommendation: if you land in daylight, travel light and stay in town, take the taxi. For anything else (a late flight, a villa, a ferry, kids and bags), book a driver so the first hour of your trip is the easiest one.
Book your STT pickup. Send your flight number and hotel or villa address, and we reply with your vehicle and price. Book your ride or call or text (340) 626-1165, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Rated 5.0 on TripAdvisor.
STT arrival FAQ
Do I need a passport to land in St. Thomas?
Not if you are a U.S. citizen flying from the mainland or Puerto Rico. A government photo ID is enough. Non-U.S. citizens need a passport and the same entry documents they would need for the mainland.
Is there customs when I arrive at STT?
Only on flights from foreign airports. Domestic arrivals go straight to baggage claim. Everyone clears customs when flying back to the mainland.
Where do I meet my private driver at St. Thomas airport?
In front of baggage claim. Your chauffeur holds a sign with your name and helps with your bags.
Can I get an Uber or Lyft at St. Thomas airport?
No. Neither operates in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Use the taxi stand, a rental car or a pre-booked transfer.
How much is a taxi from St. Thomas airport to my hotel?
From $9 to $27 per person depending on destination and group size, plus $3 per bag. Town is $11 for one person; Red Hook is $23, or $17 each for two or more.
What time does St. Thomas airport close?
The terminal is open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the runway is closed nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through December 31, 2026.
Do St. Thomas taxis take credit cards?
Some do, many do not. Carry U.S. cash in small bills, or pre-book a transfer you pay for in advance.
How early should I get to STT for my flight home?
Airlines advise three hours, because of the customs inspection before security. Ask your driver to pick you up with that time built in.
