Car Ferry: St. Thomas to St. John
Red Hook ↔ Enighed Pond car barge schedules, fares and loading tips
2026 SeasonShort answer: the car barge from Red Hook, St. Thomas to Enighed Pond, St. John costs $65 one-way or $80 round trip per vehicle — driver and passengers included — plus a $3.00 port authority fee. The crossing takes 20–30 minutes, barges run roughly every hour or two from about 6:00 AM to 6:30 PM, and service is first-come, first-served with no reservations. Two operators run the route: Love City Car Ferries and Big Red Barge.
Fares and schedules verified September 2026 against operator sources. Barge times shift with weather, holidays and mechanical downtime — call the operator the morning of travel if you are on a tight schedule.
Car barge fares (2026)
Love City Car Ferries and Big Red Barge charge the same published rates.
| Charge | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard vehicle, one-way | $65 |
| Standard vehicle, round trip | $80 |
| VIPA port / environmental fee | $3.00 |
| Oversized truck, dually or trailer | $100+ |
Cash and major credit cards are accepted at both gates; Love City also takes online bookings.
Car ferry schedules by operator
Between the two operators a barge leaves roughly every 30–60 minutes through the day in each direction.
Love City Car Ferries
Online booking available. Modern barges, the most consistent midday service.
Departs St. John (Enighed Pond)
Departs St. Thomas (Red Hook)
Big Red Barge (Global Marine)
Earliest and latest runs of the day. The 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM departures do not run on Sundays.
Departs St. John (Enighed Pond)
Departs St. Thomas (Red Hook)
* Big Red Barge's first departures (5:30 AM from St. John, 6:30 AM from St. Thomas) do not run on Sundays.
A third licensed operator, Boyson Inc. ((340) 776-6294), still runs occasionally but its service is reduced and unpublished — treat it as a backup, not a plan.
Where the car barges load
St. Thomas — Red Hook
The car barge ramp sits at the Urman V. Fredericks Marine Terminal at the eastern end of Red Hook, beside the passenger ferry dock. Follow the vehicle lane rather than the pedestrian entrance; a gate attendant takes payment and lines cars up on the pier.
St. John — Enighed Pond
Vehicles land at the Theovald E. Moorehead Dock and Terminal at Enighed Pond, about half a mile south of Cruz Bay town — not at the passenger ferry dock. It is a two-minute drive or a ten-minute walk into Cruz Bay.
Before you drive onto the barge
Check your rental agreement
Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty and Discount generally allow the barge. Some local agencies and all scooters do not — crossing without permission voids your insurance.
Arrive 20–30 minutes early
Reservations don't hold a spot. Sundays, holidays, and the late-afternoon return rush fill barges fastest; if one fills, you wait for the next.
You reverse on board
Crews load most barges stern-first. Follow hand signals, set the parking brake, and skip the barge entirely in a low-clearance car — the ramp scrapes.
Drive on the left
The USVI drives on the left in left-hand-drive cars. Take the first hill out of Enighed Pond slowly until the instinct kicks in.
Fuel up on St. Thomas
Gas is cheaper and stations more plentiful in Red Hook than on St. John, where there are only a couple of pumps and long weekend lines.
Weather delays happen
High seas or a small craft advisory can pause the barges even when the passenger ferry keeps running. Call ahead on stormy mornings.
Barge your rental or rent on St. John?
Typical costs for a jeep, before taxes and fees.
| Trip length | Barge a St. Thomas rental | Rent on St. John |
|---|---|---|
| Day trip | ~$163 (one day at $80 + $80 RT + $3) | ~$130 — or just take the passenger ferry and a taxi |
| 3 days | ~$323 | ~$390 |
| 7 days | ~$643 | ~$910 |
Rule of thumb: staying three nights or more, barge the car. Coming for the beaches for a day, take the passenger ferry and grab a taxi at the Cruz Bay dock.
Car ferry FAQs
How much does the car ferry from St. Thomas to St. John cost?
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The car barge costs $65 one-way and $80 round trip on both Love City Car Ferries and Big Red Barge. That fare covers the vehicle, the driver and all passengers riding in it. The Virgin Islands Port Authority collects a separate $3.00 per-vehicle port fee at the Red Hook gate, and oversized trucks or duallys can be charged $100 or more.
How long is the car ferry ride from Red Hook to Cruz Bay?
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The crossing takes about 20 to 30 minutes, from the Urman V. Fredericks Marine Terminal in Red Hook, St. Thomas to the Theovald E. Moorehead Dock at Enighed Pond, just south of Cruz Bay on St. John.
Do I need a reservation for the car barge?
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No, and a reservation does not hold your place. Car barges are first-come, first-served. Arrive 20–30 minutes before your intended departure — longer on Sundays, holidays and cruise days — and you will simply roll onto the next available barge if one fills.
What time does the first and last car ferry run?
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Big Red Barge typically runs the earliest departures, 5:30 AM from St. John and 6:30 AM from St. Thomas (not on Sundays), and the last runs at 5:30 PM from St. John and 6:30 PM from St. Thomas. Love City Car Ferries runs 6:15 AM to 4:00 PM from St. John and 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM from St. Thomas.
Can I take a rental car to St. John on the ferry?
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Most major agencies on St. Thomas — including Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty and Discount — allow their vehicles on the car barge, but you must confirm it on your rental agreement. Some local agencies and all scooter or exotic rentals prohibit it, and taking a vehicle over without permission voids your coverage.
Is it cheaper to bring a car or rent one on St. John?
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For a day trip, barging a car rarely makes sense: $80 round trip plus the port fee on top of your St. Thomas rental. For stays of three days or more it usually wins — a St. Thomas rental runs about $80 a day versus roughly $120–$150 a day on St. John, so the $80 crossing pays for itself quickly.
How do you load a vehicle onto the barge?
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Most barges load stern-first, meaning you reverse down the ramp under the crew's direction. Follow their hand signals, set your parking brake, and leave the vehicle in gear. Low-clearance sports cars can scrape the ramp and are discouraged.
Do the car ferries take credit cards?
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Yes. Love City Car Ferries and Big Red Barge both accept cash and major credit cards at the gate, and Love City offers online booking through lovecitycarferries.com. Bring some cash as a backup in case card terminals are down.
Which car ferry companies run between St. Thomas and St. John?
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Three barges hold licenses: Love City Car Ferries (340) 779-4000, Big Red Barge, operated by Global Marine, (340) 227-0918, and Boyson Inc. (340) 776-6294. Love City and Big Red Barge run the reliable published schedules; Boyson's service is reduced and intermittent, so do not plan around it.
Which side of the road do you drive on in the US Virgin Islands?
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The left — even though the cars are left-hand drive and the road signs are American. Drive slowly out of the Enighed Pond terminal until the habit settles, and remember that St. John's roads are steep, narrow and busy with donkeys and goats.
Can I ride the car ferry as a walk-on passenger?
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Passengers travelling in a vehicle are included in the fare, but the car barge is not intended for foot passengers. If you are not bringing a vehicle, use the hourly Red Hook to Cruz Bay passenger ferry instead — it is faster, cheaper and lands you right in town.
Leave the car — see St. John from the water
Private charters reach the beaches no jeep can: Waterlemon Cay, Leinster Bay, Lovango and the BVIs, with snorkel gear and drinks aboard.