United States (US Virgin Islands), Central America & Caribbean
The best time to visit US Virgin Islands
St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix: a national park island and a no-passport Caribbean, squarely in the hurricane belt.
- Best months
- Jan to Mar and May
- Think twice
- Sep and Oct
- Quietest
- September
- Cheapest
- September
The straight answer
The best time to visit the US Virgin Islands is mid December through April for dry, breezy weather, with May the best-value month; hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 and peaks mid August to mid October, when many St. John businesses close.
Go between mid December and April, or in May if you want the same islands for less. Winter brings steady trade winds, highs in the mid 80sF (about 29C), low humidity, and the calmest, clearest water on St. John's north shore beaches. Christmas through New Year and the March spring-break weeks are the peak of both prices and cruise-ship traffic on St. Thomas.
The USVI sit in the heart of the hurricane belt. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, peaking mid August to mid October, and in September 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the territory within two weeks of each other. Most summers pass without a direct hit, and June and July can be lovely, but fall trips need refundable bookings and insurance. September and October also bring closures: many restaurants, villas, and tour operators, especially on St. John, shut for several weeks.
Each island has its own timing logic. St. Thomas is the busy hub and the main cruise port, so the cruise calendar matters as much as the weather. St. John, about two-thirds national park, is best when its trails are dry and its beaches uncrowded, which means early mornings in winter and the whole of May. St. Croix, the largest and quietest island, is the pick for Buck Island snorkeling and for the Crucian Christmas Festival in the holiday season. Sargassum can affect some east-facing bays in heavy years, typically spring through summer.
US Virgin Islands, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryBestDry and breezy, highs near 84F (29C)Peak season with near-perfect weather. St. Croix's Crucian Christmas Festival wraps up in early January. Occasional north swells hit exposed beaches.Hotels for January →CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryBestDriest time of year, highs near 84F (29C)Reliable sunshine and trade winds. Book St. John villas and rental Jeeps months ahead.Hotels for February →CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchBestDry, highs near 85F (29C)Spring break crowds and peak prices. Transfer Day on March 31 marks the 1917 handover from Denmark to the US.Hotels for March →CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilGoodWarm and mostly dry, highs near 86F (30C)Easter brings local crowds; St. Thomas Carnival often runs in the weeks after Easter, filling Charlotte Amalie with parades.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayBestWarm, highs near 87F (31C), occasional showersThe value sweet spot: dry-season weather is mostly holding and rates fall off the winter peak.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneGoodHot, highs near 88F (31C), calm seasHurricane season opens, but early-season storms are uncommon. Calm, clear water for snorkeling.Hotels for June →CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyTradeoffsHot, highs near 89F (32C), Saharan dust haze some daysThe St. John Festival peaks around July 3 and July 4. Summer family travel, with storm risk starting to climb.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustTradeoffsHot and humid, highs near 89F (32C), storm odds risingGood deals but real risk heading into the peak. Book refundable.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberThink twicePeak storm season, highs near 89F (32C), frequent rainThe heart of hurricane season (Irma and Maria both hit in September 2017), and many St. John businesses close.CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberThink twiceHot and humid, highs near 88F (31C), rainy spellsStorm risk persists and closures continue for part of the month. Only for flexible, insured travelers.CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberQuiet valueWarm, highs near 86F (30C), often rainyHurricane season ends and businesses reopen. Showers are common, but so are fair prices before the holidays.CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberGoodDrying out, highs near 85F (29C)Early December is excellent value. Christmas through New Year is peak, and the Crucian Christmas Festival fills St. Croix.Hotels for December →CrowdsPrice
Book US Virgin Islands for January.
Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.
- Hotels for January
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in US Virgin IslandsOpens a hotel search for US Virgin Islands in January, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in US Virgin IslandsWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in US Virgin IslandsTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in US Virgin Islands for January. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to US Virgin Islands
A national park island
About two-thirds of St. John is Virgin Islands National Park, with protected bays, reef snorkeling, and hiking trails to plantation ruins.
No passport for Americans
US citizens travel with a domestic ID, use US dollars, and keep their phone plans. It is the easiest Caribbean for US travelers after Puerto Rico.
Three very different islands
Busy St. Thomas, wild St. John, and laid-back, historic St. Croix can each fill a week, or combine in one trip.
World-class snorkeling
Trunk Bay's underwater trail, Waterlemon Cay, and Buck Island Reef National Monument off St. Croix are some of the best easy snorkels in the Caribbean.
Things to do, and when to do them
Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Maho Bay, and the Reef Bay Trail. Arrive at popular beaches before 10am, especially on cruise days when tours come over from St. Thomas.
Buck Island Reef National Monument
A protected reef and island off St. Croix with an underwater snorkel trail, reached by licensed boat operators.
Christiansted National Historic Site
The Danish-era fort and waterfront of St. Croix's main town, a short walk from the boardwalk.
Magens Bay, St. Thomas
A deep, calm, sheltered bay on St. Thomas's north side. It gets busy on cruise days; go early or late.
Coral World Ocean Park
A marine park with an underwater observatory on St. Thomas, a good choice for kids and rainy days.
Waterlemon Cay and Annaberg
A snorkel around a small cay, often with turtles and rays, reached by a short trail past the ruins of the Annaberg sugar plantation.
Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas's harbor town of Danish warehouses and steep step streets. Visit when few ships are in port.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Crucian Christmas Festival
Late December into early January
St. Croix's weeks-long carnival with village food fairs, parades, and music, peaking around New Year and Three Kings Day.
Virgin Islands Carnival, St. Thomas
Typically late April into early May, after Easter
The territory's biggest carnival, with parades, J'ouvert, and food fairs in Charlotte Amalie.
St. John Festival
Late June through July 4
Celebrations in Cruz Bay culminating around Emancipation Day on July 3 and the July 4 parade and fireworks.
Transfer Day
March 31 every year
Marks the 1917 transfer of the islands from Denmark to the United States.
Beat the crowds
- Check the St. Thomas cruise schedule. On multi-ship days, Magens Bay, Charlotte Amalie, and even St. John's Trunk Bay get crowded by late morning.
- Stay on St. John or St. Croix instead of St. Thomas for a calmer trip; use St. Thomas mainly as the airport.
- Aim for May, when prices fall but the weather is still dry, or the first half of December.
- Reserve rental Jeeps on St. John early for winter; they sell out, and parking at the most popular beaches fills fast.
Open or closed
- September and October: many St. John restaurants, villas, and tour operators close for weeks. St. Thomas's big hotels mostly stay open.
- Trunk Bay charges a national park entry fee; most other St. John beaches are free.
- Ferries between St. Thomas and St. John run frequently, but schedules shrink at night and in bad weather.
- Travel to the British Virgin Islands by ferry requires a passport, even for US citizens, since it is a separate country.
With kids in tow
- No passport, US dollars, and familiar stores make the USVI a low-stress Caribbean trip with kids.
- Cinnamon Bay and Maho Bay have shallow, calm water for small children; Coral World is perfect for a rainy afternoon.
- The National Park Service runs Junior Ranger programs on St. John and at Christiansted.
- For homeschool families: Danish colonial history, the transfer to the US in 1917, and reef ecology make the islands a real classroom.
Getting there
- Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas has nonstops from many US hubs, including Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, and New York. Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) serves St. Croix.
- St. John has no airport. Take the ferry from Red Hook (about 20 minutes) or Charlotte Amalie to Cruz Bay.
- US citizens need no passport for the USVI, but you pass through customs and agricultural inspection when flying back to the mainland. Driving is on the left.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
US Virgin Islands for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where US Virgin Islands makes our ranked list.
US Virgin Islands timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit the US Virgin Islands?
May for value, February for the most reliable weather. May keeps most of the dry season's sunshine while prices drop, and the beaches get quieter.
What is the cheapest time to visit the USVI?
September and October, because they are the peak of hurricane season and many St. John businesses close. For lower prices with better odds, try May, June, or early December.
When is hurricane season in the US Virgin Islands?
June 1 to November 30, with the peak from mid August to mid October. The islands are in the main storm path; Irma and Maria both hit in September 2017. Buy insurance and book refundable for fall trips.
Do I need a passport for the US Virgin Islands?
Not if you are a US citizen traveling from the US. You do need one if you take a ferry to the British Virgin Islands.
Which island is best for a first visit?
St. John for beaches and nature, St. Thomas for convenience and nightlife, St. Croix for a quieter, more local trip with Buck Island's reef. Many visitors split a week between St. John and St. Thomas.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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