When is the Best Time to Visit the US Virgin Islands

The US Virgin Islands are a group of around 50 islands and cays nestled on the border of the Caribbean Sea. This stunning place is considered a United States territory meaning that a passport isn’t required for US citizens. The US Virgin Islands consist of three main islands: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. The islands are most popular for their white sand beaches, turquoise water, historic architecture, and diverse greenery.

Cruises to the territory have become very popular with the majority of the 2 million visitors per year getting here by cruise. St Thomas is the most popular spot for cruises as it’s the closest to the US mainland and subjectively has the most to do. The average cruise docks for around 8-9 hours giving you a full day in the Virgin Islands. Some cruises dock for multiple days and sail to multiple islands in case you’re looking to spend more time in this territory. However you choose to get here, picking the best time to visit the US Virgin Islands is key. Before that, let’s jump into what to do here.

What to Do in the US Virgin Islands

Let’s start with the territory’s most popular island, St Thomas. If you get here by cruise, you’ll most likely land at Havensight Cruise Pier, 1.5 miles away from downtown Charlotte Amalie. This city was founded in 1672 by the Dutch, and much of the city’s architecture reflects this. Charlotte Amalie Overlook is a must-see spot as you get elevated views of the city, coastline, and sea.

Moving onto St John, Virgin Islands National Park is a must-visit as it covers nearly 60% of the island. Make sure to visit Trunk Bay to get views like the one above, and Trunk Beach to experience a white sand beach with turquoise water. Naturally, snorkeling is the most popular activity here.

The last big island, St Croix, is not one to miss. The territory’s largest island sees the fewest tourists as most cruise ships overlook the island. St Croix feels more directed towards locals rather than tourists, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do. Buck Island Reef National Monument is a gorgeous destination to boat, swim, and even snorkel. Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge is another stunning coastline with luscious greenery and white sand beaches, the best part is that most tourists don’t even know about these places meaning not many crowds. Now that you’ve got a sense of what to do here, let’s jump into the best time to visit the US Virgin Islands.

When is the Best Time to Visit the US Virgin Islands?

Although the US Virgin Islands are known for their beautiful weather, it isn’t like this year round. Visiting at the right time is key to avoiding crowds, rain, and even hurricanes. Overall, the best time to visit the US Virgin Islands is between April and June with the best month being April. December to March sees the largest crowds while July to November sees high amounts of rain and hurricanes. Visiting between April and June ensures that you bypass both of these, giving you the perfect vacation. Let’s look at these factors more closely starting with temperature.

Temperature

I’ll only briefly mention temperature as it’s not a big factor in the US Virgin Islands. Temperatures are perfect year-round with low 80s in the winter and high 80s Fahrenheit in the summer, this equates to between 27°C and 32°C. The pleasantly warm year-round temperatures mean that the beach is perfect no matter the season.

Rain

Rain is the main factor when it comes to visiting the US Virgin Islands. Almost half the month of October is rain with September and November being close behind. It’s not just rain but hurricanes that put this island at risk. Hurricane season is between July and November bringing heavy rain and winds. This is not a pleasant experience and will probably ruin your trip. The bright side is that this is by far the cheapest time of year to visit, you could save close to 50% on hotels and flights. If you are traveling on a budget and don’t mind rainy days, July to November is the best time. If you are looking to avoid rain, go between December and June.

Crowd

Crowds are not something you have to worry about outside of St. Thomas. St. Croix and St. John for the most part stay decently empty throughout the year. Reef Bay Trail and Trunk Bay on the island of St. John may occasionally get crowded but it’s not a major concern. This means that visiting anytime between December and June is great for these two islands.

St. Thomas is a different story, the island fills up during the winter months with people keen on enjoying the warm weather and the beaches. The holiday season is especially crowded with schools off and people wanting to travel. Most people stay in Charlotte Amalie, but other parts of the island can also see large crowds. For St Thomas, I’d recommend visiting between April and June to avoid the December to March crowds.

Events

Each of the three large islands in the US Virgin Islands hosts events, and they’re ones you don’t want to miss. Naturally, most events are between December and March to match large crowds. The St. Croix Festival runs between December 26th and January 4th and features live music, parades, food, and much more. The festival has been around since the 1800s and has become a tradition ever since. The Carnival in St. Thomas is held every year and features bands, dances, parades, and food trucks between April 26th and May 4th. Similar to the last two, the St. John Celebration features food, drinks, and a parade and is held every year from June 29th to July 4th.

Summary

The US Virgin Islands are a fantastic place to see and stay, I’d fully recommend taking a trip here. The best time to visit the US Virgin Islands is simple, if you want to avoid rain, come between December and June. If you want to avoid crowds, avoid St Thomas between December and March. If you want to visit at the cheapest time, go between September and November. I hope you found this video helpful in your planning, I wish you a great trip!