Virgin Islands National Park fees in 2026

Is there an entrance fee for Virgin Islands National Park in 2026?

No. The National Park Service says no entrance pass is required.

The park's fees page lists a single day-use charge, the Expanded Amenity Fee at Trunk Bay, plus overnight mooring fees for private boats. Bays such as Maho, Francis or Salt Pond have no charge.

What changed at Trunk Bay on October 1, 2026?

Cash. Trunk Bay now takes credit cards, debit cards and contactless or mobile payments only.

The Cruz Bay Visitor Center already took cards only. Bring a card or a phone with a payment app if Trunk Bay is on your plan.

Do snorkel boat trips from St Thomas pay park fees?

There is nothing for you to pay. The boats snorkel in park bays without an entrance charge, and some listings fold fees into the price.

The Maho Bay sail with lunch lists all fees and taxes as included. The national park snorkel from Red Hook makes two stops in the park with gear and an open bar included, and the only extra on its listing is the crew's gratuity. Neither trip lands you at Trunk Bay.

Two reef stops in the national park from Red Hook, the lowest-priced boat trip on this site.

★ 4.9 · 3.5 hours · from $90

Explore the national park snorkel → Tour details

Do fee-free days help at Trunk Bay?

No. The park says the Trunk Bay fee is not waived on fee-free days.

The remaining 2026 fee-free dates are October 27 and November 11. They waive entrance fees, and Virgin Islands National Park has none, so they change nothing for a beach day or a boat trip here.

What are the sunscreen rules in the park?

Use reef-safe sunscreen. The park asks visitors to avoid oxybenzone, octocrylene, octinoxate, butylparaben and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor.

The territory goes further than advice: a U.S. Virgin Islands law has banned sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene since March 30, 2020. The park's snorkeling page adds butylparaben and 4-MBC to its own list. Mineral creams with zinc oxide are the easy answer.

Where do you see turtles in the national park?

Maho Bay, on the seagrass, early or late in the day. Salt Pond Bay's seagrass also draws green turtles.

The park names Maho Bay as its turtle spot. Keep your distance and let them surface: NOAA's guidelines ask snorkelers not to touch, chase or feed sea turtles. For more on the docks and the trips, see snorkeling St Thomas with kids.

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