Campsites at Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground (2026 Guide)

For more, see complete visitor guide, all campgrounds, and hiking trails.

Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground sits about four miles outside Cruz Bay on Route 20, the North Shore Road. It offers the only beachfront camping in Virgin Islands National Park, and it fills early in season. Reserve your spot before you fly down. This 2026 guide covers what you need to know before you arrive.

Site Types and Pricing

The campground runs a tiered system with three main accommodation categories, each with its own price point and comfort level. For full details on all lodging options, see the complete visitor guide.

Bare Sites

These are the cheapest option at $50.00 per night, as of 2026. Each bare site includes a wood platform with a rain cover, a picnic table, and a charcoal grill. You provide your own tent, sleep gear, and cooking gear. The platform sleeps a maximum of two adults and two children - no hammocks or sleeping out in the open allowed. Tent rental (a four-person tent with bedding and linens) is available but must be reserved in advance due to limited quantity.

Eco-Tents

Eco-tents bridge the gap between rough camping and a hotel room. Each unit has a fan, light, electric outlet, queen bed, linens, bath towels, and a cooking kit. There's a picnic table and chairs on the porch. The standard eco-tent sleeps two people and costs $190.00 per night.

Four variations exist:

• Eco-Tent Family ($210.00): adds twin bunks alongside the queen, sleeps four.
• Eco-Tent Bunk ($190.00): two twin bunks in a group area where tents sit closer together, sleeps four - good for groups or guests who need separate beds.
• Eco-Tent Oceanside ($215.00): same as standard eco-tent but closer to the water.
• Eco-Tent Family Oceanside ($245.00): the family version in the oceanside area.

Cottages

For those who want solid walls and a fridge, the cottages are concrete buildings with screen/louver windows and doors front and rear. Each has ceiling fans and lights, a queen bed, a day bed with trundle, linens, bath towels, a cooking kit, a small indoor table and chairs, a mini fridge, a grill, a picnic table, and two outdoor chairs. The queen and day bed are in separate rooms. Each cottage sleeps up to four people.

Pricing varies:

• Cottage: $230.00
• Terrace Cottage: $280.00
• Cottage Oceanside: $275.00
• Terrace Cottage Oceanside: $315.00

Rangers will tell you the terrace cottages have slightly better airflow and a bit more privacy. Most visitors underestimate how much the oceanside premium matters - if you're a light sleeper, the constant wave noise from an oceanside unit can mask camp noise nicely.

What's Actually Included

The campground amenities include restrooms, showers, food and beverage service, watersports rentals, and beach wheelchairs. That last item is worth noting - not every beachfront campground in the national park system provides wheelchairs designed for sand and surf.

The hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily during the open season. This applies to the campground office and services, not to your stay - you can arrive and exit outside those hours, but plan to check in during window.

Current Alerts You Need to Know

Two active NPS alerts apply as of this writing:

Navigation Hazard: Johnson's Reef Buoys Off Station

The buoys that normally mark Johnson's Reef are currently out of position. This means the aids to navigation that guide mariners through those waters are not where they should be. If you're bringing a boat or kayak, exercise considerable caution around Johnson's Reef. The absence or misplacement of buoys makes the reef a real hazard. Experienced visitors know to stick to marked channels and ask the campground staff for the latest update before heading out.

Trail Conditions: Slick After Rain

Rain makes the trails slick and overgrown. The staff and volunteer trail crews clear them regularly, but wet conditions persist. Use caution, especially on the steep sections near the beach. If you see a problem, report it to viis_interpretation@nps.gov. Cell service drops out at parts of the trail network, so download maps before you hike.

Reservations and Booking

Reservations are required. You cannot show up and expect a walk-in site during peak season. Book through the NPS camping website linked below. The campground has 121 total sites: 31 tent-only and 90 with hookups. The eco-tents and cottages tend to book fastest, especially the oceanside varieties.

Parking situation here is straightforward - there's a lot near the entrance. But it fills by midmorning on weekends. If you're staying on-site, you get a designated spot. Day visitors need to find parking elsewhere.

What the Official Website Doesn't Mention

The NPS website lists the amenities but doesn't emphasize a few realities:

• The beach is beautiful but can have strong currents. Swim near the lifeguard stations.
• The food and beverage service is limited - don't count on it for all meals. Pack a cooler.
• Watersports rentals (kayaks, paddleboards) are available, but they close at 4 PM. Early morning is your best bet for calm water and less competition.
• Mosquitoes and no-see-ums are active during the rainy season (roughly May through November). Bring repellent with DEET.
• The campground closes at 8 PM for services, but quiet hours are enforced after 10 PM. Rangers will enforce this.

Practical Takeaways

1. Book early. Sites fill weeks or months ahead for January through April.
2. Season matters. Open November through August, closed September and October.
3. Bare site? Bring your own tent and gear. Rentals available but limited - reserve in advance.
4. Navigation alert. Johnson's Reef buoys are off station. Boat cautiously.
5. Trail caution. Slick after rain. Report issues to the park email.
6. Contact. Campground info: 340-714-7144 or info@cinnamonbayvi.com.
7. Check current rates and availability at the all campgrounds page before you go.

Final Thoughts

Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground is the only place you can camp on a National Park beach in the US Virgin Islands. That alone makes it worth the planning. But don't treat it as a last-minute decision - the seasonal closure, limited sites, and active navigation hazards mean you need to show up prepared. Pack your gear, book your spot, and keep an eye on the NPS alerts before you fly. The payoff is waking up to the sound of the Caribbean ten feet from your tent. That's hard to beat.