Absolutely wonderful place to stay while on St John. It's the only lodging we found where you could actually stay in the Virgin Islands National Park, which made it that much better. They have different type of lodging options, whether you want to camp and bring your own gear, stay in one of their tents, or rent out one of the cottages. We stayed in the cottages, and we really enjoyed it. The room was spacious - we had two people, but you could easily have at least 4 people without an issue. Ours had a BBQ on the balcony as well as a refrigerator, so you can make your own food if you want. Only downside is that the rooms don't have bathrooms, but the shared bathrooms aren't too far of a walk so it's not that much of an inconvenience. This location is set up so if you never wanted to leave during your stay, you wouldn't have to. They have their own restaurant with a daily rotating menu with new themed specials. The food is a little pricier, but taking into account that you're in a national park and don't have to leave your lodging, it's reasonably priced. Portions are also very generous, so you could share with another person if you wanted to. The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, and they have a food truck closer to the beach for lunch. Food truck was just alright - I would only eat there if you wanted to stay for the day. If you're heading out, I'd grab food somewhere else. They also have a great general store with various food, supplies, and souvenirs, and the front desk can send any mail for you as long as you provide the stamps. The beach here is beautiful and great for either laying out or going in the water. They also have a stand by the beach to rent snorkel gear, kayaks, etc. Plenty of ruins to see as well as a couple really nice trails right across the street. While you can't call for a taxi, Cinnamon Bay is right on the main taxi route so it's easy to go out to the street, find one driving by, and flag it down. So if you don't want to get a car and want to go other places on the island, it's quite easy to get around. Highly recommend staying here for a great time in the Virgin Islands National Park. read more

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ACCOMMODATIONS: Cinnamon bay is a great place to stay in the Virgin Islands if you're looking for: camping-like or camping accommodations, well-priced accommodations, and more remote accommodations. We enjoyed our time here. Transportation is quite a cost (going back and forth between Cruz bay and other beaches or St Thomas). Staff was friendly, food was good, beach was great, and rentals were convenient and competitively priced. Also I want to note that the bathrooms are impressively clean and nice. I would definitely call this more of "glamping" if you're staying in one of the "eco tents" or "cottages". BEACH/FOOD: The beach here is always rather empty and sunset is beautiful. There are also food options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (though they can be expensive). The options are limited in having only a few choices per meal, but they typically do have a meat and vegetarian option. PARKING/TAXIS: there is a parking lot but I think that most people taxi in and out. Taxis can be called by the front desk at night and come by often during normal "beach hours" (9am-4pm). BUGS: We traveled here in March and the bugs were present but not terrible. Definitely bring spray. STORE: The store has limited hours (I forget exactly, but maybe 10-6- definitely check my memory). It has limited items but some essentials: food (some meal items/fruit/ice cream/snacks), sunscreen, hats, postcards, alcohol, t-shirts). Don't expect many options though of each category. WIFI: they've got it, but only in some areas. Specially, the dining patio and front desk area. ONE "RANDOM" RECOMMENDATION: try the canned "painkiller" from the shop. It was a great drink and cost effective (if you're going for tipsy). If you're lucky, the bartender out at the bar will give you a cup of ice and top it with some nutmeg to make it fancyy. Enjoy! read more

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husband and i stayed for 6 nights in an eco tent. We love camping and the eco tent gave us a nice combo of comfort and roughing it. Staff was friendly, clean amenities. being right in the beach was so convenient and the beach itself was fantastic. frequent taxis available to other parts of the island. I'd 100% stay there again. Bring earplugs! the frogs get noisy at night. read more

My wife and I just had a wonderful trip (1/26/23-1/6/24) to St. John, and stayed at the Cinnamon Bay Beach & Campground. So much to say. First, there's the beach, itself, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Folks spend time and money just to get to Cinnamon Bay Beach, but if you're staying at the campground, you're already there, from morning until night! Early morning walks on the beach before anyone's up? Nighttime strolls on the beach? It's all yours. And all night long, you hear the sound of waves breaking on the beach. Next, the campground. I'd stayed there a couple times prior to the 2017 twin hurricanes that wiped everything out at Cinnamon. It was a fun place to stay back then, but the "rebirth" is MUCH nicer! On this trip, we stayed in one of the eco-tents. Each tent is set up on its own faux-wood platform with a steel frame. The tents are sturdy, and well made. Each has a large fly over the entire tent, and during two rainy days, not a drop got inside. These are big room tents, with queen-sized beds, bookcases, bedside tables, and drawers under the bed. We had two electrical outlets inside, and a ceiling fan over the bed! If you want, you can close up every side of the tent, for complete privacy, or zip down the window covers for air circulation. We found a nice compromise, about halfway down, so we had plenty of privacy and plenty of air. The temperature was always nice in the tent. Outside, there's a small deck with Adirondack chairs, and an enormous locker, the size of a refrigerator, turned on its side. If you bring a lock with you, this can serve as secure storage for food, beach stuff, etc. We called it "the vault." The tent, itself, also has a lock for the front door, that is provided by the campground. I've not heard of any theft there, but you really shouldn't be bringing many valuables with you. Just take your wallet to the beach. You'll be fine. Next, the restaurant. The Rain Tree Restaurant is the post-2017 replacement of the Tree Frog Restaurant. It's great. Open air seating, partially covered (in case of rain). They serve great breakfasts and themed dinners (check the front desk for the nightly themes). We had breakfast there almost every day, and a couple dinners. There's also a snack bar for the middle part of the day At Rain Tree, you stand in line to place your order, and then the food is brought to your table. The lines were never long when we were there, and moved quickly. The seating area is entirely outside, and partially covered, which was great on the morning we had rain. Live music is provided at some dinners, and on holidays, along with programs on various island topics. It's also a nice spot where families can gather to play cards or games, pretty much any time of the day, and it has free WIFI! Our Rain Tree breakfasts were simple--we fell in love with the HUGE Cinnamon Bay cinnamon rolls, which were so gooey and good. Along with coffee, that was all we needed for our breakfasts, which doubled as informal planning sessions for each day. The dinners are themed. Our first night there (12/27/23) was Caribbean night, and we had curried chicken and curried tofu, served with rice, vegetables, and Johnny cakes, which are like savory donuts, and they are delicious. The second time we went there for dinner (1/2/24) was fajita night. The food was hot, tasty, and just what we needed after a day on the beach. Everything at Rain Tree is casual and comfortable. Lots of families and couples staying at the Cinnamon Bay campground use the restaurant, but it was never overly crowded, and service was always friendly. Prices are not inexpensive, but then again, almost nothing on St. John is! And the quality was good. And don't forget proximity to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world! Given that things can change quickly on St. John, it would be good to call ahead about the menu for a particular evening, even if you've read somewhere what it's supposed to be. NOTE: I should say something about the Cinnamon Bay Snack Bar, which is open for lunch. It's a great way to get a hot meal or sandwich, just a few steps from the beach and across from the public bathhouse. We ate there most days, and even got a lunch to go for one of our hikes. All the food we had was excellent. The hot dogs are notably large. Nachos with pulled pork were very tasty, especially with the local hot sauce. There's a nice assortment of local beers and handmade tropical drinks. read more

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I was very impressed with the campground and the amenities. The place was impeccably clean, the bathrooms were always well maintained and when you are sharing very important. The beds were comfortable in the cottages and having a refrigerator and a cook stove were great and helped save a buck or two. No AC or bathroom in the cottage let you know that you were in a campground but only a small inconvenience for the wonderful nature and the amazing beach only steps away. The rooms are well equipped with cooking equipment and utensils. Everything you need if you want to cook some meals. The only problem with cooking your own meals is that you miss the great meals that are prepared nightly. They have themed nights that are different every night but always quality food. Breakfast and now lunch are served as well. Not cheap but very tasty and plenty of food. They always have cold water at the "water buffet" so they always take care of you. The restaurant area is more like a clubhouse with internet, games and many opportunities to relax with other campers. Cinnamon beach was nothing short of amazing, definitely one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Hiking on the Cinnamon trail and heading up America Hill was interesting and worth the trip. The food truck area was exactly what you need to keep fueled up with all of the activities available. Transportation is a little bit of a challenge. Rental cars are expensive, you drive on the left and the hills and hairpin curves are no joke. I chose to use the safaris taxi cabs to get around which was very doable although you do feel isolated and tend to stay at the campground and Cinnamon Bay. The safaris only take cash but pretty much everywhere else took credit cards and the campground did room charges which was great and you didn't have to worry about money or cards when on property. The staff is very helpful and will help in any way, I will definitely be making a return trip. Last bit of advice, bring lots of money, sunscreen and bug repellent. Great week for everyone! read more

Tip #1. Rent a car...at least to get you and your luggage and groceries there! Taxis are pretty much always lingering around the entrance, but expensive. (about $14.00 each-- plus $1-2 per bag) Tip #2. This is camping...not a motorlodge near the shore. Come prepared. We stayed in the 9 cottage with a great view of the ocean. The 10 cottages are ocean front and you could roll out your door onto the beach! The Cottages are basically screened in areas. We had two fans that circulated the air nicely. The electricity went out repeatedly the first few days, and wow, did we notice what a difference the fans made! Tip # 3. Bug control. We sent down supplies via USPS priority two weeks prior. We sent a thermacell mosquito repellant that ran off of butane cartridges. We used a new refill every day. WELL worth it. Other than eucalyptus / lemon oil spray, we didn't slater up while in the cottage or sleeping. We did buy 3% citronella candles buckets at the Marketplace hardware store (above Starfish Market) We lit one inside also and out on the picinic table. (probably over kill ). the spray also was great to tote to the bathhouse for a light spriz before entering the stall...and also right after your cool water shower (no hot showers there) Tip # 4. more bug control. Send or bring or buy snap lid plastic containers for your bread, crackers, or other non refridgerated goodies. By day 4 you will notice little ants scouting for crumbs. Be very very dilegent about keeping stuff packaged up. Tip #5. Keepin stuff cold. The electric is not dependable. They supply a large cooler, and the grocery store there has bagged ice or a big ice block (that would last longer) for about $2.50. If store is closed, you can go to check in office and get it. :) Tip # 6 eating. We brought paper products and forks,spoons, etc. I know, not very green, but there are plastic "school" type plates there and cups and flatware. Since, you must wash everything after you use it with cold water, we found it more sanitary. There is a double tub area beside the wash house area to use. Take the bug spray. ;) We actually bought a new skillet, as the one there was old and peeling. Other large pots were ok. The beach is beautiful. We enjoyed it more than Trunk Bay. The sand is soft and there was always a place to hang our towel...or put out chairs and an umbrella. I found that unlike other beaches..we were just content to stoll down with a cool drink and a towel...throw the towel over a branch and loll in the gentle pool like water. read more

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I stayed in a bare site (#55) at Cinnamon Bay. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I was a week before they closed for the season so there were only a handful of people in the whole campsite. If you want peace and quiet that is the time of year to go. The facilities were kept clean and stocked with toiletries. And the staff was very friendly. There are a few hiking trails that start at the entrance of the property. Also there are many other beaches close by along with snorkel spots. Taxis will take you wherever you want to go but they can get expensive. Its always best if you can catch a ride with a few other people. The best part of Cinnamon Bay Campground is the beach. I think its the most beautiful beach on St. John. Also because it is further away than other beaches it never gets crowded with tourists. Mostly locals and people who are staying there. Falling asleep every night and waking up every morning to the sound of the ocean is something I will never forget. If you like camping and want to experience the nature that St. John has to offer I highly recommend staying at Cinnamon Bay Campground. read more

Loved it.... cabin 6D was home for 5 nights... in early November 2014, if you know what your getting into it's a blast... these cabins are very basic, no windows just mosquito mesh, cold water communal showers and toilets, basic landscaping of the grounds [exposed tree roots to trip over at night as you head to the toilet] ... but this place is a gem, the beach is to die for and the people who run it are super laidback and friendly, the restaurant is outdoor only veranda style seating, limited menu but good wholesome food, painkillers are potent cocktails and canned beer is your beer option. Wheel barrows are readily available to bring your bags /food / etc... down the dirt paths to your cabin, ours was a 30 second walk to the beach.... camp store was not well stocked [but in fairness we got there only two days after they opened for the season]. Tip :Remember this is camping...even in the cabins, be prepared, bring bug spray, drinking water, flashlights, citronella candles, there are no refrigerators so ice must be purchased at the store. No running water or sinks in the cabins. Tip:We rented a car at the airport on Saint Thomas and ferried it over to saint john, glad I didn't have to rely on pricey open air pickup truck taxis or expensive car rentals on saint John. Tip: the pace is 'island time' in the restaurant and elsewhere at Cinnamon bay campground, be patient, leave your hussle & bussel attitude at home. We didn't ship anything there and were glad that we checked an extra bag for $25 each way for all our cabin ready food/ toiletries/ camping stuff. Tip: Bring a mosquito net, especially if you have young kids, we slept well knowing our kid was protected in her crib [ which are really nice by the way]. Great family fun. read more

If you like hot showers, air conditioning, daily room service, this is not the place for you. After the closure of Maho campground, we wanted to find a new campground on St John. ...yes I said a campground. Why spend the money to come to a tropical paradise and sit in a climate-control hotel room with a TV and a swimming pool, when you can do that at home, right? Between the time we booked (Jan 2016) and the time we arrived (Nov 2016), the camp changed managment. The experience was the same but there were some hiccups. The restaurant was closed for renovations so we had to improvise for meals. Since it rained the first 3 days we were there, it would've been nice if the front desk had been more generous with dry towels and bed sheets. If the weather hadn't had dried out, we were going to have to go to Cruz Bay for a laundromat to dry out our clothes and towels. It would've been nice to have at least a broom available to sweep out excess sand. We also noticed the 5 gallon water jugs leaked so they weren't of much use. For these few cons it still was a pleasant experience. It's camping and it's not going to be perfect everytime. We had to keep in mind that they are in the process of major upgrades. In another year or so, this camp should be up to the level of quality that Maho Eco Resort was. Now the pros: The staff is friendly and helpful. The campground sits right on one of the most scenic beaches on St John. The communal mindest and generosity of other campers is also a reason we love places like this. When one family was preparing to leave, they gave us all of their extra camp-fare and some air mattresses that they, too, received from a previous family. Before we left we met another family and were delighted to bless them by passing things along. We liked being able to make a short walk to the beach. Every morning was started with a cup of coffee, walk to the beach, observing resident iguanas and crabs. It was a pleasant evening after snorkeling or hiking all day, to take a chair to the shady beach and unwind with a cold one. The cold showers didn't bother us, either. The tap water is perfectly potable. The gift shop keeps the basics available also. About Cinnamon Bay itself. Since the last time we were there 7 years ago, the shoreline has eroded considerably. We weren't able to do much snorkeling because Cinnamon Bay is prone to large swells and waves - common during the winter months. If you're looking for a smooth, calm part of the ocean, Cinnamon Bay isn't it (at least not in the winter months). Of the North Shore beaches, it was the roughest. Still you're a short drive to the famous Trunk Bay or calmer, more sheltered Maho Bay. read more

I love this place. Cabins within a stone's throw of the beach Tents, and bare sites for the more adventurous camper Archaeological dig and museum on site Camp store for buying rum and bug spray Beach toy rentals- snorkel, fins, kayak, etc Restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner In cabin refrigerators And one of the most gorgeous and private beaches on the island! Why not 5 stars? Cold water showers only Bees in said shower that were not eliminated during our 4 day stay read more

I'm a body-surfing nut. So simple, yet so fun. Book a trip for late winter / early spring, and you should be getting some decent body-surfing waves here. This can be one of the more crowded bays, which is exactly what I try to avoid. There's some good snorkeling here though, so stop by if you're into that. Arrive early in the morning as the parking lot is limited and the campers (there's a campground on site) are already parked there. read more

For a girl who isn't exactly comfortable with the whole "camping" thing, Cinnamon Bay was a good way for me to step more in that direction, without being totally outside of my comfort zone. My significant other and I stayed in one of the cottages, which had everything necessary (but just the basics). It had electricity, a fan, and comfy-enough beds, and the screens are decently effective at keeping mosquitoes out. The roof did leak a bit if it rained at night, but it wasn't too bothersome. The only major draw back was that during our stay in July, there were mosquitoes EVERYWHERE outside... and of course they love to bite me. Although you may have to douse yourself with DEET to avoid becoming one giant bug bite, it IS worth the potential toxic effects in my opinion. There are shared bathrooms, but unfortunately the showers are open air so you get bitten by mosquitoes the whole time there, too. To be fair, it was raining/damp quite a lot during my stay here, so maybe the mosquitoes were worse than usual... but it is a tropical island, so I am assuming they get showers pretty often, right? Anyone who stays here is probably planning on spending their time seeing the island and beaches anyway, so Cinnamon Bay is perfectly fine for that. I just wouldn't recommend hanging out on the front porch of the cottages or anything. Go out and enjoy the beautiful beaches! read more

We had a horrible stay at this campground and I would not recommend anyone stay here. To begin our campsite was very far off the beaten path. We had to hike up a jagged trail to get to our campsite...even though there were campsites open closer to everyone else. We felt as though they put us at the highest point since we had a bare campsite vs paying for the eco-tent/cottage etc. We expressed to them our frustrations/concerns and they did nothing. Additionally, it was nearly impossible to find a taxi to either come and get us or take us back to campground because it's so far away. Each taxi trip to and from Cinnamon Bay to Cruz Bay was $20/2 people. Ultimately, we decided to leave this campground and asked for a refund and they refused. read more

Here is my review after 2 weeks stay in the campground during December/January 2013. I am focusing on the things that I would have found helpful before I came. Overall, I would say this is a great place and I will definitely be back. 1. This is a great low-cost option for people that enjoy camping and the outdoors. Expect some bugs, dirt, rain. You are sitting within walking distance from some of the best beaches in the world. When it is sunny, it is glorious. 2. Getting good rain protection on your site is key to having an enjoyable experience. If it's the rainy (winter) season, and you are in a "bare-site" with your own tent, bring a big tarp (at least 25 ft x 25 ft, bigger would be better). Tarping off your entire site keeps it dry. Otherwise, everything is going to get wet. They don't sell tarps at the campground or any place close by so bring your own. 3. Pleasantries, manners and humor are expected here. Saying "good morning" and "how are you" and smiling are part of the local culture. Saying, "I have a problem I was wondering if you could help me with" instead of campaigning is the way to go. 4. During the day, hitch-hiking is possible. Takes 15-20 minutes to get a ride. Locals give rides. (Tourists generally do not.) Taxis are about $14 round trip per person, but rental cars are $80 plus tax. If you are a family of four, a rental car might be worth it. For the two of us, we hitched or used taxis. There are a lot of great beaches on the north side of the island that are within a hour hike along the road. The road is dangerous, not suitable for walking with young kids, so be careful. 5. They use compressed gas propane here. There's no white gas sold anywhere that is easy to get to. So bring stoves that use compressed gas canisters or rent a stove for $10/day. 6. The local restaurant at Cinnamon Bay is good for coffee or simple breakfast. The prices for sides of eggs or pancakes are reasonable. Dinner is $20 or higher and better food is available in Cruz Bay. We used a combination of cooking dinners and eating in Cruz Bay combined with cooking breakfasts or eating at the local C. Bay café. A really good breakfast or lunch can be found at the Caneel Bay resort just to the east. 7. Some of the reviews suggest brining in food from the mainland. Ok for some things but probably not for regular staples that are available at the local markets for about 50% higher than in mainland US for most things. Not worth the shipping. Chicken, eggs, bread, fruit, coffee, tea are all available in Cruz Bay markets. Note- you can get a bottle of rum for $6. :) 8. Waterlemon Bay was the best snorkeling by far. There is fire coral. Be careful, don't touch anything. 9. The locals are friendly and generally safe. But use common sense. 10. A headlamp is necessary, a backup is needed. They don't sell them and there isn't any common lighting. 11. Don't ship anything by US Postal Service. The service is cheap but unreliable. Bring everything on the plane. 12. If you are using Spirit Airlines, you need to be there 1.5 hours prior to take-off. They are pretty strict and charge you extra. Hope that helps. Enjoy! read more

Just finished a week at Cinnamon Bay. We stayed in one of the cottages which was less than a minute walk to the beach. The beach is very long so never felt crowded. Staff was very friendly and attentive. I would definitely return. read more

This place is adequate if you are used to camping. We stayed in a rustic cabin just about half a minute walk from the beach. Public showers and bathrooms are fine. There are lots of bugs in the cabin which is expected. Tie your food up or cockroaches will get into it. Kill all the mosquitoes before you go to bed. Basic kitchenware is provided along with a water jug you can fill with water to wash hands near the public showers. A propane grill is provided. The restaurant provides nourishment but you could probably grill better tasting food on your own. Don't hesitate to drive back to town for groceries or dinner. It's not that far from town. Beach is nice but the snorkeling is better at Trunk Bay. read more