Cinnamon Bay Campground

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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