Driving in St. Lucia is like a heart-pounding game of Mario Kart, DK Jungle, except you can’t slow passing drivers by hurling banana peels and there are no do-overs for veering off course!

All dad jokes and video game references aside, driving in St. Lucia is not for beginners. While renting a car affords you the ultimate freedom for your adventurous St. Lucia itinerary, the decision to drive on this mountainous Caribbean island should be carefully considered.

Trust me when I say, just navigating up the precipitous driveway to our resort – one of the best boutique hotels in St. Lucia – was a journey in and of itself!

So if you’re up for the challenge and ready to navigate the island like a pro, buckle up for this refreshingly honest guide to driving in St. Lucia!

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While renting a car is certainly not a requirement for navigating to the best views in St. Lucia, it can be an asset for more experienced drivers. A car will provide you with the ultimate freedom to come and go as you please, and you won’t be at the mercy of other transport services.

However, driving in St. Lucia is definitely not for beginners, nor is it the right move for everyone. Ultimately, your decision to drive here should depend on where you’re staying, your desired itinerary, and your comfort level.

Driving in St. Lucia is a significant departure from the day-to-day driving you’re probably familiar with. This isn’t the type of destination where you can simply shift into cruise control and let your mind wander.

Instead, you really need to focus when you’re on the road, as the terrain is quite mountainous, windy, and unpredictable. If you’re not accustomed to driving in the Caribbean or off-roading, you’ll likely find driving in St. Lucia to be challenging. In addition, the poor overall condition of the roads can make for a stressful experience.

Yes, U.S. citizens can drive in St. Lucia, same as citizens from any other country. That said, you’ll need to obtain an international driver’s permit if you hold a license outside of St. Lucia. The other option is to purchase a temporary local permit when you arrive.

Let’s kick off this St. Lucia driving guide with some basic etiquette and rules of the road you’ll need to exercise.

If you’re traveling from the United States (or one of many other countries that drives on the right-hand side of the road), this first point may take you by surprise. Given the island’s long history of British colonization, driving in St. Lucia is on the left-hand side of the road.

In addition, you’ll need to yield to cars approaching from the right in a roundabout.

Although this can take some getting used to if you’re not accustomed to driving this way, it’s nothing to be concerned about. Just be aware that it may take a day or two before that unsettling feeling that someone is about to drive into your windshield finally subsides.

If you plan on driving in St. Lucia, you’ll either need an international driving permit from your home country or you’ll need to obtain a local permit in St. Lucia.

In the case that you’re arriving at the airport with an international driving permit already in tow, you won’t need to worry about getting a local one. Just be sure to get your international permit stamped at immigration when you arrive at either of the two airports on the island (Hewanorra or George F.L. Charles).

If you don’t have an international driving permit, you’ll need to arrange to get a temporary local permit in order to drive in St. Lucia. You can either pick one up at airport immigration, with the rental company you’re working with, or via a local police station.

The local permit will be an additional fee on top of the rental cost, typically around $20. It’s required regardless of how long you’re driving, even if you’re only renting a vehicle for a day.

Keep in mind that the minimum age to rent a car in St. Lucia is 25, though some agencies rent cars out to drivers age 21+. Depending on the agency, you may also be required to have several years of driving experience before renting a car in St. Lucia.

Although it’s not required, I highly recommend renting an SUV/4X4 if you’re planning to drive. Practically speaking, it’s great to have the added clearance under the vehicle, particularly if you’re planning to hit the more rugged southern parts of the island.

But even if you’re planning to stay up north, I still think a 4X4 is worth it for the peace of mind alone!

When you’re selecting a rental, keep in mind that most cars offered will be automatic. Even if you’d prefer to drive a manual, I suggest going with a tried-and-true automatic car. Trust me, it will make your life so much easier as you climb the mountainous terrain.

It’s also worth taking note of your license plate when you pick up your rental. Ideally, you want to make sure your plate number starts with an “H” and not a “P.” “H” stands for “hire” car, whereas “P” represents a “private” car. Essentially, you’ll run into less insurance issues with a hire car, as you could be liable for more expensive charges if you get into an accident in a private car.

Although this should go without saying, I cannot stress enough how important it is to purchase car insurance! Whether you add on the insurance directly with your rental agency or cover it under private car insurance or general travel insurance, just make sure you have it!

Personally, my husband and I always purchase travel insurance through World Nomads whenever we travel. Their plans are super affordable and can be tailored to suit your unique insurance needs.

Although many of the roads in St. Lucia are “paved,” there’s a reason I’m putting “paved” in quotes. Despite some effort to make the roads more navigable, the reality is, they’re in very poor condition in most areas.

Between deep potholes, loose gravel, uneven terrain, and streets with giant gutters that you could inadvertently slip into, you’ll need a vehicle (and a mindset) that’s up for the challenge.

Let’s just say there’s no way I would ever drive in St. Lucia. Like, not even for money. If it wasn’t for my husband/expert international driver who did all the driving, I would’ve splurged on cabs and tour vans to take me around.

That said, I’m ultimately so, so glad we had our own car because we enjoyed much more freedom and it saved us a load of time and money.

By far, the most challenging roads are the ones located on the southern and more rugged half of the island. (Though the carsickness-inducing stretch from Soufrière up to Pigeon Island National Park is no picnic either, believe me! I distinctly remember gritting my teeth and feeling my heart in my throat as my husband plowed up the mountainous terrain like a champ.)

Roads on the northern end of the island are generally in better condition than those on the southern side. That’s because there’s more infrastructure in main cities like Castries than in southern towns like Soufrière, for example. In fact, Castries actually has a four-lane highway, a rare luxury that’s simply unheard of in other towns!

However, better infrastructure comes at a price, and that price is traffic! Since Castries is a main hub that people commute in and out of, traffic tends to be particularly bad around rush hour. Be sure to pay close attention when driving through the center of the city, as one-way traffic rules are in order.

In Soufrière, you have the opposite problem. While traffic is much less of an issue, you have tight, two-lane roads that feel like one-lane roads. You also have trenches that slope down from the roads like deep gutters in a bowling alley. If you veer too far over, you could be in trouble.

Keep in mind that there are actually only two main roads that snake around the island. Theoretically, if you drove exclusively on one of the two (and didn’t take any detours), you could feasibly drive around the entire island in about two hours.

The speed limit is typically 40mph. While this may not seem like a lot, it’s plenty fast when you factor in all of the sharp and blind turns!

Also, given the rugged, natural beauty of the island, you should expect more than just other drivers as you make your way around. You should also be on the lookout for wild animals as well! It’s not uncommon to come across everything from stray dogs, to wild horses, to loose donkeys, to goats and cows grazing in atypical areas, all within moments of driving.

If you’d prefer the self-driving experience, here are some helpful things to keep in mind.

• Book your rental car in advance – This is especially important in the high season (December through April), as finding a rental can be competitive. We used Hertz.
• Always get car insurance – I recommend this regardless of where you’re traveling, but it’s especially critical in a destination like St. Lucia where driving can be unpredictable.
• Limit night driving – Unless you’re in a major city like Castries, try to limit or avoid driving after the sun goes down, as many roads are poorly lit (if lit at all). I’d especially avoid driving around Soufrière at night; we made this mistake and instantly regretted it, as we started getting followed.
• Don’t always trust the GPS – While GPS can help you navigate on the island, the addresses aren’t always accurate. Instead, I recommend researching your desired excursions in advance. It’s helpful to at least have a general idea of where you’re going, if not full-fledged directions.
• Fuel up before gas runs too low – While you can fuel up at either “Rubis Gas” or “SOL Gas” as you drive around, neither offers 24-hour service, so make sure you’re prepared. Then again, if you’re avoiding the roads at night, this shouldn’t be a problem anyway!
• Don’t fall for airport scams when picking up your rental – If you’re picking up your rental car by the airport, chances are, someone will insist on carrying your luggage to the rental location for you. Whomever is doing this just wants a tip. We got suckered into this scam (rather against our wills) because the scammer insisted that he needed to show us where to go. If anyone pesters you, tell them you already know where you’re going (even if you don’t).

Unfortunately, there’s no catch-all answer to this question; it completely depends on you, your abilities, and your unique situation.

Key things to consider before driving in St. Lucia:

• Where you’re staying – A big factor to consider will be your resort location. Driving in the southern half of the island is more challenging than in the north in terms of road conditions, so be mindful of that. Also, if you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort (or otherwise don’t plan on leaving your resort much during your trip), renting a car will likely not be necessary.
• Your itinerary – Are you planning a jam-packed itinerary that touches on areas all over the island? If so, you’ll probably want to opt for the self-driving route. Alternatively, if you’re only planning to venture out near your resort and/or you’re operating with a light itinerary, you’ll probably be better served by utilizing a car service.
• Your driving skills/comfort level – This is a big factor to consider and no one can really make this call for you. If you’re having strong reservations about island driving and you’d be more at ease hiring a driver, then trust your gut.

While I was admittedly nervous about what driving in St. Lucia would actually be like (even though my husband was the sole driver), it was ultimately the best decision for us.

Pros of Driving in St. Lucia:

• Ultimate freedom to come and go without being beholden to imposed schedules
• Ability to explore hidden gems off the beaten path
• Save money versus hiring a driver for each activity
• Additional storage space for your belongings (beach towels, hiking shoes, etc.)
• Maximum experience of adventure via self-navigation

However, to reiterate, driving in St. Lucia is definitely not for everyone and there are plenty of challenges to think through as well.

Cons of Driving in St. Lucia: 

• Poor road conditions (pot holes, loose gravel, steep drop-offs, etc.)
• Highly mountainous terrain with many blind hairpin turns
• Many roads are narrow and require focus to navigate
• Heavy traffic in Castries area
• Poorly lit roads/limited signage aren’t conducive to night driving

Driving in St. Lucia definitely isn’t for everyone (including me!) and there’s absolutely no shame in hiring a driver if it’s not for you.

There are several different options you could explore if you’d prefer to arrange transportation with a driver. The most common are utilizing hotel car services/transfers, joining island-wide tours, or arranging for a taxi/Uber.

Pros of hiring a driver:

• Ability to relax, play a passive role, and enjoy more peace of mind
• More opportunities to enjoy the scenery without worrying about navigating
• Can provide an added layer of luxury, depending on the car
• Avoid certain responsibilities like stopping for gas, car maintenance, etc.

Just be aware that while hiring a driver comes with many pros, there are also some negatives you should be aware of.

Cons of hiring a driver:

• Subject to pre-arranged/fixed schedules of the tour operators
• Limitations on places you can visit
• Less opportunities to explore, take detours, and make spontaneous decisions
• Typically costlier than renting your own car

If you’re still having difficulty deciding whether or not you should drive in St. Lucia, think about what kind of trip you’d like to have.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What’s more important: freedom of movement or less responsibility?
2. Will I spend the majority of the trip at my resort or venturing out?
3. Am I mentally prepared to handle unfamiliar terrain?
4. Do I want to prioritize relaxation or adventure in St. Lucia?
5. Is hiring a driver unrealistic or will my budget allow for it?

Ultimately, whether you decide to take the wheel or hop in the backseat and enjoy the ride, you’re bound to have an unforgettable time in St. Lucia!

Are you up for the exciting challenge of driving in St. Lucia or would you prefer to relax and have someone else take over? Let me know in the comments below!

Looking to get more mileage out of your St. Lucia adventures? Check out my other guides:

• 15 Dreamy Resorts & Boutique Hotels in St. Lucia
• Perfect 3-Day St. Lucia Itinerary: A Taste of the Lesser Antilles
• 15 Best Views in St. Lucia & Top Photo-Worthy Locations