Point Udall

Updated August 16, 2026

Point Udall is the far eastern tip of St. Croix, and the thing to do there is watch the sun come up.

What is there

A Millennium Monument — a large sundial built to mark the year 2000 — sitting on an open headland with the Caribbean on three sides. Below and around are the dry, wind-scoured hills of the east end, dropping into water in about four shades of blue.

That is it. There is no visitor centre, no café, no facilities. Bring what you need.

The easternmost-point claim

You will see Point Udall described as the easternmost point in the United States. It is the easternmost point of U.S. territory in the Atlantic, and it is where the sunrise reaches the U.S. first. Purists point out that parts of Alaska cross the International Date Line and technically sit in the eastern hemisphere. Both things are true; the sunrise argument is the one that matters when you are standing there at 6am.

Getting there

Head east from Christiansted along the East End Road. It is roughly 30–40 minutes from town, longer than the distance suggests — the road winds and climbs as it goes.

The drive itself is one of the best on the island. The east end is a different climate from everywhere else: dry, scrubby, cactus rather than palms, with long views back along the coast.

There is parking at the end and a short walk up to the monument.

When to go

Sunrise. That is the whole point, and it means leaving in the dark. Check sunrise time for your dates and allow the full drive plus fifteen minutes.

If a pre-dawn drive on unfamiliar left-hand roads is more than you want on day one, do it later in the week when you know the roads.

Midday works too, but the light is flat and there is no shade at all.

Combine it with

Isaac Bay and Jack Bay — hike-in beaches on the east end, reached on foot from trailheads off the East End Road. Empty most days. Bring water and shade; there is nothing there.

Make a morning of it: sunrise at the point, hike down to Isaac Bay, back to town for a late breakfast.

Practical

• No facilities, no water, no shade. Bring your own.
• The road is narrow and unlit. In the dark, take it slowly, and remember you are on the left.
• Empty your car at any trailhead. Beach and trailhead break-ins are the most common problem visitors have on St. Croix.
• Wind is constant out here — it is why the east end looks the way it does.

Point Udall is 15–20 minutes from our villa — we are already on the east end, which makes sunrise there realistic.

Common questions

Is Point Udall the easternmost point of the United States?

It is commonly described that way, and it is the easternmost point of U.S. territory in the Atlantic. The claim is contested on technicalities involving Alaska and the International Date Line, but for practical purposes Point Udall is where the U.S. sees the sunrise first.

How do you get to Point Udall?

Drive east from Christiansted along the East End Road — roughly 30–40 minutes. The last stretch is a winding climb. There is a car park at the end and a short walk to the monument.

Is Point Udall worth visiting?

For sunrise, yes — it is the standout early-morning drive on St. Croix. The east-end coastline on the way out is dramatic in its own right.