Northern Mariana Islands Getting Around

Getting Around

A car is the best way to get around Saipan which has a good road system and traffic is light in most areas though you can sometimes expect to see bumper-to-bumper traffic on Beach Rd. just about the time school lets out. Many schools are located right on Beach Road. There are rental agencies at the airport and in a few of the larger hotels. A car is also the best way to get around Tinian or Rota though roads are far less extensive on the smaller islands than on Saipan. Still you can get to the main sights without too much trouble though you'll want a high-clearance truck or 4WD for the more out-of-the-way spots. There are agencies at the airport and in San Jose on Tinian and at the airport and Songsong Village on Rota. Your home driving license is good for up to 30 days but it's a good idea to bring an International Driver's License if your regular one isn't in English. Driving is on the right. There's no public bus system on Saipan though there are shuttle buses running between the major towns. Taxis are metered and privately owned. They're clearly marked and easy to find at the airport and the larger hotels. Traveling between islands means flying and Saipan is the hub. There are several daily flights between Saipan and Tinian and between Rota and Saipan or Guam. The Saipan Airport is at the southern end of the island; just north of San Jose on Tinian; and Rota's airport is on the northeastern half of the island.Scheduled flights on Continental Airlines connect Saipan to Rota, Tinian, and Guam. Three other islands have airstrips that can serve (expensive) chartered flights. Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino runs a ferry service daily from Saipan to Tinian and back.