International visitors should be prepared to encounter a few differences when driving in Jamaica.
Road conditions in the larger cities and the more tourist-frequented areas of Jamaica are fair to good, but bumps and other roadway nuisances can be extreme in the more rural areas.
If you decide to rent a vehicle for exploring the countryside and seeing the smaller towns, an SUV is probably your best bet. A U.S. driver’s license is valid in Jamaica for one year, but you must be 21 to drive. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road with steering wheels on the right.
Traffic is fairly light, but roads in the countryside are frequented by domestic animals and can become narrow and winding. Be prepared to give up the right of way to both livestock and oncoming traffic. Most locals don’t think twice about stopping in the middle of the road to carry on a conversation with a bystander, and don’t be put off by honking horns; it’s a Caribbean way of saying hello.
Driving Time:
Montego Bay to Negril 80 Km (50 miles) 1 1/2 hours
Montego Bay to Ocho Rios 100 Km (62 miles) 1 1/2 hours
Ocho Rios to Port Antonio 97 Km (60 miles) 2 1/2 hours
Ocho Rios to Kingston 96 Km (60 miles) 2 hours
Kingston to Mandeville 105 Km (65 miles) 1 1/2 hours
Kingston to Port Antonio 109 Km (68 miles) 2 hours
Airports:
Three International Airports:
• Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston
• Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay
• Ian Fleming International Airport – Boscobel – St. Mary
Three Domestic Airports:
• Tinson Pen, Kingston
• Negril Aerodrome, Negril
• Ken Jones, Port Antonio