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How to travel from
Kingston to Ocho Rios
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by Sheree-Anita Shearer | Associate Writer
The route from Kingston to Ocho Rios is one of the most frequent stretches on the island.
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There are public vehicles that make trips back and forth daily to transport persons from Ocho Rios to the capital for various reasons. Many persons live in Ocho Rios and work in Kingston or vice versa. In other cases, Kingstonians will head down to Ocho Rios for a weekend getaway or staycation.
Considering that one of our two major airports is in Kingston and Ocho Rios is a popular tourist destination, that is also a plausible reason for your trip.
Whatever your reason, let us cover all the bases of how to travel from Kingston to Ocho Rios.
Public Transportation
This can either be a bus or several taxis. The bus is the least hassling way if you take public transportation. You will have to make it to the bus park (transportation Centre) in either city and get to the stand (designated area) for Ocho Rios to Kingston or vice versa.
The bus might take a while to load and it can be a tight squeeze especially as it comes close to evening as nobody wants to be left behind. If you plan to travel this way, it's best to do so early to mid-morning.
The taxi system is far more complex that the bus. With the bus, you just sit as it drives to your destination and there is no need to worry about stops and switching vehicles along the way.
But, for taxis it is different. It isn’t feasible for a small unit to drive into Kingston from as far as Ocho Rios so you will have to take on the journey in segments.
First, you will have to get a taxi from Ocho Rios to Spanish Town (you might hear the drivers calling out from Spain as that is how locals refer to Spanish Town). Then from there, you can get a taxi from Spanish Town to Kingston.
How much from Kingston Jamaica to Ocho Rios?
On the bus, which will take you directly from one point to the next, it should be around JMD 1000 or USD 10.
How much is a taxi from Kingston to Ocho Rios?
Since it will take more than one taxi to get to Ocho Rios from Kingston, it is a little harder to pinpoint the exact cost of the rides. You can budget for JMD 2000 USD 15 if you will be on public transportation. Please note that special requests will attract an additional cost.
Private Companies
Knutsford Express is the most reliable private transportation service on the island. They have scheduled bus routes at a set price that you can see online. You can also book your ticket online or purchase it at the terminal in the morning, although it isn’t a surety that there will be space if you do it this way.
The cost for a ticket from Kingston to Ocho Rios is JMD 2,550 or USD 17 (bear in mind that the exchange rate from JMD to USD fluctuates so the price in USD is not set in stone).
If you are heading from the airport in Kingston to Ocho Rios and wish to use Knutsford Express, you can book/reserve your ticket and request for them to pick you up at the airport. This is at an additional charge.
Travelling from the Airport to Ocho Rios
Like I said before, Knutsford Express will pick up passengers who reserve seats on their buses at the airport for an additional cost. But if you are travelling on the public transportation service and would like a ride to the bus park to get transportation heading to Ocho Rios, then you can utilise one of the many taxi services in Kingston.
You might be familiar with Uber or Indriver but there are also reputable taxi services such as OnTime in Kingston. I will not be able to tell you the cost of these options, however.
How long is the ride from Kingston to Ocho Rios?
The ride between Kingston and Ocho Rios is 1½ hours with the use of the toll road. If you take any other route into Kingston it will take longer.
Which is closer to Ocho Rios, Montego Bay or Kingston?
Montego Bay and Kingston are around the same distance away from Kingston. But in the same regard, it is more logical to land in Montego Bay if you are heading into Ocho Rios.
What is the cheapest way to get from Kingston to Ocho Rios?
The cheapest way from Kingston to Ocho Rios is on the bus. If you only consider the cost of the fare.
If you have bags, it will get more expensive as you will be charged to put them on the bus if they can’t all fit in the trunk, which is unlikely. Buses carry 15 to 18 people and it is impossible to fit all that luggage on the bus.
This would be ideal for backpackers but, if you are travelling with lots of luggage or with a large group, then it might be a better alternative to avoid public transportation.
Rentals
Car rental is another way of travelling on the island and if you are qualified to do so and you’ll be staying on the island for a while and plan to do some travelling around then, this might be the best option for you.
You will need a valid driver’s licence from your home country, a passport and of course the funds required to rent the vehicle.
If you plan on having more than one person behind the wheel throughout the trip, the rental company must be notified and that individual’s ID will be recorded as well.
What you must consider, if you are driving between Kingston and Ocho Rios however is if you take the highway, you will have to pay the toll fee. So, ensure you have cash before you enter the toll.
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References & Sources For How to travel from Kingston to Ocho Rios
- Kingston to Ocho Rios from $3 → 5 ways to travel by bus, train, flight, car or Ferry (no date) Kingston to Ocho Rios from $3 → 5 ways to travel by bus, train, flight, car or ferry. Available at: https://1map.com/routes/jm-kingston-9924_to_jm-ocho-rios-19595 (Accessed: January 4, 2023).
- Ltd, rome2rio P. (no date) Kingston Airport (KIN) to Ocho Rios - 5 ways to travel via bus, taxi, and Car, Rome2rio. Available at: https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Kingston-Airport-KIN/Ocho-Rios (Accessed: January 4, 2023).
How to Travel from Kingston to Ocho Rios? | Written: January 4, 2023
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