Northern Saipan begins about ten minutes beyond Garapan. Middle Road and the coast road join near San Roque and continue as the main road into Marpi, with signposted, paved turnings to each site. There is no public transport, and taxis are costly if you ask them to wait, so most visitors either hire a car or join a van tour. Times and costs below are approximate. For flights to Saipan and between the islands, see getting there; entry rules are in the travel guide.
Routes at a glance
| From | Best route | Time | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garapan | Hire car north via Middle Road and Route 30 to Banzai Cliff | About 20–25 min | Fuel only; car hire priced per day |
| Garapan (no car) | Half-day north island tour by van from your hotel | About 3–4 hours in all | Sold locally — prices vary by operator |
| San Roque resorts | Car or hotel-arranged transfer into Marpi | About 10–15 min | Fuel only by hire car |
| Saipan airport (SPN) | Hire car or taxi north along the west coast through Garapan | About 40–50 min | Taxi fares are high for this distance — agree first |
| Susupe / Chalan Kanoa | Beach Road to Garapan, then Middle Road north | About 30–40 min | Fuel only by hire car |
| Guam (GUM) | Inter-island flight to Saipan, then by road | About 45 min flying, plus the drive | Varies — check current fares |
Getting around Northern Saipan
By car: this is the easiest way. Roads to Banzai Cliff, Suicide Cliff, the Last Command Post, the Grotto and the Bird Island lookout are all paved, and the sites are within 5 to 15 minutes of one another. You drive on the right; watch for potholes, stray dogs and unlit stretches after dark.
By tour van: the standard circuit takes about half a day with hotel pick-up from Garapan. It is efficient, but stops are brief.
On foot or by bicycle: distances between sites are too great and too hot to walk. Confident cyclists do ride the Marpi roads, which are fairly flat apart from the climb to Suicide Cliff; start early and carry plenty of water. There is no fuel station in Marpi, so fill up before leaving the Garapan area.
