Francisco C. Ada Saipan International Airport (SPN) sits on the southern plateau, about ten minutes from the resorts at San Antonio. There is no public transport to any of the sights here, and taxis will not usually wait at remote beaches, so a hire car is all but essential. Times below are for driving in dry conditions and costs are approximate. For flights to Saipan and between the islands see getting there; entry rules are covered in the travel guide.
Routes at a glance
| From | Best route | Time | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saipan airport (SPN) | Hire car, taxi or hotel shuttle to the San Antonio and Agingan resorts | About 10 min | Around US$15–25 by taxi |
| Garapan to Mount Tapochau | Drive via Capitol Hill, then the dirt summit road (4WD advised) or join an ATV tour | About 35–45 min | Fuel only; tours sold locally |
| Garapan to Lau Lau Bay | Cross-island road to San Vicente, then a rough dirt road to the shore | About 25 min | Fuel only by hire car |
| Garapan to Forbidden Island lookout | Cross-island road to Kagman, then signposted side road | About 30 min | Fuel only by hire car |
| Garapan to Obyan Beach | Beach Road south, round the airport, then a coral road | About 30 min | Fuel only by hire car |
| Susupe / Chalan Kanoa | Beach Road south to San Antonio, or the airport road east | About 10–15 min | Around US$10–20 by taxi |
| Guam (GUM) | Inter-island flight to Saipan | About 45 min | Varies — check current fares |
Getting around Saipan South & East
Car hire: desks are at the airport and in the larger hotels. An ordinary saloon is fine for the paved roads to San Vicente, Kagman, the airport area and the Forbidden Island and Ladder Beach car parks. The Tapochau summit road and the tracks to Lau Lau, Obyan and some other beaches are unpaved and can be badly rutted; a high-clearance vehicle is far better, and your rental contract may prohibit unpaved roads altogether — check before you go.
Driving: you drive on the right, under US road rules, at low speeds. Signposting to beaches is patchy, mobile coverage drops out on the east coast, and there are few fuel stations on this side — fill up on the west coast first.
Without a car: join an ATV or buggy tour for Mount Tapochau and a dive-shop trip for Lau Lau Bay, both with hotel pick-up from the west coast. Walking between sights is not practical.
