Located 50.2 miles southwest of Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport, Negril sits at the far western tip of Jamaica across Westmoreland and Hanover parishes. Traversing the A1 highway connects the region to nearby towns like Lucea and Savanna-la-Mar. Travel to this famous resort destination historically relied on ferries crossing Negril Bay, but paved coastal roads and the local Negril Aerodrome near Rutland Point now serve arriving visitors.
Negril's coastline features soft white coral sand running along a prominent sandbar from the Negril River to Rutland Point. Known as Seven Mile Beach, the coast splits into two main sections: Bloody Bay to the north, spanning roughly two miles, and Long Bay to the south, extending just under five miles. Inland from the coastal road lies the Great Morass swamp, traversed by the Negril River, alongside the protected forests of the Royal Palm Reserve.
South of downtown Negril, the dramatic rocky coastline along Westmoreland's West End Road features elevated cliff resorts. The offshore marine environment is protected within the 160-square-kilometer Negril Marine Park, established between Davis Cove River and St. John's Point. Negril accommodates a wide range of travellers, from families visiting coastal resorts to couples, divers, cliff jumpers, and U.S. college students on spring break seeking protected waters and sunsets.
01 Highlights & things to do
What makes this stretch of coast worth the trip — from the water to the walks, wildlife and the views.
Compiled from Wikipedia · conditions vary with weather, tides and the season.
Beach map & the area
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the beach and its surroundings — the coastline, access roads, nearby towns and where to park. Zoom in for detail, or open it live in a full map.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free).
02 Getting there
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fly | Fly into Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, located 80.8 km (50.2 mi) northeast of Negril. |
| Drive | Take the two-lane paved coastal highway A1 connecting Montego Bay to Negril via Lucea. |
| Air | Fly locally into the Negril Aerodrome situated near Rutland Point. |
Getting there · Last updated: 2026-09-12 · always double-check access & ferries
03 Where to stay
Resorts, towns and areas near the beach — the closer you stay, the easier the early-morning and sunset hours when the light is best and the crowds are thin.
An all-inclusive resort situated along the northern section of Negril's beach.
An enduring resort catering exclusively to adult guests.
A popular beachfront resort location catering to vacationers.
An oceanfront development offering private villas, townhouses, and studio apartments.
The original guest house created in Negril to host early vacationers.
The very first hotel built in Negril, located by Mary's Bay on the West End.
04 Best time to visit & the water
| Season | When | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Season | Winter months | North American winter tourists frequently visit Negril, prompting resort development near Rutland Point. |
| Spring Break | Spring | Since the 1980s, Negril has served as a popular vacation spot for U.S. college students during spring break. |
Conditions vary with weather, tides & season · Last updated: 2026-09-12
05 Nearby & around
Other beaches, coves, towns and sights within easy reach — worth stringing together into a coastal day.
Good to know
- Offshore coral reefs and waters are protected under the Negril Marine Park across 160 square kilometers.
- Shops, local vendors, and duty-free areas are concentrated mainly toward the southern end of the beach.
- Cliff diving access points along the West End Road drop from heights exceeding 40 feet.
