It's really easy to get around Aruba! I recommend having a car for at least part of your stay so you can explore the island at your own leisure. The whole island is only 19 miles long, and 5 miles wide, so you can easily drive around the entire island in one day.

Aruba is a relatively small Caribbean island, measuring approximately 21 miles long and 6 miles wide. If you were to drive non-stop along the main paved roads that form a rough loop around the island, the journey would take approximately 2 to 3 hours. However, a "true" trip around the island usually takes a full day because the most scenic and rugged areas, particularly the east coast and Arikok National Park, require a 4x4 vehicle and a much slower pace due to unpaved, rocky terrain. In 2026, most visitors start at the California Lighthouse in the north, drive down the western hotel strip, and head toward San Nicolas in the south. To see everything from the Natural Bridge to Baby Beach, you should budget at least 6 to 8 hours to account for stops, swimming, and navigating the slower off-road sections. The island’s well-maintained main roads make the drive very accessible, but the constant trade winds and stunning coastal views will likely tempt you to pull over far more often than a 2-hour estimate suggests.