Traveling between the two main sides of St. Maarten—the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) and the French side (Saint Martin)—is a relatively short journey, but the time can vary significantly based on traffic. The distance between the two capitals, Philipsburg and Marigot, is only about 8 kilometers (5 miles). By car, this drive typically takes 15 to 25 minutes under normal conditions. However, the island is notorious for sudden traffic bottlenecks, especially near the Simpson Bay bridge or during the mid-afternoon "rush hour" when locals are commuting and cruise ship passengers are returning to port; during these times, the cross-island trip can easily exceed 45 minutes to an hour. For those interested in walking, the trek between the two capitals takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes following the main roads. Because the island is small, you can technically visit both the Dutch and French sides in a single afternoon, but travelers are always advised to leave plenty of "buffer time" if they have a scheduled departure, as the island's narrow roads are easily congested by slow-moving tourist vehicles or bridge openings.