7 of the Most Beautiful US Islands
When travelers picture island getaways in the US, Hawaii tends to come to mind first. Yet thousands of islands lie beyond it, scattered along the coasts and lakes of the mainland, many of them just a short ferry or bridge from shore. Each has its own atmosphere, climate, and landscape, from luxury resort enclaves to quiet, car-free retreats. Here are seven of the most beautiful US islands worth planning a trip around.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Reached by ferry from Mackinaw City in northern Michigan, Mackinac Island trades cars for horse-drawn carriages and bicycles, a ban on motor vehicles that has held since the late 1890s. The result is a step back in time, with Victorian-era architecture and greenery set along the shores of Lake Huron. Visitors bike the roughly eight-mile road that circles the island in summer and cross-country ski it in winter. The island is also known for its old-fashioned fudge shops, where confectioners work the candy on marble slabs in full view of passersby, a tradition so associated with the place that day-trippers here are nicknamed "fudgies." Historic sites and quiet woodland make it an easy, slow-paced escape for families.
Marco Island, Florida
The largest barrier island in Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, Marco Island sits on the Gulf of Mexico and is the only heavily developed island in the chain, reached by road bridge and roughly a 45-minute drive from Southwest Florida International Airport. It is built for time on the water: boating, kayaking, fishing, and snorkeling, with grouper and kingfish offshore and dolphins, manatees, and pelicans among the local wildlife. White-sand beaches back onto resorts and seafood restaurants, while nearby preserves such as Rookery Bay draw birdwatchers and paddlers into the surrounding mangroves. For a small island, the range of things to do on and around the water is considerable.
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
A resort island in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Hilton Head is reached by bridge from Bluffton on the mainland, or directly through the small Hilton Head Island Airport. It is best known for its golf, with dozens of courses that host professional play, alongside upscale resorts and spas geared toward a relaxed, high-end stay. Beyond the fairways, visitors walk the wide sands of Coligny Beach Park or make for the candy-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse, a local landmark overlooking the marina. Miles of paved trails also make the island easy to explore by bicycle.
Santa Catalina, California
About 22 miles south-southwest of Los Angeles, California, Santa Catalina is reached by a roughly hour-long ferry and feels a world away from the mainland. Its mild, near-Mediterranean climate suits it to the outdoors, whether that means renting a paddleboard, ziplining through the canyons, or diving the clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. Glass-bottom boats show off the marine life without getting wet, while the 38-mile Trans-Catalina Trail draws hikers across the island's rugged, protected interior, home to bison left behind by a 1920s film shoot. Most visitors base themselves in the harbor town of Avalon.
San Juan Island, Washington
In the far northwest of Washington state, San Juan Island is one of the main ferry-served islands in the San Juan archipelago, a cluster of more than 170 islands known for their slow pace and abundant wildlife. It is a destination for farm-to-table dining, lavender farms, small wineries, and, most famously, the resident and transient orcas that pass offshore. Friday Harbor, one of the island's two main waterfronts, anchors the cultural scene with galleries, museums, and a summer film festival. For hikers, kayakers, and anyone after a quiet getaway, it is among the most rewarding stops in the Pacific Northwest.
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Reached by a 45-minute Steamship Authority ferry from Woods Hole on Cape Cod, about a 90-minute drive south of Boston, Martha's Vineyard pairs classic New England beaches with working fishing harbors like Menemsha. Gingerbread cottages and wildflower gardens line parts of the shore, a look most concentrated in the Carpenter Gothic houses of the Oak Bluffs campground. The Martha's Vineyard Film Society runs an arthouse cinema year-round and hosts festivals through the summer. Community events fill the calendar too, among them First Fridays in Vineyard Haven, an evening of food trucks, vendors, and live music held on the first Friday of the month in the warmer season.
Block Island, Rhode Island
South of the Rhode Island mainland and reached by ferry, Block Island is defined by its dramatic coastal bluffs and open ocean views. Its beaches, boutiques, and harbor districts stay busy through the season with outdoor and artistic pursuits. Visitors seek out quiet coves, tour the Southeast Lighthouse and its museum, browse local artisans, or paddle the Great Salt Pond, a large protected harbor at the island's heart. And no visit feels complete without a stop at one of the island's ice cream shops. Much of the island is conserved open space, which keeps its bluffs and beaches feeling wild despite the summer crowds.
From the Great Lakes to the Gulf and both coasts, these seven islands each offer a distinct blend of scenery, wildlife, and small-town character. Whether the draw is a car-free carriage ride, a round of golf, an orca sighting, or simply a beach and a good ice cream cone, each rewards the ferry ride out.
