The Best Islands in the United States: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards
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Unforgettable food. Cutting-edge design. Immersive experiences. These are some of your top criteria for judging what makes a quality hotel—not to mention a worthy resort, cruise, spa, or island. In tallying up the 575,048 votes cast in our 37th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey, we were struck by both your eagerness to embrace the new and your reverence for tried-and-true classics. Your favorite hotel in the five boroughs is the two-year-old Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad, but you also can’t stop returning to storied French Polynesian resort The Brando. You’ve jetted through the sprawling Istanbul International Airport, booked intrepid sailings to Antarctica, and fallen in love with historic yet innovative cities like Copenhagen. Read on to start planning your next round of travels—these are the best islands in the US, as voted by our readers.
View all of the the Readers’ Choice Awards winners for 2024 here.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
Joel Rogers/Getty15. San Juan Islands, Washington
This remote archipelago shouldered by Canada and the Pacific Northwest is a welcome new addition to our list this year. While the San Juan Islands' rugged hills and surrounding mountain ranges may feel intimidating to non-outdoorsy types, it's quite restorative to immerse yourself in the natural beauty here—whether walking by Pelindaba Lavender Farm, one of the biggest in the country, or on a windswept shore watching an orca pod surfacing for air.
Pro tip: You won't want to miss out on the food scene here, especially McMillin's Dining Room, where you can tuck into a 10-hour roasted prime rib, or seasonal and sustainable options like the cedar-plank-roasted King salmon—which feels equally as indulgent.
Getting there: After arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Aiport (SEA), drive or take a shuttle to Anacortes, Washington (about a 90-minute drive from Seattle) and board a Washington State Ferry to the San Juan Islands. You can also opt for a small plane or seaplane out of Seattle, Everett, or Bellingham.
YinYang/Getty14. Lanai, Hawaii
Private and exclusive, Lanai has drawn the likes of Oprah, Cindy Crawford, and Tom Cruise over the years. The main draw here, though, is not the celebrity sightings but the scenery: Polihua and Kaiolohia—also known as Shipwreck—beaches offer a taste of isolation. Kanepuu Preserve, a protected dry-land forest, is home to rare plant specimens endemic to Hawaii.
Pro tip: It may not be on the beach, but the mountaintop Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort is an idyllic spot to recharge with daily exercise classes, meditations, massage treatments, and a Nobu restaurant.
Getting there: There are no direct flights to Lanai from the continental US; you’ll have to fly to Honolulu International Airport (HNL) or Kahului Airport (OGG) in Maui, where you can take a local airline to Lanai Airport (LNY).
David Garrison/Getty13. South Padre Island, Texas
From a sandcastle-sculpting class where you can pick up the tips and tricks from the pros, to the adventure park where you can zip-line through the air, to riding horses across the beach, South Padre Island is packed with fun. But the Texas island is also dedicated to conservation, with sea turtle rehabilitation, birding, and nature centers that welcome visitors to learn more about the unique ecosystems that make up these marshes, meadows, and shores.
Pro tip: April marks the start of nesting season for sea turtles, with early-morning hatchling releases by Sea Turtle, Inc. occurring from mid-June through August. Visitors can join in to watch the tiny creatures make their way for the waves via the National Parks Service.
Getting there: If you plan to fly in, Brownsville SPI International Airport (BRO), Valley International Airport (HRL), and McAllen International Airport (MFE), are close to the island. From there, you'll be able to take one of the shuttles or a taxi in. For those arriving by car, the island is accessible by taking one of these major US highway routes.
Marc Romanelli/Getty12. Jekyll Island, Georgia
Islands, by default, are all about the beaches—but thoses on Jekyll Island truly feel a world away. Go birding on marsh-facing St. Andrews Beach Park, or picnic with the family at freshly renovated Oceanview Beach Park. Don't skip Driftwood Beach, whose name comes from the ancient limbs of driftwood trees that scatter across the shoreline, making for an iconic backdrop.
Pro tip: Stay at Jekyll Island Ocean Club for waterfront views and complimentary beach amenities such as lounge chairs, umbrellas, and towels.
Getting there: Brunswick Golden Isles Airport (BQK) is a 30-minute drive from the island and serves regular daily flights from Atlanta via Delta. Visitors can also fly in from international airports like Savannah (SAV) and Jacksonville (JAX), and rent a car to get to Jekyll Island.
Pola Damonte/Getty11. Marco Island, Florida
The areas of Naples and nearby Marco Island make up Florida’s Paradise Coast, which feels tropical due to an abundance of mangroves and mangoes. The Gulf Coast island is the perfect place for a weekend getaway, with beautiful beaches and parks, tons of outdoor activities, and great hotels, like JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort.
Pro tip: As part of your trip, make sure to visit one of the most renowned outdoor spaces in the U.S.: Everglades National Park. The Gulf Coast Visitors Center entrance is in Everglades City—an easy road trip of less than an hour southeast of Naples.
Getting there: From Naples, take the straight drive from US-41 to Collier Boulevard. Or if you’re flying into Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, it’s about a one-hour drive via I-75.
Joel Carillet/Getty10. Tybee Island, Georgia
Just under half an hour away by car from Savannah, this Southern Georgia barrier island is ideal for nature and history lovers, who can make a day out of visiting the Tybee Island Lighthouse (the oldest in the state) and Fort Pulaski National Monument. Don't miss feasting on massive crab legs at Sting Ray's Seafood.
Pro tip: With Little Tybee Island close by, visiting Tybee can feel like a two-for-one deal. Don't let the name fool you; this second island is actually two times bigger, giving visitors plenty of untouched nature to explore.
Getting there: Tybee is located just 15 miles from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport—which is named the best airport in the US by our readers year after year. Tybee is just 20 minutes east of Savannah’s Historic District; visitors can drive here via I-95 or I-16.
Martin Zangerl/Unsplash9. Big Island, Hawaii
Think of the Big Island as the ultimate adventure playground. While it’s not exactly Hawaii’s best beach destination, the island stands out for its stunning national parks and volcanoes. The active Kilauea volcano and surrounding 505-square-mile Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the place to experience lava flows, craters, and steam vents. Waipi‘o Valley (known as the Valley of the Kings) is another staggering display of nature, with verdant walking trails dotted with waterfalls.
Pro tip: After a busy day spent outdoors, refuel on the Aka roll with shrimp tempura and spicy ahi at Aka Sushi Bar in Waimea. You’ll thank us later.
Getting there: Most major air carriers offer daily flights to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) in Kona. If you can’t find a direct flight, fly into Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu and take a 40-minute flight to the Big Island.
YinYang/Getty8. Kauai, Hawaii
The lushest and greenest of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai more than earns its nickname, “The Garden Isle.” Most spots worth visiting require a bit of effort, as you can only reach one-fifth of the island on foot or in a car, but it’s more than worth it. You’ll need a four-wheel drive to get to Polihale Beach, for example, which is accessed via a rough and rocky five-mile road. But it’s arguably one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Hawaii, with sweeping sand dunes, incredible sunsets, and unforgettable stargazing thanks to the lack of light pollution. Another tough-to-access-but-worth-it spot is Honopu Beach, which you can only reach by swimming from an offshore boat or from neighboring Kalalau Beach (a quarter-mile swim).
Pro tip: It would be a sin to visit Kauai and not spend a day on the Napali Coast. Get the best vantage points on an open-door flight over the cliffs and valleys, or join a kayak tour to paddle to its isolated beach.
Getting there: Most airlines offer non-stop flights to Lihue Airport (LIH). There is also the option of flying into Honolulu International Airport (HNL) and hopping on a half-hour flight to Kauai.
Courtesy Grand Hotel7. Mackinac Island, Michigan
A long-beloved vacation spot for Midwesterners, most of the island (80 percent, to be exact) lies within the protected Mackinac Island State Park, meaning it’s both well-preserved and filled with natural beauty. The island is perhaps most famous, however, for the iconic Grand Hotel, with its sprawling, 660-foot front porch looking out to the water and equally indulgent five-course dinners.
Pro tip: The island is completely car-free, meaning you’ll need to rely on biking or walking to get around. But you should definitely treat yourself to a horse-drawn taxi ride from Mackinac Island Carriage Tours, the oldest continually operating service in the country.
Getting there: Two ferries service the island seasonally: the Star Line Mackinac Island’s Hydro-Jet Ferry, departing from St. Ignace, and the Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, departing from St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. There’s also an on-island Mackinac Island Airport for private charter flights.
J. Greg Hinson/Getty6. Nantucket, Massachusetts
Travelers return to this quintessential summer getaway every year to walk among the narrow rows of wood-paneled houses and bike out to the lighthouses that ring the island. Although crescent-shaped Nantucket may be small, it has a mix of terrains, from sand dunes and salt marshes to craggy bluffs, making it nearly impossible to take a bad photograph on the island.
Pro tip: If you’re in Nantucket, you’re eating seafood. For a good old-fashioned clam bake, head to Sayle’s Seafood, where $46 will get you piles of lobster, oysters, mussels, clam chowder, corn, and potatoes.
Getting there: Nantucket is easily accessible via plane from most airports in the Northeast. But we’re fans of the relaxed ferry rides from Cape Cod (one hour) and New York (six hours), where you can enjoy the coastal scenery.
Luke McKeown/Unsplash5. Oahu, Hawaii
Oahu is the most-visited of Hawaii’s islands—it has Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, and the North Shore, with its world-renowned surf breaks and garlic-shrimp vendors, to thank for that. Many of the tourist-heavy attractions are actually worth visiting, like Pearl Harbor and Doris Duke’s Shangri La, but you can dodge the crowds if you know where to look. The North Shore is usually your best bet, with places like Mokulei Beach Park offering excellent snorkeling, whale watching, and calm waters—and few other visitors.
Pro tip: You’d be missing out if you didn't head for a meal in Honolulu’s red-hot Chinatown. Stop by Wing for some shave ice, Char Hung Sut Restaurant for pork buns, and Livestock Tavern for the perfect bacon cheeseburger.
Getting there: Hawaii’s main airport in Honolulu is easily reachable from many U.S. cities.
Courtesy Elizabeth Pointe Lodge4. Amelia Island, Florida
Whether it’s the seemingly endless green spaces or the unbelievably hospitable locals, this Florida island has certainly charmed our readers. The 13-mile strip of land is located off Florida’s northeastern coast, and it feels far more untouched and natural than most of the state’s other beachy locales. After soaking up the sun on nearly deserted beaches, hike a trail through Fort Clinch State Park or explore the downtown area for shopping and local restaurants.
Pro tip: Elizabeth Pointe Lodge is one of the best hotels on the island, with a beachside address and delicious breakfasts. Spend one morning spent eating French toast and gazing at the ocean from the lodge’s wraparound porch, and you’ll soon declare Amelia Island your new favorite destination.
Getting there: Amelia Island is easily accessible, located only 30 minutes by car (over the Intracoastal Waterway) from Jacksonville International Airport.
Living Moments Media/Getty3. Maui, Hawaii
Hawaii’s second-largest island is known for its volcanic beaches, oceanfront resorts, and the towering Mount Haleakala, a traveler favorite to scale for sunrise. It’s the place to be for snorkelers, hikers, and food lovers alike. It also happens to be a great place to travel with kids, with tons of family-friendly resorts and activities for all ages: Think ziplines, turtle-spotting canoe tours, luaus, and even a pretty awesome goat farm.
Pro tip: To catch as much of Maui’s natural beauty as possible, drive the Road to Hana, a 52-mile scenic route featuring dramatic waterfalls that includes the spectacular Seven Sacred Pools.
Getting there: Many mainland airlines offer direct routes to Maui from airports on the West Coast. Otherwise, it’s about a 40-minute flight to the island from Honolulu International Airport (HNL).
Andrew Shelley/Unsplash2. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Kiawah Island is seemingly custom-made for escaping the drudgery of the work week. Bring the family to the barrier island for a weekend at the luxe oceanfront Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island, rated by our readers as one of the top resorts in the South, for some friendly rivalry on the golf course and tennis court (and plenty of water time in the many pools).
Pro tip: Kiawah Beachwalker Park at the southwest tip of the island is a rare public beach on Kiawah, and one of the best beaches near Charleston—enjoy sand as soft as talcum powder for only a $5 to $10 fee, in season.
Getting there: It’s about an hour’s drive from Charleston International Airport (CHS) over a causeway from the mainland.
Lauren Marcilliat/Getty1. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Remaining in the top spot for several years running, Lowcountry’s loveliest island is a world away from mainland South Carolina on the other side of the bridge. This is the kind of getaway that satisfies all travelers: You could spend a weekend beach-bumming (pick your spot on 12 miles of pristine sand), shopping locally-made handicrafts, eating out at restaurants that compete with those in major cities, or sweating it out on a bike trail, paddle board, or golf course.
Pro tip: Check into Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort, voted the second-best resort in the South by our readers this year.
Getting there: It’s only about a one-hour drive from Savannah, which shares an airport with Hilton Head.
