The Best U.S. Islands: 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards
Now in its 35th year, our annual Readers’ Choice Awards continues to capture the travel experiences our readers love best, from hotels and airlines to cruises and islands. Plus: Odes to the properties that keep you coming back, meditations on beloved cities, and more.
The numbers prove what we already knew: Enthusiasm for travel has never been higher, as demonstrated by the nearly quarter of a million of you who filled out this year’s survey. From the top large U.S. city to the top international airline, this year’s list is a testament to the staying power of perennial favorites, through thick and thin.
Think you have to head to the Caribbean for an island getaway? Not necessarily. In the spirit of revisiting old haunts and discovering exciting new places, you made perennial Low Country favorite Hilton Head Island your top American pick, and relative unknown Fernando de Noronha, in Brazil, your favorite in Central and South America. Here are the best U.S. islands, as voted by Traveler readers.
View the Reader's Choice Awards winners for best islands in the world here.
Aubrey Odom-Mabey/Unsplash15. Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Martha’s Vineyard is a favorite summer escape, lined by rugged Atlantic beaches and dotted with quaint towns. The island is generally divided into two regions, each with its own set of experiences: “Down-island” is the more developed region on the east coast, where you’ll find all the seafood restaurants and preppy clothing stores most tourists flock to. “Up-island” on the southwestern tip is much more rural, with storybook fishing villages and dense woods. Whichever area you decide to visit, you’re sure to find a wealth of fun activities—and plenty of lobster rolls.
Pro tip: The town of Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the island’s annual African-American Film Festival.
Getting there: From May through October, passenger ferry service is available from various towns in Massachusetts, Quonset Point in Rhode Island, New York City, and Northern New Jersey. Cape Air also offers daily, year-round flights from Boston.
Elias Shankaji/Unsplash14. Santa Catalina Island, California
One of the best day trips from Los Angeles, Catalina Island is a laidback escape with incredible diving, art deco theaters, outdoor activities, and a somewhat curious (and protected) population of wild bison. The island was founded by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. back in the 1920s, and you can learn all about his influence at the Catalina Island Museum and Hotel Atwater. But the best way to explore the island is from the seat of a kayak, where you can see both the geology of the island and the wildlife surrounding it.
Pro tip: Try to time your visit to whale migration season, which peaks from early summer to early fall.
Getting there: With quick and affordable trips to and from Catalina’s two main ports—Avalon and Two Harbors—the Catalina Express is the most efficient and affordable way to get to the island (unless you want to charter a private yacht).
Amber Kipp/Unsplash13. Key West, Florida
Singular among the Florida Keys, our readers love Key West for its eclectic residents, laid-back vibe, and candy-colored houses. Closer to Cuba than Miami, the island is packed with culture and history, not to mention world-class diving and fishing in crystal-clear water. Work on your tan at Smathers Beach before getting your literary fix at The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum, where you can take a tour guided by a Key West local.
Pro tip: If you’re itching for adventure, take the two-hour-and-15-minute ferry ride from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. With its incredible marine life and lack of crowds, it’s easily one of the most underrated national parks in the country.
Getting there: The best way to get to Key West is by taking the four-hour drive from Miami along the Overseas Highway.
Pola Damonte/Getty12. 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.
YinYang/Getty11. 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 Hotel10. Mackinac Island, Michigan
A long-beloved vacation spot for Midwesterners, Mackinac Island was a welcome addition to last year’s list—and it looks like the appeal hasn’t wavered a bit this year. 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.
Florida Guidebook/Unsplash9. Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Florida
Separated by hurricanes in 1921 and 1926, the sister islands of Sanibel and Captiva have long drawn visitors with their biking trails, wildlife, and calm Gulf Coast beaches. Sanibel is particularly famous for being the seashell capital of the world—you could spend an entire day with a picnic and bucket at conch-heavy spots like Bowman’s Beach. Meanwhile, Captiva is known for its untouched sand dunes and charming seaside hotels. Book one of the 17 unique cottages at Captiva Island Inn for a perfectly cozy night’s sleep steps away from the beach.
Pro tip: Lazy Flamingo on Sanibel has a cook-your-catch policy, letting visitors bring their own freshly caught fish for the chefs to whip up into a delicious meal. The clam chowder and grouper sandwiches are also pretty great.
Getting there: Both islands are just about a one-hour drive from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers via Interstate 75.
YinYang/Getty8. Lanai, Hawaii
Private and exclusive, Lanai has drawn the likes of Oprah, Cindy Crawford, and Tom Cruise over the years. But the main draw here is the scenery, not the celebrity sightings: Polihua and Kaiolohia (also known as Shipwreck) Beaches offer a taste of luxe isolation, while Kanepuu Preserve, a protected dry-land forest, is home to rare plant specimens endemic to Hawaii.
Pro tip: Take a jeep out to reach Hulopoe Beach, or hike to Lanaihale, the island’s peak.
Getting there: There are no direct flights to Lanai from the continental U.S. 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).
Martin Zangerl/Unsplash7. 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.
Luke McKeown/Unsplash6. 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.
Living Moments Media/Getty5. 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).
J. Greg Hinson/Getty4. 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.
Courtesy Elizabeth Pointe Lodge3. 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.
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, paddleboard, or golf course.
Pro tip: Check into The Inn & Club at Harbour Town, one of the top hotels in the South.
Getting there: It’s only about a one-hour drive from Savannah, Georgia, which shares an airport with Hilton Head.