12 U.S. islands to visit this summer—no flights required: 'You don't have to go to far to feel far away'

CNBC

04-07-2025

Summer is in full swing, and more and more people are heading on vacation or planning one. With the price of hopping on a flight fluctuating so much right now, you might want to consider a destination you can just drive to.
"You can make a road trip out of the vacation, take your time, and actually enjoy the journey. They're often more affordable, less crowded, and full of quiet beauty," Hilary Fischer-Groban, Senior Director of Global Brand, Insights and Comms at Tripadvisor, tells CNBC Make It.
"It's a chance to slow down, unplug, and get the kind of reset a packed tourist destination just can't give you."
The United States is full of many different landscapes that range from vast deserts, beaches, towering mountains, stunning coastlines, and lush forests. Of the over 18,000 islands in the U.S., many fall under these categories, and the best part is that you don't have to hop on a plane to get to a lot of them.
"Visiting these islands reminds you that you don't have to go to far to feel far away! You learn how much there is to discover close to home, from coastal ecosystems to local traditions you'd never find in a guidebook," Fischer-Groban adds.
"It's a humbling reminder of the diversity of travel landscapes in the U.S. These adventures don't require a passport, just curiosity, a full tank of gas, and a willingness to explore what's already here."
Located in Georgia, Jekyll Island is part of the Golden Isles of Georgia barrier islands. It is home to Driftwood Beach, which gets its name from the limbs of driftwood trees that are scattered across the shoreline.
Jekyll Island is a 2025 Travelers' Choice Best of the Best winner on TripAdvisor. Fischer-Groban says the island gets 47% more attraction pageviews than the next popular spot on the island.
South Padre Island is a barrier island in Texas. It is only accessible via the Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge, which spans 2.4 miles.
The island boasts over 30 miles of beaches and year-round temperatures that average 74 degrees. One of the major highlights on the island in the summer is Beach Waterpark, an oceanside waterpark with outdoor and indoor attractions.
"It's the leading attraction on the island and draws over twice as much traffic as the next most popular spot," Fischer-Groban says.
The Florida Keys are a collection of islands off the southern tip of Florida. Despite being made up of so many islands, you can drive to only about 40 of them.
The islands are known for boating, snorkeling, scuba diving and fishing. It is home to Key West, the southernmost city in the continental U.S. that is actually closer to Cuba than Miami.
All of the main islands from the mainland to Key West are connected by the Overseas Highway. It is one of the longest overwater roads in the world, with 42 bridges, including one with a seven-mile span, according to Britannica.
Right on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico, which the U.S. government calls the Gulf of America, Marco Island has six miles of beaches and over 100 miles of waterways within its 24-square-mile total area.
The island is linked to the mainland by two bridges and is part coastal resort, part fishing village. The two most well-known beaches on the island are Tigertail and South Marco Beach.
About a half-hour drive away from Savannah, Tybee Island is a barrier island of Georgia. It is known for its sandy beaches.
The island has five miles of public beaches. It is home to The Tybee Lighthouse, one of the nation's oldest lighthouses. It was built in 1736 and has sprawling views from the top.
Located on Lake Huron, Mackinac Island has over 70 miles of hiking and biking trails. The island is mainly protected by the Mackinac Island State Park, ensuring its preservation.
The island is car-free, so you must rely on walking and biking to get around. There are also horse-drawn taxis that offer rides around the island.
Nestled in North Florida, Amelia Island offers visitors miles of pristine beaches, marshlands and golf courses.
It is about 30 minutes away from Jacksonville and is easily accessible by car.
Kiawah Island is a barrier island on the Atlantic coast of the U.S., just 25 miles from Charleston.
It is a seasonal beach and golf community that has 10 miles of beach. It is home to the Kiawah Beachwalker Park, a public beach on the island that is one of the best near Charleston, according to Conde Nast Traveler.
Hilton Head Island is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. Despite having fewer than 40,000 year-round residents, the island receives over two million visitors annually.
It is famous for its incredible beaches and world-renowned golf courses. It offers visitors 12 miles of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean.
Long Beach Island, or LBI for short, is about two miles away from mainland New Jersey. The only way to access the island is to drive over the Manahawkin Bay Bridge.
The 18-mile-long island offers visitors access to beautiful beaches, which you need to buy seasonal day passes for. It is also home to the Fantasy Island Amusement Park.
Chincoteague Island is one of several barrier islands in Virginia. It is seven miles long and the state's only resort island, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
The island is close to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, a 14,000-acre wildlife preserve that's also home to wild ponies, which Fischer-Groban says: "They're really at the heart of the island experience."
The island is also home to the Saltwater and Up the Bay Pony Tours, which together account for over a quarter of all attraction pageview traffic on Tripadvisor.
The Outer Banks spans hundreds of miles of barrier islands that are split between North Carolina and Virginia.
It is a major tourist attraction renowned for its stunning beachfront and picturesque seashore. Tourism is the top industry, with the Outer Banks welcoming more than five million visitors each year, according to the Chamber of Commerce.
"One of the most interesting trends in the Outer Banks is that travelers are looking to spend more time there and interest is growing across several key areas," Fischer-Groban says.