6 Must Visit Islands In The US

Are you searching for romantic, tropical, or just plain cool islands in the U.S. to visit? What, you say, islands in the U.S.?

Yes, and you don’t even need a passport. But you’ll want to consider travel insurance just like you would any other trip. Insurance like World Nomads and TravelInsurance.com.

Whether your vision of island ambiance leans toward crystal clear water, coral reefs, and tropical trees or ventures to mountains, pine forests, and rugged terrain, we’ve got an island destination for you and your crew. There are even urban islands, believe it or not.

We’ve searched the shorelines from the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Gulf to the Great Lakes. So, let’s get started!

# Mount Desert Island, Maine

Widely known for the coastal town of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island sits off the coast of Maine along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine.

Rather than tropical touches, this U.S. island offers a landscape of mountain forests, jagged cliffs, rugged shorelines, and harborfront fishing village towns.

Explore the trails of Acadia, watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, or visit the Asticou Azalea Garden. Sightseeing cruises on the Margaret Todd, a four-masted schooner, make unique travel memories.

# Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Shaped like a fishhook, Cape Cod is surrounded by Nantucket Sound and Buzzards Bay on the Atlantic Coast. It’s about 65 miles long and located North of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

The iconic island has several lighthouses, beautiful beaches, and gardens as well as pine forests, and ponds along the island’s National Seashore. You can enjoy and book the Cape Cod Caper Scavenger Hunt or Cape Cod Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour.

# Nantucket, Massachusetts

With cobblestone streets, cedar-shingled buildings, and sand dunes, the New England paradise of Nantucket sets a traditional New England scene. The Massachusetts island sits off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in the Atlantic Ocean.

Spend time perusing maritime history museums, zipping about on golf carts, or sailing in Nantucket Sound.

Take a four-wheel drive tour and go nature-watching at Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge or indulge your love of lighthouses at Sankaty Head Light, Great Point Light, and Brant Point Light.

# Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

The New England village island of Martha’s Vineyard offers coastal cottages, sandy beaches, rocky shorelines, and a laid-back ambiance along Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds. It’s approximately nine miles wide and 26 miles long at the furthest point.

Access to Cape Cod is easy via the Hyannis/Oak Bluffs ferry port. Once on the island, dine on traditional seafood, watch the sunset from Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook, or visit Oak Bluffs and its antique Coney Island carousel, the Flying Horses Carousel.

# Block Island, Rhode Island

Situated just south of mainland Rhode Island, Block Island has about 17 miles of rocky beaches dotted with lighthouses, bluffs, and winding pathways.

Popular activities on Block Island, Rhode Island include bicycling, hiking, fishing, sailing, birdwatching, and nature viewing at Block Island National Wildlife Refuge.

# Manhattan, New York

Yes, Manhattan is an island – people don’t just call it “Manhattan Island” for funsies!

If you like your isles with museums, skyscrapers, culture, cuisine, and a vibrant ambiance, this borough of NYC is the island for you.

If you still don’t believe us on the island thing, there are 21 bridges and 15 tunnels leading into Manhattan. There’s even a movie called 21 Bridges starring Chadwick Boseman to help prove this point. Check it out. RIP Chadwick.

The Hudson, East, and Harlem Rivers form the boundary waters around the island.