You don’t need to hop a plane to the Caribbean to enjoy a relaxing island escape full of great beaches and far-flung adventures.
If you’re more inclined to take a road trip than fly amid the coronavirus pandemic, the United State has plenty of beautiful island getaways you can drive to.
10Best.com has put together 10 of the best island escapes in America that you can reach by car. But be sure to familiarize yourself with local restrictions on travel in each location, and check with any businesses for the latest updates on closures and visitor requirements before you go.
But if you do want to go to the Caribbean: We’ve also got you covered with Caribbean resort sales and entry requirements
A relaxed island getaway within walking distance of downtown San Diego, Coronado Island has a long stretch of award-winning beach that shines in the sun thanks to a mineral in the sand called mica.
The small beach of the city is the best position to rent a motorcycle and explore the beautiful gardens. And if you spend the night, the historic Hotel del Coronado is a must.
The Florida Keys are a necklace of tropical islands connected via the Overseas Highway, from Key Largo, just south of Miami, at the end of the road to Key West.
In 2009, the famed highway was designated an All-American Road, the highest recognition under the National Scenic Byways program. The drive offers a myriad of island escapes with a beautiful blend of emerald-green harbors, turquoise seas, swaying palms and wildlife-rich mangroves.
Virginia’s Chincoteague Island is best known for two things: sumptuously salty oysters and its unique population of wild ponies. The island is part of a 14,000-acre national wildlife refuge, which means it remains blissfully underdeveloped.
Tours offer the chance to see the wild ponies in their natural habitat, or visit during late July to watch the local “saltwater cowboys” move the herd on their annual pony swim.
The sleepy beach town on Tybee Island may be one of the best-kept secrets in all of the American Southeast. This under-the-radar barrier island sits along the pristine Georgia coast just 30 minutes from the historic colonial center of Savannah.
It makes the ideal spot for every sort of beach activity, from beach-combing for shells along the secluded northern beaches to kite surfing and kayaking with dolphins from the wind-swept south end.
Florida’s Marco Island sits along the Gulf Coast between Naples and the mangroves of the Ten Thousand Islands as they stretch into the Everglades. Here you can find perfect white-sand beaches along with some of the best beachfront dining in the state.
Drive onto a Washington state ferry in Anancortes, and you’ll soon land on Orcas Island, a rugged, rainforest-clad jewel in the San Juan Islands.
Take a whale-watching tour to spot killer whales spy hopping in the emerald sea or hike through lush forests to visit Cascade Falls in Moran State Park. A drive to the top of Mount Constitution offers exceptional views of the islands and snow-capped peaks in the distance.
Off the coast of North Carolina, the barrier islands of Outer Banks are connected via a coastal road, offering simple beaches and attractions, from Cape Hatteras National Seashore to the Wright brothers’ first flight site to Kitty Hawk.
Not to mention you will have miles of off-road beach and opportunities for fishing, surfing, diving and many other water sports.
Mount Desert Island, Maine’s largest island, is a popular escape for those who need to escape. Those looking to cook can stay at Bar Harbor to see Millionaire’s Row properties and walk up to Cadillac Mountain. But nature lovers deserve to head straight to Acadia National Park, where they can explore lonely beaches and canyons dug into glaciers.
The Thousand Islands in Upstate New York are the eponymous home of Thousand Island dressing, which you can sample at its birthplace in Clayton, and they also sit along the the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, an iconic and picturesque drive past Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
The domain is complete with activities, such as world-class fishing and bird watching. And don’t miss the opportunity to explore an exclusive pair of island castles, Boldt Castle and Singer Castle.
Nicknamed “Key West of the Midwest” for its eclectic characters and nightlife, Put-in-Bay is a town on South Bass Island in the Ohio segment of Lake Erie. A car ferry makes it easy to access the island through the car, and once there, you can rent a bike, a golf car or a scooter to get around the cozy city.
Adventurers can kayak on the lake or stop at Crystal Cave to see the world’s largest geode.