19 gorgeous islands in the US that you can drive to

Sophie-Claire HoellerAug 22, 2020, 19:55 IST

Mount Desert Island in Maine is home to Acadia National Park.Joesph Sohm/Shutterstock

The US is chock-full of beautiful islands — from ruggedly mountainous to tropically beachy and everything in between.
Many of these islands are accessible by bridge, vehicle ferry, or plain old highway.
Mount Desert Island in Maine is home to Acadia National Park, one of the most popular national parks in the country.
The town of Nantucket on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts is a National Historic Landmark in its entirety, and home to over 800 pre-Civil War-era buildings.
It's important to note that the Centers for Disease Control still warns against nonessential travel and that some states require quarantine for incoming travelers.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many have become wary of hopping on planes (though the risks of flying are lower than you might think).

RV rentals and road trips have swelled in popularity this summer, as Americans find ways to explore their own backyards as safely as possible.

But just because you can't visit a tropical island doesn't mean an island vacation is out of the question: From sea to shining sea, the US is full of stunning isles that you can get to by car.

However, it's important to note that the Centers for Disease Control still warns against nonessential travel, and that some states require quarantine for incoming travelers.

Keep scrolling to see beautiful island escapes — from ruggedly mountainous to tropically beachy and everything in between — that you can drive to in the US.

Orcas Island in Washington is only about three hours from Seattle, Washington, including about one hour and 30 minutes on a ferry.

The San Juan Islands are an archipelago in Washington state. Matthew J Brand/Shutterstock

Mount Desert Island in Maine is around four and a half hours from Boston, Massachusetts, and about two hours from both Augusta, Maine, and Portland, Maine.

Mount Desert Island is home to Acadia National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States. Shutterstock

Kodiak Island in Alaska is a four-hour drive from Anchorage, Alaska, followed by a nine-and-a-half-hour ferry ride from Homer, Alaska.

Kodiak Island is famous for its brown bears, known as Kodiak bears, some of the largest bears on Earth. Wildnerdpix / Shutterstock

Beaver Island in Michigan is two hours by ferry from Charlevoix, Michigan, which is five hours from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Beaver Island sits in Lake Michigan. Martha Irvine/AP Images

Jekyll Island in Georgia is about one hour and 30 minutes from both Jacksonville, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia.

Jekyll Island is one of Georgia's Golden Isles. rodclementphotography/Getty Images

South Padre Island in Texas is a little over four hours from San Antonio, Texas.

South Padre Island is a haven for sea turtles. Hundley_Photography / shutterstock

Block Island in Rhode Island is about a 30-minute ferry from Newport, Rhode Island.

Only 1,000 people call the island home in the winter. Shobeir Ansari/Getty Images

South Bass Island in Ohio is about two hours from Cleveland, Ohio, and around two and a half hours from Detroit, Michigan, including a 20-minute ferry ride.

South Bass Island is described as "the Key West of the Midwest" or sometimes "the Key West of the North." Mark Duncan/AP Images

Sanibel Island in Florida is about 45 minutes from Fort Myers, Florida, and three hours from Miami, Florida.

The "Sanibel Stoop" describes the position of looking down to collect seashells. Vito Palmisano/Getty Images

Chincoteague Island in Virginia is around three and a half hours from Richmond, Virginia.

Every July the wild ponies swim from Assateague to Chincoteague Island. Shutterstock

Coronado Island in California is 2 miles from downtown San Diego, California, and around two hours from Los Angeles, California.

The Hotel del Coronado was once the largest hotel in the world. meunierd / Shutterstock

Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is 45 minutes from Savannah, Georgia.

A bridge connects Hilton Head to the mainland. SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images

Tybee Island in Georgia is less than 30 minutes from Savannah, Georgia.

Tybee Island is a barrier island. Kayla Brady/EyeEm/Getty Images

Washington Island in Wisconsin is six and a half hours from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and two and a half hours from Green Bay, Wisconsin, including a 30-minute ferry ride.

The island keeps its Scandinavian heritage alive. Lori Rackl/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service/Getty Images

Washington Island in Wisconsin is six and a half hours from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and two and a half hours from Green Bay, Wisconsin, including a 30-minute ferry ride.

Shelter Island in New York is around two hours and 30 minutes from New York City, including a very short ferry ride.

Shelter Island is only about 29 square miles. Shutterstock

Nantucket in Massachusetts is around three and a half hours from Boston, Massachusetts, which includes an approximately one-hour ferry ride.

Nantucket was once the whaling capital of the world. GagliardiImages/Shutterstock

The Outer Banks in North Carolina are about three hours and 30 minutes from Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Outer Banks are full of historic lighthouses. Cvandyke/Shutterstock

Amelia Island in Florida is about 45 minutes from Jacksonville, Florida.

Fernandina is full of historic buildings. csfotoimages/ iStock

Drummond Island in Michigan is around five hours and 45 minutes from Detroit, Michigan, including a 15-minute ferry ride.

The island also has 17 shipwrecks to explore. Sean Doran/Getty Images

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19 gorgeous islands in the US that you can drive to

Orcas Island in Washington is only about three hours from Seattle, Washington, including about one hour and 30 minutes on a ferry.

Mount Desert Island in Maine is around four and a half hours from Boston, Massachusetts, and about two hours from both Augusta, Maine, and Portland, Maine.

Kodiak Island in Alaska is a four-hour drive from Anchorage, Alaska, followed by a nine-and-a-half-hour ferry ride from Homer, Alaska.

Beaver Island in Michigan is two hours by ferry from Charlevoix, Michigan, which is five hours from Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Jekyll Island in Georgia is about one hour and 30 minutes from both Jacksonville, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia.

South Padre Island in Texas is a little over four hours from San Antonio, Texas.

Block Island in Rhode Island is about a 30-minute ferry from Newport, Rhode Island.

South Bass Island in Ohio is about two hours from Cleveland, Ohio, and around two and a half hours from Detroit, Michigan, including a 20-minute ferry ride.

Sanibel Island in Florida is about 45 minutes from Fort Myers, Florida, and three hours from Miami, Florida.

Chincoteague Island in Virginia is around three and a half hours from Richmond, Virginia.

Coronado Island in California is 2 miles from downtown San Diego, California, and around two hours from Los Angeles, California.

Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is 45 minutes from Savannah, Georgia.

Tybee Island in Georgia is less than 30 minutes from Savannah, Georgia.

Washington Island in Wisconsin is six and a half hours from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and two and a half hours from Green Bay, Wisconsin, including a 30-minute ferry ride.

Shelter Island in New York is around two hours and 30 minutes from New York City, including a very short ferry ride.

Nantucket in Massachusetts is around three and a half hours from Boston, Massachusetts, which includes an approximately one-hour ferry ride.

The Outer Banks in North Carolina are about three hours and 30 minutes from Raleigh, North Carolina.

Amelia Island in Florida is about 45 minutes from Jacksonville, Florida.

Drummond Island in Michigan is around five hours and 45 minutes from Detroit, Michigan, including a 15-minute ferry ride.