Skip the crowded beaches of the Hamptons and discover America’s best-kept island secrets, from wild horses to ancient lighthouses.
While everyone’s fighting for a spot on Martha’s Vineyard or planning their next Hawaiian getaway, some of America’s most spectacular islands remain blissfully under the radar. These hidden gems offer everything from wild horses galloping along pristine beaches to historic lighthouses standing sentinel over untouched coastlines. Best of all? You’ll have them practically to yourself.
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Most people think Alabama beaches, they think… well, they don’t think beaches at all. That’s precisely why Dauphin Island remains one of the Gulf Coast’s best-kept secrets. This 15-mile-long barrier island guards the entrance to Mobile Bay and offers something you won’t find anywhere else: world-class birding combined with Civil War history.
One of the barrier islands that protect Mobile Bay, Dauphin belonged to the French and British before passing into American hands and has stayed quietly off most tourism radars.
Historic Fort Gaines sits on the eastern tip, this is where Admiral Farragut supposedly shouted “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” The 164-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary serves as the first landing spot for birds migrating north from South America, making it a birder’s paradise. The entire west end is a long, sandy spit with wild beaches perfect for shelling and solitude.
Visit during the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo in July for the ultimate Gulf fishing experience.
Assateague Island, Maryland/Virginia
This 37-mile-long ribbon of wild coast is shared by Maryland and Virginia and features something magical: over 300 wild horses roaming free across pristine beaches and salt marshes.
Made famous by Marguerite Henry’s book “Misty of Chincoteague,” Assateague’s famed wild horses frolic along the shore and through the wetlands. The origin of these horses is steeped in folklore, but they’ve been here for centuries.
Visitors flock to the island’s southern end in July to watch the famous Pony Swim roundup by “saltwater cowboys,” an annual tradition where horses swim from Assateague to nearby Chincoteague Island.
Beyond the horses, this barrier island offers world-class surf fishing, kayaking through pristine marshlands, and some of the East Coast’s most unspoiled beaches.
Block Island, Rhode Island
Block Island is a hidden gem off the coast of Rhode Island that is perfect for a weekend getaway, yet somehow it remains overshadowed by the more famous islands of New England.
The island’s 17 miles of beaches are largely undeveloped, and shorelines range from the rugged Mohegan Bluffs to the idyllic Crescent Beach. You can bike to historic Southeast and North lighthouses or take an aquarium tour at the Block Island Maritime Institute.
Search for handmade glass orbs hidden along beaches and trails as part of the Glass Float Project, a public art installation and scavenger hunt that adds magic to every coastal walk.
Victorian hotels, rolling green hills dotted with stone walls, and some of the clearest waters on the East Coast make this feel like Ireland meets Cape Cod.
Molokai, Hawaii
On the island of Molokai, there are no traffic lights, no luxury resorts, and no buildings taller than a palm tree. This is Hawaii as it was meant to be experienced.
As one of the last Hawaiian islands that hasn’t been overrun with tourism, it’s fighting to keep its unique culture alive. The locals prefer travelers who want authentic experiences over luxury amenities.
The world’s highest sea cliffs, the longest fringing reef in the U.S., and Kalaupapa, a remote peninsula that was once a leper colony and is now a haunting historical site accessible only by mule ride or hiking.
Visit during the annual Ka Hula Piko festival to experience authentic Hawaiian culture in its purest form.
Vinalhaven, Maine
Maine’s largest offshore island, a place that doubles as a fishing community and artist colony with a little bit of tourism thrown in. Reached by ferry from Rockland, this island offers quintessential Maine without the crowds of Bar Harbor.
Former granite quarries have morphed into popular swimming spots with crystal-clear water. The Vinalhaven Land Trust maintains 23 hiking preserves with seaside and inland forest trails.
Hop aboard a lobster boat tour or explore local waters with rental canoes and kayaks. The island maintains its working waterfront culture while welcoming visitors who appreciate genuine Maine island life.
Time your visit with the ferry schedule, it’s part of the adventure and helps maintain the island’s unhurried pace.
San Juan Islands, Washington
Located in the Pacific Northwest, the San Juan Islands are a perfect island getaway during the summer, offering a stunning alternative to more crowded Pacific destinations.
Taking the ferry to charming Friday Harbor on Orcas Island allows for exploring little shops or spotting wildlife from the coast. Each island has its own personality, Orcas for outdoor adventures, San Juan Island for history, Lopez for cycling.
These waters are prime orca whale watching territory. From May through October, three resident pods of killer whales frequent these waters, along with harbor seals, porpoises, and bald eagles.
Camping and home rentals provide budget-friendly accommodations versus hotels, with camping around $40 to $60 nightly.
Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
This Lake Superior archipelago is split between the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore wilderness and bucolic Madeline Island, a stunning collection of 22 islands that most Americans have never heard of.
The famous ice caves form when Lake Superior freezes, creating stunning ice formations accessible only during the coldest months. These caves are typically only accessible from late January to late February, as Lake Superior needs to be frozen solid.
Ferries run several times daily between mainland Bayfield and Madeline Island, which visitors can explore on rental bikes and mopeds. Water taxis can drop day trippers at picnic spots on half a dozen wild isles.
An off-the-grid, island-hopping kayak camping trip through the national lakeshore.
Kodiak Island, Alaska
Alaska’s largest island, Kodiak is well away from the cruise ship circuit that lands thousands of people at other top spots in the Last Frontier each summer.
Up to 3,000 Kodiak bears, twice as large as mainland grizzlies, roam across the island. They’re best viewed on guided floatplane trips from Kodiak town, offering an unparalleled wildlife experience.
World-class salmon fishing and fascinating relics from the island’s time as part of Russian America before the U.S. purchase. The mix of Russian Orthodox churches, Native Alutiiq culture, and frontier spirit creates a unique Alaskan experience.
Perfect for serious outdoors enthusiasts seeking authentic Alaska without the cruise ship crowds.
Smith Island, Maryland
The last inhabited island in Maryland that is not accessible by car, Smith Island offers a glimpse into a disappearing way of life in the Chesapeake Bay.
Home to the Maryland State Dessert, Smith Island Cake, a towering confection with up to 12 layers. The island’s three communities (Tylerton, Rhodes Point, and Ewell) maintain their waterman culture and distinctive accent.
This is one of the few places where you can experience authentic Chesapeake Bay culture. Residents still make their living from the water, and the pace of life hasn’t changed in decades.
Reachable only by boat, which adds to the sense of stepping back in time.
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
St. Croix doesn’t have the same cruise ship cachet as St. Thomas or the old money vibe of St. John, but its uncrowded beaches and rainforest tracts make it the most “virgin” of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Less accessible than its sister islands and lacking the duty-free shopping reputation of St. Thomas, St. Croix remains surprisingly uncrowded.
Rich Danish colonial history in Christiansted, world-class diving at Buck Island Reef National Monument, and a thriving local culture that hasn’t been completely overtaken by tourism.
The rainforest, historic sugar plantations, and some of the Caribbean’s best rum distilleries make this the most diverse of the Virgin Islands.
Planning Your Island Adventure
These hidden islands prove that America’s best-kept secrets are often hiding in plain sight. Whether you’re drawn to wild horses, ancient lighthouses, or simply the promise of having a pristine beach mostly to yourself, these destinations offer something increasingly rare: authentic experiences without the crowds.
Visit in shoulder seasons when crowds are thinnest and accommodations are more affordable. Many of these islands are even more magical when you’re sharing them with just a few other adventurous souls.
You’ll return home with stories no one else has, photos from places your friends have never seen, and the satisfaction of discovering America’s hidden treasures before everyone else does.
Ready to explore? Pick an island, pack light, and prepare to be amazed by what America has been hiding along its coastlines. These islands won’t stay secret forever, but for now, they’re yours to discover.