This Island Region Outshines Nantucket And The Outer Banks For 2026's Best Islands In The Continental U.S.

There's no shortage of beautiful and fun islands around the U.S. On the East Coast alone, you have popular places like Nantucket off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with quaint cottages and secret beaches. It's so picturesque, it's been the featured setting for TV shows like "The Five Star Weekend" and "The Perfect Couple." Farther south, you have North Carolina's Outer Banks with its idyllic barrier islands and cozy lodging, which has been a number one trending destination. But while both of these places have their undeniable charm, it was the Golden Isles in Georgia that was ranked number one by Travel + Leisure for "Best Islands in the Continental U.S."

For over three decades, Travel + Leisure's annual "World's Best Awards" collect votes from readers to determine the best of the best when it comes to resorts, airlines, cruise ships, national parks, and more. In 2026, more than 200,000 people voted, and Georgia's Golden Isles got a score of 91.59. Nantucket came in third with 85.63, and the Outer Banks came in ninth.

When you see the natural beauty and all you can do here, it's no wonder that the Golden Isles made the top of the list. The Golden Isles are made up of St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, and Little St. Simons Island, off the coast of southern Georgia from the port city of Brunswick, about a 90-minute drive from Savannah. It's a region known for its salt marshes, massive oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, long stretches of beaches, and luxurious lodging.

The largest of Georgia's Golden Isles islands is St. Simons Island, an idyllic spot with breathtaking beaches and unique shops. The island also has 30+ miles of bike trails, a historic lighthouse, good fishing, and pretty sunsets.

Both Sea Island and Little St. Simons Island are privately owned, but you can still visit and even stay there. Little St. Simons Island is the only one of the islands that is accessible solely by boat; it is 10,000 acres with a 7-mile-long beach, and it has a few dozen cottages where you can stay. You can take guided day trips here as well. It's a fantastic place for spotting wildlife, with hundreds of bird species along with deer, dolphins, alligators, and more. The Lodge at Sea Island is a luxe resort getaway with two championship golf courses, a spa, multiple restaurants, and lots of activities with everything from tennis and paddleboarding to horseback riding and history tours.

All of Georgia's barrier islands are a vital nesting habitat for loggerhead turtles who come out of the ocean at night during summer to lay their eggs. Visit the Golden Isles beaches during early summer mornings to see the telltale tracks of turtles in the sand. To learn more about these animals, visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, where sick or injured sea turtles are rehabilitated to hopefully be able to be released back into the wild. Jekyll Island is also home to Driftwood Beach, an otherworldly destination that is consistently rated as one of America's best.