Travelers Rank the Top 10 Islands in America

Maui is the best island in the U.S., as well as the best island in the world.

That’s according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice awards for islands. The honors were announced Wednesday.

The travel site ranked islands based on the quantity and quality of reviews and ratings gathered over a year for hotels, restaurants and attractions on islands worldwide.

Maui is the only island to appear on both the Travelers’ Choice list of U.S. islands and that of islands worldwide.

TripAdvisor explains in a news release:

With its golden beaches and enticing bamboo forests, Maui is a popular destination for sun worshippers and nature lovers alike. Travelers will find breathtaking views of the island at the top of the Haleakala Crater, a dormant volcano that marks the highest point on Maui at 10,000 feet above sea level. …

TripAdvisor also reports that you can save an average of nearly 30 percent per night at the top-ranked islands by booking a trip during the off-season rather than the peak season.

For each island, TripAdvisor also broke down the average hotel rate for each of the four seasons, making it easy to see the cheapest time of year to visit.

The top ranked islands in the U.S. are:

1. Maui, Hawaii

• Average seasonal hotel rate for spring: $346
• Average seasonal hotel rate for summer: $339
• Average seasonal hotel rate for fall: $315
• Average seasonal hotel rate for winter: $412

2. Key West, Florida

• Spring: $400
• Summer: $299
• Fall: $314
• Winter: $443

3. Oahu, Hawaii

• Spring: $243
• Summer: $278
• Fall: $251
• Winter: $291

If you’re considering a trip, check out “Honolulu Bound? 6 Awesome Things to Do (5 of Them for Cheap).”

4. Island of Hawaii, Hawaii

• Spring: $278
• Summer: $273
• Fall: $267
• Winter: $315

If you’re considering a trip, check out “5 Affordable Things to Do on the Big Island of Hawaii.”

5. Mount Desert Island, Maine

• Spring: $130
• Summer: $230
• Fall: $171
• Winter: $115

6. Hilton Head, South Carolina

• Spring: $271
• Summer: $328
• Fall: $214
• Winter: $155

7. Amelia Island, Florida

• Spring: $262
• Summer: $262
• Fall: $222
• Winter: $194

8. Marco Island, Florida

• Spring: $410
• Summer: $297
• Fall: $271
• Winter: $419

9. Chincoteague Island, Virginia

• Spring: $108
• Summer: $192
• Fall: $114
• Winter: $82

10. Mackinac Island, Michigan

• Spring: $239
• Summer: $337
• Fall: $289
• Winter: N/A

Which island would you rank No. 1, or which island would you most want to visit? Share your thoughts in our Forums. It’s the place where you can speak your mind, explore topics in-depth, and post questions and get answers.