With our shortlist, you can explore North America’s diverse island landscape.
There are thousands of islands in the United States tucked within the confines of scenic lakes and scattered along its coast. With so many options ranging from the sun-drenched Florida Keys to the wild coasts of Alaska, buying your own slice of private island paradise in American waters can be tricky. Elite Traveler has compiled a list of some of the most desirable private islands available in the USA today to help.
With our selection of private islands for sale in the USA, whether you’re planning on mooring up on a superyacht in Key West or exploring the sparkling waters of Michigan’s Great Lakes, we’ve got you covered.
The Hudson River Island in New York
The 79-acre Hudson River Island is just seven minutes from exit 18 of the city’s interstate, and a private island sanctuary is just a stone’s throw from New York City.
This secluded island is priced at $750,000, and its prime location just east of the six-million-acre Adirondack Park makes it perfect for nature lovers.
Boating, water skiing, swimming, and kayaking are available on the island, which features a 10-acre waterfowl pond and is home to plenty of wildlife.
The island of Loud Island in Michigan
An inland lake in northeast Michigan, Loud Island is surrounded by the stunning 250,000-acre Huron National Forest. The 30-acre island was the private retreat of local lumber magnate Edward F. Loud.
With seven bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a huge living room ideal for entertaining, the island’s historic cedar and hemlock lodge was built at the beginning of the 20th century. A clearing in the trees enables helicopters to arrive, along with a caretaker’s house, workshop, and several outbuildings that overlook the lake.
There is a golf resort nearby, and future owners can fish for trout in the Au Sable River and enjoy Lake Huron’s beautiful shores.
North Carolina’s Carolina Cays
A stunning forest of oak trees and cedar trees covers all the islands. Courtesy of Private Islands Online
On our list of the best private islands for sale in the USA, Carolina Cays sits next. There are 24 10-acre islands for sale on the idyllic North Carolina coast, minutes from the Virginia Dare Bridge, marinas, docks and restaurants. Prices range from $299,000 to $599,000.
The archipelago was once a fishing village with a rich history dating back to the ‘Lost Colony’ where the English settled in 1585 before mysteriously vanishing in 1587. A bounty of fish inhabits the islands and they feature stunning oak and cedar forests and ponds, marshes, and canals.
Pumpkin Key, Florida
Visit the Florida Keys for something more tropical, home to the only barrier reef in North America and over 1,500 islands, some developed and others uninhabited.
The 26-acre property includes a three-bedroom house, two caretaker cottages, and an apartment for the dockmaster. Furthermore, luxury amenities include a 20-slip marina, tennis courts and helipad (Miami’s famous South Beach is only a 10-minute helicopter ride away), as well as a 20-slip marina that is capable of accommodating superyachts.
The most expensive island on our list of private islands for sale in the US at $95 million, Pumpkin Key also offers spectacular development potential, with one development proposal already in place for 12 luxurious bayfront homes.
There is also the possibility of mooring at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, which has its own landing strip for private jets among other things.
Little Hawkins Island, Georgia
The Little Hawkins Island – part of Georgia’s Golden Isles – is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is just a couple of miles from Sea Island, a luxury resort in the south. With three residences and a waterfront club designed by American architect Tom Price, this tree-covered hideaway boasts a private hacienda-style resort built over eight years by a Silicon Valley entrepreneur.
The island, which spans four acres, is surrounded by marshes and is home to both turtles and otters as well as deer.
All four buildings in this stylish resort were designed with environmental considerations in mind, including a green geothermal system that provides heat, cooling, and humidity control.
Petra Island, New York
Petra Quay completes our shortlist of private islands for sale in the USA. Just 50 miles north of New York City – or 15 minutes by helicopter direct from its private landing pad – the heart-shaped island has two houses designed by the legendary American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.
The smaller of the two properties is a cottage designed by Wright in 1950. Originally intended to be much bigger, the plans were scaled back due to budgetary constraints. However, Petra Quay’s subsequent owner resurrected Wright’s original plans in 2007.
Approximately 5,000 square feet of cantilevered living space was built over Lake Mahopac, and its silhouette now towers elegantly over the lake. This breathtaking property is one of Wright’s largest designs and is known for its geometric shapes, expanses of concrete and stone, and skylights that measure around 1,500 square feet. Because it was constructed posthumously, some purists do not accept it as an authentic work.
