Winter is coming. Fortunately, you don’t need a passport to escape to warm seas and swaying palm trees. There are tropical islands waiting to welcome you right here in the U.S. – from the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan to Florida, these places feel far away, but thankfully, they are close to home.
Puerto Rico
Street in old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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Travelers don’t need to hassle with customs lines or currency exchanges when they land in beautiful Puerto Rico, yet find themselves surrounded by colonial architecture, tropical beaches, and cobblestone streets. Beyond San Juan’s sixteenth-century walls, El Yunque National Forest stretches across misty peaks with waterfalls, wild parrots, and coquí frogs. At night, the sea seems full of stars in the bioluminescent bays of Vieques and Fajardo, among the brightest in the world. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, no passport is required for American citizens.
The U.S. Virgin Islands
Beautiful landscape view of U.S. Virgin Islands National Park on the island of Saint John during the day.
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The U.S. Virgin Islands are comprised of the Caribbean trio of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, each with its own rhythm. On St. Thomas, yachts and cruise ships crowd a turquoise harbor lined with duty-free shops and lively beach bars. St. John feels wilder, two-thirds protected as Virgin Islands National Park, where sea turtles graze in quiet coves and trails wind through tropical forest. St. Croix moves at a relaxed pace, with pastel Danish buildings, heritage rum distilleries, and a strong sense of history. If you’re ready to visit, you don’t need a passport since it’s part of the United States.
Key West
Key West, USA – March 18, 2013: Ernest Hemingway’s house in Key West, Florida, USA. Tree tourists entering the home..
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In Key West, you can take a stroll from the Gulf of Mexico to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in mere minutes. It’s a place where roosters wander the streets, pastel cottages line the sidewalks, and dolphins splash in the water. Every night, crowds gather in Mallory Square to watch the sky ignite over the Gulf. Don’t miss the Hemingway Home and Museum with dozens of six-toed cats, descendants of the author’s beloved pet. Getting here feels like crossing into another country, but it’s pure Florida, and no passport is required.
Daufuskie Island
The views and random finds on Daufuskie Island
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Daufuskie Island is tucked between Hilton Head and Savannah. It’s reachable only by ferry, and once you arrive, most people get around by golf cart. Live oaks shade the narrow dirt roads, and Gullah-Geechee heritage lingers in tabby ruins, cuisine, and storytelling traditions. Visitors come for kayaking, browsing art galleries tucked into weathered cottages, and the simple pleasure of quiet sandy beaches. Since it’s part of South Carolina, it’s a no-passport-required vacation.
Hawaii
Waipi’o Valley lookout. View of cliffs and the sea. Honokaa Hawaii.
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Farther west, Hawaii delivers the tropical fantasy most travelers dream of, with lush valleys, black-sand beaches, and lava glowing against the night sky. Each island has its own personality: , Maui invites long afternoons on golden beaches, Kauai hides behind cliffs and waterfalls, and the Big Island still feels elemental, alive with volcanic power. Flights are long, but the trip remains entirely domestic. No passport, no exchange rate, just the time to settle into island life.
No passport required
These islands offer a trip to paradise without leaving the country. They prove that you don’t need a passport to relax among palm trees, sand, and tides.