2024: Top 25 Best Places to Buy a Vacation Home

Made up of four beach towns on the Atlantic Coast—Cherry Grove, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill–North Myrtle Beach is a laid-back haven of piers, golf courses, and sandy bays.

Location

At the northern end of the famed Grand Strand Myrtle Beach.

Top homes and amenities

Atlantic-facing condos are extremely popular for their seamless experience, seaside pools, hot tubs, private beach access, and private balconies overlooking the beach.

Guest profile

About three-fourths of overnight visitors to Myrtle Beach come primarily for beach activities (78%), with dining a close second (73%).¹

With beautiful beaches, historic attractions, and quaint seaside charm, Dauphin Island has all of the amenities of a popular beach destination with a small-town feel.

Location

Dauphin Island is located on a barrier island of the same name, 45 minutes directly south of Mobile, Alabama.

Top homes and amenities

Guests tend to book large coastal homes with open floor plans, multiple wrap-around decks, and multiple bedrooms to fit large families.

Guest profile

Dauphin Island draws both couples (24%) and big groups of 7 or more people (27%).*

A palm-studded paradise on the Gulf of Mexico, spanning three miles of white sugar sand beaches.

Location

Okaloosa Island sits on the greater Santa Rosa Island, tucked between Destin and Fort Walton Beach.

Top homes and amenities

Most vacation rental options are in stately condo complexes spread across the island that boast large swimming pools and easy beach access—a Florida must.

Guest profile

Every year, close to 5 million visitors² descend on this area of the Emerald Coast, including Okaloosa Island, Destin, and South Fort Walton. In the past year, 60% of bookings were for 4+ nights.

With 50 miles of scenic coastline and seven small villages, Hatteras is a tranquil, yet beautiful escape with some of the best views on the East Coast.

Location

Hatteras Island is one of many barrier islands in Outer Banks, North Carolina, located off the state’s east coast.

Top homes and amenities

Hotels are sparse on Hatteras Island, so larger groups tend to book spacious vacation rentals, especially those offering private pools, hot tubs, and quick access to the beach.

Guest profile

Guests tend to linger longer on Hatteras Island. Almost 60% of bookings are for 7+ nights.*

Surrounded by majestic glacial peaks, Girdwood enjoys its status as Alaska’s only true resort town (albeit laidback), offering the largest ski area in the state.

Location

Girdwood is located 45 minutes south of Anchorage.

Top homes and amenities

Girdwood’s most attractive hallmark: spectacular ice-capped mountains that encircle the town and nearby posh Alyeska Resort. Guests usually book slopeside condos and homes that offer quick access to the lifts and large windows to frame the alpine views.

Guest profile

Many Girdwood visitors opt for shorter trips or long weekends, with 61% of bookings for 2-3 nights.*

A serene Emerald Coast hideaway with miles of unspoiled white shores and translucent emerald waters.

Location
Nestled between the popular Emerald Coast towns of Destin and Pensacola.

Top homes and amenities
Naturally, the most sought-after spots are houses and condos that sit right on the Gulf (though our research shows most travelers search for the term ‘oceanfront’ versus ‘Gulf-front’). Something else that guests want: A pool to go along with those Gulf views.

Guest profile
Navarre visitors tend to choose condos over houses or townhomes and mostly travel in small groups of 2-4 people.

Gatlinburg shines as the wildly popular gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, packed with rustic mountainside activities, Appalachian charm, and family-friendly attractions.

Location

In eastern Tennessee, an hour's drive from Knoxville.

Top homes and amenities

Gatlinburg is a favorite for families, who tend to look for large rustic-style cabins with a cozy fireplace, hot tub, and relaxing porch to watch that famous “smoke” roll in.

Guest profile

Many Gatlinburg visitors opt for shorter trips or long weekends, with 63% of bookings for 2-3 nights.*

North Topsail Beach lures guests with its quiet expansive beaches, peaceful maritime forests, and marvelous sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean.

Location

This town is located in the northernmost 11 miles of Topsail Island, about 30 miles from Wilmington.

Top homes and amenities

The tranquil and uncrowded shorefront is dotted with beach houses large enough to accommodate large groups, with beach access and Atlantic views topping the wish-list of amenities.

Guest profile

Longer stays, bigger groups. About 33% of bookings came from groups of 7 or more guests. While 47% of bookings were for weeklong stays or longer.*

Corolla is known for its relaxed luxury, where travelers are just as happy kicking back in sandy flip-flops as they are indulging in upscale eateries and an afternoon at the spa.

Location

In the northernmost region of the Outer Banks, between the Currituck Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

Top homes and amenities

Corolla vacation home real estate offers mostly spacious (even upscale and palatial) houses, with many guests expecting luxuries such as an oceanfront location, beach access, and pools.

Guest profile
The average group size is 4.9 people, mostly families or even multiple families. About 88% of stays are for 5 or more nights.³

This bucolic village is nostalgic of ‘old Cape Cod’, with quiet wild natural beauty and vacation homes tucked amongst the trees.

Location

Truro is known as the “Outer Cape,” at the northern tip of Cape Cod.

Top homes and amenities

Travelers come looking for a tranquil escape on the Cape Cod National Seashore. Homes offering peaceful privacy are most desirable, along with Cape Cod Bay views and quick access to the dune beaches.

Guest profile
Truro is a big draw for couples, likely due to its romantic and isolated setting. About 65% of bookings were for 2 guests.*