Getting Around the USA: Transport Guide for International Visitors

The USA is continent-sized, and how you get between destinations matters as much as where you go. Domestic flights are fast but add up quickly; Amtrak trains work brilliantly on a handful of corridors and slowly everywhere else; renting a car unlocks places no other transport reaches. This guide lays out every mode honestly — costs, trade-offs, and when each one actually makes sense.

Domestic Flights

Flying is the default for journeys over around 400 miles, and the USA has one of the most competitive domestic air markets in the world. Major carriers — United, Delta, American, Southwest, and JetBlue — compete on most major routes, which keeps prices in check if you book ahead.

Typical fares (as of 2026):

• New York to Los Angeles: approximately $150–$400 one-way
• Chicago to Miami: approximately $80–$250 one-way
• New York to Chicago: approximately $60–$180 one-way
• Los Angeles to Seattle: approximately $70–$200 one-way

Budget carriers — Spirit, Frontier, and Allegiant — advertise fares well below the majors, sometimes from $29. Read the fine print: both charge for carry-on bags, seat selection, and changes. The all-in cost often lands close to a Southwest fare.

Southwest is the exception: no bag fees for two checked bags, no change fees, and a generous cancellation policy — worth checking for domestic routes even if the headline fare looks slightly higher.

TSA PreCheck vs CLEAR for international visitors: TSA PreCheck ($85 for five years) speeds up security screening at most US airports; you need a US-based background check to enrol, so it is primarily useful if you visit frequently. CLEAR ($199/year, with a free trial) uses biometrics and is open to international visitors — it skips the ID check step but you still join the standard security line unless you also have PreCheck. For a single visit, neither is worth the fee; for frequent travellers, PreCheck is the better long-term investment.

Book directly with the airline or via aggregators like Google Flights, Kayak, or Hopper. Flexible-date search is your best tool — shifting a departure by one or two days often saves $50–$100.

Amtrak Trains

Amtrak operates the national passenger rail network, and the honest answer is that it works brilliantly in one place and impractically in most others.

Where trains make real sense: the Northeast Corridor. The Boston–New York–Philadelphia–Washington DC corridor runs frequent, fast, punctual service. Amtrak’s Acela express covers New York to Washington DC in approximately 2 hours 45 minutes and New York to Boston in about 3 hours 30 minutes — faster than flying once you add airport time. Regional trains on the same corridor are cheaper and only slightly slower. For any journey within this zone, the train beats flying comfortably.

Long-distance trains are a different proposition. Routes like the California Zephyr (Chicago to San Francisco, 51 hours), the Empire Builder (Chicago to Seattle/Portland, 46 hours), and the Coast Starlight (Los Angeles to Seattle, 35 hours) are scenic experiences rather than efficient transport. They run once daily, delays are common (often 2–6 hours), and the journey times make flying a far faster choice for anyone on a tight schedule. That said, a Superliner sleeper cabin on an overnight long-distance train is a genuinely memorable way to cross the country — especially through the Rockies or the Pacific Northwest. See our guide to the most scenic Amtrak routes for the best journeys worth the time.

USA Rail Pass: Amtrak sells a USA Rail Pass giving 10 or 15 segments over 30 days. The value depends heavily on your routing — calculate your planned journeys against individual ticket prices before buying. Point-to-point tickets booked early often work out cheaper for fewer than four segments.

Reservations are required for all Amtrak trains. Book at amtrak.com — popular sleeper accommodation on long-distance routes sells out weeks ahead, especially in summer.

Long-Distance Buses

Buses are the most affordable option for intercity travel and have improved significantly from the reputation they held a decade ago.

FlixBus has expanded aggressively across the USA and is generally the best option for budget intercity travel — modern coaches, USB charging, reliable wi-fi, and competitive pricing. Fares between major cities often start from approximately $15–$40 if booked several weeks ahead.

Megabus operates on high-volume corridors (New York–Washington, Chicago–Indianapolis, etc.) with similarly modern coaches and frequent $1 promotional fares that realistically cost $15–$35 most of the time.

Greyhound covers the widest network, reaching smaller cities and towns that FlixBus and Megabus skip. Coaches vary — some routes use modern vehicles, others don’t. Overnight routes are the main practical use case; budget approximately $40–$90 for long-haul journeys. Stations in some cities are in downtown locations that feel unwelcoming late at night — check the arrival station location and have a rideshare ride pre-planned.

Booking lead time: FlixBus and Megabus reward early booking. Greyhound prices are less dynamic but still cheaper booked in advance. None of these routes should be booked the day before for best pricing.

Car Rental and Road Trips

The car is the default US travel mode, and for good reason — most of the country was designed around it. National parks, smaller cities, beach towns, rural landscapes — none are reachable any other way.

What to know before renting:

• Minimum age: Most rental companies require drivers to be 25 or older without a surcharge. Drivers aged 21–24 pay a “young driver” fee of approximately $25–$35/day at most companies.
• International driving permits: Not legally required in most states but recommended as supporting documentation if your licence is not in English.
• Insurance: The rental company’s collision damage waiver (CDW) is expensive — approximately $15–$30/day — but provides the cleanest protection. Many travel credit cards offer secondary rental car coverage; check your card’s terms before declining CDW. US personal auto insurance rarely extends to rental vehicles for non-US residents.
• Gas: Petrol (gasoline) averages approximately $3.00–$4.00 per gallon as of 2026, varying by state (California runs higher; Southern states lower). US cars typically take regular unleaded (87 octane).

For road trip routes, our USA driving guide covers the rules of the road for international drivers. Popular self-drive itineraries include Route 66, the Pacific Coast Highway, Blue Ridge Parkway, and the New England loop. Use GetRentaCar to compare rental prices across all major US suppliers before booking.

Rideshare and City Transit

Uber and Lyft operate in virtually every US city and town of any size. They are the practical solution for airport transfers, getting around cities without a car, and filling gaps between transit routes. Pricing is dynamic — surge pricing during peak hours and bad weather can push fares significantly higher. Have both apps downloaded before arrival. If you prefer a pre-booked private transfer with a fixed price and a local English-speaking driver, Welcome Pickups covers most major US airports. For a comparison of driver bids before you commit, GetTransfer operates an auction-style platform across major US airports — drivers compete on price, which works well for longer airport-to-hotel runs.

City metro systems worth knowing:

• New York MTA: The most extensive US subway — runs 24/7, covers Manhattan and all five boroughs comprehensively. OMNY contactless payment (tap your bank card or phone) works on all subway and bus routes.
• Chicago L: Fast and reliable elevated rail covering the Loop and most of the city. Good value at approximately $2.50 per ride.
• Washington DC Metro: Clean, well-organised, and connects all major sights and both Reagan and Dulles airports (via an extension). Fares vary by distance and time of day.
• San Francisco BART: Connects the city to Oakland, Berkeley, San José, and SFO airport. Essential for getting around the Bay Area without a car.
• LA Metro: Improving rapidly but still limited compared to the city’s scale. Most Los Angeles visitors still need a car or Uber for many destinations.

Outside the top five systems, city transit in the USA ranges from functional (Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland) to sparse (Denver, Phoenix, Miami). In most US cities beyond the handful above, assume you need a rental car or Uber for anything not in walking distance of your hotel.

Transport at a Glance

Mode	Best for	Typical one-way cost	Book ahead
Domestic flight	Journeys over 400 miles	$80–$400	3–6 weeks
Amtrak (Northeast)	Boston/NYC/DC corridor	$30–$180	1–3 weeks
Amtrak (long-distance)	Scenic cross-country trips	$80–$350+ (sleeper from $200)	4–8 weeks
FlixBus / Megabus	Budget city hops	$15–$60	2–4 weeks
Greyhound	Wide network, smaller towns	$40–$90	1–2 weeks
Rental car	National parks, road trips, anywhere rural	$40–$80/day	2–4 weeks
Uber / Lyft	City transfers, short hops	$15–$50 in-city	On demand

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If you are planning your first trip, our first-time visitor guide to the USA covers visas, entry requirements, and what to expect at the border. For the Northeast Corridor and the USA’s most scenic rail journeys, see our complete Amtrak guide.

City Guides

• New York travel guide
• Chicago travel guide
• Los Angeles travel guide
• Seattle travel guide
• Boston travel guide
• Washington DC travel guide

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