Getting Around the United States: Flights, Trains, Transit and Road Trips

Getting around the United States comes down to distance. Within the Northeast and inside big cities, trains and public transit work well; between regions you'll usually fly; and for national parks and small towns, a rental car is often the only practical choice.

From the airport to the city

Many major airports have a rail link into town:

• New York: the AirTrain from JFK connects to the subway and the Long Island Rail Road, and Newark's AirTrain links to NJ Transit and Amtrak trains into Manhattan.
• Washington, D.C.: both Reagan National and Dulles are on the Metro.
• Chicago: the Blue Line 'L' runs from O'Hare to downtown.
• San Francisco: BART runs from SFO into the city and across the Bay.
• Atlanta and Seattle: Hartsfield-Jackson and Sea-Tac both connect to light rail or metro trains.

Elsewhere, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Orlando, most visitors use taxis, shuttles or ride apps. At several big airports, ride-app pickups happen in a marked zone rather than at the regular curb, so follow the signs.

Domestic flights

For long distances, flying is usually the most practical option; coast to coast takes around five to six hours. Low-cost and full-service airlines compete on most routes, but check what the fare includes, as carry-on and checked bags often cost extra on basic fares. Allow time for security at big airports, and remember that large hubs can involve long walks or trains between terminals.

Trains

Amtrak is the national rail operator. Its strongest route is the Northeast Corridor, where frequent trains run between Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Elsewhere, services are slower and less frequent but scenic: the California Zephyr crosses the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada between Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Coast Starlight follows the West Coast between Los Angeles and Seattle. Book early for better fares on busy routes.

City transit and ride apps

New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Boston and San Francisco have extensive subway or light-rail networks, and New York's subway runs around the clock. In a growing number of systems, including New York's, you can tap a contactless bank card or phone at the gate instead of buying a ticket. In more car-oriented cities, buses fill the gaps but can be infrequent. Uber and Lyft operate in nearly all US cities and many smaller towns, and yellow cabs are still easy to hail in Manhattan.

Renting a car and driving

• Traffic drives on the right, and most rental cars are automatic.
• Rental companies often charge extra for drivers under 25, and some may ask for an International Driving Permit alongside a license that isn't in English, so check before you book.
• Many highways and bridges use cashless tolls; ask the rental company how tolls are billed to avoid surprise fees.
• Pay-at-the-pump machines at gas stations sometimes ask for a US ZIP code, so foreign cards may need to pay inside.
• Distances are bigger than they look on a map, and services are sparse in the desert West, so fill up when you can.
• Parking in big-city centers is expensive; consider collecting the car only when you leave the city.

Long-distance buses

Intercity buses link most cities and are usually the lowest-cost way to travel between them, though journeys are long. Coaches leave from bus terminals or curbside stops, so check the exact pickup point in your booking confirmation. Some routes have Wi-Fi and power outlets, but don't count on them.

Stay connected in the United States

On the move, mobile data is your navigation system, ride-hailing app, train ticket and toll lookup all at once. Set up your data-only HelloSIM eSIM at home; on arrival, make it your line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line. For drives through remote parks and deserts where signal can drop, download offline maps in advance, and if your route continues into Canada or Mexico, check the North America plan's country list.