Transportation
Transportation
Getting There & Away
Flights, cars and tours can be booked online at lonelyplanet.com/bookings.
Entering the Country
If you're flying to the US, the first airport that you land in is where you must go through immigration and customs, even if you're continuing on the flight to another destination. Upon arrival, all international visitors must register with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Biometric Identity Management program, which entails having your fingerprints scanned and a digital photo taken.
Once you go through immigration, you collect your baggage and pass through customs. If you have nothing to declare, you'll probably clear customs without a baggage search, but don't assume this. If you're continuing on the same plane or connecting to another one, it's your responsibility to get your bags to the right place. There are usually airline representatives just outside the customs area who can help you.
If you're a single parent, grandparent or guardian traveling with anyone under 18 years of age, carry proof of legal custody or a notarized letter from the non-accompanying parent(s) authorizing the trip. This isn't required, but the USA is concerned with thwarting child abduction, and not having authorizing papers could cause delays or even result in being denied admittance to the country.
Passports
Every visitor entering the USA from abroad needs a passport. Visitors from most countries only require a passport valid for their intended period of stay in the USA. However, nationals of certain countries require a passport valid for at least six months longer than their intended stay. For a country-by-country list, see the latest 'Six-Month Club Update' from US Customs and Border Protection. If your passport does not meet current US standards, you'll be turned back at the border. All visitors wishing to enter the USA under the Visa Waiver Program must have an e-Passport with a digital photo and an integrated RFID chip containing biometric data.
Climate Change and Travel
Every form of transport that relies on carbon-based fuel generates CO2, the main cause of human-induced climate change. Modern travel is dependent on aeroplanes, which might use less fuel per per person than most cars but travel much greater distances. The altitude at which aircraft emit gases (including CO2) and particles also contributes to their climate change impact. Many websites offer ‘carbon calculators’ that allow people to estimate the carbon emissions generated by their journey and, for those who wish to do so, to offset the impact of the greenhouse gases emitted with contributions to portfolios of climate-friendly initiatives throughout the world. Lonely Planet offsets the carbon footprint of all staff and author travel.
Air
Airports
The USA has more than 375 domestic airports, but only a baker's dozen form the main international gateways. Many other airports are called 'international' but may have only a few flights from other countries – typically Mexico or Canada. Even travel to an international gateway sometimes requires a connection in another gateway city (eg London–Los Angeles flights may involve transferring in Houston).
The USA does not have a national air carrier. The largest USA-based airlines are American, Delta, United and Southwest.
International gateway airports in the USA:
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
Boston Logan International Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Honolulu International Airport
Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
New York JFK International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
San Francisco International Airport
Land
Border Crossings
Canada
Bus
Greyhound has direct connections between main cities in Canada and the northern USA, but you may have to transfer to a different bus at the border. Book through Greyhound USA (www.greyhound.com) or Greyhound Canada (www.greyhound.ca).
Car & Motorcycle
If you're driving into the USA from Canada, bring the vehicle's registration papers, proof of liability insurance and your home driver's license. Canadian driver's licenses and auto insurance are typically valid in the USA, and vice versa.
If your papers are in order, taking your own car across the US–Canadian border is usually fast and easy, but occasionally the authorities of either country decide to search a car thoroughly. On weekends and holidays, especially in summer, traffic at the main border crossings can be heavy and waits long.
Train
Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) and VIA Rail Canada (www.viarail.ca) operate daily services between Montreal and New York, Toronto and New York (via Niagara Falls), and Vancouver and Seattle. Customs inspections occur at the border.
Mexico
Bus
Greyhound USA (www.greyhound.com) and Greyhound México (www.greyhound.com.mx) operate direct bus routes between main towns in Mexico and the USA.
For connections to smaller destinations south of the border, there are numerous domestic Mexican bus companies.
Car & Motorcycle
If you're driving into the USA from Mexico, bring the vehicle's registration papers, proof of liability insurance and your driver's license from your home country. Mexican driver's licenses are valid, but it's worth having an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Very few car-rental companies will let you take a car from the US into Mexico. US auto insurance is not valid in Mexico, so even a short trip into Mexico's border region requires you to buy Mexican car insurance, available for around $25 per day at most border crossings, as well as from AAA (www.aaa.com).
For a longer driving trip into Mexico (25km or more beyond the border), you'll need a Mexican permiso de importación temporal de vehículos (temporary vehicle import permit), available at the border for $60 or online from Banjercito (www.banjercito.com.mx/registroVehiculos) for $53.
Sea
If you're interested in taking a cruise ship to America, as well as to other interesting ports of call, a good specialized travel agency is Cruise Web (www.cruiseweb.com).
You can also travel to and from the USA on a freighter, though it will be much slower and less cushy than a cruise. Nevertheless, freighters aren't spartan (some advertise cruise-ship-level amenities), and they are much cheaper (sometimes by half). Trips range from a week to two months; stops at interim ports are usually quick.
For more information, try Cruise and Freighter Travel Association (www.travltips.com), which has listings for freighter cruises and other boat travel.
Tours
Group travel can be an enjoyable way to get to and tour around the USA.
Reputable tour companies:
American Holidays (www.americanholidays.com) Ireland-based company specializes in tours to North America.
Contiki (www.contiki.com) Party-hardy sightseeing tour-bus vacations for 18- to 35-year-olds.
North America Travel Service (www.northamericatravelservice.co.uk) UK-based tour operator arranges luxury US trips.
Trek America (www.trekamerica.com) Active outdoor adventures for 18- to 38-year-olds.
Getting Around
Air
When time is tight, book a flight. The domestic air system is extensive and reliable, with dozens of competing airlines, hundreds of airports and thousands of flights daily. Flying is usually more expensive than traveling by bus, train or car, but it's the way to go when you're in a hurry.
Main 'hub' airports in the USA include all international gateways plus many other large cities. Most cities and towns have a local or county airport, but you usually have to travel via a hub airport to reach them.
Airlines in the USA
Overall, air travel in the USA is very safe (much safer than driving out on the nation's highways); for comprehensive details by carrier, check out airsafe.com.
The main domestic carriers:
Alaska Airlines (www.alaskaair.com) Has direct flights to Anchorage from Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver. It also flies between many towns within Alaska, including daily northbound and southbound flights year-round through southeast Alaska, with stops at all main towns, including Ketchikan and Juneau.
American Airlines (www.aa.com) Nationwide service.
Delta Air Lines (www.delta.com) Nationwide service.
Frontier Airlines (www.flyfrontier.com) Denver-based airline with service across the continental USA.
Hawaiian Airlines (www.hawaiianairlines.com) Nonstop flights between the Hawaiian islands and various spots on the mainland.
JetBlue Airways (www.jetblue.com) New York City–based airline serving many East Coast cities, plus other destinations across the USA.
Southwest Airlines (www.southwest.com) Dallas-based budget airline with service across the continental USA.
Spirit Airlines (www.spirit.com) Florida-based budget airline; serves many US gateway cities.
United Airlines (www.united.com) Nationwide service.
Virgin America (www.virginamerica.com) California-based airline serving over two dozen cities, from Honolulu to Boston.
Air Passes
International travelers who plan on doing a lot of flying might consider buying a North American air pass. Passes are normally available only to non–North American citizens, and they must be purchased in conjunction with an international ticket. Conditions and cost structures can be complicated, but all passes include a certain number of domestic flights (from as few as two to as many as 16, depending on airline network) that typically must be used within a 60-day period. Often you must plan your itinerary in advance, but sometimes dates (and even destinations) can be left open. Talk with a travel agent to determine if an air pass will save you money. Networks offering air passes include Star Alliance (www.staralliance.com), One World (www.oneworld.com) and Skyteam (www.skyteam.com).
Bicycle
Regional bicycle touring is popular. It means coasting along winding backroads (because bicycles are often not permitted on freeways) and calculating progress in miles per day, not miles per hour. Cyclists must follow the same rules of the road as automobiles, but don't expect drivers to respect your right of way. Better World Club (www.betterworldclub.com) offers a bicycle roadside-assistance program.
For epic cross-country journeys, get the support of a tour operator; it's about two months of dedicated pedaling coast to coast.
For advice, route maps, guided tours and lists of local bike clubs and repair shops, browse the websites of Adventure Cycling (www.adventurecycling.org) and the League of American Bicyclists (www.bikeleague.org). If you're bringing your own bike to the USA, be sure to call around to check oversize luggage prices and restrictions. Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses will transport bikes within the USA, sometimes charging extra.
It's not hard to buy a bike once you're here and resell it before you leave. Every city and town has bike shops; if you prefer a cheaper, used bicycle, try garage sales, bulletin boards at hostels and colleges, or the free classified ads at Craigslist (craigslist.org). These are also the best places to sell your bike, though stores selling used bikes may also buy from you.
Long-term bike rentals are also easy to find. Rates run from $100 per week and up, and a credit-card authorization for several hundred dollars is usually necessary as a security deposit.
Some cities are more amenable to bicycles than others, but most have at least a few dedicated bike lanes and paths, and bikes can usually be carried on public transportation.
Boat
There is no river or canal public-transportation system in the USA, but there are many smaller, often state-run, coastal ferry services, which provide efficient, scenic links to the many islands off both coasts. Most larger ferries will transport private cars, motorcycles and bicycles.
The most spectacular coastal ferry runs are on the southeastern coast of Alaska and along the Inside Passage. The Great Lakes have several islands that can be visited only by boat, such as Mackinac Island, MI; the Apostle Islands, off Wisconsin; and remote Isle Royale National Park, MI. Off the Pacific coast, ferries serve the scenic San Juan Islands in Washington and Catalina Island in California.
Bus
To save money, travel by bus, particularly between major towns and cities. Middle-class Americans prefer to fly or drive, but buses let you see the countryside and meet folks along the way. As a rule, buses are reliable, cleanish and comfortable, with air-conditioning, barely reclining seats, lavatories and no smoking.
Greyhound (www.greyhound.com) is the major long-distance bus company, with routes throughout the USA and Canada. To improve efficiency and profitability, Greyhound has discontinued service to many small towns; routes generally trace major highways and stop at larger population centers. To reach country towns on rural roads, you may need to transfer to local or county bus systems; Greyhound can usually provide their contact information. Greyhound often has excellent online fares – web-only deals will net you substantial discounts over buying at a ticket counter.
Competing with Greyhound are the 75-plus franchises of Trailways (www.trailways.com). Trailways may not be as useful as Greyhound for long trips, but fares can be competitive. Other long-distance bus lines that offer decent fares and free wi-fi (that doesn't always work) include Megabus (www.megabus.com) and BoltBus (www.boltbus.com). Both operate routes along the East and West Coasts, with Megabus also offering service in Texas and the Great Lakes region.
Most baggage has to be checked in; label it loudly and clearly to avoid it getting lost. Larger items, including skis, surfboards and bicycles, can be transported, but there may be an extra charge. Call to check.
The frequency of bus services varies widely, depending on the route. Despite the elimination of many tiny destinations, non-express Greyhound buses still stop every 50 to 100 miles to pick up passengers, and long-distance buses will stop for meal breaks and driver changes.
Many bus stations are clean and safe, but some are in dodgy areas. If you arrive in the evening, it's worth spending the money on a taxi. Some towns have just a flag stop. If you are boarding at one of these, pay the driver with exact change.
Most cities and larger towns have dependable local bus systems, though they are often designed for commuters and provide limited service in the evening and on weekends. Costs range from free to between $1 and $4 per ride.
Costs
For lower fares on Greyhound, purchase tickets ahead of time (purchasing 14 or more days in advance usually nets the best bargains). Special promotional fares are regularly offered on Greyhound's website, especially for online bookings (see www.greyhound.com/promos for details).
As for other Greyhound discounts: tickets for children aged two to 16 are discounted 20% during non-peak periods; seniors over 62 years get a whopping 5% off; and students get 10% off if they have purchased the $23 Student Advantage Discount Card (www.studentadvantage.com).
Reservations
Tickets for most trips on Greyhound, Trailways, Megabus and BoltBus can be bought online. You can print all tickets at home or, in the case of Megabus or BoltBus, simply show ticket receipts through an email on a smartphone. Greyhound also allows customers to pick up tickets at the terminal using 'Will Call' service.
Seating is normally first-come, first-served. Greyhound recommends arriving an hour before departure to get a seat.
Bus Fares
Here are some sample standard one-way adult fares and trip times on Greyhound:
| Service | Price ($) | Duration (hr) |
|---|---|---|
| Boston–Philadelphia | 31-58 | 7 |
| Chicago–New Orleans | 89-164 | 24 |
| Los Angeles–San Francisco | 24-48 | 8 |
| New York–Chicago | 56-102 | 18 |
| New York–San Francisco | 139-318 | 72 |
| Washington, DC–Miami | 72-145 | 25 |
Car & Motorcycle
For information on driving, see Driving in the USA and Road Trips & Scenic Drives.
Local Transportation
Except in large US cities, public transportation is rarely the most convenient option for travelers, and coverage can be sparse to outlying towns and suburbs. However, it is usually cheap, safe and reliable.
More than two-thirds of the states in the nation have adopted 511 as an all-purpose local-transportation help line.
Subway
The largest systems are in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Washington, DC, the San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Other cities have small, one- or two-line rail systems that mainly serve downtown areas.
Taxis & Ride Sharing Services
Taxis are metered, with flagfall charges of around $3 to start, plus $2 to $3 per mile. They charge extra for waiting and handling baggage, and drivers expect a 10% to 15% tip. Taxis cruise the busiest areas in large cities; otherwise, it's easiest to phone and order one.
Ridesharing companies such as Uber (www.uber.com) and Lyft (www.lyft.com) have seen a recent surge in popularity as an alternative to taxis.
Train
Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) has an extensive rail system throughout the USA, with Amtrak's Thruway buses providing connections to and from the rail network to some smaller centers and national parks. Compared with other modes of travel, trains are rarely the quickest, cheapest, timeliest or most convenient option, but they turn the journey into a relaxing, social and scenic all-American experience, especially on western routes, where double-decker Superliner trains boast spacious lounge cars with panoramic windows.
Amtrak has several long-distance lines traversing the nation east to west, and even more running north to south. These connect all of America's biggest cities and many of its smaller ones. Long-distance services (on named trains) mostly operate daily on these routes, but some run only three to five days per week. See Amtrak's website for detailed route maps.
Commuter trains provide faster, more frequent services on shorter routes, especially the northeast corridor from Boston, MA, to Washington, DC. Amtrak's high-speed Acela Express trains are the most expensive, and rail passes are not valid on these trains. Other commuter rail lines include those serving the Lake Michigan shoreline near Chicago, IL, major cities on the West Coast and the Miami, FL, area.
ALL ABOARD!
Who doesn't enjoy the steamy puff and whistle of a mighty locomotive as glorious scenery streams by? Dozens of historic narrow-gauge railroads still operate today as attractions, rather than as transportation. Most trains only run in the warmer months, and they can be extremely popular – so book ahead.
Here are some of the best:
1880 Train Classic steam train running through rugged Black Hills country.
Cass Scenic Railroad (www.cassrailroad.com) Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia.
Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad Depot (
GOOGLE MAP
; 
%888-286-2737; www.cumbrestoltec.com; 5234 Hwy 285; trips from adult/child $99/59) Living, moving museum from Chama, NM, into Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Ends at historic mining town Silverton in Colorado's Rocky Mountains.
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (
GOOGLE MAP
; %800-872-4681; www.gsmr.com; 226 Everett St; Nantahala Gorge trip adult from $55, child 2-12yr from $31) Rides from Bryson City, NC, through the Great Smoky Mountains.
Mt Hood Railroad Winds through the scenic Columbia River Gorge outside Portland, OR.
Skunk Train (
GOOGLE MAP
; %707-964-6371; www.skunktrain.com; 100 W Laurel St; adult/child $84/42; 
h9am-3pm) Runs between Fort Bragg, CA, on the coast and Willits further inland, passing through redwoods.
White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad Klondike gold-rush-era railroad has departures from Skagway, AK, and Fraser (British Columbia), and Carcross and Whitehorse (Yukon) in Canada.
Also worth riding are the vintage steam and diesel locomotives of Arizona's Grand Canyon Railway, New York State's Delaware & Ulster Railroad and Colorado's Pikes Peak Cog Railway.
Classes & Costs
Amtrak fares vary according to the type of train and seating. On long-distance lines, you can travel in coach seats (reserved or unreserved), business class, or 1st class, which includes all sleeping compartments. Sleeping cars include simple bunks (called 'roomettes'), bedrooms with en-suite facilities and suites sleeping four with two bathrooms. Sleeping-car rates include meals in the dining car, which offers everyone sit-down meal service (pricey if not included). Food service on commuter lines, when it exists, consists of sandwich and snack bars. Bringing your own food and drink is recommended on all trains.
Various one-way, round-trip and touring fares are available from Amtrak, with discounts of 15% for students with a valid ID and seniors aged 62 and over, and 50% for children aged two to 12 when accompanied by a paying adult. AAA members get 10% off. Web-only 'SmartFares' offer 30% discounts on certain undersold routes (destinations change weekly; see www.aaa.com for details).
Generally the earlier you book, the lower the price. To get many of the standard discounts, you need to reserve at least three days in advance. If you want to take an Acela Express or Metroliner train, avoid peak commute times and aim for weekends.
Amtrak Vacations (www.amtrakvacations.com) offers vacation packages that include car rental, hotels, tours and attractions. Air-Rail packages let you travel by train in one direction, then return by plane the other way.
Reservations
Reservations can be made any time from 11 months in advance up to the day of departure. Space on most trains is limited, and certain routes can be crowded, especially during summer and holiday periods, so it's a good idea to book as far in advance as you can. This also gives you the best chance of fare discounts.
Rail Passes
Amtrak's USA Rail Pass offers coach-class travel for 15 ($459), 30 ($689) or 45 ($899) days, with travel limited to eight, 12 or 18 one-way 'segments,' respectively. A segment is not the same as a one-way trip. If reaching your destination requires riding more than one train (for example, getting from New York to Miami with a transfer in Washington, DC), that one-way trip will actually use two segments of your pass.
Present your pass at an Amtrak office to pick up your ticket(s) for each trip. Reservations should be made by phone (call 800-872-7245, or 215-856-7953 from outside the USA). Book desired dates as far in advance as possible, as seats allocated for USA Rail Pass holders are limited. At some rural stations, trains will only stop if there's a reservation. Tickets are not for specific seats, but a conductor on board may allocate you a seat. Business-class, 1st-class and sleeper accommodations cost extra and must be reserved separately.
All travel must be completed within 330 days of purchasing your pass. Passes are not valid on the Acela Express, Auto Train, Thruway motorcoach connections, or the Canadian portion of Amtrak routes operated jointly with Via Rail Canada.
Train Fares
Sample standard, one-way, adult coach-class fares and trip times on Amtrak's long-distance routes:
| Service | Price ($) | Duration (hr) |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago–New Orleans | 133 | 20 |
| Los Angeles–San Antonio | 151 | 29 |
| New York–Chicago | 108 | 19 |
| New York–Los Angeles | 232 | 63 |
| Seattle–Oakland | 109 | 23 |
| Washington, DC–Miami | 147 | 23 |