cost of round trip to usa

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United States of America Travel Budget - Visit United States of America on a Budget or Travel in Style

• Is the United States of America Expensive?
• How much does a trip to the United States of America cost?
• The Northeast
• The Midwest
• USA Hotel Prices
• USA Cities: Hotel Prices by City
• Best Business Hotels in the United States of America
• Best Hotels for Skiing in the United States of America
• Best Hotels for First Time Visitors in the United States of America
• Best Luxury Hotels in the United States of America
• Best Romantic Hotels for Couples in the United States of America
• Best Hotels for Scuba Diving in the United States of America
• Best Party Hotels in the United States of America
• Best Pet-Friendly Hotels in the United States of America
• Best Beach Hotels in the United States of America
• Best Adults Only Hotels in the United States of America
• Best Hotels for One Night in the United States of America
• Best Hotels for One Week in the United States of America
• Best Cheap Hotels in the United States of America
• Best Family-Friendly Hotels in the United States of America
• Best Hotels for a Weekend Getaway in the United States of America
• Hostel Prices & Reviews
• USA Activities
• USA Tour Prices
• The Best Family-Friendly Tours to USA
• The Best Wildlife Tours to USA
• The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in USA
• The Best Historical Tours in USA
• The Best 10-Day Tours in USA
• The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in USA
• The Best 3-Day Tours in USA
• The Best 2-Week Tours in USA
• The Best 3-Week Tours in USA
• The Best Bicycle Tours in USA
• Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in USA
• The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in USA
• The Best Coach Bus Tours in USA
• The Best Adventure Tours to USA
• The Best Eco Tours in USA
• The Best Train & Rail Tours in USA
• The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in USA
• The Best Sightseeing Tours in USA
• The Best Cultural Tours in USA
• The Best Photography Tours in USA
• The Best Camping Tours in USA
• The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in USA
• The Best Polar Tours & Cruises in USA
• The Best Walking Tours in USA
• The Best Tours Under $1000 in USA
• The Best Luxury Tours to USA
• The Best Tours for Seniors to USA
• The Best Contiki Tours to USA
• The Best G Adventures Tours to USA
• New York City
• San Francisco
• Los Angeles
• New Orleans
• How much does it cost to travel to the United States of America? (Average Daily Cost)
• The United States of America trip costs: one week, two weeks, one month

How much do package tours cost in the United States of America?

Is the united states of america expensive to visit.

• How much do I need for a trip to the United States of America?
• Accommodation, Food, Entertainment, and Transportation Costs
• Travel Guide

How much does it cost to travel to the United States of America?

You should plan to spend around $284 per day on your vacation in the United States of America. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.

Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:

• $58 on meals
• $46 on local transportation
• $259 on hotels

A one week trip to the United States of America for two people costs, on average, $3,982 . This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

• Travel Style: All Budget (Cheap) Mid-Range Luxury (High-End)
• Average Daily Cost Per person, per day $ 284
• One Week Per person $ 1,991
• 2 Weeks Per person $ 3,982
• One Month Per person $ 8,532
• One Week For a couple $ 3,982
• 2 Weeks For a couple $ 7,963
• One Month For a couple $ 17,064

Are You an Experienced Traveler?

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How much does a one week, two week, or one month trip to the United States of America cost?

A one week trip to the United States of America usually costs around $1,991 for one person and $3,982 for two people. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

A two week trip to the United States of America on average costs around $3,982 for one person and $7,963 for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.

Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables. If you're traveling as a family of three or four people, the price per person often goes down because kid's tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in the United States of America will often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

A one month trip to the United States of America on average costs around $8,532 for one person and $17,064 for two people. The more places you visit, the higher the daily price will become due to increased transportation costs.

Organized tours are usually more expensive than independent travel, but offer convenience and peace of mind that your trip has been planned by a travel expert.

The average price for an organized tour package in the United States of America is $395 per day. While every tour varies by total price, length, number of destinations, and quality, this is the daily average price based on our analysis of available guided tours.

• Golden West Adventure 14 Days - 22 Destinations $ 2,714
• Historic Trails & Blue Ridge Mountains 14 Days - 20 Destinations $ 2,999

Independent Travel

Traveling Independently has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.

All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.

The United States of America is a moderately priced destination to visit. It's about average with most other countries for travel costs. The prices for food, accommodation, and transportation are all fairly reasonable.

Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, the United States of America is very expensive compared to the other countries. It is in the top 10% of countries in North America for its travel costs. There are only a few countries as expensive or more expensive than the United States of America in the region.

For more details, see Is the United States of America Expensive?

How much money do I need for a trip to the United States of America?

The average United States of America trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these United States of America travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

Accommodation Budget in the United States of America

Average daily costs.

Calculated from travelers like you

The average price paid for one person for accommodation in the United States of America is $130. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in the United States of America is $259. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.

• Accommodation 1 Hotel or hostel for one person $ 130
• Accommodation 1 Typical double-occupancy room $ 259

Hotel Prices in the United States of America

Looking for a hotel in the United States of America? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.

Find the best hotel for your travel style.

Actual Hotel Prices The average hotel room price in the United States of America based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $171. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)

Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.

Recommended Properties

• MarBrisa Carlsbad Resort Budget Hotel - Kayak $ 195
• Springwood Inn Luxury Hotel - Kayak $ 240

Local Transportation Budget in the United States of America

The cost of a taxi ride in the United States of America is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $46 per person, per day, on local transportation in the United States of America.

• Local Transportation 1 Taxis, local buses, subway, etc. $ 46

Recommended Services

• Black SUV Transfer From or To JFK, LGA, EWR - All Fees… Viator $ 230
• Honolulu Airport & Waikiki Hotels Private Transfer by Luxury SUV(up to 5… Viator $ 130

What did other people spend on Local Transportation?

Typical prices for Local Transportation in the United States of America are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Local Transportation prices in the United States of America, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Lightrail from Airport (for 2) $ 5.50
• Roundtrip Ferry to Bainbridge Island (for 2) $ 15
• 24 hrs Deuce Bus $ 7.00
• Taxi from Airport to the Strip $ 36
• Bus Ride $ 1.00
• Bus Ride $ 2.00
• MARTA Subway Ticket $ 4.00
• Subway Daily Pass $ 9.00

Food Budget in the United States of America

While meal prices in the United States of America can vary, the average cost of food in the United States of America is $58 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in the United States of America should cost around $23 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in the United States of America is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

• Food 2 Meals for one day $ 58

Recommended

• Premium Valle de Guadalupe Wine and Food Tour Viator $ 259
• Howdy H-Town EADO Food Tour Viator $ 90

What did other people spend on Food?

Typical prices for Food in the United States of America are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Food prices in the United States of America, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Lunch for Two $ 28
• Lunch for 2 $ 32
• West Street Cafe (for 4) $ 70
• Anglers Restaurant for Lunch $ 29
• Cracker Barrel Lunch (for 4) $ 55
• Dinner for 2 $ 30
• Quick Lunch $ 12
• Breakfast $ 26

Entertainment Budget in the United States of America

Entertainment and activities in the United States of America typically cost an average of $55 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.

• Entertainment 1 Entrance tickets, shows, etc. $ 55

Recommended Activities

• Private Scottsdale Off-Road Jeep Tour Viator $ 229
• Avi's Premium Dolphin Tour by Jet Ski Viator $ 275

What did other people spend on Entertainment?

Typical prices for Entertainment in the United States of America are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Entertainment prices in the United States of America, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Riverboat Cruise $ 70
• French Quarter City Tour $ 100
• Six Flags for 2 $ 96
• Acadia National Park Entrance Fee $ 25
• Sunset Cruise (for 4) $ 96
• Children's Museum (for 4) $ 32
• Patriots Point (for 2) $ 60
• Zoo & Aquarium Tickets (2) $ 75

Tips and Handouts Budget in the United States of America

The average cost for Tips and Handouts in the United States of America is $33 per day. The usual amount for a tip in the United States of America is 10% - 20% .

• Tips and Handouts 1 For guides or service providers $ 33

What did other people spend on Tips and Handouts?

Typical prices for Tips and Handouts in the United States of America are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Tips and Handouts prices in the United States of America, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Airport Luggage Storage $ 14

Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in the United States of America

Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in the United States of America is $83, as reported by travelers.

• Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps 1 $ 83

Alcohol Budget in the United States of America

The average person spends about $27 on alcoholic beverages in the United States of America per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.

• Alcohol 2 Drinks for one day $ 27
• Luxury Private Wine Tasting Tour to Guadalupe Valley from San Diego Viator $ 259
• Memphis Signature Guided Brewery Tour Viator $ 69

What did other people spend on Alcohol?

Typical prices for Alcohol in the United States of America are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the Alcohol prices in the United States of America, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.

• Beer $ 7.30
• A Night of Shots $ 36
• Drinks at Camp Fire (for 2) $ 40
• Evening at a Bar $ 32
• Camping $ 20

Water Budget in the United States of America

On average, people spend $16 on bottled water in the United States of America per day. The public water in the United States of America is considered safe to drink.

• Water 2 Bottled water for one day $ 16

Related Articles

The united states of america on a budget.

At A Glance

• The U.S. is best visited during a series of several different trips. Because it is so large and difficult to travel around, you'll do better if you visit one region at a time. Some people choose to do a highlights tour and see New York, San Francisco and perhaps one national park. A better option is to pick one part of the country and explore it in more depth.
• If you want to avoid renting a car, the best area to visit is the northeast. There are trains and buses that connect the major cities, so it is possible to travel around without renting a car or taking a flight. The larger cities in these areas also have decent public transportation systems so it's easy to travel within the city without a car as well.
• One of the best seasons to visit this country is during the fall months. In many areas the leaves are changing color and the landscape is beautiful. Children are also back in school so the crowds are less and the prices are usually lower.
• You'll find plenty of great beaches on both coasts. If you're hoping to see a dramatic and rocky coast line, surf in the largest waves, and enjoy urban beaches, then the west coast is your best option. If you're looking for more natural beaches, warmer water for swimming, and more traditional towns, then head to the east coast.
• If you're hoping to visit any beaches then it is best if you avoid college spring break periods. These breaks usually fall between early March and late April and can be a busy and expensive time to be at the beach. Unless you specifically want to take part in the partying then your best option is to visit at a different time.

Top Tourist Attractions

Popular foods, more related articles.

We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works .

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Looking for the best time to buy airline tickets to get a cheap flight to everywhere? We’ve got you covered anytime, anywhere. Here’s how to find the best deal for flight booking no matter where you want to go in the world.

Which day of the week is the best day to buy cheap airline tickets?

For both U.S. domestic and international travel, Sundays can be cheaper for airline ticket purchases. Fridays tend to be the most expensive day to book a flight. Booking on the right day of the week could save you up to 6% on your airfare, according to historical data*.

When is the best time to buy airline tickets?

Based on 2020 And 2021 global flight data for Economy tickets, prices usually start to increase 56 days before departure for domestic flights. When traveling internationally, prices usually start to increase 21 days before departure*. Keep in mind that this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule; keeping an eye on prices is a good idea when trying to find the best airfare deals. Compare fares across different airlines, and set up a price alert for your preferred route.

Which are the cheapest days to fly?

Analysis of domestic and international airfare prices shows that flying out on Fridays can be cheaper. Many travelers start their trips on Sundays, so your chances of a lower price are better when departing early in the week instead. Starting your trip on a Friday could be almost 11% cheaper than air travel on Sundays, so book flights online wisely*!

Which is the cheapest month to fly?

The cheapest month to fly can vary depending on where you’re going, so finding the best rates largely comes down to avoiding peak travel times for your destination. If you’re looking for cheap international flights , the most expensive month tends to be February, while the cheapest is November with cheap flights in November offering potential savings of up to 34.6% relative to February. Cheap domestic flights work a bit differently, with March being the most expensive and August being the least expensive with cheap flights in August offering savings of up to 35%*.

How can I find the cheapest flights on Expedia?

Compare cheap airline ticket prices at a glance from a large inventory of carriers on Expedia. You can get cheap flights by staying flexible with travel dates, carriers, and nonstop/layover flights to get the best price. Insider tip: Become a member (it’s free!) to earn rewards back on every booking. We make your travel stress-free and source incredible airfare deals so you can sit back, relax, and start your vacation or business trip.

How can I save money on flights?

Mixing and matching airline tickets and fare types could help save money on airfare to your destination. Easily compare prices for carriers, arrival and departure dates, airplane cabin class, and more when you book with Expedia. Booking your plane ticket on a Sunday, and departing on Friday, could possibly save you money* based on historical data. You can also filter for flights based on your budget, such as looking for cheap flights under $200 specifically.

How can I get cheap last-minute flight deals?

The historical data analysis of flight pricing patterns shows that you can still find amazing airfare deals 3 weeks prior to departure* when traveling domestically. International last-minute flights offer great deals 2 weeks prior to departure if you’re flying premium, but economy travelers may want to strive for no less than 4 weeks out*. Try to stay flexible with travel dates, airports, and nonstop/layover flights to find the cheapest flights on Expedia. Whether you’re planning a quick business trip or a spontaneous holiday with friends, you’ll have your choice of last-minute flights, roundtrip, or multicity flights on Expedia. You’ll find everything you need for your travels all in one place — and all at the right price.

How do I book with Expedia?

Booking your flight with Expedia is easy, as all you have to do is implement your travel dates, departure destination, like flights from Atlanta or flights from Hartsfield-Jackson , and arrival destination into the search. Then, all the available flights for those dates and destinations will appear. You can use search filters to narrow down the results as well based on a variety of factors like the airline, number of stops, departure time, and policies like seat choice and refundable bookings. Additionally, travelers may alter their search for round-trip flights, one-way flights, and multicity flights.

What should I look out for when booking flights?

Several factors go into any flight booking, and you’ll need to keep an eye out for them all to ensure that you get the travel time, luggage policy, airline, and class you want. Consider which airport is closest to your ultimate destination (travelers to Los Angeles may prefer flights to LAX over flights to PSP , and make sure that the flight will accommodate all the luggage you plan on bringing. Additionally, consider the different flight classes including economy flights for functionality and premium flights if you want to enjoy a more relaxing experience.

Where’s the cheapest place to travel?

The cheapest place to travel can be in the same country, like Chicago. Flights to Chicago are fairly affordable no matter where you’re coming from in the continental United States. Flights to Las Vegas tend to be pretty affordable as well. While the Vegas airport isn’t a hub for any major airline, it does have plenty of competition to keep prices relatively low.

Where can I fly for cheap?

Staying within a strict budget still allows you to find plenty of cheap flights, even to destinations like Puerto Rico. In fact, flights to Puerto Rico don’t even require U.S. citizens to have a passport. Flights to Alberta and other destinations in Canada can be fairly affordable as well.

Is it cheaper to buy flights last minute?

Flight tickets can be cheaper at the last minute depending on how late you’re actually booking, where you’re going, and the kind of flight you opt for. For domestic flights with Economy tickets, prices usually start to increase 3 weeks before departure, and 4 weeks for international flights, according to historical data*.

Are fully refundable flights available?

Yes, several fully refundable flights are available and will be labeled as such right on your search results page in green text. You may also filter for fully refundable flights specifically to eliminate all flights from your results that don’t qualify. Just make sure to check the specific policy for each flight before booking.

Why should I book my flight with Expedia?

Booking with Expedia makes finding a flight easy, but that’s just the beginning of everything you can take advantage of. We also offer hotels, car rentals, and even activities that you can purchase with package deals available for travelers planning more than one aspect of their trip at a time. Plus, Expedia offers stunning cheap flight deals that can help you save with ease. As a One Key member, you will earn OneKeyCashTM for every eligible booking that you can use to save on future bookings. Plus, OneKeyCash can be earned on top of airline miles.

*Data specialists from both ARC and Expedia Group analyzed ARC’s global flight data to distil actionable information to help people save money on travel. While it’s impossible to guarantee when to find the lowest prices, after examining the variables, we were able to observe trends. Best day of the week to book and best day of the week to depart is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021, sourced from ARC’s global airline sales database. Best month to depart recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020, sourced from ARC's global airline sales database. Best time to book recommendation is based on average round-trip ticket prices for January through August for 2021 & average round-trip ticket prices for January through December for 2020, sourced from ARC's global airline sales database. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.

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How to find cheap flights, what is the best day to buy a plane ticket.

This just in! Airfares offered on Thursdays tend to be the cheapest, according to flight demand on Travelocity in 2021. Tuesday and Wednesday prices are also good, but you may want to prepare your budget if booking during the weekend, as data shows that is when prices are generally at their highest.

What are the cheapest days to fly?

Frequent travelers may already know this, but earlier in the week can be the cheapest time to fly. In 2021, flights departing on a Monday were generally the cheapest of the week, whereas you may pay a premium for weekend flights when demand is usually high. On average, tickets were most expensive for Saturday departures, so if you need to fly out on a weekend, you might look for deals ahead of time.

How far in advance can you book a flight?

Trying to figure out how early you should book your flight? It’s possible to start comparing international airfares on Travelocity up to 12 months in advance. However, it does depend on the carrier as not all airlines release their prices that far out. According to our 2021 flight demand trends, last minute planners can still bag a bargain with some of the cheapest fares appearing 0-2 weeks prior to their travel dates.

*According to flight demand on Travelocity.com from January to December 2021. Savings are subject to change based on departure location, date and destination.

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Popular domestic flights.

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Popular States in the US

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Top Routes to Orlando

• Chicago (ORD) to Orlando (MCO)
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Orlando (MCO)
• New York (JFK) to Orlando (MCO)
• Detroit (DTW) to Orlando (MCO)
• Newark (EWR) to Orlando (MCO)
• Dallas (DFW) to Orlando (MCO)
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Orlando (MCO)
• Minneapolis (MSP) to Orlando (MCO)
• Baltimore (BWI) to Orlando (MCO)
• Raleigh (RDU) to Orlando (MCO)

Top Routes to Los Angeles

• Dallas (DFW) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Atlanta (ATL) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Portland (PDX) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Boston (BOS) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Newark (EWR) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Detroit (DTW) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Orlando (MCO) to Los Angeles (LAX)

Top Routes to Denver

• Minneapolis (MSP) to Denver (DEN)
• Dallas (DFW) to Denver (DEN)
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Denver (DEN)
• Atlanta (ATL) to Denver (DEN)
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Denver (DEN)
• Phoenix (PHX) to Denver (DEN)
• Boston (BOS) to Denver (DEN)
• Detroit (DTW) to Denver (DEN)
• Kansas City (MCI) to Denver (DEN)
• Orlando (MCO) to Denver (DEN)

Top Routes to Miami

• Philadelphia (PHL) to Miami (MIA)
• Newark (EWR) to Miami (MIA)
• New York (JFK) to Miami (MIA)
• (ATL) to Miami (MIA)
• Boston (BOS) to Miami (MIA)
• Detroit (DTW) to Miami (MIA)
• Dallas (DFW) to Miami (MIA)
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Miami (MIA)
• Chicago (ORD) to Miami (MIA)
• Raleigh (RDU) to Miami (MIA)

Top Routes to New York

• Los Angeles (LAX) to New York (JFK)
• Orlando (MCO) to New York (JFK)
• Raleigh (RDU) to New York (JFK)
• Tampa (TPA) to New York (JFK)
• Charlotte (CLT) to New York (JFK)
• Phoenix (PHX) to New York (JFK)
• Kingston (KIN-Norman Manley Intl.) (KIN) to New York (JFK)
• Port of Spain (POS-Piarco Intl.) (POS) to New York (JFK)
• San Francisco (SFO) to New York (JFK)
• Atlanta (ATL) to New York (JFK)

Top Routes to Dallas

• Los Angeles (LAX) to Dallas (DFW)
• Chicago (ORD) to Dallas (DFW)
• Detroit (DTW) to Dallas (DFW)
• Minneapolis (MSP) to Dallas (DFW)
• Orlando (MCO) to Dallas (DFW)
• Atlanta (ATL) to Dallas (DFW)
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Two One-Way Flights or One Round-Trip: Which Is Better?

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Booking a flight involves navigating a maze of decisions. Is it better to fly with a budget airline or full-service one? How about basic economy versus regular economy ? And would you prefer pretzels or a cookie? 

Choosing between a single round-trip or two one-way tickets is the most basic decision and — you might be surprised to learn — one of the more nuanced. 

The cost between the two is usually the same for domestic flights but can vary significantly for international routes (assuming you're booking with cash rather than points and miles ).

Given that airfare was 26% more expensive in January 2023 than January 2022, according to the latest consumer price index data, budget travelers need to save every penny they can. 

In general, it can be more convenient to book a round-trip flight for a trip with specific start and end dates, but other considerations, such as cancellation policies and pricing, could make booking one-ways more appealing in some cases. And everything works differently for flights booked with miles. 

Let’s break it down.

Domestic flights

For flights within the United States on the same airline, round-trip tickets almost always cost the same as two one-ways.

There’s one caveat here: Booking two one-way tickets between separate destination or arrival airports can, in some cases, save money (or cost more). 

“Fares don’t have to be booked as returns,” says Laura Lindsay, travel trends expert at SkyScanner, a travel booking platform. “Look at flying out with one airline and back with another, or out of one airport and back into another to save money.”

Many online travel tools will automatically compare prices for these mismatched airline or airport itineraries and automatically include them in search results.

But it might be worth checking manually, especially for plans that involve different local airports or for airlines that don’t appear in search results , such as Southwest.

All that said, for domestic flights, the difference is almost always a wash. 

International flights

For international tickets, the logic changes completely. Round-trip tickets are usually cheaper than one-ways, sometimes significantly so.

NerdWallet compared fares across multiple international routes and found that, typically, buying two one-way tickets costs 20% more than a single roundtrip. 

To determine these differences, we compared routes between four U.S. airports and two airports in each destination region.

The effect is more pronounced when flying to some regions, such as Africa and Asia. That said, for flights between the U.S. and every region we looked at, it costs more to book two one-ways than a single round-trip. 

In some circumstances, such as open-ended trips where you don’t know when you’ll be returning, one-way flights might still make the most sense. But for most international travel, round-trip fares are the clear winner. 

Cards for booking flights with cash

If you plan to pay the cash fare for your ticket, consider booking with a card that will earn you points on travel purchases. Here are some options:

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

• 5 points per dollar spent on travel (including flights) booked through Chase's travel portal.

• 2 points per dollar on other travel (including flights).

Annual fee: $95 .

• 10 points per dollar on hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase's travel portal.

• 5 points per dollar on air travel purchased through Chase's travel portal.

• 3 points per dollar spent on travel and dining not booked with Chase.

Annual fee: $550 .

• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta.

Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150 .

Terms apply.

• 4 miles per $1 spent on United purchases.

Annual fee: $250 .

Are round-trip or one-way flights cheaper if booking with points?

What about the cost difference between one-way and round-trip fares when using points or miles ?

Generally, airlines break these fares into one-way sections, meaning there is no meaningful difference between the two, in terms of cost. Yet a few caveats apply: 

Taxes on award flights can be higher when booking two one-ways. Delta Air Lines, for example, tends to charge more fees for flights originating in Europe.

Some airlines, such as ANA, do not allow one-way award flights, period. 

Flights booked with credit card points using a travel portal (i.e. not transferred to an airline partner) follow the same rules as cash fares. 

on Citibank's application

• 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 spent per year.

• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

• 3 points per $1 on air travel and hotels, supermarkets, gas stations and restaurants.

• 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.

• 4 points per $1 at restaurant plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.

• 4 points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per year).

• 3 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.

• 10 miles per $1 on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through AA.

• 4 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases, up to $150,000 spent per calendar year (5 miles per $1 spent thereafter for the remainder of the calendar year).

• 1 mile per $1 on everything else.

• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.

Other considerations

It’s also worth considering the impact of changes and cancellations on the two options.

Most airlines have eliminated change fees , making it easier to change and cancel both kinds of tickets. But canceling one leg of a round-trip ticket can sometimes be more complicated than canceling a one-way ticket.

In some cases, you might need to call customer service, instead of canceling online, to make sure the change doesn’t cancel your other flight segments as well.

And finally, there’s the question of simplicity.

Is the simplicity of having a single itinerary, managed by one round-trip confirmation code, worth these other trade-offs? This simplicity, paired with the fact that round-trip tickets are almost never more expensive than two one-ways, means that these fares make sense for most travelers.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Cost of Driving Calculator

Fuel cost calculator, cost to drive between cities.

Travelmath provides an online driving cost calculator to help you determine how much you'll spend on gas for your next road trip. You can enter airports, cities, states, countries, or zip codes to compute the cost of driving between locations. Driving distances are calculated using actual driving directions if they are available, or a GPS-accurate method for the straight line distance . Automatic estimates are provided for local gas prices and vehicle fuel efficiency in miles per gallon (mpg) or liters per 100 kilometers (L/100 km), based on the make and model of your car, SUV, or minivan. Don't let the economy and rising oil prices stop you from taking your next trip. You can use this tool to find out if it's cheaper to fly or drive to your destination.

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You can add, edit, and remove vehicles at any time.

You can edit vehicles to personalize the MPG and fuel prices.

In Step 2, you will enter the trip details including starting point, intermediate stops, and destination.

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You will be able to modify the route by dragging the route line on the map.

The Trip Vehicles section above will be updated with the cost of fuel for the trip.

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The Ultimate Guide to USA Road Trip

Although it’s tempting to head overseas every time you get a bit of vacation time, taking a road trip around America can be just as eye-opening and exciting! A USA road trip can help you see parts of the country you may not have considered visiting before and will give you a better understanding and appreciation of the beauty of landscapes within the United States. 

*This post may contain affiliate links, as a result, we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) on any bookings/purchases you make through the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Read our full disclosure

Don’t leave your home without Travel Insurance! From the US?  We recommend  Allianz Travel Insurance,  a world leader in travel protection and  our trusted Travel Insurance partner  for the last 5 years. Allianz offers  Single Trip and Annual Travel Insurance Policies  that include medical coverage, trip cancellation, rental car insurance and more! (Benefits vary by state and by plan, so read your policy carefully!)  Not a US resident?  Consider  Safety Wing ,  a  budget friendly travel insurance provider  with travel insurance plans for Digital Nomads and travelers from all around the world

Renting a vehicle for a drive across America (or using your own) and heading out to discover what many consider to be their own backyard can be just as fun as heading to exotic locations. 

A cross country road trip is the perfect holiday option when flights are expensive or if you are looking for a more eco-conscious way to explore the country. Whether you only have a few days or want to take a 2-week road trip, USA destinations can really surprise you! There are plenty of road trip ideas and itineraries to explore.

Check out our latest Road Trip

Traveling Soon?  Here is a list of our favourite travel providers and accessories to help get you ready for your upcoming trip! Book Your Accommodation HERE Search for Great Tours HERE Get a Car Rental HERE Buy Travel Insurance HERE See our Favourite Camera Bag HERE Grab a Reusable Water Bottle HERE or a Filtration Straw HERE Order an eSim HERE

Best 2 Week Road Trip – USA Routes

You don’t need to cram a whole 48-state road trip into 2 weeks. These 2 week road trip ideas highlight the best of different parts of the USA.   

West Coast America Road Trip: California, Highway 101

This west coast USA road trip is definitely a classic road trip option as the Californian highway is peppered with lovely towns with views of the Pacific Coast. Typically planning a California 2 week road trip, USA, along Highway 101 calls for driving from San Francisco to San Diego (or the reverse) and has several stops along the way.

Of course, it’s your 2 week US road trip so hit whatever stops interest you, but here are a few destinations suggestions for your west coast of USA road trip.

• Start your road trip adventures in San Francisco and take a tour of the city highlights along with a stop at Alcatraz . 
• Head to Santa Cruz and stop at the amusement park, Beach Boardwalk . 
• Don’t miss Monterey , which has boutiques, bars, and restaurants in converted factories. The area also has Monterey Bay Aquarium , which is actively involved in conservation efforts. 
• Next, the coast highway will take you to Big Sur a mountainous area, national park, and one of the most famed places on a 2 week road trip across America. Slightly below is San Simeon , where you can view migrating elephant seals. 
• Pismo Beach is known for its wineries and beaches, and Monarchs migrate south to this area in the cooler weather. 
• See the architecture in Santa Barbara , California.
• Include Malibu in your USA road trip planner to see the beach.
• Experience Hollywood in Los Angeles
• Finish your trip at the galleries and museums in San Diego.

A California Highway 1 USA road trip, west coast, offers a huge variety of experiences . There really is a little something for everyone along this route. If you like Pacific coast scenes, this is the best US road trip for you.

READ NEXT: ULTIMATE WEST COAST ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

Chicago to Los Angeles Road Trip, Route 66

This stretch is a historic route and one of the most famous trips around America. Route 66 deserves a try if you want to drive part way across the country on a 2 week cross country RV trip.

• Start your USA road trip planning in Chicago (or you could end here if you choose). It allows you to visit one of the many museums, such as the Art Institute of Chicago . 
• Next on your US trip head to see the arch in St. Louis
• Drive through the heartlands of Oklahoma with stops in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City, both of which are known for their architecture. 
• Route 66 also passes through the upper tip of Texas , which takes you through Amarillo and also through Jericho Gap , where many cars once got stranded in the mud on old Route 66 on their road trips of America. 
• The beautiful views and varied landscapes of the Midwest continue through New Mexico (be sure to stop in Albuquerque and Santa Fe , New Mexico).
• Travel America via Route 66 to Arizona, with Flagstaff and Sedona taking center stage as points along the two week road trip, USA.
• Hollywood and Sunset Boulevard are good points to visit while you are in Los Angeles, California. 

Route 66 is one of the most iconic road trips in the US and often listed as one of the best US road trips. If you have more time then consider extending your trip into a 3 week road trip across America. However, if you do extend ensure you consider the additional cost to drive across country.

East Coast Road Trip: New York City to Miami, Route 95

An east coast USA road trip has a lot to do, and being able to take it at your own pace is a good way to go . Add the following places to your US road trip planner to make the most of your America trip.

• Start your America road trips in New York City, where you can visit the Statue of Liberty , attend a Broadway show, or hit all the major sites in New York with a guided tour . 
• From there, head south through Baltimore (which is worth a stop!) 
• Continue down to the nation’s capital of Washington, DC, where you can view many of the sites on a “hop on hop off” bus tour . 
• This route will also take you through the beautiful states of Virginia (possibly stop in Richmond ) and North Carolina before you hit Savannah on your roadtrip. America is full of history and lovely architecture in this area.
• Once you hit Florida , you will head through Jacksonville , West Palm Beach , and Fort Lauderdale.
• If you want to veer off of Route 95 just a bit, you can visit the oldest town in the US, which is St. Augustine. It’s filled with museums, lovely buildings, and a Spanish fort from the 1500s.
• Once you end your journey in Miami , you can head to South Beach, visit the Art Deco district, or take an airboat ride to view alligators in their natural habitat.

If you are an American road trip planner who wants a taste of a little bit of everything or if you are history buff then you might consider Route 95 one of the best road trips in USA.

This 2 week road trip across America takes you between two of the nation’s biggest cities , gives you a chance to explore the past, and will win you over with the charm of the people you meet along the way. However, if you are going to be indulging in the big cities ensure you include that in your road trip USA budget.

Colorado Road Trip

If you want to experience the beauty of inland United States, Colorado definitely delivers. For this route, consider starting your road trip USA planning in Denver

• Visit the Lookout Mountain and take a tour of the Rocky Mountains . 
• S pend a day in Boulder and take a tour of Rocky Mountain National Park and experience the trails. 
• The Glenwood Springs area offers some of the most gorgeous views of any American road trips, so have your camera ready! 
• Grand Junction is next, which is home to parks, trails, and the Colorado National Monument . 
• You can also stop in Ouray , which has lots of hiking options and then be sure to stop for a day in Mesa Verde National Park , which is full of history from the Ancestral Pueblo people.
• Other stops along the way include Buena Vista – home of the Rio Grande National Park Forest – and Colorado Springs – where you can take a segway tour of the Garden of the Gods .

We think this is one of the USA best road trips for getting close to natural destinations and exploring national parks. If you are self-contained and stay in free camping spots along the way you can really reduce your road trip across America cost too.

READ NEXT: OUR ULTIMATE COLORADO ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

Southern USA Road Trip: Savannah to San Diego

Heading from coast to coast can be one of the USA best road trips as you get a glimpse of what each state offers.

• Start your road trip routes in Savannah , Georgia, a quintessential southern town with beautiful architecture and trees dripping with Spanish moss. 
• Then stop Atlanta for a 1.5-hour highlight tour of this capital city .
• The route also passes through popular US towns such as Birmingham , Alabama ; Jackson , Mississippi ; and Shreveport , Louisiana . These towns all showcase America’s southern history and sites that were significant in the civil rights movement. 
• Then you will arrive in Dallas , Texas , where you can take a tour to learn about this historic city .
• Continue on to El, Paso, Texas on your road trip USA before you get to beautiful Tuscon, Arizona , where you can add a bit of adventure to your trip by exploring history on a scavenger hunt .
• End your trip in San Diego by exploring the historic old town on a narrated trolley tour .

Road trip routes through the Southern United States will give you a taste of Southern charm and will give you a chance to learn about the civil rights movement – exactly where it took place. However, keep in mind that big-city travel can really cut into your cross country road trip cost so be wary of your spending there if you are trying to keep your road trip America cost low. 

Road Trip Across America: Cost Considerations

If you have ever considered a road trip across America, you’ll have asked yourself “how much does it cost to drive cross country?” and considered the cross country road trip cost .

If you don’t have a vehicle at your disposal, you’ll need to rent one. It’s practically impossible to rent a car in the US for less than $40/day and it’s really hard to find a deal for an RV for under $100/night. So this will affect your road trip America cost – but it is a necessary expense.

Add in spending on gas, accommodation, food, etc and your cost of cross country road trip will quickly add up , making what seemed like a great vacation idea seem like a rather expensive getaway.

We’re always crunching numbers and asking ourselves, “how much does it cost to travel around the world?” But we really had no idea of the road trip across America cost!

Planning for our trip, we knew that sticking to a small daily budget was going to be tough, but we wanted to see if we could keep our road trip across America cost to $125/day for two people (Spoiler: we almost did!).

How Long Does it Take to Drive Across America?

It is totally up to you to decide how long does it take to drive across the US. Each of the road trip routes we have suggested can be completed comfortably in two weeks . However, there are innumerable things to do along the way and the States is a big country so you can take as long as you like.

We met people who had been on the road for years, making their way slowly across the country. So, as you can imagine, there are no hard and fast rules to answering how long does it take to drive across America – the decision is up to you!

But how long does it take to drive across America non-stop anyway? If you weren’t in it for the journey and were just trying to zoom from coast to coast as quickly as possible, you could do it in 35-45 hours. Some people even take it a step further and take on the 48 states in 10 days route . This is a surefire way to check off tons of states on your list but we much prefer to enjoy the journey as much as the end destination.

Is it Safe to Drive Across America?

Of course! Always be sure to educate yourself on state driving laws while following the speed limit and being aware of your surroundings. There are A LOT of large transport trucks on American highways so be mindful of passing etiquette and you’ll be good to go.

Cross-Country Road Trip Cost

Here is a detailed breakdown of our cross-country road trip cost to help you answer the question of “how much does it cost to drive across the country?” It is based on our 16 days 3,000 mile/4,500kms road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles .

If you are wondering “How much does it cost to drive across the country?” the first thing to consider is the cost of driving itself. 

The cost of driving from Chicago to Los Angeles was by far the biggest percentage of our overall USA road trip budget . We knew that we had to find a cheap way to get around or this USA road trip ideas would quickly be thrown out the window.

RV Rental – $610 ($38/day)

Luckily, we were able to use some of the tips and tricks we learned while traveling around Australia to determine how much it would cost to travel across America. Then apply them to help our 2 week cross country RV trip cost in the US.  

We were lucky to have been able to find a GREAT DEAL for a campervan rental at just $39/night.

While it wasn’t as good as $1/day, the deal offered us a longer rental, giving us more time on the road , and a brand new (hence the factory relocation) massive RV for our cross-country road trip. It was big enough for 7 people, so having all the space for just 2 of us felt like absolute luxury. 

The total for 16 days/15 nights added up to $610 of our cross country road trip cost.

READ NEXT: 12 Best Van Conversion Companies That Will Build Your Van for You

Fuel – $682 ($42/day)

Gas ended up costing a bit more than we would’ve liked on our 2 week road trip across America, adding up to almost 30% of our total travel budget . With 3,000 miles (around 4,500 km) ahead of us on our 2-week road trip, we knew that we’d need around 6 tanks of gas to get us from Chicago to Los Angeles , but we underestimated the cost of gas across the country and our RV’s efficiency on the road. How much does a cross country road trip cost? More than we thought as far as fuel was concerned.

Propane = $60 ($4/day)

When budgeting for our trip, we completely forgot to account for the cost of propane . It didn’t add up to a lot, which was surprising considering that the stove, fridge, furnace, and water heater in our RV were all powered by propane. All things considered, it was a small drop in a big bucket but should be accounted for if you’re the designated road trip USA planner.

Accommodation Costs = $179 ($12/day)

Despite the fact that our RV was completely self-sustainable (it was equipped with a shower, toilet, and a full-size kitchen), we weren’t able to spend more than 2-3 days away from an RV park during our trip.

To our greatest surprise, RV parks in the US weren’t as cheap as we expected. We planned on spending $10-15/night for a powered site, but in reality, we never found anything for less than $30/night. It was yet another thing that added more than we thought to our United States road trip cost.

On nights when we didn’t need to be plugged in, we followed seasoned RV’ers advice and parked in Walmart parking lots or enjoyed being away from it all by finding an isolated spot in the middle of a forest road just off of our trip routes.

Food Costs = $339 ($21/day)

To keep our cross country road trip cost down, we choose not to eat out on this trip and cooked most of our meals in the RV . But we didn’t deprive ourselves.

We stocked up on fresh fruits and veggies, good quality meats, and nutrient-rich ingredients. Let’s face it, American groceries tend to be a bit more expensive than what we had been used to in Costa Rica so we had to keep our food expenses in check. Since our American road trip budget didn’t allow for daily meals out, we made sure to cook up a storm and make a big deal out of our meals.

We drank wine, enjoyed some beers, and even splurged on desserts! Needless to say, we weren’t starving throughout our trip and our food and drinks expenses reflected that.

Cost of Supplies

Rv supplies – $292 ($18/day).

It cost us a few hundred dollars to stock up on various supplies for the RV . There were a few road trip accessories that we can’t believe we didn’t think of before our trip and some bedding and kitchen supplies.  

Cruise America offers to rent bedding and crockery to guests for their USA road trips but we figured that we could find much better quality stuff if we were to buy it ourselves for our 2 week cross country RV trip. And we did!

At the end of the trip, we took all the supplies up to Oksana’s parent’s house in Canada. One day, we’ll dig them up from storage in the basement and use them for another drive across America! 

How much does a road trip cost? A lot less when you already have the supplies from a previous trip!

READ NEXT: 12 ROAD TRIP ACCESSORIES THAT WILL TAKE YOUR TRIP FROM GOOD TO GREAT

Mobile Phone – $60 ($4/day)

To stay connected on the road we purchased a 30-day 10GB mobile data plan from T-Mobile for $60 . It was a pricey investment and one that we completely forgot to account for at the beginning of planning a road trip across the States, but being able to stay connected and keep up with our work while on the road warranted the expense. 

A great alternative, which we didn’t know about it at the time, would have been a Solis Hotspot . Solis Hotspot offers flexible data plans , including Unlimited Data plans for heavy users or a Pay Per Use plan at just $9/1GB ideal for someone who just wants to stay connected and keep up with emails/messages or spends hours on social media while on this trip.

Cost of Activities – $160 ($10/day)

We didn’t spend a ton of money on activities throughout our road trip across America . Cost was factored into many of the things we did. 

We splurged on a Cog Railway ticket to the top of Pikes Peak, because hiking up the mountain wasn’t an option in my condition , and our 30 foot RV wouldn’t have made it up the winding roads either. Luckily, it was a great journey and money well spent.

National Parks Pass – $80

Another expense that we incurred on the trip was the cost of a yearly National Parks Pass ($80) . We got lucky with our timing as the first week of our trip coincided with the Annual National Parks Week , which gave us access to all National Parks across the country for free.

But by the time we got down to Arizona and California, the deal was off and the steep price at the Grand Canyon and at the Joshua Tree National Park made the $80 we paid for the pass completely worth it.

We think that $80 for an annual park’s pass was very reasonable. Especially considering they were some of the highlights of our American road trip. You can pre-purchase your National Park’s Pass here .

2 Week Road Trip USA – Total Cost – $2,382 ($149/day)

Our road trip across America cost us $2,382, or an average of $149/day between both of us for a 16-day road trip across the US. 

It’s more than the $125/day that we planned on for our USA road trip budget, but we’re not kicking ourselves for it. Our estimate for how much would it cost to travel across America was a bit off, but we had a great experience despite a bit of increased road trip cost.

Looking back on our spending patterns, we realized that the biggest cost drivers were RV rental and gas . And while it might be possible to reduce the daily gas costs by staying on the road for longer and spreading the cost of gas over more days, the increase in daily RV rental would probably offset that.

READ NEXT: WE ARE GOING ON A ROAD TRIP ACROSS THE U.S.

How to Save on USA Road Trips

Looking ahead, we are not giving up on our mission to find more cost-effective ways to enjoy USA road trips . Next time, we plan USA road trips we will cover shorter distances (and save on gas in the process), look for even better relocation deals, and use some of our existing supplies to help us save on USA road trips costs. 

We are confident that we can make it happen on future road trips, USA! Of course, having now put together this handy cross country road trip cost calculator it will be helpful in estimating all travel costs ahead of the trip. 

We hope that this info can also aid you in determining how much your road trips USA may cost.

Road Trips USA – Eco-Friendly Tips

American road trips USA can take its toll on the environment but there are ways to minimize its effects. Not to mention, we tend to find that the more eco-friendly a trip is the more cost-effective trip too!

• Choose a hybrid model or energy-efficient vehicle whenever possible.
• If you’re driving your own car or an RV get it serviced prior to your USA road trip. Your RV or car rental agency will do this for you but you can still check your oil and tire pressure regularly while you’re on the road for better fuel efficiency.

• When it’s hot out roll down the windows instead of using A/C for better fuel economy.
• Choose eco-friendly accommodation options , and restaurants while on the road. Try camping or staying in national parks like we did, and shopping for food at local farmers markets.  
• Avoid single-use plastics and minimize packaging by using reusable grocery bags and collapsible containers when you need to restock food and refreshments. 
• Don’t forget to invest in a good reusable water bottle.
• Bring your friends! It’s always better to travel with a full car or RV. A five-person vehicle is so much more eco-friendly and cost-effective than traveling with a couple of two-seaters.

Your USA Best Road Trips Await

No matter what USA road trip routes you take, one thing reigns true – the United States is filled with variety! From mountainous regions and oceans to historic cities and untouched land, there are so many things to do on a two-week road trip for a variety of tastes.

We hope this article will give you the USA road trip ideas and tools you need to plan your trip. See you on the road

Do you have any questions about an American road trip? Itinerary planning? Road trip suggestions are always welcome!

Read Next: Road Trip Essentials: 50 Things To Bring On A Road Trip

About The Author

Oksana & Max St John

34 thoughts on “the ultimate guide to usa road trip”.

Excellent article. I was wondering what it was costing you to travel around. I know in New Zealand I got a great deal on Toyota Space Wagon and it was very cheap. Obviously your RV was much larger and better equipped but it’s still fairly expensive it would seem.

We never paid for RV parks or stuff either, we used to sneak into hostels and use their showers (I was young and on a budget so forgive me)!

But I remember the freedom of travelling around in the car and the complete freedom was an amazing feeling. I have been wondering how a road trip across America would compare to my recent trips to Uzbekistan and other more average priced destinations. It seems that the price is comparable if there are two people travelling.

Thanks for information.

We know we didn’t get the best deal on the campervan itself, so that’s a cost we can improve on, but the rest of it really just comes down to the price of gas and groceries. That’s really where the bulk of the costs comes from. Also, if you don’t have a large RV with a toilet and/or shower and don’t need to dump gray/black water, then there is really no need to stay in RV parks in the US either. There are tons of truck stops along the highways where you can actually shower and use the toilet for free or for next to nothing. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option for us. At least not with this RV.

Your pictures are beautiful! 🙂 My dad always wanted to take RV trips, but they can definitely be more expensive than you would expect.

Julia http://www.thephillyphotoblog.com/

Thanks for sharing! I would love to do a road trip across the US in the next few years, and may look at doing an RV. My husband and I are doing a short RV trip from Darwin, Australia in a few weeks, and we learnt that it’s definitely not cheap – especially when we didn’t want to use Wicked, plus needed a guaranteed Auto. (Luckily as a travel blogger I managed to get a good discount!)

We found Apollo to be great in that part of Australia. They had some great $1/day deals from Darwin to Perth when we looked into it. If you end up doing more road trips in US or in Australia, look into Imoova – great rates on relocations in both Australia and the US.

My friend told me about how RV’ing is a huge culture down in the United States, and that it is quite common to park at Walmart parking lots overnight to reduce costs. I thought he was just kidding about that, but you have confirmed that it is not the case. I would have assumed you would get ticketed or towed if you did that.

Also, you can overnight at some large truck stops, some casinos, and our state parks and national parks are very reasonably priced, but some of the more popular ones are reserved up to a year ahead. For self-contained (no hook up)/boondock/’dispersed’ camp sites, there are many free places in the western part of the country–BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and COE (Corps of Engineers). Campendium is a good resource to find these.There are also apps where you can find pump outs and potable water to refill your tanks, without staying in an expensive RV park.

Nice post. So its cost you close to 2400US dollars for the travel. You guys really have a huge budget for the journey.

We usually travel on a budget of $100/day between both of us, which isn’t that high at all! On this trip, we went a bit over budget, which sometimes happens. Luckily, we are able to offset more expensive trips like this one with cheaper destinations and make sure that we stick to our $100/day budget on average for the year!

Sounds wonderful! We have recently retired and are really wanting to travel west, being from Illinois, but we always thought the RV would be way out of our budget. But, when you consider hotel rooms and restaurants in a car(even a fuel efficient one like ours), the RV rental makes a lot of sense. I always see them parked at Wal-Mart’s and truck stops. One question? Can we make it to Los Angeles, up the Pacific Coast Highway, Yosemite and back to Illinois on Hwy 80 in 2 weeks?

@SALLY Miller : I don’t see why not ,but here’s the thing , why would you want to put yourself in time constraints ? Taking you on that trip is about 5300 miles dividing that into 14 days is about 350 miles a day, taking you to Portland Or. and back. I’d try to take more time if it were me .

Did you ever drive and stay in the cities at that RV? Is that possible to go through Chicago by the way?

We mostly stayed in National Parks or in designated RV sites. There were some in the cities, but we did not stay in Chicago. We started our trip just outside of Chicago, so we did not need to drive through the city. But, there is no reason why you would not be able to go on the highway with your RV.

I am amazed and excited to read about your journey. It would help me a lot in planning my trips. You missed my country Pakistan. I suggest that you should explore the cultural city of Lahore and Northern Pakistan. Let me know if I can be on any help.

Thank you soooo much for posting all this detail! Our family of 4 (maybe 5 if the niece comes along) is going to do about a 3k R/T Eastern Canada trip and I can actually apply so much of your budget to our trip. And your resources. You’re legends – the both of you!

You seriously don’t know how much I appreciate this!!!

Happy to hear that you have found the post helpful. Enjoy your adventure 🙂

Thanks for all the great information, sounds like you had a wonderful time. My family and friends are planning a USA trip from Australia next September 2020. I was wondering who you went with for the hire of the RV? Thanks Tracey

We hired our RV through Cruise America. They had a great relocation deal that helped us save tons on the rental.

How did you rent your camper so cheap? Cruise America is quoting me over $5,000 for a two weeks. Thanks Nathan

We scored a great relocator deal! You have to be flexible with your dates and your route and you can find some great budget-friendly options.

For those who don’t know, a “relocator deal” is when they need the rig moved to where you are going. You are actually transporting the vehicle for them, and using it along the way.

Thanks for all the tips!

I enjoyed visiting your webiste. I rarely leave comments, but you definately deserve a thumbs up!

Just read your post on your drive across America from Chicago to LA. I have been wanting to take my family on a cross country trip for along time. I was just looking at RV rentals and chose Cruise America like the one you used. What am I missing? A standard RV rental for cross country trip both ways from GA to CA is over $4000 even with a 50% off promo code. You don’t just have to pay for the rental, you have to pay for mileage also. I was expecting a cross country budget for my family of 6 (me, my wife, and 4 daughters all under 9 years) to be around $5K-6K . The cost of RV rental would almost double that budget estimate and puts this trip out of reach. How did you rent an RV for 16 days for $600+?

Hi Will, we mention our “trick” in the article a bit. We found a great relocation deal for our road trip. These are quite common and are offered by many RV providers, but they do require you to be somewhat flexible with your dates and sometimes even destinations. A relocation deal is a special discount offered on one-way rentals when the rental company really needs to get an RV from one destination to another. Instead of hiring a worker to drive the RV to the desired destination, they put the vehicle up for rent, specifying the dates and route that needs to be taken. It’s worth looking through the deals if you have flexibility. Good luck with your search!

I just checked RV price on Cruiseamerica.com and the price is far more expensive from what You presented.

Estimate (All Prices USD $) 15 Nights $1270.05 1500 Estimated miles: $525.00 Supplemental Liability Insurance: No Charge Environment Fee: $7.00 Subtotal: $1802.05 State Tax: $108.12 Damage Deposit: $500.00 Total Charge: $2410.17

Hi Dario, yes regular price for an RV will be much higher. We got ours through a relocation deal. It was a one-way rental deal with a particular route and for specific dates. Check their relocation deals and see what they might have on offer right now. Keep in mind that you will need to stay flexible with dates and route if you want to score a deal like we did.

I have an interesting situation. Our leased car has 7000 miles left over due to lock down. So only gas cost is there. It is a suv large size very comfortable but gas consumption will be high. Your suggestion of national park tickets in membership is a good one.. thanks for your tips. If you had included Things not to miss would have been great.

Glad you found the tips useful. Hope you find a fun way to use up those extra miles on your car. Sounds like a road trip is a must!

I’m planning a cross country road trip from NY to California and need suggestions on itinerary and best sightseeing routes, places to stay etc. I found your article very informative, thanks

Such a fascinating read. It’s amazing to see a full break down of what you paid for your road trip! Thank you for the amazing tips, and info, this really helps!

Hi dear Oksana&Max I’m Dariush from Iran. I enjoyed this text.thanks for excellent description about your trip. I hope could make program to travel to the us in close future. I invite you to come Iran. I can be your free host. Hope to see you

Thank you for sharing your incredible travel journal. Amazing Mind Blowing Video.

Good you explained everything in detail it has been a great help. Thanks for sharing the Useful and Informative Blog. Wonderful travel blog along with beautiful pics. This is the amazing Travel Plan.

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Why Do Individual Flights Sometimes Cost More On Their Own Than As Part Of A Round Trip?

• Not all airlines inflate one-way ticket prices; some like JetBlue and Southwest offer transparent pricing by summing up two one-way fares for the round-trip cost.
• Pricing discrepancy between one-way and round-trip fares is particularly evident in premium cabins, driven by the purchasing habits of business travelers who prioritize specific travel dates and times.
• Passengers can explore round-trip options, even if they don't use the return trip, as it may potentially save them from exorbitant one-way fares. Evaluating the value of redemptions against cash fares is also crucial for those using points and miles.

Airfare pricing involves a complex interplay of various factors that can confound travelers seeking consistency and transparency. The common notion that one-way tickets tend to be pricier than round-trip tickets isn't universally true, but there are valid reasons behind this perception. A closer look at the dynamics of airline pricing and passenger behaviors sheds light on this phenomenon.

Not always pricier

To begin with, not all airlines necessarily adhere to the practice of inflating one-way ticket prices. Some carriers, such as JetBlue and Southwest, often offer fairly transparent pricing by simply summing up two one-way fares to create the round-trip cost. Moreover, routes with frequent daily flights from a single airline can exhibit similar pricing symmetry due to increased capacity and a more consistent pricing structure.

Nevertheless, there are instances where the reverse occurs, where one-way tickets appear disproportionately costly compared to round-trip fares.

Driven by business travel

This discrepancy in pricing is particularly evident in premium cabins , attributed to the purchasing habits of business travelers. These passengers often prioritize specific travel dates and times, accommodating their rigid schedules without much sensitivity to cost. Such travelers, compelled by work-related commitments, are more likely to book one-way tickets, often covered by their companies. Although non-business travelers might also seek one-way options for emergencies, their urgency mitigates their price sensitivity.

In practice, actual pricing variations vary based on numerous factors including airline, route, and travel date, but the pronounced price difference between round trip and one-way fares is more observable on long international routes as opposed to on domestic flights. Premium cabins tend to accentuate this pricing differential, although it also occurs in economy class.

Alternate booking methods

To navigate this pricing structure, one strategy for travelers to consider is to explore round-trip options, even if they do not necessarily to utilize the return trip. While this will not always be cheaper than a one-way fare, it is worth looking into. This can lead to cost savings by potentially avoiding exorbitant one-way fares.

This pricing asymmetry presents another strategic challenge for passengers using points and miles for their flights. Evaluating the value of redemptions against cash fares is always crucial. Dividing the flight's cost by the miles or points required provides a simple metric, although there are diverse perspectives in the travel community about calculating this value accurately.

In any event, the rationale behind one-way tickets being consistently pricier than round-trip fares is deeply rooted in the dynamics of airline business and passenger behavior. Business travelers, who frequently require one-way bookings, form a market segment willing to pay for convenience.

Airlines, catering to this demand, capitalize on this by adjusting pricing structures. On the flip side, travelers seeking the flexibility of one-way travel bear the brunt of elevated fares due to the potential revenue loss airlines might incur if return flights aren't utilized. This complex interplay of factors shapes the airfare landscape, prompting travelers to carefully consider their options to optimize both cost and convenience.

What other strategies can passengers who only need a one-way fare utilize to save money? Let us know in the comments below.

Local election results: Khan likely to cling on to London mayoralty - as West Midlands on a knife-edge

Both main parties now think Sadiq Khan has won a narrow victory in the London mayoral race, despite "wild rumours". Andy Street is also likely to hang on to the West Midlands mayoralty, despite Tory defeats across the country. Follow results and reaction live.

Saturday 4 May 2024 07:35, UK

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• Labour and Tories now think Sadiq Khan to win narrowly in London - amid 'wild' rumours
• Party fears result will be 'very close'
• Labour wins mayoralty in PM's own backyard
• Starmer hails Labour wins - but admits Gaza cost him votes
• Vote 2024: Council results in full  | Mayoral results as they happen  | Labour will fail to gain overall majority based on council election results - projection
• Live reporting by  Ben Bloch

As we've been reporting, rumours have swirled since polls closed on Thursday that Sadiq Khan may have suffered a shock defeat to Tory candidate Susan Hall.

However, Sky News correspondents understand that key figures in both parties now believe the Labour incumbent will just about cling on.

Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates said Labour MPs were more confident yesterday evening that Sadiq Khan has "squeaked" the election.

Figures close to Ms Hall said yesterday she was in with a chance of being named winner when results are announced later today.

But Sam Coates said there has been a "shift" in the wake of the turnout results being published, showing it was not as low as initially feared in Labour circles.

"Both Labour and key Conservative MPs now do think Sadiq Khan will have squeaked it tomorrow," he said.

"There are a lot fewer jitters than there were a few hours ago."

Labour sources have also suggested to our political correspondent Rob Powell that rumours of Sadiq Khan's potential defeat may be exaggerated.

One said the "the fundamentals are good" while acknowledging "no one can possibly know the outcome of the vote at this stage" because counting had not commenced.

Another insider said: "It will be tight, but I think some rumours are a little wild."

If you're just catching up after a flurry of results yesterday, our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh can get you up to speed in just one a minute.

After a flood of local elections results through the day yesterday, we are expecting some key races to be declared later today.

Mayoralties

Counting will start in the London mayoral race at 9am - and is expected to take until the evening for a final result.

The West Midlands contest will also be declared this afternoon - we are expecting the result around 2pm.

We will also get results from:

• Liverpool City Region around midday;
• South Yorkshire around 1pm;
• Greater Manchester around 2pm;
• West Yorkshire around 3.30pm;
• Salford around 7pm.

London Assembly

We will get results from fourteen London constituencies.

There will also be the results from the London-wide top-up list that will elect another 11 assembly members.

These are expected to be declared throughout the day, and we'll bring you those as we get them.

Results in four council races are expected to be declared today:

• North Tyneside;
• Warrington;
• Epping Forest (most ward results have already been announced).

A further eight police and crime commissioners will also be revealed. 

The Conservative Party has suffered its worst electoral defeat in years, losing more than half of its councillors who stood for re-election across England.

Labour hailed a "truly historic" result in Rishi Sunak's own backyard of York and North Yorkshire, where David Skaith smashed Tory Keane Duncan by almost 15,000 votes.

The region, which was electing a mayor for the first time, covers Mr Sunak's Richmond constituency and is an area Labour has historically struggled to compete in.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, renewed his demand that the prime minister call a general election.

The party also had successes in the North East and East Midlands mayoral votes and in the Blackpool by-election.

There was a sliver of hope for the government, with Lord Ben Houtchen holding on to his role as the mayor of Tees Valley.

This victory is likely to have quelled talk of rebellion among disenchanted Tory MPs who had threatened to oust the prime minister if the results proved a disaster, but it remains to be seen whether the Tories can hold on to the West Midlands mayoralty.

Labour's Sadiq Khan is also attempting to secure re-election in London.

Read the full story of the local elections so far here:

Good morning!

Welcome back to the Politics Hub and our coverage of the 2024 local elections results.

It is the second day when we are expecting key races to be declared after Conservative support cratered across the country.

All eyes today are on the mayoral races - most notably in London and the West Midlands , both of which appear to be on a knife-edge.

Here is what you need to know for the day ahead:

• After some rumours of a potential defeat by Tory candidate Susan Hall yesterday, incumbent Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan is thought to be on track to retain his post for a third term - but it could be very close;
• Counting will get under way at 9am, and we are expecting the result later tonight , and we'll bring you updates here as the counting progresses;
• The race to be the next mayor of the West Midlands is also thought to be on a knife-edge, with incumbent Conservative mayor Andy Street fighting for a third term against Labour's Richard Parker ;
• It is thought that Mr Street has just about done enough to keep his job for another four years, but it is also likely to be close - we're expecting that result around 2pm ;
• We will also get results from mayoral races in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, South Yorkshire and Salford;
• The London Assembly results will be declared throughout the day, as well as four more councils and eight police and crime commissioner roles, with results expected through the afternoon from around noon;
• We're expecting to hear from the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer , at some point today, and PM Rishi Sunak is likely to be out and about as well, so we'll bring you their comments as they come in;
• And we'll bring you all the reaction and analysis to the results throughout the day.

We'll be discussing all of this and more with:

• Ellie Reeves , Labour's deputy campaign coordinator, at 7.10am ;
• Andrew Griffith , science minister, at 8.15am .

Follow along for live coverage throughout the day of the local elections results, the fallout, and analysis from our experts.

The final election result for today has been declared - but there will be more to come on Saturday. 

Seven mayoral contests will be announced: London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, South Yorkshire and Salford.

Fourteen London constituencies will also be announced, along with the London-wide top-up list that will elect another 11 assembly members.

Plus, four councils should be declared - North Tyneside, Stroud, Warrington and Epping Forest, where most of the results have already been announced.

A further eight police and crime commissioners will be revealed. 

Over the course of last night and today, Labour has gained nine police and crime commissioner (PCC) posts from the Conservatives. 

The party also held five posts, with another 10 to be declared over the weekend.

This means Labour holds 14 PCCs and the Conservatives 12, while Plaid Cymru has retained Dyfed-Powys.

While these elections get much less attention than those for mayors, councils and the London Assembly, they could be significant as they include many of the shires that traditionally lean towards the Conservatives.

We went into this set of local and mayoral elections with two big questions: Is Labour on course for a majority and how bad is it going to be for Rishi Sunak?

On the Sunak question, it's a very clear-cut story.

The Tories are having as bad a night as their worst nightmare.

There is a 19-point drop in the Conservative vote compared with the 2019 general election - one of its worst performances ever.

But it's not an all-out win for Labour, either.

Read more from our political editor Beth Rigby below...

The council is now under no overall control, with the Liberal Democrats, Labour and independents making gains. 

The Tories had held Gloucester for 20 years.

Boundary changes in the area have helped the Liberal Democrats and meant all seats were up for election this year.

It's been a bruising day for the Conservatives as the party looks on track for its worst local election result ever.

Labour has taken control of a string of Leave-voting councils, secured victory in the mayoral election in Rishi Sunak's back yard and won the Blackpool South by-election.

Our economics and data editor Ed Conway picks out the example of Rushmoor - a typically Tory-voting council which Labour has taken control of for the first time - as an example of a significant Labour win.

"Even in the late Tony Blair period... the Labour share was always low and it's just climbed up in the last few elections," he says.

"We're seeing here unprecedented results, that's underlining the national swing."

Despite Labour's success, however, there are "other stories going on", Ed notes, with the party's vote in areas with larger Muslim areas falling, potentially as a result of its stance on Gaza.

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Find cheap flights to Germany from $166

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the united states to germany departing on 10/15. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to germany.

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Good to know

Faqs - booking germany flights, what child safety seat regulations must i be aware of before renting a car in germany.

Children up to the age of 12 who are shorter than 1.5 meters (59 inches) are required by German law to ride in an authorized car seat or booster. In case all the other restraints in your rented car are being used by other kids, the child may ride in the rear seat of the car, but they must have a seat belt.

What other cities can I access from MUC Airport once I reach Germany from the US?

MUC Airport serves several other nearby cities that can be easily accessed by public bus services, a rented car, or a cab. Some of the nearby cities to MUC that you should consider visiting on your visit to Germany include Freising, Neufahrn, Erding, as well as Eching in addition to Munich.

Are there affordable airport lounges on flight routes between the USA and Germany?

Yes. Travelers who wish to enjoy airport lounges before boarding their preferred airlines from the US to Germany should consider flying from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). This airport features an economy lounge known as the Delta Sky Club in Terminal 1. This lounge is widely affordable for passengers who plan on traveling from the US to Germany on a budget.

How can I catch the first flight at New York Stewart International Airport on the SWF-BRE route to Germany?

You should consider booking a hotel room in a nearby hotel to SWF Airport if you intend to catch the earliest flight to Germany from SWF. One nearby hotel for consideration is Homewood Suites by Hilton Newburgh-Stewart Airport, located 0.61 miles away.

Which airport is most convenient to Berlin?

The city of Berlin is served by two major international airports: Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) and Berlin Tegel (TXL). Flying into either airport can get you to downtown Berlin in less than an hour via the 24/7 S-Bahn trains, but coming from Tegel can shave around 10-15m off your total travel time.

Where should I fly into to visit the Black Forest?

For travelers looking to visit the Black Forest, there are a handful of airports that can be a good option. Frankfurt Airport is one of the closest airports in Germany, but it can also be convenient to fly into Zurich, Switzerland, and travel to the Black Forest from there.

Do I need a visa to visit Germany?

US nationals currently don’t require a visa to enter Germany for less than 30 days. However, in 2021, US citizens will be required to apply for an ETIAS before traveling to Germany and the rest of the Schengen Zone. Official information can be sought on US government websites, as the guidelines are subject to change.

I’ll be flying to Germany to visit the Rhine Valley, which airport should I fly into?

The Rhine Valley is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Germany. To reach the Rhine Valley, it is most convenient to fly into either Cologne or Frankfurt. If you’re traveling exclusively to Rhine Valley, Cologne is technically the closest air hub; however, Frankfurt is a popular destination and can also provide convenient access.

How long is the flight to Germany?

An average nonstop flight from the United States to Germany takes 9h 27m, covering a distance of 4580 miles. The most popular route is Newark - Frankfurt am Main with an average flight time of 7h 25m.

What is the cheapest flight to Germany?

The cheapest ticket to Germany from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $150 one-way, and $279 round-trip. The most popular route is Newark to Frankfurt am Main and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $538.

Which airlines fly to Germany?

Lufthansa, United Airlines & Air Canada fly the most frequently from the United States to Germany. The most popular route is from New York to Frankfurt am Main, and Air Canada, Lufthansa and United Airlines fly this route the most.

What are the most popular destinations in Germany?

Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Frankfurt am Main (50% of total searches to Germany). The next most popular destinations are Munich (23%) and Berlin (15%). Searches for flights to Düsseldorf (4%), to Hamburg (2%) and to Stuttgart (2%) are also popular.

How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Germany

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Germany flight deals.
• Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER) is widely preferred as the arrival airport for most travelers flying from the US to Germany because of its close proximity to Berlin, the country's capital city. Passengers traveling this route have the choice of flying on indirect flights with just one layover at Zurich Airport (ZRH) for SWISS Airlines or Copenhagen Airport (CPH) for Scandinavian Airlines, among others, from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
• A majority of travelers who plan to tour Germany from the USA’s east-coast region depart from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to different destination airports in Germany. Those travelers who wish to take the shortest time possible from the US to Germany should consider following the JFK to Munich International Airport (MUC) route. JFK acts as a hub for Lufthansa airlines, one major airline offering direct flights from the USA to Germany.
• Consider using Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) if you are planning on traveling to Germany from the central regions of the USA. Travelers who fly via this route from the USA to Germany have the option of using connecting flights only as there are no airlines offering direct flights on this route.
• Consider landing at airports like Hamburg Airport (HAM), Hannover Airport (HAJ), or Bremen Airport (BRE), if you are planning on visiting any of the cities located in the northern region of Germany. All major international airports serving flights from the US to Germany use these three airports.
• Travelers coming from the Northwest region of the United States should consider flying out of Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Those who indent to take the shortest time possible from SEA Airport should consider landing at MUC. Even though there are no nonstop flights on this route, there is a considerable number of airlines serving indirect flights with a single layover at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), like Lufthansa and American Airways.
• When you’re booking your flight to Germany, it’s likely that you’ll find yourself with a layover. There are nonstop flights from the US to Germany departing from Baltimore, New Jersey and New Orleans, but those departing from other cities will most likely have at least a single stop along the way.
• If you’ll be making your way through Bavaria, it can be handy to fly into Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to make getting around more convenient. Flying into Frankfurt Airport puts you more readily within reach of Stuttgart and Rothenburg. However, if you’re traveling throughout the entire area, you can book your return flight out of Munich to save time.
• For easy access to both southern Germany and Austria, it can be beneficial to book your flight to Germany via Munich Airport (MUC). Munich is a popular destination on its own, and its proximity to Austria can help you add several areas of interest to your vacation with little extra effort.
• Flying into Prague can be an option if you’re sticking to attractions in eastern Germany and the Czech Republic. Prague is convenient not only to several areas of the Czech Republic, but also Leipzig, Dresden and Nuremberg once you cross over into Germany. A popular route is flying into Prague and returning from Leipzig.
• Oktoberfest, one of the most internationally famous festivals in Germany, generally runs from the last week of September to early October. Flight prices can surge during these few weeks, so unless you’re traveling to Germany specifically for Oktoberfest, it can save you money to book your flights outside of these dates.

Top 5 airlines flying to Germany

Checking in at the airport the agent only booked the first keg of my trip and had my checked luggage going to the airport with a layover! Never was issued a boarding pass for the second leg or received sticker fir my checked bag. All was well in the end! Delta agents helped to resolve the situation!!!

Delayed due to an ill passenger after loading. Not preventable on Delta's part. Was in first class. The seats are becoming worn and detaching from their velcro attachments. Only got snacks on flight. The attendant was not the friendliest.

I would fly again the whole experience was great. The only feed back I can give that they don't do that American Airlines does is the crew there is more humorous with boarding and thank their passengers. It makes it more fun to fly with them. I would however fly Delta again.

Big plane, long flight, absolutely no leg room and basically non existent air! I am 5”4’ and always travel Main Cabin, I was miserable on this plane and could barely move when we arrived in Cabo due to the cramped leg area!

From Atlanta to Cabo I would have hoped on a plane that size I would have been able to breathe and wiggle my feet a little! The leg room in that plane is non existent and I am only 5”4’. And the air vent either wasn’t working very well or just could not blow air from the ceiling to the seat area as I was suffocating through the entire flight! And please don’t say I would have been more comfortable in first class because I cannot afford those rates and have always travelled Main Cabin without issues !

The pilots were good. Disappointing when planes don't have electrical ports

I liked the piloting of the aircraft. Very disappointed about lack of electrical ports. Also, although a short flight. there was enough time to hand out snacks to comfort + seats as was done for first class.

I had a wonderful experience flying with delta. The gentleman taking care of us on our flight was so nice, accommodating, and attentive. He always was smiling and giving pins to the kids which made me smile. The flight was quick too and without turbulence. Thank you for the great flying experience.

Delta is one of the best airlines I have flown

Made the Atlanta to Pittsburgh trip many times, with Delta no issues

I paid $380 for my one-way ticket from California to Minnesota. The fair did not include online check-in. I received instructions from their app to check in at a kiosk. At the kiosk, the boarding pass would not print until an actual person came to verify that I had a personal item and not a carry-on item, On the plane, the person next to me was drunk and allowed to continue to order alcohol. United is garbage I’d rather fly spirit.

The plane was dirty and the in seat air wasn't blowing as planes usually do.

Generally good but there wasn’t any staff available when my luggage didn’t appear at baggage claim in Fresno. It took about half an hour to locate a staff member to open up the locked room where it was being kept.

Food was terrible Not many options Stewards dont care Delay

Very nice staff , good in-flight entertainment and food/snacks. Our luggage didn’t make it on the way there, but picking up luggage at the airport was a straightforward process.

Hated every minute of it. This flight should have only taken 1.5hrs but was delayed over 10hours. Now I am being told I cannot be compensated or refunded my ticket price or extra leg room, which I purchased but did not receive, because the airline is throwing the blame on the 3rd party I purchased tickets through and 3rd party putting the blame on airline. No one wants to help. They received their money and that's all they care about. Im going on 3 days of still trying to get to my final destination, had to cancel car rental, car insurance and hotel. Currently staying in airport until hotels open up. Thank you Lufthansa, Kayak, Underpricer and United for making this trip the worst ever.

the flight from Tampa departed with a delay. The food on board was poor, usually on international airlines alcoholic beverages are offered free of charge , but here it was for a fee, the cutlery was wooden, there were no hot drinks (tea, coffee). Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of the portions of food, but it wouldn't have been enough for a child either.And in the future, I will try not to use the services of this airline

check-in luggage charge when they send email for free check-in luggage

Good dinner and nice plane.Smootz flight. Breakfast had no sweet option. Seats hardly reclined.

Flight from CLT to DUS via MUC ticketed by United Airlines and operated by Lufthansa. 2nd leg of flight from MUC to DUS was cancelled and no notification provided. At check in , Lufthansa agents at airport were unable to locate record and wanted us to contact United Airlines directly.

German crew were very kind. Food was okay but can be better, especially bread was not good, Garbage collection was very poor.

Awful Terrible staff poor communication Flight delayed for an hour with no apology or explanation and no help re missing connecting flight. Resulted in a 7 hour layover at Munich waiting for another connecting flight. Only 15 euros refreshment voucher given. Will not fly Lufthansa again

Both flights were late for what appeared to be the airline’s not having the planes ready. Arrived over 6 hours late.

It was a busy flight and all the crew were very helpful and gracious

Seats were not the most comfortable and food options weren’t great but overall but everything else was excellent

Check-in very easy and smooth. Plane and crew were nice. Seat open next to me created more space. Food was fair but plentiful. Lots of movies and I was able to sleep some on the way to Munich. Very tight connection, about an hour. Fast through passport control and a bit of a walk to last G terminal gate but I made my connection to Palma. Unfortunately, my luggage did not make it. It is now almost 24 hours since I anded and still NO luggage. I know it landed last night on another flight. Local delivery should be today to my hotel in Palma but nothing yet. I asked about the tight connection when I checked in and was assured they would get my luggage to the connecting flight. Very disappointing it missed my flight but more disappointing that it has taken so long to arrive. Failure on the airlines and service to get my luggage to date.

I wish the flight attendant was a little bit kinder

The food wasn’t great and it would be nice if the airlines showed documentaries about the countries we are flying into.

Disappointed everytime. The app doesn't load the boarding passes. They have lots of agent that seem to be busy doing nothing with a long line waiting to get paper boarding passes. Food choices are poor. Entertainment is less than entertaining.

Horrible experience. Nothing to give to kids to keep them entertained.

The seats were tiny, being of a fairly petite build, I don’t usually expect to feel crammed and cramped in a seat, but I definitely was on this flight. I couldn’t even bend over to get anything out from under the seat in front and getting up to go to the bathroom at night with the seat backs reclined was nearly impossible. I had to do gymnastics to get over and out. For an airline that does long flights overnight, it’s kind of ridiculous.

Not connecting flights. Missed my flight from Dublin to Liverpool because I arrived at Dublin one hour too late. For this mistake, they offered me a flight from Dublin to Manchester. Thats great and all, but I waste time and money to commute to Liverpool. Be sure to check the time of your connecting flights, because they sure don’t when they sell it to you

Excellent! Great flight attendants, good food (in business class, at least), very comfortable. Touchscreen and remote wasn’t great.

In economy and food was ok, but with limited leg space (and I was in a 2 seat configuration) it was difficult to eat with a tiny seat tray. I spilt wine on my trousers. First time on British Air (I usually fly Turkish Air) and in a 777. Heathrow was pleasant but changing terminals awkward.

Starting with the flight Cairo to London the plain was so poor no entertainment at all uncomfortable seats although it’s 5 hours long,then an American airline plain took me from London to Miami it was a bad experience the crew most of flight time not available and they asked us to help our selves for any snacks if we need. From Miami to London actually was perfect flight with a huge plain and perfect crew but from London to Cairo was horrible plain with stiff fixed seats not movable no entertainment or wi fi very poor Menu which is unacceptable for a business class

I've done hundreds of flights in my life, and this flight was one of the best I've ever taken, From beginning to end, everything went smoothly, professionally, and with a smile and friendly attitude from all employees I interacted with. The food was delicious (and free), as were the drinks. There was just a genial and effective way in the way that British Airways organized the flight -that reminded of days in the 70's, 80's, and 90's, when flying was a fun, and exciting adventure. I enjoyed and had confidence in the abilities of the flight crew, I'll be flying British Airways several more times this summer. Thank you so much for the great experience! Cheryl Olso

My baggage did not arrived with me. Took 3 days to get it after so may calls and follow up

Terrible! I missed my flight to my final destination and British airlines and American Airlines keep pointing fingers on each other’s. Nobody wants to take responsibility

Terrible. Flight was 3 hours delayed and I missed my other flight to my final destination

Overall, terrific service, accommodations, and experience. Only reason comfort was rated lower was because it was difficult to keep a comfortable sleeping position for the overnight flight, but I also had an economy seat.

Brand new airplane Airbus 330. Great crew. The staff on the ground is always a bit mediocre at Condor.

Some pretty unfriendly check in crew members. This is a no frills airline.

Seat was the worst I ever had in an airplane

I will definitely recommend your service. This is my first experience with Condor and so far it was great!

A flight attendant placed a meal on my tray. I was in 44E. The passenger who was in 44G had gone to the bathroom. I ate the meal. When the passenger in 44G asked where his meal was the flight attendant put the blame on me. She claimed another attendant put the meal on my tray. She then claimed when she gave me the meal she asked me if I had ordered a special meal. She did not Worst experience I have ever had with a crew member.

Entertainment screen was not functioning, there was no effort made by flight attendants to take care of the problem. All I could do was looking at customs forms and watch landing videos for 10 hrs 😁 Bruno Volk

I did not get a flight from JFK to Portland nonexistent Condor flight 308 does not exist and JetBlue knew nothing and someone changed my ticket and eliminated that leg of the flight. I would love to know who’s going to pay for my $750 car rental.

My return flight from JFK to Portland Maine disappeared and it cost me $750 to rent a car and drive home from New York. I don’t even know where to start with who screwed up or what condor blaming the ticket sales or JetBlue JetBlue knows nothing. Everyone giving me the runaround. Gotta say the service all-around sucked.

The flight was fine. We were served a meal and a snack. Boarding was fine.

I don't believe we were given any food... but for the size of the plane, it was pretty comfortable and a nice flight. I dont believe there was any individual onboard entertainment, and the headphone jack was the one with 2 holes, so I couldnt use my headphones... the boarding times were all over the place, and we never really flew on time.

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