country
United StatesUnited States
First trip: one coast, not both. Pick 2–3 bases (for example New York 4 + Washington or Boston 3, or Los Angeles/San Francisco + a national-park loop by car) for 7–14 nights, and fly any leg over about 600 km.
The contiguous US is about 4,500 km coast to coast and spans four time zones (six with Alaska and Hawaii); trips break when a map-sized wish list meets real driving days. The big cities work on transit and walking, the national parks and the West only work by car. Entry needs an ESTA or a visa decided before you book, national parks increasingly need timed-entry reservations in peak season, and tipping and sales tax are added to almost every price you see.
All regions, cities and parks in United States (Atlas) →
Regions
City bases linked by Amtrak on the Northeast Corridor; no car needed
5–8 nights
San Francisco and Los Angeles, Highway 1, Yosemite by car
6–10 nights
Las Vegas or Phoenix as the air gateway, then a park loop by car
6–10 nights
Miami, Orlando theme parks and the Keys
5–8 nights
Arrive
JFK
John F. Kennedy International (New York)
AirTrain to subway or Long Island Rail Road into Manhattan
EWR
Newark Liberty International (New York area)
AirTrain to NJ Transit or Amtrak to Penn Station
LAX
Los Angeles International
The entry point for California; most visitors pick up a car here
SFO
San Francisco International
BART rail into downtown San Francisco
MIA
Miami International
Main gateway for Florida and Latin America connections
ORD
O'Hare International (Chicago)
Major hub for Midwest and cross-country connections
Time math
- 7 days
- New York 4 + Washington or Boston 3 by train; no car
- 10 days
- Fly into Las Vegas: Grand Canyon, Zion/Bryce and back, 1–2 nights per stop, with park reservations booked first
- 14 days
- California: San Francisco 3 + Yosemite 2 + Highway 1 2 + Los Angeles 4, one-way car hire, plus 3 spare
Country rules
- Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Etiquette
- Tip for service: it is part of how staff are paid, not optional extra.
- Queue in line and wait to be seated in restaurants unless a sign says otherwise.
- Smoking and vaping are banned in most indoor public places; cannabis laws differ by state and it stays illegal on federal land, including national parks.
- Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November)
- Busiest domestic travel days of the year; many shops and restaurants close on the day.
- July 4th (Independence Day)
- Fireworks crowds; beach towns and parks full.
- Summer (June–August)
- Peak national-park season with timed-entry systems and full lodging; extreme heat in the Southwest.
- Hurricane season (June–November)
- Storms can close Florida and Gulf Coast airports and roads for days.
Money & passes
Cash necessity: 1/5
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Prices are shown before sales tax, which is added at the till and varies by state and city.
- Hotels often add resort or destination fees and parking charges on top of the room rate: read the total before booking.
Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry
Safety
- Emergency: 911 (police, fire, ambulance).
- Driving is on the right; right turns on red are allowed in most states unless signed otherwise. Distances between fuel stations in the West can exceed 100 km, so fill up before remote stretches.
- Heat in desert parks (Death Valley, Grand Canyon inner canyon) kills hikers every year: start at dawn, carry more water than you think.
- Wildlife in parks (bears, bison, elk) must be kept at a distance; follow food-storage rules at campsites.
- Wildfire smoke and closures can change western plans in late summer and autumn: check park and state alerts daily.
- Hurricanes (June–November) affect Florida and the Gulf and Atlantic coasts; follow local evacuation orders.
The US is the air hub of North America: Canada and Mexico are short flights, and Miami connects to most of Latin America.
Sources
- ESTA application (US Customs and Border Protection, official) (official)
- National Park Service (official)
- UK FCDO travel advice: USA (official)
- Wikivoyage — United States of America (secondary)