United States
How to get to United States: airports, flights and border crossings
Fly into the airport nearest your first base, not the cheapest hub: JFK or Newark for New York and the East Coast, LAX or SFO for California, ORD for Chicago, MIA for Miami. Direct flights run from Europe, the Gulf, East Asia and Australia; New Zealand and most of South America connect. Land and cruise entry use the same passport and ESTA or visa rules.
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- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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GuideUnited States
Key facts
- Main gateways
- JFK and Newark (New York), LAX and SFO (California), ORD (Chicago), MIA (Miami), ATL (Atlanta), IAD (Washington, DC)
- Best airport
- Whichever is closest to your first 2–3 bases; a cheap connecting fare can cost more in time than it saves
- Entry rule
- Visa Waiver Program travellers need an approved ESTA before boarding; everyone else a visa
- Flight time, London–New York
- About 7–8 hours eastbound, 6–7 hours westbound
- Flight time, Sydney–Los Angeles
- About 13–14 hours nonstop
- Flight time, Auckland–Los Angeles
- About 12 hours nonstop
- Land borders
- Canada and Mexico crossings by car, bus or train; same passport and ESTA or visa rules apply
- Arrival day
- Allow 1–2 hours for immigration and customs at a big gateway; Global Entry and Mobile Passport can cut this
Summary by passport, month and cost
Use this as a starting filter, then check current fares and rules for your own dates. Fares move constantly; treat every figure below as a 2026 estimate for planning, not a quote.
| Passport / origin | Entry paperwork | Typical routing | Return fare, 2026 estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States (domestic) | No passport needed for domestic flights; REAL ID or passport for air travel | Nonstop between hubs | $150–450 |
| United Kingdom / Ireland | ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | Nonstop London–New York, LA, Miami; 7–11 h | $450–900 |
| Schengen Europe | ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | Nonstop from major hubs; 8–12 h | $500–1,000 |
| Canada | Usually visa-free; ESTA not used | Nonstop or land border | $300–700 |
| Australia / New Zealand | ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | Nonstop from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland to LA or SFO; 12–14 h | $1,200–2,200 |
| India, China, most of Africa and South America | US visa required | One-stop via Gulf, Europe or East Asia | $900–1,800 |
Fares are round-trip economy, 2026 estimate, and vary by season and how early you book.
Step by step
First, fix your itinerary. The United States is continent-sized, so the airport decision follows the plan, not the other way round. If your trip is New York plus Washington, DC or Boston, fly into JFK, Newark or Boston and take the train between them. If it is Los Angeles, San Francisco and a national-park loop, fly into LAX or SFO and out of the other, or return the car where you rented it. If it is Chicago, Miami or New Orleans, use ORD, MIA or MSY.
Second, compare nonstop against one-stop. A nonstop from Europe to the East Coast is 7–8 hours; a cheaper one-stop through a hub can add 4–6 hours and a connection risk. On a 7–10 night trip that is a real cost. For long-haul from Australia, New Zealand or Asia, nonstops to LAX, SFO or Vancouver are usually worth the fare difference.
Third, book the paperwork before the flight. Visa Waiver Program travellers need an approved ESTA, applied for online, and airlines check it at check-in. Travellers who need a visa should start the application months ahead. Everyone should have a passport valid for the whole stay, and check the current rules rather than relying on an old trip.
Fourth, plan the arrival. At JFK, LAX, ORD or MIA, immigration and baggage can take 1–2 hours at peak times. Have your first night's address, a working phone and a plan for getting from the airport: train or metro in New York, Chicago and Washington, DC; rideshare or shuttle in Los Angeles and Miami. Domestic connections need 2–3 hours at a big hub, more if you clear immigration first.
Fifth, if you are arriving overland or by sea, the same entry rules apply at the border. Driving from Canada or Mexico, crossing by bus or train, or arriving on a cruise all mean a passport check and the same ESTA or visa requirement. Rental cars usually cannot be taken across the Mexican border, and one-way cross-border rentals are limited.
- Book the airport closest to your first base, not the cheapest fare.
- Leave 2–3 hours for a domestic connection after an international arrival.
- Apply for ESTA or a visa before you book non-refundable flights.
- Check whether your fare includes a checked bag; US domestic fares often do not.
Notes
Sales tax is added at the till, so a quoted fare or hotel rate is not the final number. Tipping is expected at sit-down restaurants and for taxis; see the money page for the current norms.
Domestic flights are the default for any leg over about 600 km, and budget carriers charge for bags and seat selection. Train is competitive only on the Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC and beyond.
Weather changes the plan more than the paperwork: winter storms delay flights in the Midwest and Northeast, and summer heat affects desert parks. Check the best-time page before fixing dates.
Mobile data: a US eSIM or prepaid SIM is cheap and useful for rideshare, maps and tickets. Airport Wi-Fi exists but is slow at peak times.
- Prices shown before sales tax.
- Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, US$1–2 a drink.
- Emergency number is 911 everywhere.
- Six time zones; daylight saving mid-March to early November.
Questions people ask
What is the best airport to fly into for the United States?
The one closest to your first base. New York (JFK or Newark) for the East Coast, Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) for the West, Chicago (ORD) or Miami (MIA) for the middle and south. A cheaper connecting fare can cost more in time than it saves.
How long is the flight to the United States from the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand?
London to New York is about 7–8 hours eastbound and 6–7 westbound. Toronto to New York is about 1.5 hours. Sydney to Los Angeles is about 13–14 hours nonstop, Auckland to Los Angeles about 12 hours. Add 4–6 hours for a one-stop routing.
Can I enter the United States by land or sea?
Yes. You can cross from Canada or Mexico by car, bus or train, or arrive on a cruise. The same passport and ESTA or visa rules apply at the border as at an airport. Rental cars usually cannot be taken across the Mexican border, and cross-border one-way rentals are limited.
Do I need an ESTA or a visa?
Visa Waiver Program travellers need an approved ESTA before boarding; most other nationalities need a US visa. Rules depend on your passport, so check the current requirement for your nationality before booking. See the visa page for details.
How early should I get to the airport?
Two hours for a domestic flight and three for an international one. After an international arrival, allow 1–2 hours for immigration and customs, and 2–3 hours for a domestic connection at a big hub.
Is it cheaper to fly into a secondary airport?
Sometimes, but compare the total: a secondary airport may add a long transfer or a separate flight. For a short trip, a nonstop into a main gateway is usually the better value once time is counted.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check