US Transportation for Travelers

Overview: This article will go over transportation in different parts of the US.

WARNING

Due to the political chaos the US is currently experiencing, it is not safe to travel here as of 2026. Enter at your own risk.

Normally, progressive cities are ideal destinations for travelers. Those locations are experiencing frequent immigration raids by agents with very little training and self-control. People have been killed. Even though you are a traveler visiting temporarily, you may be taken into custody due to racial profiling. People have not been treated well in custody. They are denied medical care, showers, and hygienic products. They are given very little food and water; there is no oversight as government officials who oppose this are prevented from accessing the facilities.

People traveling from the UK, Australia, Canada, Scandinavia, and Western Europe (not including Spain, Italy, and Portugal) may not be targeted. But the risk is still present.

People traveling from Central America, South America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean have a higher risk of being targeted.

Areas of the US Americans Generally Refer to

  • East Coast

  • Northeast

    • New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. exist in this region and the East Coast

  • Midwest

    • Chicago and Minneapolis exist in this region

  • Rockies / Rocky Mountain

    • Denver exists in this region and the Southwest

  • Southwest

  • Appalachia

    • Visiting is not advised

  • New England

  • The South (also known as the Bible Belt)

    • Miami, Austin, Raleigh, Asheville, New Orleans, and Nashville exist in this region

    • Visiting the South is not advised due to political chaos

  • Pacific Northwest (also known as Cascadia)

    • Seattle and Portland exist in this region as well as the West Coast

  • West Coast (also known as Pacific Coast)

    • San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego exist in this region

Here is a simplified regional map of the United States. Most Americans see the US as what is displayed here. The US is a very big place; each region is different in terms of culture and politics.

Public Transportation Traversing the US

Greyhound Bus

Affordable bus travel with nearly 2,300 destinations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico

Amtrak Trains

Trains that travel frequently up and down the East Coast; it goes across the US including to the South and the Pacific Northwest but these routes are more expensive and less frequent. One route does go to Montreal, Canada.

  • Buy Amtrak tickets in advance! The price increases closer to the travel date. For example, train prices from Philadelphia to New York can be $18 in advance or $150-$300 the day of.

  • If you are taking the Amtrak train to New York, please note that there is a stop called Newark right before it (if you’re headed north) and the names sound very alike.

  • See train routes

Local Transit Options

The East Coast has better train systems that are older and more established; they have better routes, more stops and more frequent trains. On the East Coast, it’s normal to wait 20 minutes for a train. Towards the West, trains usually arrive every hour.

Train Systems & Light Rails

See this section for transit options by state and city

Subways & Metro Systems

See this section for transit options by state and city

Trolleys, Trams & Street Cars

Trolleys only exist in some cities.

  • Seattle, WA

  • Portland, OR

  • San Francisco, CA

  • West Philadelphia, PA

  • Salt Lake City, UT

Buses

Most state transit companies offer buses in addition to trains but trains are recommended over buses. Buses will likely be the least expensive option.

Bike & Scooter Rentals

Many cities offer bike and scooter rentals that usually only require a smartphone and an app to use. The app depends on the service provided in that city.

Car Services

Outside of some major cities, most of the US will require a car to travel.

Car Share

Ride share apps

  • Lyft

  • Uber

  • Turo/Zipcar (may have to be US citizen)

Car Rentals

Recommended companies:

Enterprise

  • Great insurance

  • Able to drive a car across the US and drop off in a different location

Avis

  • Able to drive a car across the US and drop off in a different location

Bike and Scooter Friendly Cities

Please note, this does not mean that all cities on this list have bike and scooter rentals.

CAUTION: Bike defensively. Do not rely on cars to follow bike laws. Do not expect drivers to notice you. Even though cities are building more bike lanes, bike-related deaths are common. Some cities, such as Denver, require bikers to use the streets and not the sidewalks.

  • San Francisco

  • Minneapolis

  • Portland

  • Seattle

  • Washington, D.C.

  • Chicago

  • New York

  • Fort Collins

  • Boston

  • Boulder

  • Philadelphia

  • Austin

  • Tucson

  • Denver

  • Madison

  • Eugene

  • Sacramento

Most Walkable Cities

Outside of some major cities, most of the US will require a car to travel.

  • San Francisco

  • Washington, D.C.

  • Seattle

  • Chicago

  • Boston

  • Philadelphia

  • Miami

  • Long Beach

Public Transportation in Major Cities

Most transit companies offer buses in addition to trains but trains are recommended over buses. Please note, the East Coast has better train systems that are older and more established; they have better routes, more stops and more frequent trains. On the East Coast, it’s normal to wait 20 minutes for a train. Towards the West, trains usually arrive every hour.

Seattle, WA

  • Link light rail (trains)

Denver, CO

  • RTD light rail (trains)

New York, NY

  • MTA transit system (trains and subways)

Philadelphia, PA

  • Septa trains and trolleys

Washington D.C.

  • Metro rail (trains and subways)

Newark, NJ

  • MTA transit system (trains and subways)

  • NJ transit system (trains and subways)

Danbury, CT

  • MTA transit system (trains and subways)

Chicago

Portland, OR

San Francisco, CA