Intercity Travel in the US: Amtrak, Buses & Budget Airlines
The US has no single best way to travel between cities — the winner depends on the corridor, your budget, and how much you value your time. Here is the decision framework.
Amtrak: the train
Northeast Regional (Boston–New York–Philadelphia–DC) is Amtrak's crown jewel: NYC to DC in about 3.5 hours, downtown to downtown, no security theater. Acela is faster and plusher but often double the price — rarely worth it unless someone else is paying. Book at amtrak.com; fares rise as trains fill, so 2–3 weeks ahead typically saves 30–50%.
Long-distance trains (California Zephyr Chicago–SF, Empire Builder Chicago–Seattle) are scenic experiences, not transport — beautiful, frequently late, and often pricier than flying. Fun once; not a commute.
Newcomer tip: Amtrak stations are downtown (Moynihan in NYC, Union Station in DC/Chicago). For city-center to city-center trips under 500 miles, the train often beats flying door-to-door.
Buses: Greyhound, FlixBus, Megabus
The cheapest seat between any two cities, full stop. NYC–DC runs from ~$15–30, NYC–Boston similar.
- FlixBus and Megabus compete hardest on the Northeast and Midwest corridors — book early for the $1–10 promo fares.
- Greyhound (now owned by FlixBus) has the widest network, including places the others skip.
Trade-offs are real: 4–5 hours NYC–DC vs 3.5 by train, rest stops, and terminals in rougher neighborhoods. For daytime trips with a book or podcast, the savings are hard to argue with.
Budget airlines
For anything over ~800 km, fly:
- Southwest includes 2 free checked bags and no change fees — the total price is often lower than it looks, and it flies point-to-point (no hub connections).
- Spirit and Frontier advertise $30–60 fares, then charge for carry-on bags, seat selection, and even water. A "$40 fare" easily becomes $110. Always price the all-in total against Southwest or a legacy carrier.
- Alaska, JetBlue sit between budget and legacy on price and comfort.
Book 3–6 weeks out; fly Tuesday/Wednesday/Saturday for the lowest fares. Use Google Flights' price calendar rather than loyalty to any one airline.
Booking tools and tricks
Google Flights is the best starting point for airfare: the price calendar and price-tracking alerts beat airline sites for comparison. Book directly with the airline afterward — third-party sites complicate changes and refunds.
For trains and buses, book on amtrak.com, flixbus.com or greyhound.com directly; aggregators rarely beat the source and add a markup. Amtrak's USA Rail Pass ($499 for 10 segments in 30 days, when offered) can be a steal for multi-city trips — check current availability before planning around it.
One more money saver: Southwest does not appear on Google Flights or Kayak, so always check southwest.com separately before concluding you found the cheapest fare.
When each wins
| Trip | Best pick |
|---|---|
| NYC–DC–Boston | Amtrak Northeast Regional (or bus if broke) |
| NYC–Chicago | Fly (or 20-hour Amtrak if you love trains) |
| LA–San Francisco | Fly (1.5h) — the Coast Starlight is 12h scenic |
| Any 200–500 mile city pair | Compare train vs bus vs Southwest |
| Cross-country | Fly, always |
Frequently asked questions
Is Amtrak reliable?
On the Northeast Corridor, yes — roughly on time. Long-distance routes share freight tracks and are routinely hours late. Never book a tight connection off a long-distance train.
Are budget airlines safe?
Yes — same FAA safety standards as everyone else. You are paying for discomfort, not risk.
Do I need ID for domestic buses/trains/flights?
Buses/trains: photo ID smart to carry. Flights: government photo ID required at TSA (passport works fine for non-citizens).
Sources
- Amtrak bookings and fares — https://www.amtrak.com
- FlixBus USA — https://www.flixbus.com
- Greyhound — https://www.greyhound.com
- Southwest baggage policy — https://www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/baggage/