How to Travel Between U.S. Cities Without Flying (Yes, It’s Possible — and Pretty Fun)

Tired of TSA pat-downs, middle seats, and $8 airport pretzels? You’re not alone. Traveling between U.S. cities without flying is totally doable—and in many cases, cheaper, greener, and less stressful.

1. Take the Train

Use Amtrak for:
- Northeast Corridor (Boston–NYC–Philly–D.C.)
- California Corridor (San Diego–L.A.–SF)
- Midwest lines (Chicago-based routes)

Benefits:
- Scenic views
- No TSA
- BYOB allowed

2. Intercity Buses

Options include:
- Greyhound
- Megabus
- FlixBus
- RedCoach
- OurBus

Modern buses have Wi-Fi, power outlets, and surprisingly good schedules.

3. Rideshare and Carpools

- Check r/rideShare on Reddit
- Use BlaBlaCar or Poparide (where available)
- Split a Lyft/Uber XL with friends for short hops

Always vet drivers and communicate expectations clearly.

4. Car Share and DriveAway

Don’t want to own a car? Use:
- Zipcar
- Turo
- DriveAway services (Auto Driveaway, Transfercar)

You can even get *paid* to relocate someone else’s car.

5. Overnight Options

Use overnight Amtrak sleeper trains or buses to save on lodging. Bring headphones, snacks, and low expectations.

6. Multi-City Passes

- Amtrak Rail Pass: $499 for 10 segments in 30 days
- FlixBus: occasional unlimited pass deals
- Older Greyhound Discovery Passes (check for promotions)

7. Regional Rail + Transit Links

Combine local services:
- SEPTA ↔ NJ Transit ↔ NYC Subway
- Caltrain ↔ BART ↔ Muni
- Metra ↔ CTA (Chicago)

Can be cheaper and faster than you'd expect.

8. Apps and Planning Tools

Use:
- Rome2Rio
- Wanderu
- Google Maps (offline mode)
- Amtrak, FlixBus, Megabus apps

These apps show the full picture—times, prices, routes.

9. Pack Smart

Ground travel = carry everything yourself. Bring:
- Small wheeled luggage
- Snacks
- Chargers
- Blanket or hoodie
- Entertainment (downloaded shows, music, books)

10. Final Word

Ground travel between U.S. cities is still alive and well. It just requires planning, patience, and maybe a strong neck pillow. Skip the skies and rediscover the art of the journey.