How to Get Around United States

Domestic flights are the practical way to cover the country's real distances -- major carriers connect virtually every sizable city, and a coast-to-coast flight takes 5-6 hours versus multiple days of driving.

A car is essential outside major city centers -- public transit is strong in New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Boston, and San Francisco, but largely absent in most of the rest of the country.

Amtrak's passenger rail network connects many major cities but runs far less frequently than European or Asian rail -- practical for a scenic journey (the California Zephyr, the Coast Starlight) but not a fast way to cover the country.