Top Tips: How to travel cheap in USA

Found yourself planning the next vacation or typing ‘how to travel cheap in USA’ into Google, you’re not alone! 

Travel isn’t known for being affordable, but that doesn’t have to be the case, at all. There are lots of handy tips to be aware of so your wallet doesn’t feel the pinch.

As more people than ever before are planning to travel in their own backyard, with 75% of Americans taking a domestic summer vacation in 2022, it’s important to get your planning down so you don’t encounter those nasty price hikes when tourism rises.

And with that, let’s get into how to travel cheap in USA…

Where is the cheapest place to travel in the US?

A study was recently conducted to find the cheapest place to live in the US, this included the overall cost of living, monthly house prices, groceries cost, transport, etc. The cheapest state was found to be Oklahoma. 

This is followed by Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, and Arkansas. 

Meanwhile, the expensive states were: Hawaii, California, Massachusetts, New York, and Alaska.

But if none of these float your boat, or if you’re not going to be traveling for long periods of time (where monthly costs won’t affect you), there are other cheap places to travel. 

These include the National Parks like the Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, and Grand Teton. This is because camping is free or low-cost in these areas.

Santa Fe, Saint Augustine, and San Antonio are known to be other cheap vacations.

What is the cheapest way to travel across the US?

Domestic flights are often the go-to for ease and quickness, but it’s not always the most affordable route.

Buses and coaches offer really low-fares on long-distance travel. As does train travel.

But one of the most accessible ways to get around, especially in smaller towns, is by car. 

Renting a car is a bonus for affordability, time-saving, and accommodation – potentially. Sleeping in your car overnight is a great way to check out nature and avoid high hotel costs. 

It does take a little extra time to research sites where you can stay, but as long as the area is safe, it could be well worth your time.
Average car rentals cost $30 per day, but this does depend on location and timings too.

Is Amtrak cheaper than flying?

Amtrak is a reliable transport method for visiting key locations across the US. With more than 30 routes across America and Canada, Amtrak travels to over 500 destinations in 46 states.

If you wish to travel in a private bedroom or roomette, with meals included, this can be higher than air fares.

But if you stick with the standard coach seats and purchase tickets in advance, these tend to be cheaper than coach on a plane.

As an example, we checked out tickets from Chicago, Illinois to San Francisco, California. 

Coach tickets on Amtrak are available for $142, for a random date in April 2023, whereas plane tickets are available from $330. 

The downsides, though, are this is a 53-hour-long journey on the train vs a four-hour flight. You could break up any long travels, though, with multiple stops and taking in the sights.

The pros to Amtrak are: more baggage allowance (two personal items and two pieces of luggage), more space, and arrivals and departures aren’t as stressful with more time allowed either time.

Ultimate Tips: How to travel cheap in USA

Even once you’ve conquered finding the cheapest place to travel in the US or the best modes of transport, there are still some fool-proof steps you can take to make your experience more affordable.

Remember: travel is what you make it. 

Not everything will go right all the time – throwback to being in Bali and in a hotel room with a door that didn’t close and a bunch of lizards climbing the walls… While it could have been a nightmare scenario, we laughed a lot and gained great memories. 

There are many ways you can travel on a budget. Let’s check out the ultimate guide for how to travel cheap in USA…

1. Set up price alerts for upcoming flights

If you’re planning on traveling via plane, and you know when you’d like to travel, set up some alerts for when the price goes down.

It’s as simple as inputting the preferred destination and dates and enabling email or push notifications.

Then, the flight platform will send a notification when the price goes down or when it reaches a good deal. They can predict the best time to buy, too.

2. Travel by bus

While it may not be as glamorous as flight-hopping, long-distance travel by bus is definitely possible across the USA.

This can be a much more affordable way to get around. Many of the major bus companies offer free WiFi, comfortable seating, restrooms, and reclining seats.

By traveling by bus you can bring your own snacks, drinks, and as much luggage as you wish. 

The major bus companies include Greyhound, Megabus, Peter Pan, Trailways, Jefferson Lines, and BoltBus.
For the lowest fares, Greyhound recommends traveling on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

3. Travel off-season

While June to August is always the most popular season for travel, traveling during the off-season means you’ll beat the crowds and benefit from lower transport and accommodation costs.

January and September are reportedly the best months for cheaper prices in the US, which coincides with children and teens returning to school.

4. Become a home or pet-sitter

Thousands of people around the world gain free accommodation when they travel through becoming either a house-sitter or pet-sitter.

This is exactly what it says on the tin – looking after someone else’s home or pet while they’re on vacation. You’ll have to look after some animals, but there’ll be plenty of free time to explore your new location.

There are lots of opportunities on sites like Trusted Housesitters and Petsitter.

5. Ditch the luggage

Gone are the days when a plane ticket included all the luggage you needed for your extensive trip. Now, you have to pay to carry on your precious cargo.

If you opt for a more minimalistic approach, you’ll avoid the high fees and have more flexibility in your movements too.

Carrying heavy luggage with you can become tiring – very quickly!

6. Head to the grocery stores

It may not be as enjoyable as visiting the top restaurant all day every day, but buying your own groceries is a quick win for the wallet.

If cooking isn’t quite your jam, buy some quick breakfast bits to-go and some of your favorite snakes. And dinner can be at your restaurant of choice. Having even just your breakfast, snacks, and lunch at home can save serious bucks!

7. Nature is the world’s best attraction

It’s tempting to plan your whole day at top-rated indoor attractions and bar-hopping or restaurant cruising, but reserving a few hours or days to simply explore is one of the best activities.

Visit a city park, stumble upon a botanical garden, or venture out into the mountains.

Not only will this provide you with a different experience, but it’s always nice to get out in the fresh air – especially after traveling long hours on confined transport.