United States on a budget

Cheapest months to go

Peak is May, June, September, October. The weeks either side of that window usually carry most of the weather with much less of the price.

Getting around for less

Realistic options in United States:

• A rental car is the default outside a handful of dense cities, and road trips are a core way to travel here
• Domestic flights are usually necessary for cross-country moves — coast-to-coast driving takes days
• New York, Chicago, Washington, Boston and San Francisco have usable public transit; most other cities do not
• National parks increasingly use timed entry, shuttles or reservations in peak season — check each park before arriving
• Long-distance rail and coach exist but are slow relative to flying

Where to base yourself

Fewer bases means fewer paid transfers. New York City, California Coast, Utah & Southwest Parks cover a lot between them.