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Overview: This article will go over transportation in different parts of the US.

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Regional Map of the US

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Areas of the US Americans Generally Refer to

  • The South

  • The Northeast

  • East Coast

  • West Coast

  • Midwest

  • Pacific Northwest

  • Rockies

  • Appalachia

  • Southwest (not as common)

  • New England (not as common)

Public Transportation that

Travels Across

Traverses the US

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Greyhound Bus

Affordable bus travel with nearly 2,300 destinations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico

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Amtrak Trains

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Travels Trains that travel frequently up and down the East Coast though not as far as Florida

Does go to Canada

Does traverse the US for really expensive with connections

Local Train Systems & Light Rails

The L (above ground)

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Subways & Metro (underground)

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Trolleys & Trams (street cars)

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MTA (New York, Connecticut, New Jersey)

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Car Services

Most of the US outside of some major cities requires a car.

Car Share

; it goes across the US including to the South and the Pacific Northwest but these routes are more expensive and less frequent. One route does go to Montreal, Canada.

  • Buy Amtrak tickets in advance! The price increases closer to the travel date. For example, train prices from Philadelphia to New York can be $18 in advance or $150-$300 the day of.

  • If you are taking the Amtrak train to New York, please note that there is a stop called Newark right before it (if you’re headed north) and the names sound very alike.

  • See train routes

Local Transit Options

The East Coast has better train systems that are older and more established; they have better routes, more stops and more frequent trains. On the East Coast, it’s normal to wait 20 minutes for a train. Towards the West, trains usually arrive every hour.

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Train Systems & Light Rails

See this section for transit options by state and city

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Subways & Metro Systems

See this section for transit options by state and city

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Trolleys, Trams & Street Cars

Trolleys only exist in some cities.

  • Seattle, WA

  • Portland, OR

  • San Francisco, CA

  • West Philadelphia, PA

  • Salt Lake City, UT

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Buses

Most state transit companies offer buses in addition to trains but trains are recommended over buses. Buses will likely be the least expensive option.

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Bike & Scooter Rentals

Many cities offer bike and scooter rentals that usually only require a smartphone and an app to use. The app depends on the service provided in that city.

Car Services

Outside of some major cities, most of the US will require a car to travel.

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Car Share

Ride share apps

  • Lyft

  • Uber

  • Turo/Zipcar (may have to be US citizen)

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Car Rentals

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Recommended companies:

Enterprise

  • Great insurance

  • Able to drive a car across the US and drop off in a different location

Avis

  • Able to drive a car across the US and drop off in a different location

The Most Bike and Scooter Friendly Cities

Please note, this does not mean that all cities on this list have bike and scooter rentals.

San Francisco

Minneapolis

Portland

Seattle

Washington, D.C.

Chicago

New York

Fort Collins

Boston

Pop. 680,000

Boulder

Pop. 110,000

Philadelphia

Pop. 1.6 million

Austin

Pop. 970,000

Tucson

Pop. 540,000

Denver

Pop. 720,000

Madison

Pop. 270,000

Eugene

Pop. 180,000

Sacramento

Pop. 520,000

U.S.

Cities with the

most

Most Walkability

San Francisco

Pop. 810,000

Washington, D.C.

Pop. 670,000

Seattle

Pop. 740,000

Chicago

Pop. 2.7 million

Boston

Pop. 680,000

Philadelphia

Pop. 1.6 million

Miami

Pop. 440,000

Long Beach

Pop. 470,000

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Major City Public Transportation

Public Transportation in Major Cities
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Most transit companies offer buses in addition to trains but trains are recommended over buses. Please note, the East Coast has better train systems that are older and more established; they have better routes, more stops and more frequent trains. On the East Coast, it’s normal to wait 20 minutes for a train. Towards the West, trains usually arrive every hour.

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titleSeattle, Washington

Link light rail (trains)

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titleDenver, Colorado

Rta RTD light rail (trains)

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titleNew York, NY

MTA transit system (trains and subways)

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titlePhiladelphia, PA

septaSepta trains and trolleys

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titleWashington D.C.

Metro rail (trains and subways)

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titleChicago, IL

The L train

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titlePortland, OR

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titleSan Francisco, CA

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titleNewark, New Jersey

MTA transit system (trains and subways)

NJ transit system (trains and subways)

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titleDanbury, Connecticut

MTA transit system (trains and subways)