Do You Want To Travel The Entire U.S. with$ 500? I did, you can too!
By anday0108
@anday0108 (628)
Philippines
May 4, 2009 12:15am CST
For a month I traveled almost the entire United States taking savoring the beautiful scenery with very little traveling expenses as I would have if I took the plane in going to the different states. I traveled from New York to Delaware, to Washington D.C., Florida, Chicago, Arizona, Grand Canyon, L.A., Colorado, Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Toronto. It was so much fun and the best part I did not go home broke but with so much memory of a good trip to the U.S.
6 responses
@pmcepe (194)
• Philippines
5 May 09
My optimism just came back! I will also be going to the USA with a very limited money, and there are many people in different states I'd love to visit. My point of entry is Los Angeles and I will be based in Lake Forest, Ca. How did you travel? I asked the plane fares and going to the east coast alone would consume almost all of my pocket money.
@anday0108 (628)
• Philippines
5 May 09
The best way to travel the U.S(as per experience) without spending all your money by just airfare alone is by getting a north america rail pass. However, i think they have discontinued this kind of pass. It used to be a joint effort of AMTRAK(american rail) and VIA( Canadian rail). Today you can get a USA rail pass. If you live outside the United States then you can avail of this pass. It offers I think 15 or 30 days travel around the U.S between $300 to $500 dollars. Its the best way to go especially if you have a lot of traveling time. You can travel from east to west or anywhere in the U.S with just one pass. You need to buy the USA RAIL PASS from a major train station, arrange your schedule and book your schedule by calling AMTRAK and then get your ticket from the station. Check the AMTRAK website and look for USA railpass. You will not regret it. It would be a very cheap way to roam around the different states. Plus you will be able to see the United States unfold before your eyes. It is more exciting than taking the plane and spending hours in the lounge. Goodluck. If you have more questions about how I did my trip using a railpass please dont hesitate to ask me.
@lampar (7584)
• United States
4 May 09
Traveled entire USA with $500 is real low expenditure. Glad you managed to cut the cost down so much, you probably drove with few people in car sharing the fuel cost n lodging some times ago while the gasoline price is low. I used to drove with few friends from south east to north west decade ago costing me only few hundred dollars. 
@anday0108 (628)
• Philippines
5 May 09
Actually I bought A North America Rail Pass(this was in 2002) which costs around $450. I started my trip from Toronto. Of course the $500 was just for the fare alone. But that was way cheaper than taking the plane and getting to those places. In the train station, i even overheard that one passenger paid around $700 dollars for just a trip from Milwaukee to Oregon with regular train fare. But there I was, only paid under $500 and I was already able to travel from Toronto, new york, delaware, washington, chicago, grand canyon, L.A and back to milwaukee, wow what a relief. Now I think they have discontinued selling the North America Rail Pass which allows you to visit both the United States and Canada. But the alternative USA RAIL PASS is still available. The price I guess ranges between $300-$500 (2009 price listing).
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
4 May 09
Wow! I love to hear about other travelers doing trips that fit much into a low budget. I know having been there three times the USA can be pricey so you did very well to travel for a month around America for just five hundred dollars. I am pleased you are back home with some excellent memories.
I booked my train tickets on the Internet in my home country. I traveled around California by train. One of the trains arrived five hours late at midnight so the train company paid for me to take a half an hour taxi ride to where I was staying. I found the youth hostels more expensive than those in Australia. One day I would like to see more of the USA.
@anday0108 (628)
• Philippines
5 May 09
The train is still the cheaper way to go around the U.S. Try to check the AMTRAK website and look for USARAIL PASS. It is cheaper than getting regular train rates. I bought the North America Rail Pass during that trip which was in 2002. The $500 was actually for fare alone but it is very cheap if you think about visiting the entire united states. Anyway, I hope you get to visit the US again. Try to check the USA RAIL PASS its worth it.
@marguicha (223773)
• Chile
4 May 09
I congratulate you. When I was young I traveled a lot through the United States in three visits we made to the country. We rented a car with my husband and drove for hours. The first time We arrived at New York and went in bus to Chicago and then Wixconsin. From Wisconsin we drove to Miai to pick the plane back. East and West, Noth and South. WE always travelled with little money and I stll do it.
@anday0108 (628)
• Philippines
5 May 09
Good to hear that you had a great trip to the U.S. without spending so much. Me too, I love to travel and everytime I do, I always try to spend as little as I can but enjoy as much as I could and savor the scenery and the beauty of the places I traveled to. We can always find ways to travel without spending too much and yet enjoy the trip.
