Travel to United States of America
Flying to United States of America
The United States is one of the world's most accessible destinations by air, with hundreds of international flights arriving daily from all corners of the globe. Most long-haul travellers arrive through major gateway airports, many of which are among the busiest in the world.
Key international hubs include John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York City, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Other significant entry points include Miami International Airport (MIA), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
Travellers from Asia, Australia, Europe, the UK and beyond will find no shortage of direct flights to the USA, operated by major carriers such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Delta, and United, among others. Flights typically land at airports close to major cities, where onward travel by domestic flight, train, or car hire is straightforward.
Airport Guides
Boston Logan International Airport
CodeBOS
LocationBoston Logan International Airport is located 5.3km (3.3 miles) northeast of Boston.
Telephone+1 800 235 6426
Address1 Harborside Drive
Boston
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Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport
CodeIAH
LocationHouston George Bush Intercontinental Airport is located 37km (23 miles) north of Houston.
Telephone+1 281 230 3100
AddressFind out more >
New York John F. Kennedy International Airport
CodeJFK
LocationNew York John F. Kennedy International Airport is located in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, about 13 miles (21km) southeast of the Empire State Building, as the crow files.
Telephone+1 718 244 4444
AddressQueensNew York
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New York LaGuardia Airport
CodeLGA
LocationNew York LaGuardia Airport is situated on the waterfront of Flushing Bay in the East Elmhurst neighbourhood of Queens. It is about 5 miles east of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, as the crow flies.
Telephone+1 212 435 7000
AddressQueensNew York
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
CodeDCA
LocationRonald Reagan Washington National Airport is situated 7km (4 miles) south of Washington, DC in Arlington County, Virginia.
Telephone+1 703 417 8000
AddressFind out more >
Chicago O'Hare International Airport
CodeORD
LocationChicago O’Hare International Airport is situated 29km (18 miles) northwest of Chicago.
Telephone+1 800 832 6352
Address10000 West O'Hare Avenue
Chicago
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Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
CodeDFW
LocationDallas-Fort Worth International Airport is located approximately 32km (20 miles) northwest of Dallas and 39km (24 miles) northeast of Fort Worth.
Telephone+1 972 973 3112
Address2400 Aviation Drive
DFW Airport
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Los Angeles International Airport
CodeLAX
LocationLos Angeles International Airport is approximately 27km (17 miles) southwest of Los Angeles City Hall, which is located in the Civic Center district of downtown Los Angeles and serves as the focal point of the local government.
The airport is also about 53 km (33 miles) from Disneyland, the iconic amusement park in Anaheim, California.
Telephone+1 855 463 5252
Address1 World Way
Los Angeles
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Philadelphia International Airport
CodePHL
LocationPhiladelphia International Airport is located 11km (7 miles) southwest of central Philadelphia.
Telephone(215) 937 6937.
AddressPhiladelphia8000 Essington Avenue
Pennsylvania 19153
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San Francisco International Airport
CodeSFO
LocationSan Francisco International Airport is about 24km (15 miles) south of Fisherman's Wharf, a busy tourist area on the northern waterfront.
Telephone+1 650 821 8211
AddressMillbraeSan Francisco
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Flight times
London to New York: 8 hours.
London to San Francisco: 11 hours.
Travelling to United States of America by Rail
It is possible to travel by rail into the United States from Canada, with a small number of cross-border routes operated by Amtrak, the national rail provider.
The most popular service is the Adirondack line, which runs daily between Montreal and New York City, offering scenic views of the Hudson Valley. Other key routes include the Maple Leaf (Toronto to New York City via Niagara Falls) and the Amtrak Cascades (Vancouver to Seattle and Portland).
There is no passenger rail service from Mexico into the United States.
Rail passes
Amtrak offers a few rail passes, including one that allows visitors to hop on/off across 500 destinations. The site is www.amtrak.com/multi-ride-rail-passes.
Driving to United States of America
Travelling to the United States by road is possible from its neighbouring countries (Canada and Mexico), with numerous border crossings open to private vehicles, coaches, and pedestrians.
From Canada, well-maintained highways connect major cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal to their U.S. counterparts. Popular crossings include the Peace Bridge (Buffalo, New York), the Ambassador Bridge (Detroit, Michigan), and the Blaine Crossing (near Seattle, Washington). Cross-border coach services such as Greyhound and Megabus also operate regular routes.
From Mexico, road travel into the USA is common through busy border points like Tijuana–San Diego, Juárez–El Paso, and Nuevo Laredo–Laredo.
While many crossings are efficient, wait times can vary significantly depending on the time of day and security checks. You can visit https://bwt.cbp.gov for a full list of land border crossings, their operating hours, and estimated wait times.
Driving note
All travellers must carry the appropriate documents, including a valid passport and, where applicable, a visa or ESTA authorisation. Additional checks, such as vehicle inspections and customs declarations, may be required at land borders, so it's wise to allow extra time.
Getting to United States of America by boat
There are ferries between Victoria (British Columbia, Canada) and Washington State. In addition, the seasonal CAT Ferry connects Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, with Bar Harbor, Maine, offering a scenic four-hour journey across the Gulf of Maine.
Cruise ships
The United States is a major hub for cruise travel, with numerous international cruise lines offering itineraries that include stops or departures from American ports. Some of the busiest and most popular cruise ports in the USA include:
• PortMiami (Florida).
• Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida).
• Port Canaveral (Florida).
• Los Angeles (San Pedro) and Long Beach (California).
• New York City (Manhattan and Brooklyn terminals).
• Seattle and Vancouver (Canada).
• Galveston (Texas).
