The United States is a large country and, as a visitor, you'll want to take some time and explore the many types of scenery and locations it offers. In addition, you'll need to travel locally from your home to your institution, as well as around town for everyday shopping and running errands and entertainment. What are your options?
Walking/Biking
Pros:
- Good for short distances
- Affordable and good exercise
Cons:
- Not an option for anything farther than a few miles
- If walking/biking alone late at night, be careful for your safety. See “Campus Safety” for more information.
Cars
Pros:
- Gives you a lot of freedom to get where you need to go, exactly when you need to be there
- Good for short and long distances
Cons:
- Not an option unless you have a driver's license
- Expensive—You would need to buy or rent a vehicle, pay for insurance, pay for gas, and pay for repairs if the car breaks down.
Buses
Pros:
- Good for short and long distances
- More affordable than cars, trains, or airplanes
Cons:
- If you are not in a big city, it may be difficult to find the right bus routes, and you may have to spend a long time waiting for buses
- For longer trips, because buses make so many stops, they are usually much slower than traveling by car, train, or airplane
Trains
Pros:
- More affordable than travel by airplane or car
- More comfortable and quicker than bus travel
Cons:
- Because train travel is not very popular in the United States, it may be hard to find a train to travel long distances.
- Often significantly more expensive than travel by bus
Airplanes
Pros:
- The fastest way to travel long distances
- Can find flights to and from every major city on a daily basis
Cons:
- The most expensive way to travel
- Not an option for traveling short distances
